Turkmenistan, OSCE mull situation in Afghanistan

Turkmenistan’s President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and the Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat Natalya Drozd during their meeting noted the importance of consolidation of efforts in such important areas as the strengthening of security and stability in the region, said the Turkmen government in a message July 21.

In particular, the sides noted the solving the situation in Afghanistan, fight against drug trafficking, international terrorism and transnational crime that are serious threats for humanity, according to the message.

The parties reaffirmed their aim at further intensification of cooperation in the context of common goals and objectives dictated by the interests of maintaining peace and security on a regional and global scale. Fuel and energy, trade and economic, transportation and communication sectors, ecology and environmental protection, humanitarian sphere were identified among the priorities of partnership.

Speaking about the existing huge potential for further expansion of the partnership, Drozd said that the Turkmen leadership attaches special attention to the utmost expansion of fruitful dialogue with European countries.

A program, which envisages a set of measures, including the construction of social facilities in the Afghanistan, the opening of a shopping center, the supply of humanitarian goods, was prepared in Turkmenistan in order to provide humanitarian aid to the neighboring country.

Turkmenistan is supplying electricity to the northern Afghan provinces on preferential terms.

Turkmenistan gave proposals to the UN for Afghanistan’s reconstruction. There is also an initiative to hold an international Forum on Security and Cooperation in Central Asia in Ashgabat in 2016.

As an active participant of the activities’ program within the Istanbul Process, Turkmenistan also offers to host the next – 7th regional economic conference on Afghanistan in 2017.

/By Trend/