OREANDA-NEWS. May 22, 2009. President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received Taner Yyldyz, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Turkey, Co-Chairman of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Turkish commission for economic cooperation.

Thanking for the opportunity of a personal meeting the guest conveyed the heartfelt greetings and best wishes of President of the Republic of Turkey Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayip Erdogan to the leader and people of Turkmenistan. Minister Taner Yyldyz emphasized that Turkey attached primary importance to enhancement and development of the relations with Turkmenistan and was sincerely proud of the Turkmen brothers’ achievements and grandiose changes taking place in the ancestors’ land in the epoch of New Revival.

Greeting the guest Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that the peoples of Turkmenistan and Turkey were bound with the historical and spiritual affinities, cultural traditions that laid the firm foundation for the intergovernmental dialogue. Highly appreciating the high dynamics of bilateral collaboration the President emphasized that the Turkish partners considerably contributed to developing different sectors of Turkmen economy that advanced along the path of fundamental reforms. In this regard the Turkmen leader highly appreciated the role of the intergovernmental commission for economic cooperation that had held the second meeting in the Turkmen capital and expressed belief that the meeting would promote expanding mutually advantageous business contacts.

The sides exchanged views on a wide range of the issues of Turkmen-Turkish partnership in the priority fields including trade and economy, transport and communication, construction, textile industry, tourism. The focus of the talks was cooperation in the fuel and energy sector where the partners had accumulated the profound experience of joint work and that had every requisite for further fruitful partnership. In this context the sides discussed the opportunities to cooperate in exploration work in the Kopetdag zone.

Touching upon the agenda of the meeting of the intergovernmental commission the Turkmen leader and his guest said that it focused on the whole spectrum of the issues including the current condition and further development of bilateral cooperation built on its profound potential. The aspects of the agreements reached during the meeting would be covered during the Turkmen-Turkish business forum which would be held in Ashgabat. The sides were unanimous that the traditional humanitarian dialogue in the spheres of education, science, culture based on historical and cultural affinities of two fraternal peoples should be furthered.

Emphasizing that Turkmenistan viewed Turkey as one of its leading partners the Turkmen leader expressed the heartfelt greetings to the President and Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey and the invited the leadership of the friendly country to visit Turkmenistan at any convenient time. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that Turkmenistan looked forward to welcoming the Turkish leaders who would participate in the ceremonies of putting the health-improving centres into operation in the Avaza tourism national zone.

In conclusion the President wished successful work to the intergovernmental Turkmen-Turkish commission and joint business forum.

Thanking for the opportunity of a personal meeting and heartfelt welcome Minister Taner Yyldyz assured the Turkmen leader Taner Yyldyz that he would spare no effort to intensify mutually advantageous cooperation.

Ambassador extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Turkey to Turkmenistan Mr. Husein Avni Bychakly attended the meeting.