President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov met with Teri Hakala, the outgoing Special Representative of the European Union for Central Asia, on Wednesday in Ashgabat, as reported by official media.
During the meeting, Teri Hakala congratulated the president on International Neutrality Day, emphasizing Turkmenistan's importance as a neutral state that fosters peace and mutual trust both regionally and beyond. She also highlighted the significance of cooperation between the European Union and Turkmenistan.
President Berdimuhamedov expressed gratitude for her kind words and praised the long-standing productive partnership with the EU. He underscored the results of their joint efforts in implementing regional programs and thanked Teri Hakala for her contributions to strengthening bilateral cooperation. The president also congratulated her on her new appointment as Finland’s Special Representative to the OSCE and wished her success in her new role.
The meeting highlighted the multifaceted nature of relations between Turkmenistan and the EU. The two sides actively engage in political-diplomatic, trade-economic, and cultural-humanitarian areas. They pay particular attention to cooperation within the EU-Central Asia Dialogue, as well as joint projects in legislation, education, ecology, and climate change.
The president reaffirmed Turkmenistan's readiness to further develop its partnership with the European Union and emphasized the successful implementation of joint initiatives aimed at the country’s socio-economic development.
In closing, Serdar Berdimuhamedov thanked Teri Hakala once again for her personal contributions to developing relations and wished her health and success in her future endeavors.
