OREANDA-NEWS. March 15, 2012. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine K.Grishenko, Head of Kiev City State Administration A. Popov, and Ambassador of Ukraine to Turkmenistan V. Shevalev and other officials met the President of Turkmenistan at the Boryspil International Airport. Among those greeting the President of Turkmenistan were the members of the Governmental delegation of Turkmenistan as well as Turkmen students studying at the higher educational institutions of Ukraine.

The President’s cortege headed from the Boryspil International Airport to his residence.

The first visit of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to Ukraine will offer a powerful incentive to cooperation between the two countries. On the eve of the Turkmen leader’s visit to Ukraine, the third Turkmen-Ukrainian business forum took place in the capital of Ukraine. The Agreement on Cooperation between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine was signed during the forum.

The ceremony of official meeting of the high Turkmen guest took place at the building of the Administration of the President of Ukraine. President Viktor Yanukovych cordially greeted President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. The State Anthems of Ukraine and Turkmenistan sounded accompanied by a salute of twenty one salvoes that is a symbol of honor paid to the highest guests.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Viktor Yanukovych headed to the building of the Administration of the President of Ukraine. After the traditional photographing against the background of the national flags of Turkmenistan and Ukraine, the two leaders headed to the Pink Hall, where they held one-on-one. During the meeting held in the atmosphere of mutual understanding and trust, and, at the same time, in a business way, the two leaders exchanged their views on the current status and prospects of the Turkmen-Ukrainian cooperation, and discussed a number of urgent issues of regional and international policies of mutual interest.

Then, the talks continued in an expanded format with participation of the members of government delegations of the two countries.

Thanking the Turkmen leader for accepting the invitation to visit Ukraine, President Viktor Yanukovych expressed his confidence in that the current top level talks, agreements achieved and documents signed within the framework of the Turkmen leader’s official visit to Ukraine would promote creating a favorable atmosphere for further deepening of the relations between the countries. President of Ukraine focused on the similarity of the positions of the two countries on key issues of the international policy, and called for the intensification of political dialogue, in particular within the UN, OSCE, and the CIS, where Turkmenistan had chaired this year.

Underlining that today, the favorable conditions are created for further growth of trade turnover between the two countries, which has increased as much as three times in 2011 as compared with 2010, the Ukrainian leader has confirmed the mutual intention of the countries to intensify the trading and economic partnership. President Viktor Yanukovych underlined the importance of the documents prepared for signing that testified to the interest of the two countries in strengthening cooperation in trading and economic, power, transport and communications, construction, industry, agricultural spheres.

Victor Yanukovych noted that Turkmenistan could use the existing potential of Ukraine in developing production and transportation of natural gas, underlining, in particular, that Ukraine was ready to take an active part in the projects on development of gas fields, construction of intra- and interstate pipelines through the territory of Turkmenistan. The Ukrainian side is also ready to cooperate with the Turkmen partners in the sphere of modernization of power plants and supply of relevant equipment, including for the oil and gas and power facilities.

Particular attention was paid to traditional bilateral cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian sphere. Reaffirming the readiness of Ukraine to widen opportunities for Turkmen students to receive education in Ukrainian institutions, Victor Yanukovich underlined the significance of establishing cooperation directly between universities and research centers of the two countries.

The floor was given to the President of Turkmenistan. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed belief in that this meeting held in the year of the 20th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkmenistan and Ukraine, would allow strengthening the traditionally friendly relations between the two countries that gained more progressive and fruitful character.

According to the Turkmen leader, Turkmenistan and Ukraine have similar or coincident positions on the urgent issues of the modern time. Expressing deep gratitude to the Government of Ukraine for the support of international initiatives put forward by Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov underlined that Turkmenistan considered the proposals initiated by Ukraine with particular respect and, in particular, supported the candidacy of Ukraine for the membership for the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for 2015-2017. Recalling that this year Turkmenistan chaired the CIS and would host important events, the Turkmen leader invited the Government of Ukraine to take active part in them.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that it would be reasonable for the Joint Turkmen-Ukrainian intergovernmental commission for economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation to study the opportunities for increasing the volume of trade. The Turkmen leader also suggested considering a possibility of opening of Trading Houses of Turkmenistan and Ukraine in the capitals of the both countries in 2012.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that Turkmenistan possessed rich hydrocarbon resources, favorable geographical location and transit-transport facilities. There are good prospects for cooperation in the energy sector, including delivery of Turkmen gas to Ukraine, joint cooperation in the oil and gas processing industries, modernization of power infrastructure in Turkmenistan.

The Turkmen leader said that Turkmenistan and Ukraine had well-developed gas pipeline infrastructures, and rich experience in transportation of hydrocarbons, including through the transit areas. The President of Turkmenistan highlighted the importance of developing reliable international and legal mechanisms to ensure the stable and safe transit, as well as diversification of energy supplies to the world markets.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that our country was interested in cooperation with Ukraine in such areas as transport and communications, metallurgy, machine building, chemical, electrical and electronic, textile, woodworking, and the pharmaceutical industries. We intend to continue to continue modernizing municipal and urban infrastructure, based on the useful experience of cooperation with Ukrainian partners. Turkmenistan has opportunity to significantly increase the volumes of supplying the products of the fuel and energy complex, chemical and light industries and agro-industrial sector.

