PRESS RELEASE

Bilateral meeting between authorized officials of the Government of Turkmenistan and the incoming delegation of the Republic of Belarus headed by the Deputy Prime Minister A.N.Kalinin who is on a working visit to Turkmenistan took place upon the directives of the President of Turkmenistan.

Both the sides discussed wide range of issues of bilateral cooperation during the negotiations.

A special attention was paid to the status of individual projects under the implementation by the Belarussian companies in Turkmenistan.

“Garlyk Mining and Processing Plant” is the largest among others being constructed by publicly traded company “Belgorchemprom”.

The Turkmen side was highly concerned by the ongoing noncompliance of the Belarussian side with its contractual obligations.

In particular, the Turkmen side brought up the issue of considerable delay in the process of implementation of individual parts and facilities of the bilateral contract which is way behind of its initial deadline and make critical component of the future plant infrastructure.

Moreover, despite the repeated requests by the Turkmenistan Government Agencies, the Belarussian side has not yet provided any information on time bound delivery framework of the remaining equipment worth tens of millions of US dollars and the projects’ further specifications.

Systematic delays of payments of salaries by “Belgorchemprom” to Turkmen citizens who are working at the construction of the plant was also brought up during negotiations.

At the same time the Turkmen side draw the attention of the Vice-Premier of Belarus to the reports of Belarussian and other media outlets on alleged “noncompliance by the Turkmen side with its financial obligations under the contract”.

In this connection, the Government of Turkmenistan states that those reports are unsubstantiated. Further, it was noted that the “Belgorchemprom” as a contractor in many cases does not comply with the timely and duly submission requirements for payments for the job accomplished.

In view of the aforesaid, the Turkmen side urges the Government of the Republic of Belarus to take urgent steps for the timely and successful completion of the “Garlyk Mining and Processing Plant” in Turkmenistan.

Press Service

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan