PRESIDENTS OF TURKMENISTAN AND AFGHANISTAN DISCUSSED COOPERATION PRIORITIES BY PHONE

On May 27, 2020, a telephone conversation took place between President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani.

Warmly, fraternally welcoming each other, the heads of the two states expressed satisfaction with the opportunity to personally exchange views on the state and prospects of the Turkmen-Afghan dialogue, as well as discuss some aspects of international and regional politics of mutual interest.

Presidents Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Mohammad Ashraf Ghani identified fuel and energy, transport and communications sectors as priority areas for partnership, where large-scale projects have been implemented in recent years to serve the prosperity of not only fraternal countries, but also of Central Asia.

First of all, the issue is about the construction of the transnational gas pipeline Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) and the laying of a high-voltage power line and fiber-optic communication along the route Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan.

According to the parties, the favorable geographical position of the two countries is of great importance for the implementation of strategically important infrastructure projects for the formation of new transit and transport corridors, including along the route Afghanistan-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey (Lapis Lazuli).

During the telephone conversation, the head of Turkmenistan supported the proposal of the Afghan leader to hold a trilateral meeting between the Presidents of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Azerbaijan by video conference, the agenda of which will include issues of increasing the efficiency of the Lapis Lazuli transport corridor.

Expressing solidarity with the brotherly Afghan people in the quest for peace and harmony, Turkmenistan will continue to provide it with all possible support and humanitarian assistance, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized.

Discussing issues on the international agenda, the heads of two states noted the need to develop a coordinated approach to solving pressing problems of our time, one of which is the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, which had a negative impact on international economic relations and the life of many states and peoples.

The fact is that scientific diplomacy mechanisms are the most effective vector of cooperation in the current realities, the President emphasized, therefore, the initiative put forward by the Turkmen side to create a Council of Medical Scientists could have a positive impact on the overall fight against coronavirus.

Reaffirming the mutual desire to intensify interstate dialogue, the heads of the two neighboring countries expressed their commitment to a long-term partnership.

In conclusion, Presidents Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Mohammad Ashraf Gani once again exchanged good wishes to each other and the peoples of the two countries.