OREANDA-NEWS. June 17, 2013. President of Latvia Andris Berzins met with the deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov, who is in Latvia to take part in a high-level seminar that is being organised by Latvia’s Foreign Ministry and Transportation Ministry, “Transport Corridors between the Heart of Asia and the World.”
 
The two officials exchanged views about the expansion of co-operation between the two countries which began during the President’s recent official visit to Turkmenistan, focusing on transport, logistics, education, culture, and co-operation between the two countries under the auspices of international organisations.
 
“From the European perspective, Turkmenistan sees Latvia as a bridge of sorts between our country and the European Union,” said Mr Meredov. “For that reason, if Latvia makes use of its presidency of the European Union in 2015 and announces that one of its priorities is co-operation with Central Asian countries, then we will certainly support you.” The minister also presented President Berzins with heartfelt words of thanks from the Turkmen President for the recent exchange of visits between the two countries, as well as for the open, deeply interested and constructive co-operation which exists between them.
 
“I bring you greetings and confirmation of deep respect for you personally and the entire Latvian nation from our President,” Mr Meredov added, emphasising that the meeting sent a clear signal about the fact that the search for new areas of co-operation which began during the recent visit in terms of new transport corridors, port infrastructure and logistics – something that is of key importance to Turkmenistan at this time – is continuing with new vigour. He said that during this visit, the Turkmen delegation will visit Ventspils to learn about the operations of the port that is located there and to talk about opportunities for partnership.
 
President Berzins thanked his guest for the sincere welcome that he received in Turkmenistan and asked him to deliver the President’s personal greetings to the Turkmen President. Mr Berzins added that during the meeting of Central European heads of state in Bratislava which will take tomorrow and the next day, he will certainly inform his colleagues about ways of expanding co-operation with Central Asian countries, including Turkmenistan – something which Latvia sees as being of great importance in the search for new economic partnerships between the two regions.
 
Both officials praised a memorandum of co-operation that is to be signed by representatives of civil aviation institutions from the two countries tomorrow, thus opening up the possibility of new direct flights between Riga and Ashabad. Mr Meredov said that Turkmenistan is also interested in developing co-operation in the areas of information technology and higher education, especially in terms of education in the field of medicine. He also reaffirmed Turkmenistan’s readiness to represent its culture in Latvia in 2014, when Riga will be the European Cultural Capital.