Economic News (Information Agency Oreanda) , Russia
November 26, 2010 Friday
Turkmenistan and Armenia Laid Firm Foundations for Cooperation
Ashgabat. OREANDA-NEWS . November 26, 2010. President of the Republic
of Armenia Serj Sargsyan paid the official visit to Turkmenistan. On
November 24, the leaders of the two countries held the top level talks
in the Turkmen capital, which spotlighted the mutual willingness to
develop full cooperation in the interests of our two states and
nations.
In the afternoon, the plane of the President of the Republic of
Armenia landed at the Ashgabat International Airport decorated with
national flags of the two countries. Brea and salt was offered to the
Armenian leader and bouquets of flowers were presented.
The official ceremony of meetings the President of the Republic of
Armenia took place there. President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov warmly
and cordially welcomed his Armenian counterpart at the airport.
Upon concluding the official ceremony, the leaders of the two
countries had a brief conversation in the VIP hall of the Ashgabat
International Airport. Evaluating highly the dialogue established
between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Armenia, President Gurbanguly
Berdimuhamedov and President Serj Sargsyan focused on the invariable
intention of the countries to develop fruitful cooperation that the
top level talks in Ashgabat would give new incentives to and fill with
a new content.
>From the airport the corteges headed for the Oguzkent Hotel in
Ashgabat. In the VIP hall of the fashionable hotel the leaders of
Turkmenistan and the Republic of Armenia held the one-to-one talks.
Greeting heartily once again his Armenian counterpart, President
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized that Turkmenistan viewed this
meeting as an important new chapter in the history of the
Turkmen-Armenian intergovernmental dialogue. In this regard the
Turkmen leader expressed belief that the talks in Ashgabat would
enable to identify priority fields of mutually advantageous
partnership and fill it with a new content meeting modern realities.
Thanking the Turkmen leader for the heartfelt welcome, the President
of Armenia said that Armenia was keenly interested in strengthening
traditionally friendly relations with Turkmenistan and intensifying
multidimensional cooperation with Turkmen partners.
The two leaders discussed a wide range of aspects and identified the
promising vectors of bilateral collaboration as consistent with the
existing profound potential for consistent expansion and
diversification of fruitful contacts. The leaders of Turkmenistan and
Armenia exchanged views on important issues of regional and
international politics of mutual interest.
Then the talks were continued in the Congress hall with the
participation of the members of the government delegations of
Turkmenistan and the Republic of Armenia.
Greeting Cordially the President and members of the delegation of the
Republic of Armenia President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that
during the conversation the leaders of the two countries had discussed
the current state and prospects of bilateral relations, important
issues of regional and international politics and exchanged views on
further cooperation in fields of mutual interest.
This is the first visit of highly respected Serj Azatovich as the head
of state to Turkmenistan, and we have every reason to believe that it
will become a landmark event in the history of relations between
Turkmenistan and Armenia, give a proper impetus to intensify bilateral
contacts on a qualitatively new level. Both sides have requisites and
resources for that, said the Turkmen leader.
Noting with satisfaction that the meeting with the President of
Armenia spotlighted the similarity of approaches taken by the two
countries to address global development challenges, President
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on the responsible and consistent
position taken by the Republic of Armenia on such a crucial aspect of
the global agenda as energy security. We appreciate the fact that our
Armenian friends support Turkmenistans initiatives on energy
cooperation that we put forward in the framework of at the United
Nations, said the Turkmen leader. The talks in Ashgabat had confirmed
the mutual commitment to such key parameters of partnership in energy
supplies as equality between producers and consumers, diversification
of energy transit, fair price criteria as well as the need for
comprehensive safeguards for energy pipeline infrastructures. In this
context the Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that the
sides had agreed to continue cooperation in this field.
The President of Turkmenistan noted that it particularly concerned the
belief in the need to enhance steadily and maintain global peace,
security and stability, further promote broad international and
regional cooperation in this area. We are unanimous that the modern
realities dictate the need to develop new, I would rather say,
innovative approaches to addressing burning problems of achieving
global security in various aspects – political, economic,
environmental, energy, food and others, continued the Turkmen leader.
