Elvira Kadyrova
On Tuesday, 22 February 2022, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, foreign minister Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov will hold talks with the minister of foreign affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov during a working visit to Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry reports.
The agenda of the talks will include issues of preparation for the events of the Caspian Five scheduled for this year, primarily the Sixth Caspian Summit in Turkmenistan.
The parties will discuss in detail the issues of regional security and the possibility of joint response to common challenges and threats.
The ministers will also share their perspectives on current issues of multifaceted cooperation, with a focus on trade, economy, culture, humanitarian sector, and education.
The issues of coordination between the two countries within international organizations such as the CIS, the UN, and the OSCE, as well as the “CA5+Russia” dialogue mechanism, will be discussed.
The visit of Meredov to Moscow was discussed at the videoconference conducted by President Berdimuhamedov on Monday, 21 February 2022.
The president made lengthy remarks on the state of relations between Turkmenistan and Russia and on the visit of Meredov.
Here is the relevant passage from the TDH report:
The president said that, as is known, one of the priority areas of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy is the comprehensive development of strategic partnership with the Russian Federation. Russia is one of the first states that recognized the independence of our country and established diplomatic relations.
He said that on April 8 this year, the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation will be celebrated. During this period, bilateral cooperation has been brought to a qualitatively new level and today it is intensively developing in many areas. The basis of the interstate dialogue is political-diplomatic, trade-economic, cultural-humanitarian and other areas of joint activity.
The main factor in expanding the traditionally friendly Turkmen-Russian partnership is open, constructive, friendly relations established at the highest state level, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized. At the same time, various forms of bilateral contacts and intergovernmental interaction, such as the Turkmen-Russian intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation, inter-ministerial political consultations, and scientific, educational and cultural dialogue, are effectively functioning.
Confirming the intention of Turkmenistan to further strengthen friendly and partnership ties with Russia, the head of state instructed the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Minister of Foreign Affairs to visit Moscow on a business trip and hold talks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, as well as in other state structures. The purpose of these meetings is to exchange views on a set of issues for the further development of Turkmen-Russian relations, and to determine their long-term prospects.
In addition, the leader of the nation noted, special attention should be paid to bilateral political contacts, organization of mutual visits at the state, parliamentary and government levels, joint political forums. In this context, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov instructed to discuss issues related to the preparation and holding of the 6th Summit of the Heads of the Caspian States in Turkmenistan this year, as well as to consider the program and agenda of the Central Asia-Russia Parliamentary Forum at the level of leaders together with Russian colleagues parliaments, which will be held for the first time in Ashgabat in May this year.
At the same time, the head of state continued, in order to intensively develop bilateral trade, ensure the implementation of joint projects in key segments of the economy and consistently intensify scientific, educational and cultural ties between Turkmenistan and Russia, it is necessary, together with the Russian side, to organize in the near future a meeting of the co-chairs of the Intergovernmental Turkmen Russian commission. In this context, during the forthcoming business trip, the issues of holding the next meeting of the Commission in the second half of this year will be discussed.
The priority vector of interstate cooperation is also direct contacts between Turkmenistan and Russian regions. Based on this, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov instructed the Deputy Prime Minister, Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, focusing on this task, to discuss issues of interaction with the republics, regions and regions of the Russian Federation, which are traditional partners of our country.
Having designated cooperation in the field of science, education and culture as one of the key components of bilateral relations and stating with satisfaction that many Turkmen boys and girls study in Russian universities, the leader of the nation confirmed that direct contacts between educational institutions of both countries will continue to be supported. Touching upon the interaction in the field of culture, the head of state spoke about the expediency of holding the Days of Culture of the Russian Federation in Turkmenistan and a number of other events designed to expand humanitarian ties.
Summarizing the above, the leader of the nation instructed the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs R. Meredov to develop a program of events dedicated to the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation. Particular attention should be paid to cultural issues.
Discussion of all these, as well as other relevant issues, should be the main task of the upcoming business trip to the Russian Federation, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized. Based on the foregoing, the head of state signed the Order on sending a delegation of Turkmenistan to the city of Moscow on February 21-22 this year. Having sent the document to the Deputy Prime Minister, Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the digital system, the leader of the nation instructed to take the necessary steps to successfully solve the tasks set.
About Turkmen-Russian relations
Turkmenistan is a strategic partner of Russia in the Central Asian region. Bilateral relations are characterized by a trusting political dialogue, have a long history of friendship, and are dynamically developing in a variety of areas.
Despite ongoing pandemic restrictions, Russia and Turkmenistan maintain a high level of contact through regular videoconferences between ministries, departments, and regional governments.
In January-October 2021, the trade turnover between the two countries exceeded US $ 730 million.
Since April 2019, Gazprom has resumed supplies of Turkmen natural gas. In 2021, Russia imported 10 billion cubic meters of Turkmen gas.
Dozens of large Russian companies, including KAMAZ, Vozrozhdenie, Tatneft, operate on the Turkmen market.
The Intergovernmental Russian-Turkmen Commission for Economic Cooperation plays an important role in deepening bilateral economic ties. Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexey Overchuk and Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov co-chair the commission. They coordinate the most important economic issues on a regular basis (meetings of the co-chairs were held on 30 March, 5 June and 7 October 2021).
The high-level group for trade and investment support operate under the commission. It is responsible for coordination of bilateral business ties, create a favorable business climate for Russian and Turkmen companies.
The progressive pace of economic cooperation corresponds to the development of the regulatory framework of bilateral relations. There are over 170 interstate, intergovernmental and interdepartmental agreements regulating issues of cooperation in political, economic, military, humanitarian and other fields.
The countries have established close cooperation in the field of countering dangerous infectious diseases. Turkmenistan was among the first countries to register Russian anti-coronavirus vaccines such as Sputnik V, EpiVacCorona and Sputnik Light.
Last year, 330,000 sets of Sputnik V vaccine were delivered to Ashgabat. In January 2022 Russia sent to Turkmenistan 800,000 doses of Sputnik Light, including 300,000 doses were provided free of charge.
Over 30,000 students from Turkmenistan study at Russian universities. In the temporary absence of regular flights between the two countries, students were able to continue their studies remotely. Educational institutions in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Voronezh, Kazan, Rostov-on-Don, Samara, and Tver are the most popular among Turkmen youth.
A joint Russian-Turkmen Secondary School named after A.S.Pushkin has been operating in Ashgabat since 2002. High standards of education allow its graduates to pass entrance exams at leading universities in Russia and Turkmenistan.
After the pandemic situation normalizes, the parties plan to hold a number of postponed cultural events, including cross-cultural days, a week of Russian cinema in Turkmenistan, exchange tours of leading theaters. /// nCa, 22 February 2022