Iranian and Turkish officials stressed the need for promotion of cooperation in the field of energy, oil and gas, IRNA reported. Releasing a joint statement, the two sides stressed the importance of energy in economic development of the two states. The joint statement was issued during a ceremony attended by President Abdullah Gul of Turkey and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran who was on a visit to Turkey upon an invitation of his Turkish counterpart to discuss major bilateral, regional and international developments. The Iranian president ended his two-day official visit later on Friday and arrived home on Saturday . Officials of the Iranian and Turkish ministries of energy announced in the statement that they have agreed to promote the level of their bilateral cooperation in the fields of energy, gas and oil to the highest level and try to finalize agreements signed between the two capitals in 2007 and 2008 to this end. The statement said that the two sides have also agreed to transfer gas from Turkmenistan to Turkey via Iranian soil and make joint investments to establish three gas power plants in Turkey and two hydroelectric power plant in Iran. Talks would continue by the Iranian and Turkish officials for signing necessary contracts for cooperation in the field of energy, the statement said. While in Turkey, President Ahmadinejad held separate talks with his Turkish counterpart, the country's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister of Turkey Ali Babacan. Five documents were also signed by the senior officials of the two countries on economic cooperation. Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, Minister of Energy Parviz Fattah, Oil Minister Gholam-Hossein Nozari and head of Iran Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei had accompanied President Ahmadinejad to Turkey.
