Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov on Tuesday took part in the 16th Central Asia - European Union ministerial meeting, TDH news agency reports.
The heads of the foreign ministries of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, as well as the European Union’s (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission and European Commissioner for International Partnerships took part in the online meeting.
The meeting participants discussed issues of security and stability in Central Asia and surrounding regions.
During the meeting, it was emphasized that Turkmenistan intends to increase its participation in international programs, funds and projects created to prevent crises and minimize their negative consequences.
The heads of the foreign affairs agencies of the EU and Central Asia also considered the possibilities of expanding ties in the fields of education, science, culture, technology and innovation, to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and its socio-economic impacts.
Following the results of the 16th ministerial meeting, officials adopted a Joint Communiqué. A separate paragraph in this document noted the importance of Turkmenistan's initiatives to enhance the role of the policy of neutrality as an effective instrument for peacekeeping and reaching consensus decisions in international relations.
In particular, the ministers welcomed the initiative of Turkmenistan to host an International conference “Policy of Neutrality and its Importance in ensuring International Peace, Security, and Sustainable Development” in Ashgabat on December 12, 2020.
The participants also welcomed the creation at the UN platform of the Group of Friends of Neutrality, of which a number of Central Asian and the EU countries are members.