These aspects are interrelated nowadays, and therefore they require a
comprehensive, systematic, universal approach. Concerted efforts of
the international community expressed in relevant decisions of the
authoritative international organisations are to play a key role.
In this regard President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that the
agreement to maintain cooperation between Turkmenistan and Armenia
within the framework of international organisations, support
constructive proposals and initiatives aimed at improving the global
geopolitical and economic architecture and countering modern
challenges and threats had been reached.
The leader of Turkmenistan stressed that, in general, the talks had
showed that the Turkmen-Armenian political dialogue was developed
effectively. The sides found mutual understanding on nearly all
issues, and intergovernmental relations were truly friendly, equal and
respectful.
Focusing on the resources that both Turkmenistan and Armenia had to
expand trade and economic cooperation, not only in the fuel and energy
sector, the Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stated that
statistics showed that the dynamics of trade didnt reflect the
potential of our countries. In this regard the President of
Turkmenistan called for build up efforts to increase trade, start a
concrete discussion of parameters of bilateral partnership and
identify priorities as consistent with promising vectors and projects.
The Turkmen leader focused on Turkmenistans interest in cooperation
with Armenia in such sectors as machine-building, pharmaceutics,
electronic engineering, agriculture and food industry. Noting that
Turkmen partners stood ready to discuss in detail the possibilities
for implementing joint investment projects and promoting other forms
of interaction, the President focused on the need to give new
incentives to the joint intergovernmental commission for economic
cooperation.
Vast opportunities for partnership were opened up in the transport and
communications sectors. This is conditioned by the specificity of the
geographical location that let the two countries them play a great
role in building transport corridors between Asia and Europe. In this
regard we view Armenia as a promising partner in the framework
bilateral relations and as an important link of our cooperation with
other regions, said the Turkmen leader. In this context we welcome
Armenias participation in joint transport and communications projects.
Focusing on the importance of cultural, humanitarian and scientific
contacts for interstate cooperation, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted
that the history of relations between the peoples of Turkmenistan and
Armenia was more than one century old. This was evidenced by extant
Turkmen historical monuments located in the territory of Armenia and
the pieces of medieval literature that we regarded as our common
heritage. Also, this display the layers for joint work for Turkmen and
Armenian historians, anthropologists, literary critics to revive the
rich heritage of the Turkmen-Armenian historical ties.
Cooperation between the Academies of Sciences of the two countries,
educational institutions of Turkmenistan and the Republic of Armenia
in training highly qualified specialists and conducting research was
deemed to be relevant in the regard. Calling for strengthening and
promoting cooperation in the spheres of science and culture, the
President confirmed that collaboration in this field would be
continued.
Focusing on the importance of the issues put on the agenda of the
Turkmen-Armenian talks, the Turkmen leader noted that the agreements
reached in Ashgabat confirmed once again that Turkmenistan and the
Republic of Armenia had found mutual understanding and confidence and
intended to build up efforts to turn bilateral relations into close
and long-tern cooperation.
Expressing the wishes of peace and prosperity to the Armenian people,
the Turkmen leader thanked the leadership of Armenia and President
Serj Sargsyan for contributing substantially to strengthening
friendship and cooperation between our two states and nations.
Then the floor was given to President of the Republic of Armenia.
Expressing sincere gratitude to the Turkmen leader for the invitation
and an opportunity to visit Turkmenistan bound with Armenia with
long-standing ties of friendship and fruitful cooperation, Serj
Sargsyan said that Turkmen-Armenian relations were enhanced in all
fields.
The distinguished guest noted with satisfaction that the views of the
two countries on major issues of the global agenda were close or
coincided. In this context the President of Armenia expressed belief
that the efforts to intensify the bilateral political dialogue,
promote trade and economic and business relations, expand scientific
and cultural contacts fully met the long-term interests of the two
peoples and contributed to strengthening regional security and
stability.
