President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has met with Thomas Greminger, the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, who arrived in turkmen capital for participation of the event timed to the 20th anniversary of the opening of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.

Mr Greminger congratulated the Head of the State on remarkable date and highlighted high interest of his structure in strengthening of productive cooperation with Turkmenistan.

Welcoming the guest, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov confirmed the commitment of our country to fruitful cooperation with the OSCE. Being full member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, our country stands for the establishment of multidimensional dialog, which is to make positive influence on the world processes, Turkmen leader highlighted, having expressed the gratitude to Thomas Greminger for active support of this partnership.

During the conversation, the sides exchanged the opinions on the perspective of cooperation between Turkmenistan and OSCE. The subject of formation of new international transport routes, which was dictated by global economic processes, was the subject of special attention. In this regard, growing role of transport diplomacy, to which development our country makes big contribution, and which has initiated multilateral dialog on this problems under the UN and other international organizations, has been highlighted.

Continuing the meeting, the President and the Head of the OSCE noted strategic importance of Turkmen maritime fleet and all relative infrastructure. The Head of the State expressed the confidence that operation of new Turkmenbashy Port would make positive influence in the region and would support the cooperation of Caspian states in number of current subjects.

The President of Turkmenistan highlighted that occupying favourable geographic location, our country has huge transit potential, which it tries to implement with maximum return. Implementation of big projects of creation of international corridors are outlined among the utmost objectives of the state policy. In this context, the importance of Lazuli multimodal transport and transit corridor (Afghanistan – Turkmenistan – Azerbaijan – Georgia – Turkey) as well as the potential of transport infrastructure of our country, which restore the Great Silk Road in new format, have been highlighted.

Provision of energy security and stable supplies of energy carriers, environmental protection issues, rational use of water resources and regulation of the situation in Afghanistan, to economic restoration of which Turkmenistan makes significant contribution, have been highlighted as priority aspects of cooperation.

In this regard, according to the OSCE Secretary General, the initiatives of the Head of Turkmenistan on construction of power and fibre optic lines along Turkmenistan – Afghanistan – Pakistan route as well as opening of Serhetabat – Turgundy railway receive special significance.

The President and his guest shared the visions on the perspectives of expansion of beneficial partnership in humanitarian sphere. Turkmen leader highlighted that wealth of the citizens of the country is one of the guarantees of its successful social and economic development. It was mentioned that the post of the Ombudsman – the authorised representative on human rights, has been instituted in the country based on the Constitution and relative Law.

Special mention has been made on the subject of combating against transboundary crime, illegal drugs trafficking, violent extremism and radicalism. In this aspect, the Head of the OSCE highlighted the success achieved by our country, which present special interest for the world community and competent structures in combating against the terrorism. Experience of Turkmenistan would be able to serve to the improvement of international practice of prevention and counteraction against such kind of transnational threats, Tomas Greminger said.

Highly appreciating the position of our country, which is open for constructive cooperation, grandiose achievements of independent neutral Turkmenistan , which are recognized by the world community, high-rank guest said that the OSCE looks forward to fruitful partnership with Turkmenistan.

Having expressed the gratitude for good words, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed the confidence in the expansion of the cooperation with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which is built on the principles of mutual respect.

Natalya Drozd, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat took part in the meeting.