Today, over 30 enterprises with participation of Ukrainian capital successfully work in Turkmenistan, 64 investment projects have been implemented amounted to over USD 2 billion. The sphere of tourism can be a new sphere of business partnership between the two countries. The Avaza National tourist zone on the Turkmen Caspian coast is a very promising one in terms of implementation of various investment projects.

The Turkmen leader said that the Days of Culture of Ukraine were successfully held in Turkmenistan in April, 2011. At present, Turkmenistan is preparing for the Days of Turkmen Culture in Ukraine scheduled for this year. President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov called for holding the Week of Turkmen and Ukrainian Cinematography in both countries this year. Ukraine is one of the leading partners of Turkmenistan in training highly qualified personnel.

In conclusion of the top level talks, the ceremony of signing bilateral documents took place. Under the applause of those present at the ceremony Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Viktor Yanukovych signed the Joint Ukrainian-Turkmen Communiquй.

The Agreement between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of Ukraine on Joint intergovernmental commission for economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation; the Interstate Programme for trading and economic cooperation between Turkmenistan and Ukraine for 2012-2015; the Memorandum on cooperation in the spheres of healthcare, medical science, education and pharmaceutical industry between the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine; the Protocol between the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan and the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine on cooperation in the sphere of science and technologies; the Programme on cooperation between the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan and the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in the sphere of science and technologies; the Agreement on Cooperation between the National Olympic Committee of Turkmenistan and the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine; the Protocol between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on Amending the Agreement between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on cooperation in the field of government communication signed in Ashgabat on January 28, 1998 were signed during the ceremony.

Moreover, a solid package of signed documents that testify to the high efficiency of the state visit of the President of Turkmenistan to Ukraine, includes the agreements aimed at establishing direct relations between the particular regions of the two countries. Among them are the Agreement between the Khyakimlik of Lebap Velayat of Turkmenistan and the Donetsk Regional State Administration of Ukraine on trading and economic, scientific and technological and cultural cooperation, as well as the Agreement between Mary Velayat of Turkmenistan and Kharkov Regional State Administration of Ukraine on trading, economic, scientific, technological, and cultural cooperation.

In conclusion of the signing ceremony, the leaders of the two countries made a brief address to the media.

Commenting on the outcomes of the top level talks held in traditionally friendly, trusting atmosphere, the President of Ukraine underlined that mutual understanding was reached in all issues under discussion during the meeting.

In his address to the media the President of Turkmenistan focused on the efficient character of the negotiations. It was decided to open the Trading House of Turkmenistan in Kiev, and the Trading House of Ukraine in Ashgabat in the near future. Moreover, there are huge prospects for joint work in the fuel and energy sector, as well as in such spheres as petrochemistry, machinery construction, transport and communications, construction, and agriculture. The new vector for cooperation is the tourist industry. The traditionally close ties in such spheres as culture, science and education play an important role in strengthening the friendship between Turkmenistan and Ukraine.

In the afternoon, within the framework of the visit of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to Ukraine, Prime Minister Nikolay Azarov gave a dinner in honor of the high Turkmen guest at the residence of the President of Turkmenistan. During the reception, the guests exchanged their views on key aspects of bilateral cooperation in the context of the outcome of the top level talks, and the prospects for further development of fruitful partnership in all spheres. In conclusion, the President of Turkmenistan and the Prime Minister of Ukraine bade farewell to each other, expressing confidence in the successful development of bilateral relations.

Then Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov headed to the Park of Eternal Glory to the soldiers of the Great Patriotic War, located on the bank of the Dnieper River. Paying tribute to the brave heroes of the Ukrainian people, the President of Turkmenistan laid flowers to the monument and paid the respect to the heroes of the Great Patriotic War with silence minute.

Then the Turkmen leader headed to the center of Kiev to take part in the ceremony of laying flowers to the monument of Magtymguly Fragi. As is known, the ceremony of opening of the monument installed in the park named after the great poet and thinker Magtymguli took place in May, 2001. Paying tribute to the great Turkmen poet and thinker, whose artistic heritage is an integral part of the world's spiritual treasures, the Turkmen leader laid flowers to the Monument. Here, at the memorial complex, the President of Turkmenistan talked with Turkmen youth.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov headed to the Club of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to take part in the presentation of Ukrainian companies. Upon arrival to the club President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovich cordially greeted the honorary Turkmen guest. Among the participants of the business forum were the members of the official delegations of friendly states, representatives of ministries and departments, businessmen of the both countries, and the heads of the leading Ukrainian companies. The Presidents of the two countries supported the initiative of participants of the presentation in the necessity to intensify the efforts in establishing and developing direct ties between enterprises, companies and firms of Turkmenistan, and Ukraine.

President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych gave an official dinner in honor of the distinguished guest at the Reception House of the Administration of the President of Ukraine located in one of the most picturesque areas of Kiev. During the dinner the leaders of the two countries exchanged the speeches.

Within the framework of the Turkmen leader’s official visit to Ukraine, the President of Turkmenistan will meet with the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada V. Lytvynin and visit the National Circus of Ukraine.