Iranian President Mohammad Khatami could visit Turkmenistan for talks with Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov at the end of February, an Iranian embassy source said Monday.
The source was unable to say exactly when the visit would take place or what would be discussed but said the two leaders may discuss moves to increase gas supplies from Turkmenistan to Iran.
State newspaper the Neutralny Turkmenistan also reported Monday that Khatami's visit to Turkmenistan was planned for the first months of 2001 and that talks would "stimulate cooperation between Turkmenistan and Iran."
Niyazov invited Khatami to the Central Asian state during a telephone conversation in March last year when the invitation was accepted, IRNA news agency then reported.
Turkmenistan and Iran reached a deal in March to boost natural gas exports to Iran to 13 billion cubic meters annually.
Iran has the world's second largest reserves of natural gas after Russia but hardly exports any of its 20 trillion cubic meters of gas.
Iran also is continuing efforts to persuade countries in the area to reach an agreement on sharing Caspian Sea energy resources -- ASHKHABAD (AFP)
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
