THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF TURKMENISTAN MADE AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

By order of the President of Turkmenistan, on February 22, 2022, the delegation of Turkmenistan headed by the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan R.Meredov paid an official visit to the Russian Federation (Moscow).

During the visit, a number of meetings were held, at which topical issues for the further comprehensive development of bilateral relations were discussed, tasks and plans for their intensification were identified, taking into account the mutual potential.

At the talks between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan R.Meredov and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia S.Lavrov, a wide range of issues of bilateral cooperation was discussed, and views were exchanged on topical issues of regional and international politics. The interlocutors noted that today the Turkmen-Russian relations are of a stable, strategic nature, developing in accordance with the agreements reached between the Presidents of the two countries. It was noted that the close partnership in the political, trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian spheres between Turkmenistan and Russia is now reaching a new level, developing progressively and purposefully.

During the talks, the heads of the foreign ministries of Turkmenistan and Russia stressed the great importance of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries marked this year. It was emphasized that this event marked a new stage in the centuries-old history of Turkmen-Russian relations, largely ensuring their constructive, respectful and equal nature at the present stage.

As part of the meeting, the heads of the foreign ministries and members of the delegations viewed a photo exhibition timed to coincide with this significant date.

The parties agreed to intensify efforts to create conditions for the continuation of constructive, mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

During the meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan R.Meredov with the Chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia G.Karasin, the importance of further development and enhancement of inter-parliamentary cooperation was emphasized.

In this context, the parties discussed issues related to the preparation and holding of the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the countries of Central Asia and the Russian Federation in May 2022 in Ashgabat. It was emphasized that the upcoming event would be important for strengthening friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding between the states of the region and the Russian Federation, in providing a legislative framework for partnership in the long term.

As part of the official visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan to Moscow, he met with the Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for the delimitation and demarcation of the border of the Russian Federation with neighboring CIS member states, the Head of the Russian delegation at multilateral negotiations on the Caspian Sea M.Petrakov.

During the talks, it was noted that the interaction between Turkmenistan and Russia makes a significant constructive contribution to strengthening friendship, cooperation and mutually beneficial multilateral partnership in the Caspian Sea, turning the Caspian region into one of the centers of economic, transport and logistics, energy and investment partnerships in Eurasia. In this regard, the parties noted the special importance of the Sixth Summit of the Caspian States scheduled for this year in Turkmenistan and agreed to work closely for the successful preparation and holding of this event.

The delegation of Turkmenistan met with the Deputy Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States I.Nematov.

During the conversation, it was noted that the cooperation of Turkmenistan within the framework of the CIS has recently received new qualitative impulses aimed at strengthening partnerships in the economy, industrial cooperation, and the implementation of large infrastructure projects.

In connection with the forthcoming early elections of the President of Turkmenistan on March 12 this year, the issues of organizing the work of the CIS observation mission at them were substantively discussed.

During the visit, consultations were also held between the foreign ministries of Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation at the level of Deputy Foreign Ministers of the two countries in accordance with the signed program of cooperation between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation for the current period.

As a result of the visit of the delegation of Turkmenistan to Moscow and the bilateral Turkmen-Russian negotiations, a Joint Statement of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation was adopted in connection with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, and the following documents were signed:

- "Roadmap" of interaction between Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation on issues of regional security;

- Plan for the implementation of the main directions of the Turkmen-Russian cooperation in the field of ensuring international information security for 2022-2025;

- Plan of events dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation.