OREANDA-NEWS. December 24, 2009. President of Russia Dmitriy paid a working visit to Turkmenistan Medvedev. As is known, the Russian leader paid this return visit at the invitation of the leader of the Turkmen state to foster bilateral relations initially based on the traditions of heartfelt friendship, good neighborliness and mutually advantageous cooperation. Thus, the top-level talks in Ashgabat was a logical continuation of the recent meetings between the leaders of Turkmenistan and Russia during the visit of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to Russia and the informal summit of CIS countries in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

It should be noted that in recent years the intergovernmental dialogue has been filled with a new concrete content in all fields – political, trade, economic and humanitarian. That this visit to Turkmenistan coincided with the opening of the new facility in Ashgabat – the magnificent building of A. S. Pushkin Turkmen-Russian School is symbolic in this regard. The participation of Presidents Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Dmitriy Medvedev in the opening ceremony attached special significance to this event.

The President’s plane landed at the Ashgabat International Airport decorated with the national flags of the two friendly countries late at night. Vice Premier, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan R. Meredov and other official persons met the distinguished guest.

In the morning the President of the Russian Federation arrived to the Cabinet of Ministers building, where President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov heartily greeted Dmitriy Medvedev at the main entrance.

The leaders of Turkmenistan and Russia exchanged a friendly handshake and entered the building. After having a photograph taken on the background of the national flags of two countries Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov invited his Russian counterpart to the Fireplace Hall, where the leaders held the one-to-one talks.

In the atmosphere of mutual understanding and confidence intrinsic of the Turkmen-Russia relations the Presidents discussed the progress in implanting the agreements and exchanged views on the important issues of bilateral cooperation as well as regional and international politics of mutual interest.

Stating with satisfaction the high dynamics of the intergovernmental dialogue Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Dmitriy Medvedev reiterated the invariable intention of two countries to develop and intensify constructive partnership in the whole spectrum of fields.

Then the government delegations of Turkmenistan and Russia joined in the talks in the Big Conference Hall.

Greeting the President and the delegation of the Russian Federation in the Turkmen land and thanking the distinguished guest for accepting the invitation to visit Turkmenistan, the Turkmen leader noted that it was the fifth meeting with the leader of Russia this year. Focusing on the constructive and traditionally friendly atmosphere of the talks Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that the relations between Turkmenistan and Russia were developed as strategic partnership that fully reflected the essence and content of bilateral contacts.

Touching upon the foreign-policy aspect of the talks, the President of Turkmenistan noted that discussing the situation on the world arena the sides dwelt upon the regional processes, in particular in Central Asia and the Caspian Sea Basin. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stated that for the most part the sides had the similar views on these issues.

The Turkmen leader said that in their foreign policies both Turkmenistan and Russia assigned primary importance to achievement of stability and security and contribution to global efforts in the framework of e UN, OSCE and other authoritative international and regional institutions which aimed their activities at preventing conflicts.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that Turkmenistan shared and understood Russia’s approach to ensuring security, in particular the statement that security of one country could not be achieved at the expense of that of another. The Turkmen leader noted that in fact Turkmenistan and Russia were talking about the same things, shared a world outlook. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that this mutual understanding allowed the partners today to effectively work together on the world arena, to support each other in the framework of the international organisations as well as to coordinate efforts to address challenges of the modern world, noting that this collaboration would be continued.

Focusing on bilateral trade and economic contacts that were consistently and steadily developed in all fields, the Turkmen leader noted with satisfaction that the regions of Russia were more actively involved in this process. Highly evaluating the prospects of this form of cooperation Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on the positive dynamics of turnover of commodities between two countries. That it had increased without the gas component in recent years so high that Russia ranked the number one trade partner of Turkmenistan was quite illustrative, the Turkmen leader noted.

Noting that the current visit of the President of the Russian Federation coincided with the significant and symbolic event – the opening of the new building of A. S. Pushkin Turkmen-Russia School supplied with state-of-the-art equipment in Ashgabat, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov reaffirmed Turkmenistan’s intention to further promote cultural and humanitarian, educational, scientific contacts. Much was being done for this purpose by both countries, the Turkmen leader said citing Russia’s active participation in the large-scale international conferences, artistic festivals in Turkmenistan as an example. Then Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that Russia conducted the book exhibitions, the Days of Russian Cinematography and other activities in Turkmenistan on a regular basis. Various meetings, the days of art to mark the holidays and significant dates of Turkmenistan were organized in the Russian Federation.

Emphasizing that these talks proved the truly friendly and sincere nature of the Turkmen-Russian relations that were highly valued in Turkmenistan the Turkmen leader gave the floor to his counterpart from Russia.

The President of the Russian Federation emphasized that he shared the Turkmen leader’s evaluation of the interstate relations as strategic partnership in all key fields, whether it be foreign policy, economic or humanitarian sphere. Focusing on the international issues discussed during the talks, Dmitriy Medvedev underscored the proximity or coincidence of the views on modern challenges including the principles of building modern security architecture on the planet and the Eurasian continent. In this regard, the Russian leader confirmed the readiness for further collaboration in the framework of the UN and the regional organisations.

Touching upon trade and economic cooperation, Dmitriy Medvedev noted that much had been done in this sphere for the past years and expressed profound gratitude to his Turkmen counterpart for paying great attention to bilateral economic cooperation that had been diversified considerably over the period. This was collaboration in not only in the energy sector that, of course, remained the foundation of Turkmen-Russia partnership but also in other sectors. That was evidenced by bilateral trade turnover that rose in spite of the global economic crisis. Thus the foundation for bilateral cooperation was laid for many years ahead. Dmitriy Medvedev said that the countries would continue cooperation in the energy sector expressing belief that this partnership had the promising and log-term prospects.

Sharing the Turkmen leader’s opinion on the successful development of bilateral relations at the regional level, the Russian leader noted that the palette of these contacts was expanding and being filled with a new content nowadays. In recent years the delegations of various regions of Russia including St. Petersburg and the Astrakhan Oblast had visited Turkmenistan several times. This fact was illustrated by the presence of the Governors of the Astrakhan Oblast and the Altai Kray during the talks. Touching upon the other aspects of cooperation, Dmitriy Medvedev noted that collaboration in the transport, communications and telecommunications sectors and agriculture was deemed very important. In this context, the honorary guest focused on the significance of the CIS Agricultural that had been held this year and welcomed the Turkmen leader’s proposal to organize the similar bilateral forum with emphasis on regional cooperation in 2010.

Dmitriy Medvedev stated that Russia appreciated substantial expansion of humanitarian contacts between two countries in recent yards. Charactering the opening of the new building of A. S. Pushkin Turkmen-Russian School as another symbol of friendship and fruitful partnership between Turkmenistan and Russia, the honorary guest expressed the readiness to implement new educational projects. The Russian leader said that each year Russia increased the quota of the government scholarships for citizens of Turkmenistan, underscoring the effectiveness of the ongoing joint projects including the Ashgabat branch of Gubkin Russian State University Oil and Gas. Further development of cultural cooperation was deemed important.

Dmitriy Medvedev said that thus Turkmenistan and Russia had a wide spectrum of fields for bilateral relations. Evaluating the regularity of the bilateral meetings and contacts at the top level already producing practical results, the President of Russia thanked the Turkmen leader for cooperation and expressed belief that his working visit to Ashgabat would be very fruitful.

Upon concluding the talks the ceremony of signing the bilateral documents took place.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Dmitriy Medvedev signed the Agreement on expansion of strategic cooperation in the energy sector and machine building between Turkmenistan and Russia to the applause of those present.

The Turkmengaz State Concern and Russia’s Gazprom export signed the document on the amendments to the gas sales contract.

Then the Presidents of Turkmenistan and Russia held a press conference.

Addressing the Turkmen and foreign journalists, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that the meeting with the leader of Russia had confirmed the mutual intention and readiness to further increase cooperation steadily in various fields and the availability of real opportunities for that.

The President of Turkmenistan said that the talks had focused the issues relating to strengthening peace, stability and security at the global and regional levels informing that the partners had agreed to foster the strategy of close cooperation on these issues in the framework of the international organisations, particularly the UN, that had proved its usefulness and compliance with mutual interests. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that the countries had the common aims – the world without wars and conflicts, the fair and equitable relationships between states, the inviolability of the principles set forth in the UN Charter as the basis for the entire system of international relations.

Russia and Turkmenistan, the Turkmen leader noted, would intensify cooperation to address such urgent problems and challenges as international terrorism, transnational organized crime, illicit drug trafficking. In this context, the countries shared the opinion about the need to build the multilateral mechanisms for achieving security and stability in Central Asia and the Caspian Sea Basin.

Russia was a strategic partner for Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said, noting that nowadays bilateral relations were built in all the key fields on a long-term basis and the principles of equality and respect to mutual interests, on mutual understanding and closeness of the approaches to challenges and trends in an international life.

The President of Turkmenistan informed that during the talks the sides had expressed satisfaction with the current state and progress of the Turkmen-Russian economic and trade relations. Today, this cooperation was developing successfully in the key areas such as the fuel and energy, transport, communications and communications sectors, power industry, agriculture, aviation and shipbuilding, and Russia had the leading position among Turkmenistan’s trade partners.

Addressing the journalists, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that the regions of Russia including the Republic of Tatarstan, Astrakhan and Sverdlovsk Oblast, St. Petersburg were more actively involve in interstate cooperation. Turkmenistan welcomed and encouraged this form of cooperation and considered it very promising, President of Turkmenistan said.

