PRESIDENTS OF TURKMENISTAN AND AZERBAIJAN DISCUSSED IN BAKU ISSUES OF EXPANDING AND DEEPENING INTERSTATE COOPERATION

On March 11, 2020, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov left for an official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan.

After some time, the presidential plane landed at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport, decorated with the state flags of the two countries. Officials met President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in the air harbor of the capital of Azerbaijan.

From the airport, the motorcade of the head of Turkmenistan proceeded to “Zagulba”, the residence of the President of Azerbaijan, where the President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, was greeted by the Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev.

The guard of honor was put up, the national anthems of the two states were played. The Presidents introduced to each other members of the official delegations of their countries. Then the heads of states proceeded to the residence and took pictures on the background of the State flags of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.

Then bilateral negotiations at the highest level began in a one-to-one format.
As President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted, speaking at the Turkmen-Azerbaijani talks at the highest level, the main goal of the current official visit to Baku was to further strengthen interstate cooperation, to give it a new quality and content that meets both the mutual desire and the objective capabilities of the two countries.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed his conviction that in the current conditions it is necessary to increase cooperation within the UN, OSCE, OIC, CIS, and other international and regional structures.

Taking this opportunity, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov invited President Ilham Aliyev to participate in celebrations dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the neutral status of Turkmenistan, including the International Conference on the Policy of Neutrality and Its Role in Ensuring Peace, Security and Sustainable Development, which will be held in Ashgabat in December of this year, expressing confidence that the presence of the head of Azerbaijan at this forum will become a noticeable and important event.

Then, expanded negotiations were held in an expanded format, with the participation of members of official delegations.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted during the talks that Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan are developing relations as neighbors in the Caspian. In this regard, the Turkmen leader outlined a number of tasks for the near future. First of all, concerted action is required to implement the Convention. Among other tasks is the work on a number of incompletely completed documents, in particular, the Protocols to the basic Agreements in some sectors and spheres of life in the Caspian.

At the Turkmen-Azerbaijani talks in Baku, recent progress in the trade and economic sphere was noted. Thus, the turnover for 2019 compared with 2018 increased by more than 40 percent. Good experience has been accumulated at the governmental and departmental levels. At the same time, it was stated that the level of cooperation does not yet reflect the real potential.

In this aspect, the need to intensify the activities of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation was emphasized. In order to increase trade and economic cooperation, the Turkmen leader suggested considering the establishment of the Trading House of Turkmenistan in Baku and, accordingly, the Trading House of Azerbaijan in Ashgabat. In addition, the importance of creating a joint Business Council was noted.

The cultural and humanitarian sphere is called one of the priorities of bilateral cooperation at the Turkmen-Azerbaijani talks in Baku. In order to intensify interstate cultural and humanitarian relations, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov proposed on an annual basis to organize Cross Cultural Days, mutual tours of professional creative groups and artists, as well as youth and children's creative groups.

After the end of the expanded negotiations, a ceremony of signing bilateral documents was held.

To the applause of the present, Presidents Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Ilham Aliyev signed the Joint Statement.

At the intergovernmental level, the following were signed: Agreement on cooperation in the field of migration; Agreement on the mutual allocation of land for the Embassy of Turkmenistan in the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Turkmenistan; Protocol on amendments and additions to the Agreement between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan on international automobile communication dated May 19, 2008.

A number of documents were also signed aimed at enhancing partnership in the transport, communication, cultural and humanitarian spheres. In addition, documents on cooperation in the field of management and privatization of state property, on cooperation in the field of land cadastre, on cooperation in the field of state registration of rights to real estate were aimed at expanding partnerships in the field of property relations and the development of entrepreneurship.

After the signing ceremony, the Heads of the two states addressed media representatives.

Commenting on the results of the Turkmen-Azerbaijani summit talks held in Baku, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that the state and prospects of bilateral relations, regional and international policy issues of mutual interest were discussed, specific areas of cooperation were identified.

The delegation of Turkmenistan highly appreciates the results of today's meeting, following which a solid package of bilateral documents was signed. Speaking about this, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed confidence that the Turkmen-Azerbaijani cooperation will be steadily developing in all areas.

            Then the meeting of the President of Turkmenistan with the Prime-minister of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov took place. The parties reiterated the high level of cooperation between the two countries and noted the closeness of standpoints in the framework of regional and international organizations aimed at sustenance of peace, stability and security in the whole world. 

In the same day, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov visited the mausoleum of the National Leader of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev and laid a wreath to commemorate the first President of Azerbaijan.  Also the Head of Turkmenistan paid tribute to the memory of the mother of President of Azerbaijan by laying flowers to her tomb. 

Then the Turkmen Leader visited the Memorial of Shehids where he laid a wreath to the Memorial of the National Heroes who lost their lives for the freedom and independence of Azerbaijan.

 Also, the Head of Turkmenistan visited the National Museum of Carpets of Azerbaijan where he got acquainted with rare and very valuable carpets reflecting the uniqueness of carpet weaving of Azerbaijan.

 In the evening, the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev offered an official dinner in honor of the high-ranking Turkmen guest, during which the leaders of nations gave speeches.

Completing the official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov headed towards the International Airport of Baku named after Heydar Aliyev, from where he left for his Motherland.