Asjabad, 17 November 2021 (TDI): The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan organized a press briefing, on 16 November. The Ministry dedicated the briefing to the results of the visit of Turkmenistan’s President, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to Turkey.
In Turkey, Bedimuhamedov was part of the Eighth Summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States, held in Istanbul. Bedimuhamedov also took part in the preparation for the Summit of the Heads of the Member-States of the Economic Cooperation Organization.
ECO SUMMIT AND INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE
The Summit of ECO is under the chair of Turkmenistan, and it will be on 28 November. The briefing counted with the participation of representatives from local, and foreign journalists. From the part of the foreign journalists, there were media representatives from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Austria, Belgium, Great Britain, and Pakistan.
The briefing also counted with media representatives from the United Arab Emirates, France, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia. Lastly, there were also present media representatives from Russia, Romania, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine.
PRESS BRIEFING
First, the deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Vepa Hajiyev, greeted the participants warmly. Hajiyev then noted the importance of the meeting, from the activation of Turkmenistan’s international interaction on global significant authoritative platforms perspective.
Hajiyev underlined that the topics of the press briefing were related to the results of the President’s visit to Turkey, on 12 November. He also highlighted the main vectors from the speech of the President at the Summit of the Turkic Council.
Hajiyev then remarked that the incorporation of Turkmenistan as an observer in the Turkic Council was significant. According to him, the Turkic Council 8th Summit represented a new milestone for Turkmenistan’s interaction with the Turkic-speaking states.
That interaction holds potential for Turkmenistan because there are broad opportunities for joint work in several fields. Hajiyev underlined that those opportunities are within the trade, investment, science, education, ecology, and economic fields.
The briefing remarked the directions of the work of the regional structure. The Council unites the Turkic-speaking countries, like Turkey. Hajiyev also stated that the Council has also strengthened humanitarian dialogue between the countries.
The Ministry also mentioned to the participants the progress of the preparations for the 15th Summit of Heads of ECO’s the Member States. The Summit will take place in Ashgabat, on 28 November.
As mentioned before, Turkmenistan is the chair of the ECO, and because they will host the organization’s Summit, their preparations are of the highest level. They will also hold the Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the ECO and the Business Forum of ECO’s Member-States.
TURKMENISTAN’S FOREIGN POLICY AND FINAL EVENT
Hajiyev also highlighted that Turkmenistan’s foreign policy strategy is dynamic, consistent, innovative. The policy constitutes the base to strengthen Turkmenistan’s international authority and grow its role in geopolitics.
The Meeting of the Member-States Heads, on the Foundation Day of the Organization, represents an opportunity for Turkmenistan. This is because it will facilitate the exchange of perspectives on several issues.
According to Hajiyev, that meeting will be the final event of Turkmenistan’s chairmanship period within the Organization. The media representatives received information on the latest events in Turkmenistan international events. They also had the opportunity to ask questions to the representative of Turkmenistan.
TURKEY AND TURKMENISTAN FOREIGN RELATIONS
Turkey was the first country to recognize Turkmenistan in 1991, after the dissolution of the USSR. In 1992, Turkey opened an embassy in the capital of Turkmenistan, and they support their permanent neutral status.
According to the Turkish Ministry, Turkmenistan-Turkey relations are based on mutual respect, cooperation and the principle of One nation, two states. Both cooperate in foreign policy, trade, economy, culture, and also education.
