OREANDA-NEWS. November 24, 2008. They seem to become a tradition – the autumn Days of Turkmenistan in Europe. Last November the major political event was President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s visit to the headquarters of the European Union – Brussels. This year it is the Turkmen leader’s four-day voyage to Germany and Austria.

Having marked a new reference point in the history of co-operation between Turkmenistan and the European countries, each of these visits is especially significant, they have the common aspects drawing the parallels, though there is a certain difference. The new leader of the state that showed perspective for partnership – the progressively thinking young and energetic politician with the great plans and far-reaching ideas – to bring the country to a higher level in economy, social sphere, education and science, culture visited the Belgian capital. Berlin, Munich and Vienna received the mature national leader enjoying the profound respect inside the country and abroad whose versatile activity on the high post of the leader of Turkmenistan and on the world arena had won the absolute recognition of the world community.

Cordiality and hospitability, marked respect accompanied the President during the tour to Europe, whose each day was planned for an hour, even for a minute ahead and filled with the serious work. The incredibly saturated programme included the talks of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov with President of the Federal Republic of Germany Horst Kohler and the Federal President of the Republic of Austria Heinz Fischer, FRG Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel and Vice Chancellor of Austria Dr. Wilhelm Molterer, numerous meetings with the ministers and other statesmen, politicians, businessmen and scientists of these countries, the heads of the subdivisions of the United nations, OSCE and other authoritative international organisations.

Profound interest showed by the Old World in the Turkmen leader’s visit is conditioned for the most part by the global problems mankind faced at the dawn of the third millennium. One can well understand that it concerns not only prevention of military conflicts and control of illicit drug trafficking but also protection of the environment, efficient water use, energy and food security and the problems incited by the global financial and economic crisis. It is natural that the agenda of the talks and meetings in Germany and Austria includes the issues of building new architecture of global security able to respond adequately to challenges of the modern world.

Having resolutely taken the road of progressive reforms neutral Turkmenistan plays the key role in the Central Asian region, on all hands. Recognition of the positive impact of Turkmen neutrality on the ongoing geopolitical processes, establishment of the climate of mutual confidence and understanding, construction of the bridges of friendship and co-operation between the peoples of Europe and Asia, other parts of the world is behind this idea stated and developed without exception by the high-ranking interlocutors of the President including the leaders of the friendly states. The support of the constructive policy of the Turkmen leader who resolutely placed his country’s colossal peacemaking and economic potential at the service of peace, stability, social and economic progress and the ongoing national reforms aimed at enhancing democracy, freedom of the individual, increasing the people’s is behind it as well. Behind it – the European partners’ endeavours to expand co-operation with dynamically developing Turkmenistan whose economy is immensely rich in hydrocarbon and other natural resources.

In this context the talks in the European capitals highlighted the role of the Ashgabat-based UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy and the House of Europe called upon to further the ties with European countries as well as the Memorandum of Understanding in Energy Cooperation between Turkmenistan and the European Union. Moreover, the EU member states declared the support to Turkmenistan’s initiative to build the effective participatory mechanism for energy security.

Addressing the representatives of the European community in Berlin, Munich and Vienna Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov reaffirmed Turkmenistan’s steadfast adherence to the principles of peaceful international policy, maximum clearly, distinctly and sincerely specified the political, economic and social priorities of the Turkmen state, elucidated the essence of the ongoing reforms, the large-scale reform programmes. Characterizing the foreign policy and economic strategies of independent Turkmenistan that had chosen the course towards overall integration in the world community the Turkmen leader emphasized that the priorities included the common achievements of human civilization, scientific and technical advances which were essential for achieving economic prosperity and social wellbeing. On this basis the international contacts are intensified and expanded in all fields, in economy and the humanitarian sphere – education, science, culture.

This view drew a wide response among the outwardly restrained European audience. The heat of emotions could be judged by the exceptional liveliness reigning among the German businessmen during the Turkmen-Austrian economic forum. In particular, at the opening of the forum Chairman of the Eastern and Central Europe Union of Germany Klaus Zollner said that the Turkmen leader’s progressive policy had opened a new era in the relations between Turkmenistan and the European community. It should be noted that the Turkmen guest added the sincere and prepossessing tonality to the forum by addressing it in the German language to the hosts’ surprise and delight that was highly appreciated, aroused unfeigned enthusiasm and created the special atmosphere conducive to the sincere exchange of views.

The theme of the Turkmen-Austrian economic forum was a focus of the meetings in Munich – the capital of Bavaria, one of the most beautiful cities of Germany, the large industrial, business and scientific centre of the country. In Munich Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov had a series of the meetings with the officials of the Government of Bavaria, German scientists and businessmen – the tope managers of the large companies and banking agencies – Siemens, MANN, Deutsche Bank, RWE, Wintershall, Gotzepartners and others. The conversations focused on further development of partnership in the spheres of healthcare, advanced technologies, construction industry, aviation, transport, etc.

Standing steadfast to his principles Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov who is called a modern leader, a politician of the new formation demonstrated his style there. Being an experienced sportsman, ardent adherent and advocate of the healthy lifestyle the Turkmen leader tested the running tracks during the visit to the Olympic Stadium in Munich. The President and the members of the Turkmen government delegation together with the German partners run a lap around the football field that testified to adherence to the high standards of living which were imbibed from the early age in Turkmenistan

It is natural that the closer the West gets acquainted with the energetic, enthusiastic and indefatigable leader of Turkmenistan the better understanding of the processes going on in the country it obtains. The Republic of Austria received cordially President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. There, in Vienna the theme of East-West was constantly heard, the parallels between Turkmenistan occupying a special place in the Central Asia – on the transport routes Europe-Caucasus-Asia and Austria situated in the heart of Europe serving as the centre of multilateral contacts were drawn and that stood as a major factor for establishing close co-operation in almost all spheres on the basis of the actively developed dialogue between Turkmenistan and the European Union. Emphasis was put in the status of neutrality of both countries implemented in the interests of the world community.

Vienna ranks among the centre of world politics and diplomacy, the centre of Austria’s business life that makes for an important role of the Austrian capital in tackling the current issues of international policy, bringing different peoples and cultures together. About 80 firms and companies, international corporations, banking and financial structures participated in the Turkmen-Austrian economic forum. The big hall of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber hosting the forum was too small to house all those willing to listen to Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the people were standing in the corridors and adjacent passages.

This intense interest was stirred up by the news about the results of the international audit of the oil and gas deposits in Turkmenistan, particularly Southern Yoloten-Osman which brilliantly proved its status as one of the world’s energy producers and the package of the documents fostering economic and foreign policy co-operation signed during the visit including the Agreement on Cooperation between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber. The bilateral intergovernmental agreement on mutual protection of investments will offer a powerful incentive to develop the Turkmen-Austrian dialogue.

During the visit to Vienna Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and the members of the Turkmen government delegation showed keen interest in the municipal programme on development of the Austrian capital and had the meetings at the Vienna City Hall focused on the important aspects of the life of the megalopolis.

There, in Vienna the historical parallels which have been continued in the present time became especially apparent. Turkmenistan and Austria turn out to have much in common – both in political and cultural configurations. The direct parallels between Vienna and Ashgabat– two peace-making cultural centres of Europe and Asia suggest themselves. There are no doubts that Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s visit to Europe brought actually these parts of the world together and that is certainly its undying value is in.