President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan Davlatali Said who arrived in Turkmen capital for participation in the session of the Council of the Heads of the Governments of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Having expressed the gratitude for personal meetings and warm welcome, the guest conveyed the greetings on behalf of President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon to the Head of Turkmenistan, having noted that he is glad to come to Ashgabat, the capital of neighbouring state, with which his country is related by strong historical and spiritual connections.

In this regard, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan noted the importance of representative forum held in Turkmenistan, which chairs the Commonwealth of Independent States, and expressed the confidence that current meeting would bring positive results and new ideas for expansion f constructive cooperation.

Having returned best wishes to the Government officials and people of friendly country, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov highlighted the commitment of Turkmenistan to development of the partnership with Tajikistan on equal and beneficial basis.

The President of Turkmenistan expressed the gratitude to the President of Tajikistan for the participation in the Summit of the countries founders of International Fund for Saving of Aral Sea held in Avaza National tourist zone last year, for comprehensive support of the initiatives of Turkmenistan as well as for sending of special delegation to Turkmenistan for the participation in the session of the heads of the Governments of the CIS and addressed wishes of success in work.

Expansion of cooperation in bilateral and multilateral formats including cooperation under the CIS has been discussed during the meeting. It was mentioned that expansion of trade and economic relations, beneficial partnership in energy and transport as well as in humanitarian sphere where friendly states have gained rich and positive experience are in the sphere of these interests.

Having noted similarity of the positions in strategic subjects of global agenda, the Head of Turkmenistan and his guest stated the importance of consolidation of efforts in solution of current ecological problems. It was highlighted that international initiatives proposed by Turkmenistan at the sessions of the UN General Assembly and other big forums are aimed at the activation of regional and international cooperation in all range of water issues.

In particular, this is related to the development of acceptable mechanism of integrated and balanced use of transboundary water resources, which have to be solved exclusively on the base of universal standards and principles of international law taking into account the interests of all countries of the region.

Speaking of the development of bilateral relation, the interest in intensification of the contacts in transport sphere, to which strong impulse was given by successful realization of the project of construction of Turkmenistan – Afghanistan – Tajikistan railway, which is to serve not only to the interests of two friendly states and nations but also to the region in general, has been mentioned.

Efficiency of activation of cooperation in power energy, trade, oil and gas industry and agriculture and in this regard, the activity of joint Intergovernmental Turkmen – Tajik Commission for trade and economic, scientific and technical cooperation has been highlighted.

Cooperation in humanitarian sphere was the subject of separate discussion. Having highlighted the priorities in cultural sphere, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and his guest haves spoken for the strengthening of the contacts in this sphere, having continued the practice of cultural exchanges between Turkmen and Tajik cultural and art personnel.

In the end of the meeting, having confirmed the commitment of two countries to traditional relations of friendship and goodwill, the President of Turkmenistan and the First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan have spoken for further expansion of beneficial partnership.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Tajikisan to Turkmenistan Farruh Homiddin Sahrifzoda has also taken part in the meeting.

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Novruz Ismail Ogly Mamedov who came to Ashgabat for the participation in the session of the Heads of the Governments of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Having expressed the gratitude for spared time and warm welcome in Turkmen land, the guest conveyed the greetings of President Ilham Aliyev who addressed wishes of welath and further success on the way of progress and prosperity to the President of Turkmenistan and all Turkmen people.

Having returned the best wishes to President Ilham Aliyev, Turkmen leader states with delight that current relations between the countries are developed very successfully due to huge potential and willingness of both countries to the expansion of beneficial partnership. The Head of the State highlighted that this cooperation is based on old traditions of friendship and fraternity of Turkmen and Azeri people, similarity of spiritual and cultural values, commitment to the principles of peace-loving and humanity in international affairs.

During the meeting, the sides exchanged of the opinions on the subjects of the agenda of current session of the Heads of the Governments of the CIS.

Having noted that Turkmenistan pays great attention to cooperation under the Commonwealth of Independent States comprehensively supporting the promotion of equal, trustful dialog in all directions both in bilateral and multilateral formats, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov confirmed the willingness of our country to develop active beneficial interstate cooperation for achievement of positive results.