Evaluating highly the constructive and sincere atmosphere of the
meeting with President of Turkmenistan, the Armenian leader said that
particular attention had been paid to the approaches to strengthening
bilateral relations. In this regard, Serj Sargsyan expressed belief
that through concerting efforts the sides could promote mutually
advantageous trade and economic cooperation and give it a new impetus.
The guest mentioned a substantial increase in trade between
Turkmenistan and the Republic of Armenia last year as an example of
successful partnership. The President of Armenia continued that the
sides were unanimous that there were huge reserves to enhance
bilateral trade which needed to be employed. The textile and carpet
exhibition of Turkmenistan and the Turkmen-Armenian business forum in
Yerevan and the business forum as well as the commodity exhibition of
the Republic of Armenia in Ashgabat were to achieve these goals.
The President of the Republic of Armenia congratulated President
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and the Turkmen people on the 15th
anniversary of neutrality of Turkmenistan. In this context Serj
Sargsyan said that he acknowledged the importance of Turkmenistans
standpoints formulated by the Turkmen leader in his speech at the 65th
session of the United Nations General Assembly as the Strategy of the
Future that meant the achievement of a broad and stable international
consensus on key aspects of development. The distinguished guest noted
that Armenia had supported ardently Turkmenistans initiatives,
including that on the establishment of the Energy Council under the
aegis the United Nations. In this context, Serj Sargsyan reaffirmed
that his country stood ready to cooperate in this field.
The coincidence or similarity of views on key international and
regional issues was the good groundwork for mutually advantageous
cooperation in the global arena, said the leader of Armenia noting
that Armenia attached considerable importance to constructive
collaboration between the foreign ministries of our countries.
Furthermore, Armenia was ready to develop further cooperation with
Turkmenistan in the framework of international and regional
organisations.
Taking the level of bilateral relations into consideration, President
Serj Sargsyan also focused on the appropriateness of intensifying
contacts between the lawmaking bodies of the two states.
Touching upon the aspects of economic partnership and focusing on the
existence of the great potential to intensify it, the Armenian leader,
in particular, said that his country was interested in buying Turkmen
electric power. The Armenian leader said that Armenia intended to open
a trading house in Ashgabat and stood ready to provide this
opportunity to Turkmenistan in Yerevan noting that the
intergovernmental Turkmen-Armenian commission for economic cooperation
was to play an effective role in increasing bilateral trade.
Mentioning the transport sector as one of the promising fields for
cooperation, the President of Armenia focused on the importance of the
project of the transnational railway corridor North-South initiated by
Turkmenistan.
Underscoring considerable importance attached by the sides to
humanitarian cooperation based on centuries-old historical and
cultural ties between the two nations, Serj Sargsyan proposed to hold
the Days of Culture of Turkmenistan in Armenia and the Days of Culture
of the Republic of Armenia in Turkmenistan. Focusing on the
significance of promoting cooperation in the spheres of science,
education and health care, the President of Armenia shared the view of
his Turkmen counterpart on this matter.
In conclusion the Armenian leader cordially thanked the Turkmen people
for the warm attitude towards his fellow countrymen who resided in
Turkmenistan and had found their second homeland there.
Expressing belief that Turkmen-Armenian relations would be developed
further successfully, the leader of the friendly state invited
President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to pay an official
visit to the Republic of Armenia at any convenient time.
This invitation was accepted with gratitude. The dates of the visit
would be adjusted through diplomatic channels.
The ceremony of signing bilateral documents took place upon concluding
the talks.
The Programme of Cooperation between Magtumguly Turkmen State
University and Yerevan State University for the period of 2010-2015;
the Agreement on Cooperation between the Chamber of Commerce and
Industry of Turkmenistan and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of
the Republic of Armenia; the Agreement on Cooperation in Culture
between the Ministry of Culture and Broadcasting of Turkmenistan and
the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Armenia, the Agreement on
Cooperation in Education between the Ministry of Education of
Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic
of Armenia; the Agreement on the intergovernmental Turkmen-Armenian
commission for economic cooperation between the Government of
Turkmenistan and the Government of the Republic of Armenia.
President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of
the Republic of Armenia Serj Sargsyan affixed their signatures to the
Joint Communique to the applause of those present.
