Updates
Foreign visits
24
11, 2010
Official visit of President Serzh Sargsyan to Turkmenistan
On November 24, President Serzh Sargsyan left on a two-day official visit to Turkmenistan.
After the official welcoming ceremony for the President of Armenia at the Saparmurat Niyazov International Airport, at the VIP Hall of the Airport Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Gurbanguli Berdimuhamedov held a short meeting. Later, at the official residence of the President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan and Gurbanguli Berdimuhamedov held a private meeting which was followed by the extended negotiations of the official delegations of the two countries with the participation of the two Presidents.
At the conclusion of the meeting, signed were documents aimed at the expansion of bilateral cooperation in different areas. The parties adopted also a Joint Declaration which assesses the current state of the Armenian-Turkmen relations and defines the prospects of developing relations in political, economic, social, and cultural areas.
As a result of the negotiations, signed were, in particular, the Agreement between the Commerce Chambers of Armenia and Turkmenistan on cooperation, Agreement on cooperation in the areas of education between the Ministry of Education and Science of Armenia and the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan, Agreement on cooperation in the area of culture between the Ministry of Culture of Armenia and the Ministry of Culture and TV, Radio Communications of Turkmenistan, Agreement on the intergovernmental commission for economic, trade as well as technical and scientific cooperation, and the Program of cooperation for 2010-2015 between the Yerevan State University and Mahtumkuli University of Turkmenistan.
After the ceremony, the Presidents of Armenia and Turkmenistan presented to the journalists the results of bilateral negotiations.
In his remarks, the President of Armenia first expressed gratitude to the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguli Berdimuhamedov for warm welcome and underlined that Armenia highly values and attaches special importance to the relations between the two countries. According to the President, it is evidenced by his current official visit and by the negotiations which were conducted in the atmosphere of complete mutual trust.
Serzh Sargsyan underscored the importance of the signed documents and noted that together with the President of Turkmenistan they discussed current issues of the Armenian-Turkmen agenda, exchanged views on a number of international and regional issues.
He also said that during the meeting the parties spoke about bilateral trade and economic relations. The sides concurred that despite the recently registered positive dynamics, the existing potential for strengthening the relations has not been fully realized yet.
“I believe together we can ensure further deepening of our trade and economic relations and give them a new impetus. There is serious potential for cooperation in the areas of energy, transportation, agriculture, and textile production. I am confident that business forums, one of which has commences in Ashgabad today, could become an excellent venue for our businesses to present their production, establish direct ties,” said President Sargsyan and underscored the importance of bilateral agreements aimed at the development of economic and trade relations, creation of favorable conditions for the businesses of the two countries, and enhancement of cooperation in the areas of industry and investments.
The Presidents of Armenia and Turkmenistan highlighted also the significance of the efficient works of the Armenian-Turkmen intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation.
President Sargsyan said that the sides focused also at the issues of cooperation in the humanitarian area, signing agreements on cooperation in the areas of culture, education and the program of cooperation for 2010-2015 between the Yerevan State University and Mahtumkuli University of Turkmenistan. At the moment, Days of Armenian Cinema are being held in Turkmenistan and relations develop vigorously also in the area of health care. According to Serzh Sargsyan, these are positive and inspiring developments which need to be further encouraged.
Speaking about discussions with the Turkmen President regarding international and regional issues, the President of Armenia said that similar or close views of the two countries regarding important issues of the international agenda create a good base for the mutually beneficial cooperation on the international arena as well.
“We have certainly discussed issues related to the security in the South Caucasus. I have presented to the President of Turkmenistan our vision of the resolution of the NK issue. Non-stop military rhetoric and unprecedented accumulation of arms in the region create extremely tense atmosphere. I would like to once again underline Armenia’s position on this issue: crises and conflicts must be resolved exclusively through peaceful means, based on principles and norms of international law which are indivisible.
The international community believes that in case of Nagorno Karabakh such principles and norms are non-use of force or threat to use for, territorial integrity, equal rights and the right of people for self-determination. Only this approach will ensure a just and long-term solution,” stressed the President of Armenia.
President Gurbanguli Berdimuhamedov in his remarks noted that the visit of the Armenian President could become a cornerstone for the development of bilateral relations.
“We have warm feelings for Armenia and her hard-working people,” said the President of Turkmenistan, and thanked President Sargsyan for the invitation to conduct an official visit to Armenia.
The President of Turkmenistan noted that his country is interested in developing relations with Armenia and sees opportunities for developing relations in the areas such as machine-building, electronics, pharmaceutics, agricultural production, etc.
In the evening of November 24, the President of Turkmenistan hosted an official dinner in honor of the President of Armenia.
On November 25, President Serzh Sargsyan, who is in Turkmenistan on official visit, met with the Speaker of the Mejlis Akja Nourberdieva.
The parties discussed issues related to the strengthening and development of the Armenian-Turkmen interparliamentary relations. At the interstate level, the two sides stressed the importance of cooperation between the legislatures. Considering that the Armenian-Turkmen friendship group has already been formed at the National Assembly of Armenia, the President of Armenia and Speaker of the Mejlis underscored the importance of creating such a group in the Mejlis as well.