The Head of the State and his guest have also discussed various directions of bilateral relations, having noted the presence of big opportunities and perspectives for efficient partnership in trade and economic, energy and other spheres. I this regard, it was mentioned that Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan have significant reserves of oil and gas, which makes optimum conditions for organization of long-term supplies of energy carriers to Europe.

Geographic location of two countries, which were historically connected by the Silk Road, is also a favourable factor for the formation of transcontinental North – South and East – West transit and transport corridors . Having modern transport and logistic infrastructure including Caspian ports, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan would be able to provide operational and economically beneficial transportation of cargos by shortest routes.

At the same time, the importance of further development of traditional humanitarian dialog, stimulation of fruitful relations in education, science and culture, sport and tourism, continuation of practice of joint events supporting the strengthening of friendship, trust and understanding between fraternal nations of two countries.

In the end of the meeting, the President of Turkmenistan and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan expressed the confidence that interstate relations would continue to be developed successfully in the best traditions of goodwill.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Turkmenistan Hasan Sultan Ogly Zeynalov has also taken part in the meeting.

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin who came to Ashgabat for participation of the session of the Heads of the Governments of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Having expressed the gratitude for warm welcome and having highlighted the importance that Kazakhstan pays to the strengthening of links with Turkmenistan, the guest conveyed warm greetings and best wishes of the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Head of the State Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

Askar Mamin noted that his country highly appreciates and comprehensively supports progressive policy and important international initiatives of the President of fraternal Turkmenistan, which are aimed at consolidation of the foundations of peace, stability and prosperity in regional and global scales.

Having welcomed the guest and expressed the gratitude for good words, the Head of the State conveyed his best wishes to President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and to the first President of this country Nursultan Nazarbayev and to all people of Kazakhstan, with whom our country is connected by old friendship, fraternity and neighbouring relations, which make a base of cooperation in new historical age.

Taking the opportunity, Turkmen leader congratulated Askar Mamin on the appointment to the post of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, having wished him great success in responsible government activity.

High assessment has been given during the meeting to the level and dynamics of development of interstate dialog. The sides have also exchanged the opinions on wide spectrum of cooperation including under competent organizations.

The President of Turkmenistan highlighted that developing bilateral relations, we rest on old traditions of fraternity and mutual sympathy of Turkmen and Kazakh people, commitment of our states to the principles of peace-loving and humanity, which is a good base for cooperation under international structures as well as mutual understanding of important subjects of global and regional development where our countries have similar or close approaches.

The Head of Turkmenistan and his guest discussed perspectives of expansion of the partnership in such strategic directions as trade and economic, transport and logistic spheres, energy. In this context, the importance of existing transnational North – South railway as well as new initiative of Turkmen side for construction of modern highway Turkmenbashy – Kazakhstan, which would also increase the volume of trade, passenger and cargo traffic between two neighbouring countries.

The subject of development of transit potential of two states, implementation of energy projects actively promoted by Turkmenistan as well as participation of representatives of Kazakhstan in the first Caspian Economic Forum, which would be held in in Avaza National tourist zone in August and exhibition of innovative technologies timed to the forum, have been highlighted during discussion of the subjects of transboundary cooperation.

Our countries have big capabilities for expansion of trade and economic cooperation, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said, having stated the importance of activity of Intergovernmental Turkmen – Kazakh Commission for economic, scientific, technical and cultural potential in definition of perspective directions of interstate dialog.

Mutual interest has been expressed in implementation of new joint projects including in petrochemical industry, which are aimed at full-scale involvement of existing economic and resource potential of neighbouring countries, willingness to expansion of constructive dialog both in bilateral format as well as under the Commonwealth of Independent States.

In this context, the President of Turkmenistan expressed the confidence that coming session of the Heads of the Governments of the CIS would make contribution to further development of multilateral interstate dialog and strengthening of friendly relations between the states of the Commonwealth and would support the implementation of its potential in number of directions.

Development of fruitful dialog in cultural and humanitarian sphere as well as in tourism and sport has also been discussed.

