AKIPRESS.COM - Turkmenistan has signed an outline deal with Turkey to supply gas to a new pipeline that could help Europe reduce its dependence on Russian gas imports, reports Today's Zaman.

The two countries struck a so-called framework agreement on Friday for Turkmenistan, which is keen to diversify exports of its gas to world markets, to supply gas to the proposed Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline project (TANAP).

"We attach great significance to deliveries of Turkmenistan's natural gas to Europe via Turkey," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said through an interpreter during a visit to the Turkmen capital Ashgabat.

"Europe's energy security is important for us."

Erdoğan and his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow oversaw the signing of the agreement between Turkmen state gas company Turkmengas and private Turkish firm Atagas for the purchase and sale of Turkmen gas for TANAP.

The two sides did not disclose the terms of the agreement.