President of Turkmenistan and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Miroslav Lajčák discuss prospects of dialogue with Slovakia and OSCE

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Miroslav Lajčák. 

Expressing gratitude for the opportunity to discuss priority areas of cooperation during a personal meeting, the guest conveyed the greetings from the OSCE Secretary General as well as from the top leadership of Slovakia to the President of Turkmenistan, confirming the OSCE aspiration to strengthen the constructive dialogue with Turkmenistan as an important and responsible partner. It was noted that the OSCE and the European community supported the creative initiatives, put forward by the President of Turkmenistan, that significantly contribute to the common efforts to ensure peace, stability and well-being on a regional and global scale. 

Welcoming the guest, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that Turkmenistan paid particular importance to cooperation with authoritative international structures, including the OSCE. 

Addressing the greetings to the OSCE Secretary General and the leaders of the Slovak Republic, the President of Turkmenistan also noted that one of the key vectors of the foreign-policy course of our country was the development of effective cooperation with European partners, including Slovakia. Exchanging the views on the projects implemented by the OSCE Center in Ashgabat, as well as the core regional issues, the President of Turkmenistan and his guest reaffirmed the willingness of the parties to further consolidate the efforts to ensure universal security and counter modern challenges and threats. In this context, Miroslav Lajčák expressed gratitude to the Turkmen leader for the effective support provided to cooperation between Turkmenistan and the OSCE. 

Particular attention during the meeting was paid to the possibility of intensifying the Turkmen-Slovak partnership in various fields, in particular political and diplomatic relations. It was noted during the meeting that the business circles of Slovakia and Europe expressed interest in the Turkmen market with its favorable investment climate. The large-scale reformatory programmes implemented in Turkmenistan and major infrastructure projects, the course towards integration into the modern system of world economic relations - all this creates the prerequisites for the diversification of productive interaction. Transport was also specified among the promising areas of partnership. 

The humanitarian field that opens up wide opportunities to enhance scientific, educational and cultural contacts stands as an integral part of the interstate relations. 

The President of Turkmenistan and his guest underlned the importance of continuing constructive Turkmen-Slovak cooperation within the framework of the UN, OSCE, EU and other authoritative structures. 

In conclusion of the meeting, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Miroslav Lajčák expressed confidence in the ongoing development of the Turkmenistan-OSCE partnership, as well as the Turkmen-Slovak dialogue. 

Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, Natalia Drozd attended the meeting. 
 

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The OSCE delegation, headed by OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Miroslav Lajčák had meetings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Mejlis of Turkmenistan. The meeting participants expressed satisfaction with the positive experience of interaction between our country and the OSCE in various fields.