Having noted high level of events held in Turkmenistan as a country chairing the CIS in 2019, Askar Mamin expressed the confidence that constructivism, which is specific for foreign strategy of neutral Turkmenistan and which was reflected in the relations under the CIS, would give new stimulus for development of cooperation, the guest also highlighted the importance of the Resolution on cooperation between the United Nations Organization and International Fund for Saving of Aral Sea adopted by the UN General Assembly on May 28, which is to support the prosperity of the countries of Aral Sea basin, initiated by the President of Turkmenistan.

In the end of the meeting, the President of Turkmenistan and Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan expressed confidence that interstate relations would continue to be steadily developed and filled with new content.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Turkmenistan Zhandos Asanov has also taken part in the meeting.

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received Vice Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Mgher Grigoryan who arrived in Turkmen capital for participation in the session of the Council of the Heads of the Governments of the CIS.

Having expressed the gratitude for spared time, the guest conveyed warm greetings of President of the Republic of Armenia Armen Sarkisyan to the Head of Turkmen state. The Vice-premier noted that his country highly appreciate weighted and balanced approach of Turkmenistan to the issues of international cooperation as well as constructive initiatives of regional and global significance.

The President of Armenia sent greetings to Turkmen leader on occasion of the adoption of the Resolution on Cooperation between the United Nations and International Fund for Saving of Aral Sea by the proposal of Turkmenistan at the 73 session of the UN General Assembly.

The Vice-premier of the Republic of Armenia has also said about the interest of Armenia in development of beneficial partnership with Turkmenistan including under the CIS.

Having welcomed the guest, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov returned the wishes of prosperity to the President of the Republic of Armenia and to people f friendly country as well as expressed the confidence that coming session of the Council of the Heads of the Governments of the CIS countries would serve as new impulse for definition of important directions of cooperation between the countries of the Commonwealth.

It was mentioned that comprehensively supporting the promotion of equal, trustful dialog in bilateral and multilateral formats, Turkmenistan sees the sue of available capabilities in economy, trade, energy, transport and communication, in development of scientific and education, cultural and humanitarian dialog, consolidation of peace, security and stability in the CIS among the main vectors of joint activity.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed the confidence that members of the CIS would actively support the establishment of new forms of efficient cooperation. First Caspian forum, in which events as well as in exhibition timed to this forum Armenia is going to take part, is aimed at this purpose.

Having described respectful and fruitful relations between Turkmenistan and Armenia, the Head of the State highlighted that these relations have been significantly activated and that there are all prepositions for bringing of the partnership to new level meeting more comprehensive implementation of the potential of national economies of two countries.

In this context, the plans for the future taking into account the goals and objectives that the Governments of Turkmenistan and Armenia set out have been discussed. Having noted the presence of significant resources for expansion of cooperation, the Vice-premier of Armenia confirmed the intent to expand the partnership with Turkmenistan in number of spheres including fuel and energy, transport and transit.

Big opportunities are opened in development of tourism, which is very important in the aspects of cultural and humanitarian dialog. The sides exchanged the opinions on the processes of digitization, their importance in social and economic strategies of the countries. The attention has also been paid to ecology, environmental protection, development of balanced approaches to solution of the issues of this sphere in global, regional and national levels.

It was noted that there are many points of interests and they have to be reflected in details in the agenda and work of Intergovernmental Turkmen – Armenian Commission for economic cooperation, which members would receive relative instructions.

In the end of the meeting, the President of Turkmenistan and Vice-premier of the Republic of Armenia expressed the confidence in further expansion of beneficial cooperation.

Ambassador extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to Turkmenistan Garnik Badalyan has also taken part in the meeting.

Today, the Prime Minister of Georgia hosted the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

The meeting emphasized the productive cooperation between Georgia and the Council of Europe.

Mamuka Bakhtadze thanked Liliane Maury Pasquier for participating in the events celebrating the 20th anniversary of Georgia's accession to the Council of Europe, and for visiting Tbilisi. The upcoming 70th anniversary of the Council of Europe was also emphasized.

The parties discussed Georgia's upcoming Chairmanship of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers, along with the challenges facing the organization.

The conversation also revolved around Georgia's European and Euro-Atlantic integration. The Prime Minister singled out European integration as the Georgian nation's civilizational choice and the country's commitment to this trajectory.

