Turkey, Turkmenistan beef up energy cooperation

  Turkey and Turkmenistan are beefing up cooperation on energy in a strategic perspective and planning transportation of latter's natural gas to Europe via Turkey, Turkish President Abdullah Gul said on Tuesday.
"We believe the projects in these areas will boost spirit of regional cooperation. We are determined on carrying Turkmen gas to European markets through Turkey," Gul said at a joint press conference with his Turkmen counterpart Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov.
Last year, Turkey proposed Turkmenistan to supply natural gas to Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project (TANAP). TANAP will carry Azerbaijani natural gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz II Field in the Caspian Sea to Europe through Turkey.
The project will start construction work on pipelines across the Caspian to Azerbaijan in 2015. Turkey and Azerbaijan want to upgrade the project with Turkmenistan natural gas.
Turkey and Turkmenistan will work to enhance cultural ties because citizens of two countries are "children of same people" and this area will more approach the nations, said the Turkish president.
Turkmen President Berdymukhamedov said that they were at a period at which historical developments were taking part in bilateral ties.
Berdymukhamedov will participate in the meeting of Turkish speaking countries summit on Wednesday in southern Bodrum town of Turkey.
Ministers from the two countries have signed several agreements for cooperation on issues including economy, tourism, forestry.