OREANDA-NEWS. April 25, 2011. President of Turkmenistan receives Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received Zalmai Rassoul, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

Expressing gratitude for the opportunity of a personal meeting, the guest conveyed the heartfelt greetings and best wishes of President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai to the leader of the Turkmen state. Congratulating President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on the Turkmen Horse Day being celebrated widely in Turkmenistan these days, Mr. Zalmai Rassoul focused in this regard on the significance of the international forum dedicated to unsurpassed Ahalteke horses being conducted on the initiative of the Turkmen leader in Ashgabat. The Afghani delegation was taking part in this forum.

Emphasizing that the Government of Afghanistan eagerly sought to enhance and expand relations with friendly Turkmenistan that pursued the peace-loving constructive policy that had earned the country and its leader high international prestige, Minister Zalmai Rassoul expressed profound gratitude to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and the Turkmen people for providing unceasing support and overall assistance to the Afghan people in strengthening peace and promoting social and economic development of the country.

Greeting the guest, the Turkmen leader thanked for the kind words and expressed the best wishes to the leader of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai noting that Turkmenistan stood ready to provide further overall assistance to Afghanistan in its economic and cultural revival.

During the meeting the Turkmen leader and his guest exchanged views on the current state and prospects for bilateral cooperation in the whole spectrum, including the trade and economic, cultural and humanitarian sectors.

A focus of the talks was the possibilities for expansion of partnerships in the transport and communications spheres and the energy sector, in particular on the implementation of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project that was to bring a benefit to each country, including the participating states and the entire region, and serve as some kind of bridge of friendship and mutually advantageous cooperation.

An exchange of views on the issues of regional and international politics of mutual interest took place during the meeting. In this context Minister Zalmai Rassoul emphasized that the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan supported Turkmenistan’s constructive international initiatives aimed at concerting global efforts to seek the optimal solutions to urgent problems facing the humankind today.

In conclusion the President of Turkmenistan and the head of the Afghan foreign ministry expressed belief that Turkmen-Afghan relations based on the firm ties of friendship and brotherhood would be developed for the benefit of the two nations.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to Turkmenistan Mohammad Fazel Saifi attended the meeting.