OREANDA-NEWS. January 15, 2010. President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Afghanistan Kai Eide.

Thanking the Turkmen leader for the heartfelt welcome, the guest said that he was glad to visit again Turkmenistan, which through its grandiose accomplishments and achievements ranked among the most dynamically developing countries in the world.

Welcoming heartily the United Nations high-ranking representative, the President emphasized that enhancement and expansion of collaboration with the largest and most authoritative international organisations, particularly the UN, was a strategic priority of the policy of the Turkmen state.

Evaluating highly Turkmenistan’s policy of openness and good neighbourliness, the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan expressed belief that Turkmenistan would further provide a reliable platform for implementing new joint projects in common interests.

Focusing on the progressive nature of the policy pursued by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the guest also underscored the significance and importance of the international initiatives put forward by the Turkmen leader in his historic speech at the 64th session of the UN General Assembly that had drawn a wide response and been welcomed by the world community.

Focusing with satisfaction on the high dynamics of the fruitful, constructive dialogue established in recent years, the President and his guest expressed belief that actively developing cooperation between Turkmenistan and the UN would continue serving as an important factor in strengthening peace and security in Central Asia. In this regard, Kai Eide welcomed Turkmenistan’s efforts that played a special role in establishing a peaceful life and fostering the social and economic progress of its southern neighbour – Afghanistan.

Emphasizing that Turkmenistan as well as the world community was interested in establishing lasting peace in Afghanistan, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that our countries had the far-reaching plans, which, on the one hand, would create the conditions conducive to stabilization of the situation in Afghanistan and, on the other, serve as a powerful factor in enhancing regional cooperation. These particularly included the important energy and transport projects initiated by Turkmenistan. Supporting the fraternal people of Afghanistan Turkmenistan supplied liquefied gas and electric power at discounted prices, provided humanitarian aid on a regular basis and implemented and financed the important projects in various fields.

The guest said that the UN evaluated highly other steps taken by Turkmenistan to address the urgent issues such as achieving global security, combating terrorism, transnational crime and illicit drug trafficking.

Discussing the prospects for further cooperation in this strategically important field, the President and his guest were unanimous that only interested cooperation that had proved its effectiveness could become a major tool for countering these destabilizing factors that posed a serious threat to all mankind. In this regard, emphasis was put on the role of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy in Central Asia that acted as an effective mechanism for early warning and preventing conflicts in the region.

Reaffirming Turkmenistan’s continual commitment to maintaining lasting peace and stability in the region, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stated that Turkmenistan intended to further actively contribute to global efforts to create the most favourable conditions for sustainable peaceful development in Afghanistan.

Underscoring the importance to maintain the fruitful dialogue, which had been given new incentives to develop through Turkmenistan’s international initiatives, the Turkmen leader and his guest expressed belief that all designated goals and aims would be achieved successfully.