OREANDA-NEWS. May 20, 2013. Welcoming Latvian President Andris Berzins during his visit to Turkmenistan, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow emphasised the fact that the visit, which occurred after the Turkmen President’s visit to Latvia on September 11, 2012, vividly confirms the high level of relations between the two countries, adding that this means friendship and efforts to develop co-operation between the two countries.
 
President Berzins, in turn, thanked his host for the invitation to visit Turkmenistan, insisting that as a European Union member state, Latvia is trying to ensure that during its presidency of the EU during the first half of 2015, it will try to establish ever more active relations with countries in Central Asia, because their importance in the development of transit corridors is becoming increasingly greater. It was exactly for that reason that President Berzins said that Latvia is interested in the further development of political and economic relations between Latvia and Turkmenistan.
 
February 2013 marked 20 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and from this point of reference, both presidents emphasised the need to exchange visits between Latvia and Turkmenistan, focusing on co-operation at various levels and also emphasising the significance of the business forum that was part of President Berzins visit and of future formats in this regard. Mr Berzins praised the partnership and support of the two countries under various international frameworks, expressing Latvia’s support for Turkmenistan’s membership in the World Trade Organisation.
 
“Latvia is prepared to share its experience and to become involved in this process,” said the President.
 
Turkmenistan is the only country in Central Europe which has not submitted an official application to begin the accession process to the WTO, but in recent times it has demonstrated active interest in membership therein.
 
After their bilateral meetings and the signing of bilateral agreements, the two presidents said that the most promising areas of co-operation between the two countries are transit, logistics, education and culture. President Berzins invited President Berdimuhamedow to visit Riga in 2014 as the European Cultural Capital, adding that he should bring a large cultural delegation with him. The Turkmen President welcomed the invitation and accepted it, saying that a Turkmen delegation will certainly visit Riga.
 
President Berzins stressed that Latvia sees prospects in terms of co-operation in the educational arena, because Latvia’s universities are interested in attracting foreign students. Our country can offer an education in areas such as transport, seamanship, banking and finances, the technical sciences, medicine, aviation, etc. President Berdimuhamedow confirmed great interest in this form of co-operation, adding that he is prepared to engage in a partnership on the basis of equal terms.
 
President Berzins also stated support for Turkmenistan’s efforts to convince the United Nations to resolve the international issue of energy supply security. Turkmenistan has tabled a resolution at the UN General Assembly on secure energy transit and international co-operation, instating that it is necessary to engage in extensive international co-operation so as to ensure the security of energy transportation.
 
Energy issues were of key importance in the discussions which were held by the two presidents and their delegations, because they are very significant both to the EU and to Turkmenistan. As demand for energy resources rises, the importance of Central Asia and the Southern Caucasus will increase in the EU’s energy market. President Berzins noted that Latvia supports EU policies related to a diversification of energy resources sources and routes, because it is important to support the Southern Corridor and to ensure relevant diversification of sources of energy resources in Europe. Both presidents said that such co-operation is mutually advantageous, because the EU would ensure diversified energy deliveries, while Turkmenistan would have access to a trustworthy market.
 
President Berdimuhamedow added that the diversification of energy delivery routes and the integration of the energy market would serve the interests of the EU and Turkmenistan alike. The Council of the European Union has already authorised the European Commission to engage in tripartite negotiations with Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan on the installation of a Trans-Caspian gas pipeline. This could be a good example for the further development of relations between the EU and Turkmenistan.
 
Diversification of gas delivery routes is important for Latvia, too. Partners in the region are currently discussing the development of the relevant gas infrastructure – a liquefied natural gas terminal, as well as the development of interconnections that would provide access to alternative delivery routes.
 
“Turkmenistan is at the crossroads of the global world, and Latvia has ports and the relevant infrastructure,” said President Berdimuhamedow. “For that reason, our partnership is important for both countries.”
 
Another important aspect in transit co-operation between Latvia and Turkmenistan is a rail link between Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan that was opened on May 11. There are also plans to form such links with other countries in the region. Mr Berdimuhamedow suggested that a direct aviation route be opened between the capital cities of the two countries.
 
Continuing his visit on May 14, President Berzins is scheduled to lay down wreaths at a monument to victims of a 1948 earthquake and at the Turkmen Independence Monument. He will visit a mosque and the Turkmen National Museum. In the evening, President Berdimuhamedow will host an official banquet. Tomorrow, May 15, Mr Berzins will visit Turkmenbashi to talk about co-operation between Latvian and Turkmen ports and the companies which operate therein.