I welcoming remarks

Speech by Ambassador at Large of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Turkmenistan Gurbanmuhamed G.Kasymov
Turkmenistan as a steadily developing state in the region
sincerely values the relations of friendship and mutual
understanding that have developed with all the countries of the
region and the world, actively supports the intensification of
regional cooperation based on mutual consideration of interests
and equality, for the formation of the most optimal model of
cooperation, taking into account the national priorities and the
tasks of regional and global development.
In February this year, 24 years have passed since the
establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkmenistan and
the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Over the years, we have accumulated a positive experience
of cooperation in the political, economic, cultural, humanitarian
and other spheres. I would like to emphasize that our countries
established a solid strategic partnership on the basis of a
systematic and purposeful dialogue on various areas of interstate
interaction. Uzbekistan has always been and remains our reliable
friend and partner.
It should be noted that our countries share common
historical and humanitarian values. There are no discords on the
political track between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Today, 
Turkmen-Uzbek 
relations 
are 
developing
consistently on the basis of the interstate Strategic Partnership
Treaty signed in March 2017 during the state visit of the
President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Turkmenistan.
As 
the 
President 
of 
Turkmenistan, 
distinguished
Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov emphasizes, our country sincerely
cherishes the bonds of friendship with Uzbekistan, a good
neighbor and reliable time-tested partner, that are becoming
stronger every year.

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These factors in many respects determined the regular
mutual state and official visits of the heads of Turkmenistan and
the Republic of Uzbekistan, during which not only key issues of
Turkmen-Uzbek relations are discussed in a traditionally friendly
and confidential atmosphere, but also topical problems of
regional and international character that are of mutual interest.
The agreements reached during the talks between President
of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov and the President
of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev during his
visits to Turkmenistan in this March and May afforded an
especially powerful impetus to bilateral cooperation.
Our country, as you know, adheres to a foreign policy
course based on the principles of neutrality, peacefulness, good-
neighborliness. The Concept of the Foreign Policy Course of
Neutral Turkmenistan for 2017-2023 notes the need to further
strengthen friendly relations and build fruitful partnership with
neighboring states of the region, with peoples who have long
historical and cultural ties.
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan share similar positions in
tackling pressing international issues, including the consolidation
of regional and global security and stability, institution of new
effective mechanisms for the peaceful resolution of the Afghan
problem, and joint counteraction against such threats as
international terrorism and extremism, drug trafficking, organized
and transnational crime, on the basis of bilateral and international
treaties to which Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan
are parties. The Turkmen side is ready to continue to work
together in bilateral and multilateral formats to combat these
challenges.
This is evidenced by the regional meeting in Ashgabat on
June 13 this year entitled “Central Asia - United Nations High-
Level Dialogue for the Implementation of the UN Global
Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia”. The session was
attended by the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, as well

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as ministers, heads of counterterrorism agencies and national
security agencies of Central Asian nations.
The main purpose of the meeting was to discuss the tasks of
strengthening stability and security, and also to find ways to solve
them with the involvement of the experience and capabilities of
the relevant structures. Following the meeting, the Ashgabat
Declaration was adopted.
As you know, on 10 December 2007, the UN Regional
Center for Preventive Diplomacy was opened in Ashgabat, which
this year will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its establishment.
It should be noted that over the years the Center has done a great
job on finding answers to the main challenges in close
cooperation with the governments of the Central Asian countries.
The cooperation of our countries within the framework of
major international organizations, in particular the United
Nations, OSCE and other prominent institutions is an example of
a constructive and fruitful partnership in the international arena.
At the same time, we should pay attention to the fact that the
Republic of Uzbekistan and other states of the region have always
actively supported Turkmenistan's international initiatives aimed
at ensuring peace and security, realizing the goals of effective
social and economic development of countries and regions.
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are constantly expressing
their readiness to cooperate within the framework of the Treaty
on Central Asia as Nuclear Weapon Free Zone with a view to
facilitating the international efforts of the United Nations to
ensure the nuclear non-proliferation regime in all its aspects.
It should be specially noted that our states are in favor of
further strengthening and improving the activities of the
International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) which is an
important regional structure aimed at securing cooperation in
improving the environmental and socio-economic situation in the
Aral Sea area.

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This is also a testament to the common position of our
countries in the use of waters of trans-boundary rivers related to
the water and energy sector. The issues should be considered on
the basis of universally recognized norms and principles of
international law, taking into account the interests of all the states
of the region and with the participation of international
organizations which will contribute to the formation of a fair and
rational system of water use in Central Asia.
From 2017, Turkmenistan has started to chair the
International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea. In June, a festive
opening of the building of the Executive Committee of IFAS took
place in Ashgabat. Turkmenistan, for its part, will make every
effort to jointly solve the tasks facing the Fund and enhance the
effectiveness of the IFAS.
Undoubtedly, the development of mutually beneficial trade
and economic ties between the two states is a significant area of
bilateral cooperation. The economic potential of Turkmenistan
and the Republic of Uzbekistan creates an opportunity for further
expansion of the scope of cooperation. According to the
agreement signed in March 2017 between Turkmenistan and the
Republic of Uzbekistan on economic cooperation for 2018-2020,
consistent work is carried out to further diversify the structure
and increase trade volumes. Intergovernmental events, meetings
of representatives of business circles of the two countries serve to
further advancement of our interrelations. In particular, the
meeting of the Joint Turkmen-Uzbek intergovernmental
commission on trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural
cooperation conducted in Ashgabat on January 25 this year was
another important step towards strengthening trade and economic
ties.
The decisions of the intergovernmental commission noted
that Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have many years of experience
in successful trade and economic partnership and implementation
of important joint projects that meet the interests of the long-term

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development of not only the two fraternal countries but the entire
region as a whole. Both countries have all the opportunities not
only to boost the volume of mutual trade and expand the
commodity nomenclature, but also to intensify investment
activities, realize joint projects in various sectors, and elaborate
new relevant forms of interaction, in particular, through
entrepreneurship. Undoubtedly, the fuel and energy and transport
and communication sectors of national economies are the most
promising areas for application of mutual interests, considering
the geopolitical factor and the resource potential.
The implementation of the project to build the largest
Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan-China gas pipeline which
allowed diversify export routes for important strategic raw
materials, is a convincing example of the fruitful cooperation of
our countries.
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have high transit potential
which is evidenced by regular freight traffic carried out on the
territory of both states to third countries. During the visit of the
leader of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to
Turkmenistan in March this year, a solemn ceremony opened and
commissioned the Turkmenabat-Farab railway bridge across the
Amudarya that will certainly positively influence the
development of mutually beneficial trade and economic
cooperation.
It is essential to note the significance of the Agreement on
the Formation of a New International Transport and
Communication Corridor Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-Oman
signed in Ashgabat on April 25, 2011. The practical realization of
this large-scale project will create favorable conditions for further
boosting trade and economic relations between the countries of
Central Asia and the Middle East, and will positively affect the
growth of transit freight flows of all participating states.

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I would like to note that Turkmenistan is interested in
expanding mutually advantageous cooperation and developing
new long-term projects in priority areas of economy.
Another important factor of bilateral integration is cultural
and humanitarian cooperation. Under the respective programs,
representatives of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan regularly