All news

Lavrov goes to Ashgabat for talks with Turkmen leadership, to unveil embassy compound

The foreign minister will meet with the Turkmen leadership to discuss topical issues of bilateral relations, including their trade, economic and humanitarian components

ASHGABAT, January 27. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov goes on Wednesday for a two-day visit to the capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, for talks with the country leadership and to take part in a ceremony to unveil a new embassy compound.

On Thursday, the foreign minister will meet with the Turkmen leadership to discuss topical issues of bilateral relations, including their trade, economic and humanitarian components.

The sides are expected "to substantially exchange opinions on the main issues of the international agenda, cooperation of the two countries in the United Nations, within the framework of the ‘Caspian Five’ (Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan) as well as the Commonwealth of Independent States," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

It said much attention will be focused "on the situation in the Central Asian region with due regard for the situation in Afghanistan," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said. She said "fight against international terrorism in the Middle East and the crisis situation in Ukraine" would also be a top focus. The two foreign ministers will sign a program for cooperation between their ministries for 2016.

Moscow "values highly cooperation with Ashgabat in different spheres and sees the friendly and neutral Turkmenistan as strategic partner," the ministry said, noting that it hoped the visit would further strengthen strategic partnership of Russia and Turkmenistan.