Moldova, Turkmenistan sign bilateral cooperation agreements in more sectors

Chisinau, 7 April /MOLDPRES/ - President Nicolae Timofti, on a visit to Turkmenistan, today held official talks met his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow in Ashgabat, the presidential press service has reported.

The officials had a face-to-face meeting at the Ruhyyet Palace; afterwards they took part in a meeting with participation of the delegations of the two states.

The sides voiced interest in boosting the bilateral economic cooperation, especially in the areas of energy, transport and agro-industrial sector. The two heads of state welcomed the activity of the Moldovan-Turkmen inter-governmental commission on economic cooperation, which today held its first meeting in Ashgabat, in line with the agreements reached during Berdimuhamedow’s visit to Moldova on 24 July 2013.

The two presidents signed a joint declaration and representatives of the Moldovan and Turkmen governments concluded bilateral cooperation agreements in energy, trade, agriculture, transport, education, tourism and culture sectors.

Subsequently, Timofti and Berdimuhamedow held a joint news conference, during which they unveiled prospects for the development of the Moldovan-Turkmen cooperation.

The sides voiced willingness to back each other within international organisations, in order to promote world security.

The two officials described their consultations as constructive and fruitful. The political agreements reached today in an atmosphere of full confidence are due to be materialised in solid commercial and humanitarian projects in the years to come. 

The sides showed said that Moldova and Turkmenistan would act jointly in this respect, on consolidated positions, thus encouraging the governmental institutions and business environments of the two countries to mutually and advantageously cooperate.

Nicolae Timofti thanked Berdimuhamedow for special hospitality shown towards the Moldovan delegation and stressed that, during the consultations, special attention was paid to the issue of ensuring energy security. The talks on this item also regarded Turkmenistan’s participation in implementing projects on gas transport from the Caspian Sea region to the European Union, via the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline (TANAP).

Timofti congratulated Berdimuhamedow on the 20th anniversary of the adoption of Turkmenistan's permanent neutrality status by the UN General Assembly; this decision determined the foreign policy and development model of Turkmenistan.

For his part, Berdimuhamedow said that Turkmenistan perceived  Moldova as a reliable partner and underlined Timofti’s personal contribution to developing the Moldovan-Turkmen collaboration.

Berdimuhamedow spoke especially about Turkmenistan’s willingness to cooperate with Moldova in the transport area, taking into account the geographical position of Moldova, as link between Europe and Asia. The officials also showed interest in commercial, cultural and educational exchanges, including at the level of higher education institutions and academic environment, as well as in collaboration in the sports sector.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow informed about the fact that a project, agreed upon between the two heads of state during the July 2013 visit to Moldova, would be implemented in the near future. The project regards construction of a kindergarten with 160 seats from Turkmen funds in southern Gagauzian autonomous region of Moldova.

Nicolae Timofti will also visit the Türkmenbașy Ruhy Metjidi mosque in Gypjak and state museum of the Turkmen Cultural Centre. Timofti will plant a tree on the Alley of Honorary Guests within the Independence Monument architectural compound.

Moldova’s delegation is made up of Secretary General of the Presidential Administration Ion Paduraru, presidential advisors Mihai Furtuna, Iulian Grigorita and Vlad Turcanu, the deputy head of the parliamentary commission for economy, budget and finance, Marcel Raducan, Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Ion Sula, Transport and Roads Infrastructure Minister Vasile Botnari, Culture Minister Monica Babuc, Deputy Economics Minister Tudor Copaci and Director General of Cricova Wine Factory Valentin Bodiul.

(Editor A. Raileanu)