ASHGABAT, January 28. /TASS/. Russia hopes to develop and strengthen cooperation with Turkmenistan in international and bilateral issues, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday at the meeting with Turkmenistan’s President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow.
"Russian leader Vladimir Putin sends you his best regards, remembers the meeting in Tehran at the end of November and looks forward to new contacts, especially when positive tendencies need to be secured," Lavrov told Berdimuhamedow.
"We are interested in coordinating our actions in issues connected with preventing terrorist threat, drug smuggling, organized crime," the Russian foreign minister stressed.
He reminded that the inter-governmental commission on trade and economic cooperation "has started its active work." Lavrov noted qualitative shifts in agriculture, medical industry. "We appreciate the attention you pay to humanitarian and cultural ties," he added.
"We hope that during the visit we are able to confirm tendencies of progressive development of relations between Russia and Turkmenistan," Lavrov concluded.
Russia and Turkmenistan note progress in trade and economic cooperation
Russia and Turkmenistan note substantial progress in trade and economic cooperation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov went on to say.
"We considered all aspects of our cooperation broadly and fundamentally taking account of those agreements that were reached by the presidents of Russia and Turkmenistan, including during their recent contacts at the end of November in Tehran," Lavrov said. "We noted substantial progress in trade and economic cooperation from the point of view of results and especially prospects," he added.
The Russian foreign minister reminded that another session of the inter-governmental commission and contacts between entrepreneurs of the two countries are planned this year. "Our common assessment is that these tendencies should be supported in every possible way," he added.
Turkmenistan’s president reaffirms support for Russian language
According to Sergey Lavrov, Turkmenistan’s President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow has reaffirmed adherence to supporting the Russian language.
"Turkmenistan’s president has confirmed the unwavering position of the country’s leadership to support the Russian language, develop cultural and educational contacts," Lavrov said after the meeting with Berdimuhamedow in Ashgabat.
It was noted at the meeting that many Turkmen citizens come to Russia to receive education. "We also actively support this," he added.
Russia and Turkmenistan discuss risks coming from Afghanistan
Issues of cooperation between Russia and Turkmenistan on Central Asian problems, in particular on Afghanistan, were discussed, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said after the meeting with Turkmenistan’s President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow.
"From the point of view of international affairs, we discussed work that continues in Ashgabat on preparing the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea," Lavrov said. "We also discussed the situation in Central Asia from the point of view of those risks that come from the territory of Afghanistan," he added.
The Russian foreign minister noted that "we have a common position on necessity of political settlement of problems remaining in Afghanistan, in order to make our region peaceful and good-neighborly."
Lavrov said they also discussed cooperation between Russia and Turkmenistan in the framework of UN and other international structures. "We have similar positions on most issues, including on initiatives that Russia and Turkmenistan are promoting in the international community," he confirmed.
The foreign minister noted initiatives on transit or energy resources and international transport cooperation.
Lavrov said that Russia hopes for strengthening positive tendencies in bilateral relations.
Russia appreciates Turkmenistan’s contribution to developing convention on Caspian legal status
Moscow appreciates Ashgabat’s constructive contributions to developing the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea, Lavrov said.
"We just had a very detailed conversation with Turkmenistan’s president and discussed in principal the main spheres of our strategic partnership — political dialogue, economic and investment ties, humanitarian cooperation, coordination on the international arena. Caspian problem," he said.
"I will note that an important session of our deputies is underway in Ashgabat on developing further agreements connected with preparing the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea. We highly appreciate Turkmenistan’s active, interested and constructive contribution to this work," the foreign minister concluded.