Underscoring the importance of developing humanitarian cooperation Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on the deeply symbolic significance of the opening of the new building of A. S. Pushkin Turkmen-Russian School in Ashgabat that evidenced the succession of the traditions of mutual understanding and enrichment of cultures. The President of Turkmenistan said that cultural, educational and scientific contacts between our countries would be encouraged further, the conditions conducive to wide exchange in these spheres would be created and contacts between workers of art and culture would be facilitated.

Turkmenistan and Russia, the Turkmen leader emphasized, built relationships on the rich historical experience, the firm ties of friendship, good neighbourliness, mutual respect between the two peoples, an understanding of modern realities as well as the existing profound potential of partnership. In this regard Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov reaffirmed the mutual intention to use fully this potential being aware that close versatile Turkmen-Russian cooperation met the fundamental interests of both nations as well as had positive impact on the regional and international processes.

Addressing the journalists, the RF President thanked the head of the Turkmen state and the Turkmen partners for the heartfelt welcomes and hospitality emphasizing that this meeting with President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov continued a series of the intensive and highly efficient Turkmen-Russian contacts at the top level. In this regard, Dmitriy Medvedev noted that the current working visit to Ashgabat summed up the year 2009 that was coming to an end on a high note.

Touching upon on the agenda of the talks, Dmitriy Medvedev said that it focused on the aspects of economic cooperation including the prospects for expanding mutually advantageous trade and investment contacts. Thus, despite the world economic crisis bilateral turnover of commodities continued to rise – within ten months of the current year it made up about USD 900 million excluding gas exports, or increased approximately by 20 percent as compared to 2008. Dmitriy Medvedev said that Russia viewed it as a good illustration of effective joint working, and the sides were unanimous that there were the substantial reserves for developing trade particularly through diversifying and broadening the range of exports and cooperation in various fields.

The large Russian companies, the President of Russia continued, such as Gazprom, Stroytransgaz, Itera, Zarubezhneft, KAMAZ and others successfully operated in Turkmenistan. Dmitriy Medvedev emphasized that it was in Russia’s interest to further encourage investments in industrial cooperation. Evaluating highly the role of the intergovernmental Turkmen-Russia commission on economic cooperation, the Russian leader joined in the thanks expressed by the President of Turkmenistan to the co-chairmen and members of this commission noting that the contracts fostering cooperation was a practical result of their work.

Noting that the agenda mainly focused and would focus on fuel and energy partnership, Dmitriy Medvedev underscored the availability of the foundation for this cooperation. In this regard the RF President evaluated the significance of the agreement on cooperation in the energy sector and machine buildings that had been signed on that day. Dmitriy Medvedev expressed belief that it was a step forward for it meant concretization and new prospects for joint working in a number of spheres. The President of Russia said that the decision adopted on that day would lay the firm foundation for bilateral energy cooperation in the near future.

Characterizing cooperation in the humanitarian sphere, particularly in education, as an important trend in the Turkmen-Russian dialogue, Dmitriy Medvedev underscored the significance of the opening of the new building of A. S. Pushkin Turkmen-Russian School in Ashgabat. The distinguished guest also expressed satisfaction with the work of the Ashgabat branch of the Gubkin State University of Oil and Gas that had been opened on the initiative of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. Noting that this April Turkmenistan hosted the Days of Russian Culture, Dmitriy Medvedev confirmed Russia’s readiness to organize the Days of Turkmen Culture in Russia in 2010.

Underscoring the coincidence of the basic approaches to urgent international issues, Dmitriy Medvedev said the talks had highlighted the need to concert efforts to respond to problems and challenges such as illicit drug trafficking, transnational organized crime and terrorism.

Evaluating the very constructive and friendly nature of the talks that was intrinsic of the top-level contacts, the President of Russia thanked the Turkmen leader for the friendly, businesslike atmosphere of the meetings and the heartfelt welcome extended in Turkmenistan to Russian partners.

Upon concluding the press conference the leaders of Turkmenistan and Russia took part in the ceremony of opening the new building of A. S. Pushkin Turkmen-Russian School. The Presidents visited one of the families, who had received the apartment in the newly constructed house nearby the school building.

Upon concluding the excursion around the apartment house Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov invited Dmitriy Medvedev to visit the Ahalteke horse breeding complex and admire the beauty of Ahalteke horses – a priceless heritage of the Turkmen people. The Russian leader accepted the invitation with great pleasure.

Then the leaders of two friendly countries exchanged heartfelt farewell. Expressing the wishes of peace and wellbeing to the peoples of Russia and Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Dmitriy Medvedev expressed belief that the intergovernmental relations would be further developed successfully.

From the Ashgabat International Airport the President of Russia left for Moscow.