MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF TURKMENISTAN AND AZERBAIJAN HELD A MEETING

On January 31, 2018 a meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan R. Meredov and the Azerbaijani Republic E. Mamedyarov was held in Turkmenbashi. The sides discussed issues of bilateral and regional cooperation, as well as current international issues of mutual interest.

A decisive role in strengthening good-neighborly relations between the two states is played by the trusting relations of the two Presidents, which, as practice has shown, have become the keystone to the successful development of multi-faceted, Turkmen-Azerbaijan cooperation based on mutual respect. In this context, the issues related to the forthcoming visit of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Turkmenistan were discussed.

During the talks, the need to expand Turkmen-Azerbaijan cooperation both in bilateral format and within authoritative international organizations was emphasized. The parties agreed to intensify annual political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan at various levels.

Speaking about the dynamics of the foreign trade turnover between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Azerbaijan, the need was expressed for the intensification of the work of the intergovernmental Turkmen-Azerbaijani commission for trade and economic cooperation and the holding of the next meeting of the commission in Ashgabat. The sides also noted mutual interest in further development of relations in energy and transport, by creating mechanisms for providing logistics, as well as developing effective mechanisms for automotive-ferry and rail-ferry service.

The parties discussed the key issues of cooperation between the two countries on the Caspian Sea; the implementation of the decisions taken at previous summits, and outlined the priority areas for cooperation in the future.

There was also noted a mutual interest in the further development of interstate dialogue in such important spheres as science, culture, education and sport.