OREANDA-NEWS. November 17, 2008. During the visit to the Federal Republic of Germany President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received Vice Chancellor, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier in the library hall of the fashionable hotel in Berlin.

Congratulating Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on success of the talks with the leadership of the Federal Republic of Germany Mr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed belief that the results of these talks would promote further intensifying the traditionally friendly dialogue between Turkmenistan and Germany. Focusing on the exceptional importance of the political aspect of this dialogue serving as the springboard for further enhancement of versatile Turkmen-German co-operation the sides expressed belief that the agreements achieved in Berlin would create powerful incentives to intensify constructive partnership in the bilateral format as well as in he framework of Turkmenistan-EU co-operation.

Mr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that the reforms initiated in Turkmenistan in all the important spheres of the life of the Turkmen society aroused intense interest in Germany. The German Minister for Foreign Affairs said that the growth of Turkmenistan’s prestige on the world arena was conditioned by the well-balanced and thought-out policy of peace, good neighbourliness and wide international co-operation successfully pursued under the leadership of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

The sides exchanged views on the topical issues of current international policy that coincided or were similar for the most part. Mr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that development of co-operation with neutral Turkmenistan that resolutely advanced along the path of progressive reforms and played the key role in the Central Asian region was an important trend in the foreign policy strategy of Germany and the European Union as a whole. In this regard Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed profound gratitude for the active position of Germany that had put forward the initiative to elaborate the special strategy defining the vectors of EU-Central Asia co-operation.

Touching upon Turkmenistan’s contribution to strengthening global security and stability the Federal Vice Chancellor highly appreciated Turkmenistan’s recent initiatives including establishment of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy and the guarantees of safety of the transnational pipeline infrastructure that testified to Turkmenistan’s adherence to the policy of openness and active international co-operation in the common interests.

The opportunities of co-operation in the strategic energy sector determining the climate of the global geopolitical environment were a focus of the talks. The German Minister for Foreign Affairs highly evaluated Turkmenistan’s willingness to place its profound hydrocarbon potential at the service of the whole mankind through building the alternative gas pipeline network and actively developing international co-operation with the European countries as well interested in diversifying energy export.

The President and his guest reaffirmed the partners’ mutual intentions to further develop mutually advantageous co-operation in all fields including the humanitarian sphere on the basis of sustainable development of both countries and their aspirations for steady growth and progress. In this regard the President of Turkmenistan and the German foreign minister focused with satisfaction on the high level of mutual confidence and understanding between the two countries interested in intensifying the intergovernmental dialogue and enhancing the close ties of friendship and fraternity between the peoples of Turkmenistan and Germany

Upon concluding the meeting Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Frank-Walter Steinmeier exchanged the wishes of happiness and success in all undertakings and expressed belief that Turkmen-German co-operation would be brought up to a higher level meeting the mutual interests.