OREANDA-NEWS. November 18, 2009. President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received George A. Krol, Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, who had arrived in Ashgabat leading the government delegation.

Thanking for the opportunity of a personal meeting the guest said that he was glad to meet with the leader of the Turkmen state again and discuss the priority issues of bilateral cooperation. Emphasizing that the United States paid primary attention to the development of the traditionally friendly relations with Turkmenistan, Mr. George Krol congratulated President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on the opening of the international oil and gas forum in Ashgabat that symbolized the Turkmen leader’s strategy for intensifying constructive partnership. The guest said that the high level of organisation of this annual forum was evidenced by an increasing number of participants representing world oil business.

The high-ranking official of the U.S. Department of State said that the Turkmen leader’s progressive policy and international initiatives were supported by world community. That was illustrated by electing the country Vice Chair of the 64th session of the UN General Assembly and Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s bright speech at the global forum that had drawn a wide response. A remarkable event in the history of the Turkmen-American relations was the Turkmen leader’s visit to the capital of New Jersey, Trenton where the day of September 24, 2009 had been declared the day of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. As is known, during the solemn ceremony the Order “For the Contribution to Development of Information Society” of the International Informatization Academy was awarded to the leader of the Turkmen state that evidenced international recognition of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s contribution to addressing challenges of the modern world.

Greeting the guest and thanking for the kind words the Turkmen leader expressed satisfaction with the dynamics of the Turkmen-American dialogue built on the principles of equality and mutual respect. The Turkmen leader noted that during the past years the profound experience in effective intergovernmental cooperation had been accumulated that Turkmenistan intended to continue on a mutually advantageous basis.

In this context the sides exchanged views on the prospects for Turkmen-American partnership in the key fields including the trade and economic and humanitarian spheres. The focus of the meeting was the potential of cooperation in the fuel and energy sector. Highly evaluating Turkmenistan’s energy policy including the strategy for developing the fuel and energy sector, Mr. George Krol reaffirmed the willingness of the American business circles to intensify fruitful contacts with Turkmen partners in oil and gas industry.

In this regard Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized that ranking among the world’s energy producers Turkmenistan intended to consistently expand cooperation with the world’s leading companies to implement its profound resource potential that it stood ready to place at the service of the whole mankind.

During the meeting the sides discussed the important regional and international issues of mutual interest.

In conclusion the President of Turkmenistan and the high-ranking official of the U. S. Department of State expressed belief that the intergovernmental dialogue would be further successfully developed on a basis of its profound potential and goodwill of both countries.

U.S. Charge d'Affaires a.i. to Turkmenistan Sylvia Curran attended the meeting.