During the visit, the Secretary General had a meeting with the Deputy Chairman of Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, H.E. Rashid Meredov.
The Minister Rashid Meredov welcomed H.E. Baghdad Amreyev in Ashgabat and expressed his hope that the first visit of the Turkic Council Secretary General to Turkmenistan will open a new page in establishing constructive and mutually beneficial cooperation between Turkmenistan and the Turkic Council.
Secretary General expressed his gratitude to H.E. Rashid Meredov for offering him the opportunity to visit brotherly Turkmenistan and for the warm hospitality of the Turkmen Government for his delegation. He emphasized that Turkmenistan has always been an essential part of the Turkic world and a treasure of the Turkic history, culture and art. He stated that the Turkic Council is ready to develop relations with modern Turkmenistan in areas of mutual interest. In this context, the Secretary General provided H.E. Rashid Meredov a comprehensive overview of all areas of collaboration of the Turkic Council.
B.Amreyev briefed the Minister on the ongoing preparations for the upcoming 7th Summit of the Turkic Council to be held in Azerbaijan in October 2019, which coincides with the 10th anniversary of Nakhchivan Agreement, and expressed his hope that Turkmenistan will participate to this significant milestone event for the Turkic World at the highest level.
Secretary General noted that the Turkic Council upon the decisions of the Heads of the States taken in the last Summit in Cholpan-Ata is actively focusing on the enhancement of the economic and business relations among the Member States, especially taking into consideration that the theme of the upcoming Summit was chosen as “Development of Medium and Small Sized Enterprises”.
Minister Meredov shared a wealth of information on the basic principles and provisions of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy, built on the history and experience of a people that has embraced values, traditions, customs and ethical norms over the centuries. The Minister underlined the principles of positive neutrality of Turkmenistan and at the same time emphasized that Ashgabat pursues an active policy of strengthening and developing relations with all neighboring countries, as well as other actors of regional and international standing. He mentioned that building relations based on friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding with brotherly Turkic Speaking States - Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey is a priority of the foreign policy of Turkmenistan.
Minister Meredov highlighted that the Turkic Council’s focus on the development of economic and financial mechanisms among the Turkic Speaking States is aligned with Turkmenistan’s vision of promoting strong economic, trade and investment cooperation with the Caspian Sea area and the nearby regions.
In this regard, Minister invited the Secretary General to attend the First Caspian Economic Forum initiated by the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to be held on 12 August 2019 in the National Tourist Zone Avaza, which was received with gratitude by the Secretary General.
Secretary General highly valued Turkmenistan’s positive neutrality policy and expressed his confidence that this foreign policy approach has given Turkmenistan many advantages in the international fora. Turkic Council acknowledges this approach with deep understanding, being convinced that the Turkic World could also benefit from this unique international status pursued by Turkmenistan.
B.Amreyev stated that the Parties could explore new avenues for future collaboration and take part in the international events organized by the Turkic Council and Turkmenistan. In this context, the Parties exchanged views on how to develop further cooperation between Turkmenistan and the Turkic Council in the upcoming period and work collaboratively on projects undertaken by the organization.
Secretary General Bagdad Amreyev gave an interview to the TV 4 Channel of Turkmenistan. The visit and the interview were broadly aired on the national TV Channels.
During the visit to Ashgabat, the delegation of the Turkic Council also visited Akhal-Teke International Equestrian Complex, the Museum of National Carpets and Kipchak Mosque.
Secretary General was accompanied by the Project Directors Mr. Jeyhun Shahverdiyev and Ms. Zhanar Nugumanova.
