Astana, 18 October 2022 (TDI): Under the framework of the Central Asia-Russia Summit, held in Astana on October 14, 2022, the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov delivered a speech.
He gave a number of proposals and initiatives to elevate the partnership between Central Asian states and the Russian Federation in various key areas of cooperation.
Serdar Berdimuhamedov stated that the meeting signaled the continuance of strong diversified collaboration between Central Asian countries and Russia on key global and regional issues.
Among them are ensuring peace, stability, and security as vital components in our states’ successful growth, extending and deepening economic and trade links, and resolving social and humanitarian issues.
He further enunciated that recent trends in global geopolitics have been far from positive. The underpinnings of international law are eroding, affecting the efficiency of the UN and other supporting institutions.
Likewise, interstate interactions’ meaning and content are evolving. The geography of conflicts, terrorist threats, extremism, and radicalization is growing. It was also highlighted that under these conditions, effective contact between Central Asian republics and Russia is critical.
The President of Turkmenistan also highlighted that coherent political and diplomatic work, well-coordinated cooperation between special services, use of information resources, and public institutions are required to create reliable and long-term protective mechanisms.
In return, these mechanisms will then provide peace, tranquillity, and confidence in the strength of state foundations for our countries and citizens.
Simultaneously, Serdar Berdimuhamedov urged for intensified collaborative efforts within international organizations in this area to promote solidarity and unity for the effective execution of internationally recognized standards of international law.
In terms of regional issues, Former Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov advocated using all available options and experience to implement maximal preventive measures and tools to avoid potential conflicts.
He suggested in this context to concentrate on the following specific areas:
- The first is to combat attempts to disrupt the situation in the regional countries.
- The second goal is to provide guarantees of security against terrorist, extremist, cyber, and biological threats.
- The third is to fight against the deliberate instillation of erroneous meanings and moral norms into the public mind.
- Fourth, is the avoidance of potentially harmful implications of the global deterioration of the situation.
Along these lines, to enhance cooperation actions in the aforementioned sectors, the then Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov suggested that the mode of six-party consultations with foreign ministries be optimized.
While President Serdar Berdimuhamedov also advocated instructing ministries and heads of state agencies to establish algorithms and subjects for consultations based on the above tasks, highlighting that the same applies to the actions of special services and other organizations.
Talking about the issue of Afghanistan he reiterated that the situation in the country is a separate problem on the world agenda. In this regard, it was stated that Central Asian countries and Russia were both interested in Afghanistan’s stability.
The President of Turkmenistan also stated that one of the safeguards for the protection of the borders and citizens is a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Afghanistan.
Along with this, he said that Turkmenistan welcomes and supports international mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of the situation in Afghanistan, as well as the efforts of Central Asian nations, Russia, Iran, China, and UN missions in Afghanistan.
It is pertinent to note that Afghanistan’s inclusion in international and regional economic linkages is the most pressing concern. Turkmenistan has started a number of important infrastructure projects with Afghan cooperation in recent years.
Speaking about the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan high-voltage power line, Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan fiber-optic communication line, and railways from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan he said that the realization of such projects provides Afghanistan with a strategic view of economic and social growth, as well as the ability to utilize its geographical advantages as a connection on the continent.
According to the Turkmen President, the economy is the most important priority in the scope of the six-party collaboration. Turkmenistan sees huge opportunities in this regard.
Energy, industrial collaboration, textile manufacturing, agro-industrial complex, logistics, innovative technology, and regional trade are only a few examples.
Among the main proposals in these areas were the following: the need to encourage our countries’ business communities to work together more closely; the possibility of initiating the creation of a permanent business format between Central Asia + Russia.
In this context, various aspects of trade and economic cooperation would be considered. President Serdar Berdimuhamedov also underscored the importance of developing modern transportation, transit, and communication systems.
Such systems in the regional countries’ territories through the construction of extensive transportation and transit infrastructure covering vast swaths of continental Eurasia will give access to the World Ocean.
Turkmenistan deems that it is critical to focus on maximizing the potential that exists for Central Asian and Russian governments in terms of optimizing transport flows in Eurasian space.
In this context, the activation of work on the North-South transport corridor should be considered: from Russia through Central Asia to sea terminals in the Indian Ocean.
The head of state continued to confirm that Turkmenistan, as the country with the shortest route to the Persian Gulf, Iranian ports, and from there to India, is ready to begin implementing this project.
President Serdar Berdimuhamedov stated that Turkmenistan firmly supports the development and strengthening of cultural, humanitarian, scientific, educational, sports, and tourist connections between our countries.
In this context, he advocated considering hosting a Festival of Culture and Arts of Peoples of Central Asia and Russia the next year.
In addition, and in the context of the Summit of the Heads of State of Central Asia and Russia, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov underlined that the First Inter-Parliamentary Forum “Central Asia – Russia” and Dialogue of Women were held at the highest level in Ashgabat in May this year.
It was held on the initiative of Turkmen Halk Maslahaty Chairman Gurbanguly Myalikgulyevich Berdimuhamedov. The current meeting was organized on the basis of the inter-parliamentary forum.
In this vein, the President of Turkmenistan added that, unfortunately, these activities were not announced. Simultaneously, special emphasis was focused on the notion that organizing such forums was important, first & foremost, in terms of creating collaborative collaboration and engagement.