Upon concluding the signing ceremony, two leaders gave a press conference.
Commenting on the outcomes of the talks held in a constructive
atmosphere and in the spirit of mutual understanding, respect and
equal partnership, the President of Turkmenistan said that the top
level talks had reaffirmed that Turkmenistan and the Republic of
Armenia were continuously committed to close collaboration meeting the
interests of the two countries and spotlighted the existence of the
potential required to further the intergovernmental dialogue in
various fields.
The Turkmen leader said that the sides had confirmed the mutual
willingness to promote peace and stability and create a climate of
mutual understanding and confidence in Central Asia and South
Caucasus. It was emphasized that intensification of cooperation
between the two countries contributed to ensuring global peace,
stability and security. Turkmenistan and Armenia had expressed the
readiness to develop partnerships in this area in the bilateral format
as well as in the framework of the United Nations, the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Commonwealth of
Independent States and other authoritative international
organisations.
In this regard, said the President of Turkmenistan, we supported the
practice of regular visits of government delegations at various levels
and exchange of views on aspects of bilateral and multilateral
relations. The sides had agreed to step up efforts to counter new
threats and challenges to international security, including terrorism,
transnational crime and illicit drug trafficking.
The national leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stated that the
Turkmen-Armenian top level talks had strengthened the foundations of
qualitatively new and more dynamic trade and economic partnership
between Turkmenistan and Armenia. Developing and enhancing bilateral
relations in the trade, fuel and energy, transport and communications,
agricultural sectors, pharmaceutics, processing and chemical, textile
and light industries was deemed most promising. The sides had agreed
to intensify cooperation in those fields, said the President of
Turkmenistan noting that these talks had resulted in signing the
package of documents on cooperation in trade and economy, science and
education.
The peoples of Turkmenistan and Armenia were bound with long-standing
ties of friendship, mutual respect and sympathy, continued the
President. Therefore, said the Turkmen leader, we attach particular
importance to the humanitarian component of our relations and will
support in every possible way the aspirations of our people for close
collaboration, the study of the rich cultural and historical heritage
of the two countries and promote collaboration between workers of art
and culture of Turkmenistan and Armenia. Also, the sides had agreed to
expand forms and vectors of collaboration between the Academies of
Sciences, which had the firm longstanding traditions.
Emphasizing that Turkmenistan and the Republic of Armenia had once
again demonstrated their commitment and willingness to develop close
and multidimensional cooperation on a long-term basis, the Turkmen
leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that this cooperation met the
fundamental interests of both nations, the modern realities of the
development of bilateral relations.
In conclusion cordially thanking once again his Armenian counterpart
for the constructive talks, the President of Turkmenistan expressed
the best wishes to the friendly people of Armenia.
Addressing the press conference, the President of the Republic of
Armenia evaluated highly the constructiveness and fruitfulness of the
top level talks in Ashgabat, which had turned into a thorough exchange
of views on the current state and prospects for developing
Turkmen-Armenian relations, which were filled with a new content
nowadays.
Focusing on the outcomes of the top level talks which had focused on a
wide range of aspects of bilateral cooperation, the distinguished
guest reaffirmed that Armenia was committed to the strategy for full
cooperation with Turkmenistan in all fields. Touching upon trade and
economic relations between our countries, the sides were unanimous
that there existed the potential and conditions conducive to further
expanding effective partnership. Deepening cooperation in the cultural
and humanitarian sphere, where vast opportunities to foster mutually
beneficial contacts were opened up, was deemed to be important.
Touching upon the current foreign policy issues, President Serj
Sargsyan noted that the two countries stood ready to cooperate in the
framework of the UN and other international organisations to promote
peace and security.
Expressing gratitude to the President of Turkmenistan for the
heartfelt welcome, the leader of Armenia once again heartily thanked
the Turkmen leader for extending hospitality that he and members of
the official delegations of the Republic of Armenia could feel from
the very first minutes in the Turkmen land.
In the evening an official reception was given in honour of the
distinguished guest on behalf of the President of Turkmenistan. The
leaders of the two states exchanged the speeches during the reception.
From: A. Papazian