The Deputy Prime Minister for EU affairs Alexandr Vondra participated as a speaker yesterday 23 April at a high-level conference in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, entitled „Reliable transit of energy and its role in ensuring sustainable development and international cooperation“. The event was organised by the H.E. President of Turkmenistan G.M.Berdymuchammedov under the auspices of the United Nations. Mr Vondra also met the President of Turkmenistan at a bilateral meeting where he formally handed to him the official invitation to the Southern Corridor – New Silk Road Summit of 8 May 2009 in Prague.

„I am very glad that President Berdymuchameddov shares the conviction that today more than ever for the cooperation in the field of energy to be successful, it must be mutually beneficial for all players involved – producers, transit countries as well as consumers,“ said Alexandr Vondra. “The manner in which this conference was conceived and the quality of contributions of the shows that Turkmenistan has become a key player in the energy debate. Turkmenistan is opening up to Europe and the world and I am sure everyone can benefit from this process. “

The second stop of Mr Vondra is Turkey. He already met the Turkish President Abdullah Gül in Ankara and handed to him the invitations to Southern Corridor – New Silk Road Summit of 8 May as well as to the dinner of 7 May, which will closes the Eastern Partnership summit. Mr Gül appreciated the importance the Czech Presidency has been giving to energy issues as well as the need to continue the accession talks with Turkey.

Mr Vondra will continue his visit of Turkey on Friday 24 April when he will meet the Minister for Foreign Affairs Ali Babacan and chief EU negotiator Egemen Bagis. Mr Vondra will then fly to Sofia, Bulgaria, to take part in the Energy summit - Natural Gas for Europe : Security and Partnership on 25 April.