President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov receives Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov who arrived in our country on working visit.

Having expressed sincere gratitude for spared time, the guest conveyed warm greetings and best wishes to the Head of Turkmen State on behalf of President of Russian Federation Vladimir Putin who confirmed invariable commitment of Russian side to traditional relations of friendship and fruitful cooperation with Turkmenistan.

Having warmly greeted the guest, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov highlighted that comprehensive development of versatile relations with Russian Federation is among priority vectors of foreign policy of our country. Addressing return greetings to the leaders of Russian Federation, the Head of Turkmenistan stated with delight high level of interstate dialog, which is built on the principles of respect, constructiveness and strategic partnership.

During interested exchange of the visions on current situation and future cooperation, President of Turkmenistan and his guest have paid special attention to previous agreements including those that have been achieved during official visit of President of Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to Turkmenistan in 2017.

It was highlighted that the Agreement on Strategic Partnership between Turkmenistan and Russian Federation, which came into effect and opens wide opportunities for productive cooperation in different fields including political spheres, rapid development of traditional trade, economic and humanitarian relations, is to become the foundation for the implementation of all plans.

Important role in implementation of multidimensional potential of two states is given to Intergovernmental Commission for economic cooperation, which regular session is planned to be held in the first quarter of this year. In particular, the agenda of the meeting will include the subjects of further cooperation in oil and gas sphere that is strategically important for both states, which are the world energy leading powers and have huge reserves of hydrocarbon resources.

In this regard, the President of Turkmenistan expressed appreciation that gas issues in Turkmen – Russian dialog is considered with the aim at search for new far-reaching big agreements.

At the same time, the projects of integration pf Central Asian power system, where Turkmenistan plays very important role according to the Head of Russian Foreign Department, and general power market, which would be formed up in Eurasian Economic Union by 2025, have been discussed.

Turkmen leader has also noted growing importance of Inter-parliamentarian relations in wide agenda of bilateral relations including between profile committees as well as at international forums.

The importance of humanitarian dialog, stimulation of fruitful relations in science, culture and art fields has been highlighted. Therefore, A. S. Pushkin Turkmen – Russian Secondary Comprehensive School, which is the best school in the region according to professionals, has been recognized as a symbol of friendship of two fraternal nations, which connected by historical and spiritual community.

Regular cultural events like festivals, forums, exhibitions, Days of cinematography, concerts of art masters, circus artists and other activities, which are regularly organized in Turkmenistan and Russian Federation, are original bridges of friendship and understanding. Days of Culture held in both countries serve to the intensification and enrichment of old contacts in this sphere.

Cooperation in scientific and educational sphere, which is held on systematic and long-term basis, expands every year. This is indicated by the Agreements on Cooperation between number of leading universities and scientific centres of Turkmenistan and Russia, which provide good perspectives for scientific work, student exchange, formation of joint educational programmes and projects.

Continuing the meeting, the President of Turkmenistan and the Head of Russian Foreign Ministry exchanged the visions on number of current subject of international politics related to the provision of peace, security and sustainable development in regional and global scale. In this regard, the intent of both states to continue consolidating traditional cooperation both in bilateral and multilateral format under the UN, CIS, SCO and other competent international organizations and structures has been confirmed.

Having focused on the cooperation in Caspian Sea, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and the Foreign Minister of Russian Federation highlighted the importance of the V Summit of the Heads of Caspian States last year, which had an important outcomes – signing of the Convention on Legal Status of Caspian Sea, which marked the beginning of new age in the history of relations of coastal countries.

In this context, Sergey Lavrov have highly appreciated constructive approach of Turkmenistan. Owing to which the solution of many current issues on Caspian Sea became possible. It was mentioned that it was Ashgabat where negotiation process on the level of the Heads of five Caspian States has started and resulted in signing of the Convention, which is historical fundamental document setting legal standards of cooperation in different spheres in Caspian Sea.

Important documents related to the partnership in Caspian Sea including the Agreement between the Governments of Caspian States on Trade and Economic Cooperation and the Agreements between the Governments of Caspian States on Cooperation in Transport has been developed and adopted by the initiative of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. It was also noted that the work on five-sided Agreement on scientific studies in Caspian Sea is carried out by the proposal of Turkmen leader.

Turkmenistan will host Caspian Economic Forum this August for the first time in the history. Next, already the sixth Summit of the leaders of Caspian states will also be held in Turkmenistan. In general, we have very good potential for cooperation including in humanitarian sphere, Sergey Lavrov said.

The activities planned to be carried out during the chairing of Turkmenistan in the Commonwealth of Independence States in 2019, which includes the sessions of the Foreign Ministers Council, Heads of the States and Governments, Economic Council, Cultural Forum and other event, have been also discussed during the meeting.

The Head of the State highlighted that being an associated member of the CIS, neutral Turkmenistan is invariably committed to wide cooperation with the Commonwealth’s countries and with the nations that Turkmen people are connected by the relation of friendship, goodwill and trust.

In the end, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Foreign Minister of Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov expressed the confidence that relying on old friendship connections, Turkmen – Russian relations would continue to be developed gaining new specific content.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russian Federation to Turkmenistan Alexander Blokhin took part in the meeting.