We need energy coming to Europe from Central Asia

We need energy coming to Europe from Central Asia, and for this we need new resources, new routes, new infrastructure, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán laid down in a press statement made on Friday in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

The Prime Minister said relations between Turkmenistan and Hungary are predictable, reliable and are based on mutual respect.

“Accordingly, we came here with good intentions,” and a plan “to broaden and deepen cooperation between the two countries,” he said.

He highlighted that the visit had taken place in an extremely difficult international situation; international politics is in a state of confusion. Already the pandemic upset international relations; however, this has been further complicated by the Russo-Ukrainian war, he underlined.

He stressed that he had the opportunity to visit a country which, similar to Hungary, was pro-peace and was making efforts to ensure the resolution of this conflict within the shortest possible time and for peace to finally return to international diplomacy.

Mr Orbán said the present situation had also upset traditional economic relations, and may well open a new era in the world economy. These changes, “from our point of view, from the European point of view, have increased the role of the Central Asian region,” he stated.

He said conventional East-West transport and supply routes had been disrupted, and we must therefore “seek new routes and new partners.” The present situation enhances the importance of the entire Central Asian region, and there is a good chance for this region to become a bridge between East and West,” he underlined.

He stressed that “we need energy coming to Europe from Central Asia,” and for this we need new resources, new routes, new infrastructure. Turkmenistan could be “a great partner” for Europe and Hungary, he said, adding that “you would be able to significantly contribute to the diversification of our energy supply.”

The Prime Minister said this will not be easy because complex infrastructure and transport issues will have to be resolved, issues that fall beyond the competence of both countries. “We have a vested interest in the resolution of the open issues concerning the Caspian Sea” within the shortest possible time, he stated.

He said “we encourage the institutions of the European Union, we urge them” for the EU to finally put into effect the partnership and cooperation agreement signed with Turkmenistan 25 years ago. In such a difficult situation, when Europe is detaching itself from Russia’s energy sources, we cannot afford to leave unsigned a partnership agreement which conveys important economic interests for Europe, he pointed out.

Mr Orbán also said Hungary is playing an enormous role in Turkmenistan’s medicine supply, and after further negotiations, there will also be an opportunity for cooperation in the water industry, in addition to energy cooperation, and the parties agreed to recommend ever further areas for economic cooperation.

He said, according to plans, we will launch a Hungarian language-teaching project in Turkmenistan, and we would like to establish political and economic relations between the two countries, the strength and depth of which reflects the historical kinship shared by the two countries.