Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rashid Meredov during an online government session on Saturday proposed holding a meeting of foreign ministers in the Central Asia-EU format in Ashgabat in October of this year.
The proposal was made following working visits by Turkmenistan's delegation to the Kingdom of Belgium and the Italian Republic, as reported by official Turkmen media.
Meredov also suggested organizing regular visits to Turkmenistan by representatives of the European Union (EU) throughout the current year, preparing a Framework Agreement between Turkmenistan and the EU in the field of energy, and establishing a Turkmen-European group to enhance cooperation in this direction.
To develop a broad transport partnership between Turkmenistan and the EU, the formation of a Coordination Platform in the format of the European Union-Central Asia is proposed.
Other proposals include jointly developing new educational programs with EU institutions, particularly in vocational training, and holding a Human Rights Dialogue between Turkmenistan and the European Union in Ashgabat in June of this year. It is also suggested to initiate the process of Turkmenistan's accession to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and to jointly organize an International Forum on Food Security with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Ashgabat in November.
Meredov also reported on discussions with the leadership of the Rome municipality regarding the perpetuation of the memory of the great Turkmen poet and thinker, Magtymguly Pyragy, in Rome, as well as the organization of an archaeological exhibition of Turkmenistan in the Capitol Museum Complex in 2025. A relevant document has been signed between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Rome municipality for cooperation in organizing this exhibition.
President Serdar Berdimuhamedov emphasized that the meetings and negotiations held in Brussels and Rome, focusing on priority areas of partnership with the EU and major international organizations, are aimed at consistently expanding fruitful cooperation. He approved the proposals and assigned relevant tasks to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The government session also discussed matters concerning the country's priority state affairs.
