TURKMENISTAN: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT PUTIN VISIT

(19 May 2000) Natural Sound

Russian President Vladimir Putin has wound up his tour of two former Soviet republics in Central Asia with a visit to Ashgabad, the capital of Turkmenistan, for talks with President Saparmurat Niyazov.

The two countries pledged to expand their economic co-operation as well as knowledge in the fields of science and education.

President Putin's trip to Turkmenistan has marked Russia's interest in broadening economic relations with the former Soviet republic rich in natural gas and other mineral resources.

His talks with the Turkmen leader likely will help bridge their differences on the question of exploring natural gas in the Caspian region.

The sides agreed on increasing natural gas deliveries to Russia from Turkmenistan and signed accords on cultural exchanges and cooperation in science and education.

Putin told journalists after the talks the sides have moved closer to defining the status of the Caspian Sea, which had been the main obstacle to broader economic cooperation between the two former Soviet states.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...