Twelfth annual Meeting of Deputy Foreign Ministers of Central Asian states, organized by the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) with the support of the Government of Turkmenistan, took place on 11 December, 2022, in Ashgabat.

The purpose of the annual meeting was to exchange views on developments and trends affecting peace and security in Central Asia as well as to discuss the cooperation between UNRCCA and the Governments of the region in areas related to preventive diplomacy. 

Addressing the meeting, the Special Representative of Secretary-General for Central Asia, Head of UNRCCA, Natalia Gherman underlined that “despite the current challenging global situation, countries of the region maintained regular contacts at different levels, including at the highest political level, to secure cooperation in the security, energy, climate change and other fields”.  

On the occasion of the 15^th anniversary of UNRCCA, the Deputy Foreign Ministers appreciated the long-standing partnership and trust, developed over years, between the Governments of the Five Central Asian states and UNRCCA. They expressed support to the activities of the Regional Centre in its priority areas, including preventing extremism and countering terrorism, climate change and water diplomacy as well as dialogues on “Women, Peace and Security” and “Youth, Peace and Security”.

Within the framework of the high-level meeting, the UNRCCA hosted the Fourth Dialogue between the Governments and youth of Central Asia. Ten Preventive Diplomacy Academy participants, representing all five countries of the region, met with the Deputy Foreign Ministers to share their vision on the future of the region.

The Twelfth Meeting of Deputy Foreign Ministers of Central Asian states concluded a series of events devoted to the 27^th anniversary of Neutrality of Turkmenistan and the 15^th anniversary of UNRCCA, which took place in Ashgabat on 10-11 December 2022.

On December 10, 2022, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov received the Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States Kubanychbek Omuraliev.

Welcoming the head of state, the guest expressed sincere gratitude for the time spent for the meeting and the opportunity to take part in the International Conference “Dialogue is a Guarantee of Peace”, dedicated to such important issues of our time as strengthening peace and trust in order to ensure universal security, stability and development.

Thanking for the kind words, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted that he was glad to welcome the head of the Organization to the ancient and hospitable Turkmen land. Congratulating on his appointment as Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States, the head of Turkmenistan wished Kubanychbek Omuraliyev great success in this responsible post.

Expressing confidence that this Organization would continue to act as a link between the states of the Turkic world, the head of state stressed that participation in the International Conference “Dialogue is a Guarantee of Peace”, timed to coincide with the 27th anniversary of the permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan, would give a new impetus to the expansion of cooperation with our country.

In continuation of the meeting, an interested exchange of views took place on the prospects for cooperation, taking into account its solid potential in various fields. In this context, it was emphasized that in the light of modern realities, the coordination of efforts and the implementation of joint projects in such strategic areas as energy, the transport and communications sector and trade are seen as relevant.

Along with this, one of the integral components of cooperation was designated the humanitarian area. It was noted that the expansion of the range of programs and projects in the field of education, science and culture and, in general, fruitful contacts in this direction will serve to successfully promote mutually beneficial interstate partnership, filling it with new concrete content.

At the end of the meeting, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and his guest expressed confidence that constructive cooperation between Turkmenistan and the Organization of Turkic States would continue to develop dynamically for the common good, contributing to the strengthening of a trusting dialogue, traditionally friendly and fraternal relations between countries and peoples.

US President Joe Biden announced that the United States will share COVID-19 vaccines with Georgia. This is another indication of the strength of the strategic partnership between our two countries. The specific vaccine and amount for Georgia will be announced as the administration works through the logistical, regulatory and other parameters. Globally, the United States has pledged to share 80 million doses by the end of June.

Press-releases of the US Embassy in Georgia

Within the frames of the Munich Security Conference, Georgian Defence Minister Levan Izoria held a bilateral meeting with the Commander of United States Army Europe Lieutenant-General Christopher Cavoli.

Levan Izoria discussed with Lieutenant-General Cavoli the transformation process of the Georgian Defense Forces and focused on the ongoing Georgian Defence Readiness Program. Minister Izoria also emphasized on the importance the Combat Training Center - another significant project of the US-Georgian cooperation. As Minister declared, further enhancement of the Combat Training Center and renewal of the relevant infrastructure is planned in Vaziani, Krtsanisi, Algeti and Norio, which alongside with the Georgian Defence Forces will be used by the military personnel of NATO member and partner countries for conducting readiness-oriented exercises.

The meeting also covered multinational trainings. As Levan Izoria noted, next month, Georgia will host NATO-Georgia Exercise for the second time, which is another demonstration of Georgia's enhanced capabilities and increasing trust from the allies towards Georgia. Sides also discussed multinational exercise Agile Spirit 2019 scheduled in Georgia for summer.

Speaking about cooperation with NATO, Levan Izoria focused on a new approach - Strategic Readiness, which aims developing resilient territorial defence forces in line with NATO standards.

On November 28, 2018, the International Conference of Ministers of Transport of the States Parties to the Agreement on Transit and Transport Cooperation (Lapis Lazuli) began its work in the Avaza National Tourist Zone in the city of Turkmenbashi.

At the beginning of the conference, a congratulatory message from the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, addressed to the participants of the International Conference of Ministers of Transport of the States Parties to the Agreement on Transit and Transport Cooperation (Lapis Lazuli) was read out.

Then the heads of the delegations participating in the International Conference of Ministers of Transport (Lapis Lazuli) made their presentations: Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan M.Chakiyev, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Yagub Eyyubov, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Achilbai Ramatov, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Turkey Jahit Turhan, Minister of Transport of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Tahmasi Mohd Hamid and Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Akaki Sagirashvili.

Also in the first part of the international conference, delegations discussed issues such as the role of interstate cooperation in the development of the international transport corridor Lápis-Lazuli and the importance of logistics companies in the development of transport corridors.

On behalf of the Government of Georgia, I strongly condemn any statement aimed at instigating confrontation between the nations and states.  Being a strategic partner of Georgia, Turkey has been upholding and strongly protecting Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity since the day of restoration of its independence. Relations between the two countries are based upon the principles of mutual respect and good neighborliness and there is no sign whatsoever that these relations are under threat.
We call upon the Central Election Commission of Georgia to study every statement that may contradict the Georgian laws and take immediate action thereon.