TURKMEN-GERMAN POLITICAL CONSULTATIONS WERE HELD

On the 29th of September 2020, the political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Federal Republic of Germany took place through videoconferencing.  The Turkmen delegation was headed by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Vepa Hajiyev, while the German delegation was led by Michael Siebert, the authorized representative for Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia of the German Federal Foreign Office.

The meeting was held in a constructive manner.   The parties exchanged views concerning the internal political processes in both countries, considered the key issues of bilateral agenda in political-diplomatic, trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian scope. The importance of activating the high-level contacts which lead to the development of interstate ties was noted. The opportunities of expanding the contractual-legal basis of cooperation were considered.  

The diplomats reiterated the positive and regular nature of the dialogue between the external political agencies. The efficiency of collaboration in the international formats, in particular the UN, EU was underlined. Special attention was paid to the regional security issues.  The role of Turkmenistan in the process of maintaining regional cooperation was stressed.  

The parties thoroughly discussed the level of trade-economic partnership.  The role of German companies in the development of various sectors of economy of Turkmenistan was underlined.  The exchange of views took place in regard to cooperation in the field of energy and transport.   

The diplomats noted the effectiveness of cooperation in the field of ecological security, in particular within the “Green Central Asia” Initiative. Positive collaboration experience is also noted in the area of healthcare, as well as the need to strengthen the consultations between the medical experts underlined. 

In addition, the parties discussed the cultural-humanitarian cooperation.  The opportunities of developing joint projects in the area of archeology were regarded. The effectiveness of collaboration in the field of education, with the active coordinative role of the German Agency for International Cooperation was underlined

In the end of the meeting, the diplomats expressed interest in further strengthening of Turkmen-German ties.