Special emphasis was placed on Georgia's impressive progress toward democratic consolidation and reforms in the course of the past few years. The PACE President praised the country's achievements in terms of human rights and empowering the role of the Parliament.

The Prime Minister and the PACE President also discussed the dire humanitarian and human rights situation in Georgia's occupied territories. Mamuka Bakhtadze informed Liliane Maury Pasquier about the Georgian Government's peace initiative A Step to a Better Future seeking to ensure confidence-building between the conflict-torn communities, to improve social and economic conditions for the populations in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region, and to offer them new opportunities.

“Armenia is today unequivocally a democratic country with absolute freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, and our government is continuing to enhance respect for human rights,” said Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia, addressing the Assembly today.

“We have managed to root out systemic corruption and to create real prerequisites for everyone’s equality before the law,” the Prime Minister added, evoking “vast political changes” in the country since “the non-violent, velvet, people’s revolution” about a year ago.

However, Mr Pashinyan underlined, “our democracy needs to be reinforced with economic and institutional safeguards. The development of democratic institutions, the existence of an independent judiciary, and the creation and strengthening of anti-corruption institutions are all key areas in which we need the support of the Council of Europe.”

“This is important not only for consolidating the outcomes of our political revolution, but also succeeding in our recently-launched economic revolution, aimed at encouraging the economic activity of our citizens, creating real opportunities for them, making Armenia even more attractive for investments and tourism,” the Prime Minister said.

Mr Pashinyan also said that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remained a serious challenge for the whole region and that Armenia’s government was committed to the principle of only peaceful settlement of the issue. “I am convinced that mere dialogue between the leaders is not enough for settling the issue. It is very important to launch a dialogue between societies, as well, so that we prepare our respective societies for peace and not for war,” he concluded.

PACE has called on Russia to “appoint a delegation to the Assembly and to resume obligatory payment of its contribution to the Organisation’s budget” since failure to do could lead to its suspension in both statutory bodies, if applied by the Committee of Ministers.

PACE adopted the regarding resolution on April 10.

As concerns the Russian Federation, PACE called for intensified dialogue to “avoid a situation in which the biggest member State would be asked to, or chooses to leave the Organisation”, with all the geopolitical implications this would have and consequences for Russian citizens.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe deprived Russia of voting right in 2014 for illegal annexation of Crimea. Moscow has no right to work at the Assembly’s managing body and to send observers on behalf of the Assembly. In June 2017, the Russian Government’s decision, in reaction to this situation, to suspend payment of its contribution to the budget of the Organisation. Russia’s annual contribution is € 33 million, which is 10% of the total budget of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly.

The Prime Minister of Georgia, Mamuka Bakhtadze, addressing the Assembly in Strasbourg said that, as a sign of gratitude, the Georgian government decided to make voluntary contributions to the Treasury of the Council of Europe.

The star of Zurab Zhvania, former Prime Minister of Georgia has been opened outside the building of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg. Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze, being with a working visit in Strasbourg, unveiled the star.

The star of Zhvania has the politician’s one of the most popular phrases on it that the late PM said during the PACE sitting 20 years ago.

“I’m Georgian, and therefore I am European.” These are the words of late Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania while speaking in front of the Council of Europe in 1999. During the speech, he expressed Georgia’s EU aspirations and outlined the country’s foreign policy agenda for the next decade.

Family members of the late Prime Minister attended the star’s opening.

Georgia’s Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze will address the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) today. Bakhtadze will have 20 minutes to deliver the speech. He will then have 40 minutes to answer questions of European MPs regarding the achievements and challenges of Georgia on path of European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

Georgian PM is being in Strasbourg with a working visit. During the visit, the Prime Minister will hold meetings with PACE President Liliane Maury-Pasquier and Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland, followed by joint statements for the press.

Other bilateral meetings are also scheduled within the frameworks of the visit. The Head of Government will also visit Georgia’s Permanent Representation to the Council of Europe, where he will meet with the students of the Sunday school.

Mamuka Bakhtadze will host an official reception celebrating the 20th anniversary of Georgia’s accession to the Council of Europe. The Georgian delegation includes Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Tamar Chugoshvili, and leader of the parliamentary majority Archil Talakvadze.

Avtandil Otinashvili, Strasbourg