Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's statement at a news conference following talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov, Moscow, August 28, 2025
28 August 2025 17:30
1392-28-08-2025
We engaged in trust-based and constructive negotiations, both in a one-on-one format and with the involvement of delegations, with my colleague and good friend, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov.
Our discussions centred on key issues pertaining to bilateral relations, which are characterised by an advanced strategic partnership, grounded in the principles of friendship, mutual respect, and consideration for each other's interests. We observed the increasing momentum of high-level and top-level interstate dialogue. We sincerely appreciate the participation of President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov in the celebrations in Moscow marking the 80th anniversary of our shared Victory in the Great Patriotic War. We highly value Turkmenistan's commitment to preserving the memory of the heroes of that war. We fully share such approaches and have several joint plans to immortalise the memory of these heroes.
We are grateful to the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Speaker of the Halk Maslahaty (People's Council) of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, for his visit in May this year to the 16th International Economic Forum Russia - Islamic World: KazanForum, held in Kazan. In June and July this year, delegations from our countries, led by Deputy Prime Minister of Turkmenistan Nokerguly Atagulyev, participated in the St Petersburg International Economic Forum and the International Environmental Conference in Altai. In early August this year, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Patrushev led Russia's delegation at the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, which was held with great success in Avaza, Turkmenistan. My own visit to Ashgabat on June 24-25 this year was also highly substantive and productive. Today, I once again expressed sincere gratitude to our friends for the impeccable organisation of the visit, the high-level hospitality, and the fruitful negotiations.
Our discussion today reaffirmed the strong mutual commitment of both Russia and Turkmenistan to expanding trade and economic collaboration, as well as implementing joint projects in transport and logistics, infrastructure, and energy.
We highly commended the advancement of cultural and humanitarian ties. In this regard, we have several joint initiatives, chief among them the establishment of a Russian-Turkmen university. Additionally, plans are underway to construct a new building for the Alexander Pushkin State Russian Drama Theatre in Ashgabat, as well as an additional teaching block for the joint Russian-Turkmen secondary school, which also bears the name of the great Russian poet.
We reviewed the progress of the plan of consultations adopted under the cooperation programme between the Foreign Ministries of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Turkmenistan. We outlined a series of consultations on pressing issues on the foreign policy agenda to be held before the end of the year.
Our positions on the international stage are closely aligned and, in many respects, coincide - particularly regarding ensuring prosperity, strengthening security, and stability in Central Asia and the Caspian region. We collaborate effectively within the CIS framework and plan to hold a second top-level meeting of Central Asia plus Russia on the sidelines of the CIS summit in Tajikistan this October. We also discussed preparations for events under the Caspian Five format, both at the foreign ministerial and top levels.
We are keen on developing our cooperation within the United Nations. We have just spoken about this. Russia and Turkmenistan consistently support each other's initiatives when relevant resolutions are brought before the Organisation. Undoubtedly, we will find an opportunity to duly commemorate the upcoming 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's permanent neutrality decision this December at the UN.
Once again, I express my gratitude to my colleague.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
