OREANDA-NEWS. November 24, 2010. This visit and summit talks in Ashgabat are to add a new important chapter to the history of bilateral Turkmen-Armenian relations built originally on the traditions of friendship and mutual understanding, goodwill and the mutual intention to enhance fruitful partnership in the interests of our countries and peoples.

Steadily pursuing the foreign policy based on the principles of positive neutrality, peace, openness and broad international cooperation, Turkmenistan seeks to develop a constructive dialogue with all countries of the world, including neighbours on the Eurasian continent. In this regard, this top level meeting can be viewed as an actual result of this policy initiated by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov that has won recognition and support of the world community.

As is known, Turkmenistan and the Republic of Armenia established the diplomatic relations in 1992. Over the past years the countries signed by a solid package of bilateral documents on various levels including international, intergovernmental and interdepartmental. Documents to be signed upon concluding the talks in Ashgabat are expected to replenish this impressive list. Thus, the regulatory framework build over these years as a firm foundation for consistent development of mutually advantageous cooperation, which is now filled with new specific content, will be strengthened.

The potential of Turkmen-Armenian cooperation creates the conditions conducive to enhancing and expanding partnerships in the trade and economic sphere, where the ample opportunities for concerting efforts in various fields are provided. These include a number of industries, the fuel and energy, agricultural, transport and communications, investment and other sectors. There is every requisite to foster fruitful business contacts.

A significant role in this process is assigned to the intergovernmental Turkmen-Armenian Commission for economic cooperation as an effective mechanism for enhancing and diversifying effective collaboration, further increasing trade between the two countries. Its first meeting held last February in the Turkmen capital turned into an extensive discussion of critical aspects of partnership. A lively exchange of opinions was continued this April in the Armenian capital, where the Commission held the second meeting. At that time Yerevan hosted the textile and carpet exhibition Turkmenistan and the Turkmen-Armenian business forum. The business forum and commodity exhibition of the Republic of Armenia held in Ashgabat are to give new incentives to bilateral cooperation.

However, an essential component of the relations between Turkmenistan and Armenia is the humanitarian sphere that is conditioned by the centuries-old historical and cultural ties between the two friendly nations. Given the modern realities the good prospects for expanding cooperation in the spheres of education, science and culture are opened up. Priority development goals and objectives of the two countries also facilitate establishment of mutually beneficial contacts in the health care, sport and tourism sectors.

Thus, covering the whole spectrum of issues of interstate cooperation developed on a long-term basis, the top level talks in Ashgabat will be an important step to strengthen the constructive political dialogue between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Armenia, further enhance fruitful bilateral cooperation at a qualitatively new level.