OREANDA-NEWS.  January 20, 2012. The delegation of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and specialists of Turkmen ministries and departments held a final meeting in Ashgabat in order to promote further constructive Turkmen-Afghan cooperation.

The issues put on the meeting agenda included the action plan to strengthen stability and facilitate sustainable development of Afghanistan and enhance further regional cooperation particularly in the fuel and energy sector, power, transport, communications and agricultural sectors. In this context emphasis was placed on the topicality of the initiatives put forward by President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov from the rostrum of the UN General Assembly to settle the political situation in Afghanistan and revive the economy of this country.

In this regard the meeting participants emphasized that the projects initiated by Turkmenistan played a significant role in this process and served as a stabilizing factor. These projects include the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, the Atamyrat-Iamnazar-Akina-Andhoi railway, the Mary-Atamyrat-Andhoi power transmission line which will enable to develop energy power infrastructure and increase Turkmen electricity exports to Afghanistan as high as 5 times and meet its electricity demand 70%.

It should be noted that the high-level delegation of Turkmenistan participated in the International Conference on Afghanistan, which took place in Bonn (FRG) on December 4-6, 2011, and presented Turkmenistan’s position towards Afghanistan related problems. These approaches were highly evaluated by the international community. As is known, Turkmenistan takes consistent steps to promote traditional friendly relations with the neighbouring country and actively contributes to global efforts in Afghanistan. The initiatives put forward by President Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov from the rostrum of the United Nations are aimed at settling the situation in Afghanistan by solely peaceful and diplomatic means, assisting in its social and economic development and establishment of effective government institutions in this country.

Summing up the working meetings which had been held in Ashgabat this year illustrating Turkmenistan’s steps to contribute to strengthening peace and stability in the neighbouring country, the meeting participants harmonized a number of practice measures to be taken to enhance Turkmen-Afghan cooperation.