OREANDA-NEWS. September 23, 2009. President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov had a meeting with US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in the afternoon.

Greeting the honorary Turkmen guest in the United States the US Secretary of State expressed satisfaction with an opportunity to meet the leader of Turkmenistan and discuss the most important aspects of bilateral mutually advantageous partnership.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, in turn, noted that having arrived in America to attend the 64th session of the UN General Assembly, Vice Chair of which Turkmenistan was elected for the second time, he intended to use the visit as an opportunity to further intensify business cooperation with the United States – one of its greatest and most authoritative partners.

Discussing the aspects of energy cooperation Mrs. Hilary Clinton highly appreciated Turkmenistan’s initiative to draft the UN Resolution “Stable and Reliable Energy Transit and Its Role in Ensuring Sustainable Development and International Cooperation” and said that her country stood ready to provide support and assistance in diversifying transit of energy through employing the American companies’ expertise in applying advanced technologies noting that the United States viewed Turkmenistan as the leader in energy transit to international markets and security in the region. The US Secretary of State positively evaluated bilateral education cooperation and called for maintaining partnership in this sphere through providing Turkmen young people with an opportunity to study in the United States as well.

During the meeting Mrs. Hilary Clinton clearly presented the US’s intent to cooperate with Turkmenistan at a higher level and suggested conducting consultations on a regular basis in Ashgabat and Washington to discuss a wide range of the political, energy, education issues, etc. US Secretary of State thanked Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for Turkmenistan’s active contribution to global efforts to support and assist Afghanistan and highly appreciated Turkmenistan’s humanitarian aid to this country, in particular energy supply.

Focusing on the global significance of security of pipeline infrastructure President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed satisfaction with the support of Turkmenistan’s initiative by the world community and adoption of the relevant UN Resolution. The leader of the Turkmen state said that this was the first step to address this challenge and the second step was conducting the international energy conference in Ashgabat. The next step would be putting forth the proposal to establish the working group under the aegis of the United Nations, which would be responsible for drafting the complex international legal document that would be aimed at building the effective system of guarantees of energy transit to world markets.

During the conversation Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized that hydrocarbon rich Turkmenistan advocated diversification of hydrocarbon resource to international market that entailed building diversified pipeline infrastructure. In this context Turkmenistan stood ready to cooperate with the American companies on oil production and processing and other sectors in the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea.

Touching upon the increasing dynamism of mutually advantageous Turkmen-American cooperation the President highly appreciated the operation of the renowned American companies such as Boeing, Caterpillar, John Deere, Case in Turkmenistan. Emphasis was put on positive collaboration in the spheres of science, culture and education. The Turkmen leader highly appreciated the activities of the US Peace Corps, whose volunteers had been working in our country in such spheres as education, health care, etc.

Touching upon the humanitarian aid provided to neighbouring Afghanistan the President said that Turkmenistan intended to built the school and hospital there and implement the long-term programme of support and assistance to its southern neighbour.

During the meeting the sides exchanged views on a wide spectrum of the issues of bilateral cooperation in compliance with the bilateral agreements as well. Having harmonized the approaches to further development of mutually advantageous partnership the sides focused on the aspects meeting the potential of two countries and mutual interests.

In conclusion the sides expressed belief that the meetings, talks, business contacts with the US business circles would promote further harmonization of the interests of the two countries on an equal and mutually advantageous basis.