Russia to restart Turkmenistan gas imports

Russia will resume gas imports from Turkmenistan next year. Its state-run gas company Gazprom, agreed to import up to 30 billion cubic meters of Turkmen gas under a long-term deal.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev met with his Turkmeni counterpart for the third time in as many months in an attempt to resolve the gas supply issue.

Medvedev calls the agreement a "step forward", while the Turkmen president says Russia remains a strategic partner for his country.

Turkmenistan has been long dependent on Russia's gas purchases. In April, it accused Moscow of suspending gas imports at a time when demand nose dived in Europe.

Turkmenistan's President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov (R) clink glasses with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev as they meet in Ashgabat December 22, 2009.REUTERS/Ria Novosti/Kremlin/Mikhail Klimentyev