After the meeting at the Mejlis, the President of Armenia visited the mausoleum of the first President of independent Turkmenistan Saparmurat Turkmenbashi in Ghipkap village and paid tribute to his memory. In the framework of his official visit to Turkmenistan, President Sargsyan visited also the Monument of Independence of Turkmenistan, laid a wreath and planted a tree at the alleyway of honorary guests. Serzh Sargsyan visited also the S. Turkmenbashi National Cultural Center.
President Sargsyan accompanied by President Berdimuhamedov visited the equestrian center where he observed the pride of the compound – the horses of the Akhaltekin breed.
After the official welcoming ceremony for the President of Armenia at the Saparmurat Niyazov International Airport, at the VIP Hall of the Airport Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Gurbanguli Berdimuhamedov held a short meeting. Later, at the official residence of the President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan and Gurbanguli Berdimuhamedov held a private meeting which was followed by the extended negotiations of the official delegations of the two countries with the participation of the two Presidents.
At the conclusion of the meeting, signed were documents aimed at the expansion of bilateral cooperation in different areas. The parties adopted also a Joint Declaration which assesses the current state of the Armenian-Turkmen relations and defines the prospects of developing relations in political, economic, social, and cultural areas.
As a result of the negotiations, signed were, in particular, the Agreement between the Commerce Chambers of Armenia and Turkmenistan on cooperation, Agreement on cooperation in the areas of education between the Ministry of Education and Science of Armenia and the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan, Agreement on cooperation in the area of culture between the Ministry of Culture of Armenia and the Ministry of Culture and TV, Radio Communications of Turkmenistan, Agreement on the intergovernmental commission for economic, trade as well as technical and scientific cooperation, and the Program of cooperation for 2010-2015 between the Yerevan State University and Mahtumkuli University of Turkmenistan.
After the ceremony, the Presidents of Armenia and Turkmenistan presented to the journalists the results of bilateral negotiations.
In his remarks, the President of Armenia first expressed gratitude to the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguli Berdimuhamedov for warm welcome and underlined that Armenia highly values and attaches special importance to the relations between the two countries. According to the President, it is evidenced by his current official visit and by the negotiations which were conducted in the atmosphere of complete mutual trust.
Serzh Sargsyan underscored the importance of the signed documents and noted that together with the President of Turkmenistan they discussed current issues of the Armenian-Turkmen agenda, exchanged views on a number of international and regional issues.
He also said that during the meeting the parties spoke about bilateral trade and economic relations. The sides concurred that despite the recently registered positive dynamics, the existing potential for strengthening the relations has not been fully realized yet.
“I believe together we can ensure further deepening of our trade and economic relations and give them a new impetus. There is serious potential for cooperation in the areas of energy, transportation, agriculture, and textile production. I am confident that business forums, one of which has commences in Ashgabad today, could become an excellent venue for our businesses to present their production, establish direct ties,” said President Sargsyan and underscored the importance of bilateral agreements aimed at the development of economic and trade relations, creation of favorable conditions for the businesses of the two countries, and enhancement of cooperation in the areas of industry and investments.
The Presidents of Armenia and Turkmenistan highlighted also the significance of the efficient works of the Armenian-Turkmen intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation.
President Sargsyan said that the sides focused also at the issues of cooperation in the humanitarian area, signing agreements on cooperation in the areas of culture, education and the program of cooperation for 2010-2015 between the Yerevan State University and Mahtumkuli University of Turkmenistan. At the moment, Days of Armenian Cinema are being held in Turkmenistan and relations develop vigorously also in the area of health care. According to Serzh Sargsyan, these are positive and inspiring developments which need to be further encouraged.
Speaking about discussions with the Turkmen President regarding international and regional issues, the President of Armenia said that similar or close views of the two countries regarding important issues of the international agenda create a good base for the mutually beneficial cooperation on the international arena as well.
“We have certainly discussed issues related to the security in the South Caucasus. I have presented to the President of Turkmenistan our vision of the resolution of the NK issue. Non-stop military rhetoric and unprecedented accumulation of arms in the region create extremely tense atmosphere. I would like to once again underline Armenia’s position on this issue: crises and conflicts must be resolved exclusively through peaceful means, based on principles and norms of international law which are indivisible.
The international community believes that in case of Nagorno Karabakh such principles and norms are non-use of force or threat to use for, territorial integrity, equal rights and the right of people for self-determination. Only this approach will ensure a just and long-term solution,” stressed the President of Armenia.
President Gurbanguli Berdimuhamedov in his remarks noted that the visit of the Armenian President could become a cornerstone for the development of bilateral relations.
“We have warm feelings for Armenia and her hard-working people,” said the President of Turkmenistan, and thanked President Sargsyan for the invitation to conduct an official visit to Armenia.
The President of Turkmenistan noted that his country is interested in developing relations with Armenia and sees opportunities for developing relations in the areas such as machine-building, electronics, pharmaceutics, agricultural production, etc.
In the evening of November 24, the President of Turkmenistan hosted an official dinner in honor of the President of Armenia.
On November 25, President Serzh Sargsyan, who is in Turkmenistan on official visit, met with the Speaker of the Mejlis Akja Nourberdieva.
The parties discussed issues related to the strengthening and development of the Armenian-Turkmen interparliamentary relations. At the interstate level, the two sides stressed the importance of cooperation between the legislatures. Considering that the Armenian-Turkmen friendship group has already been formed at the National Assembly of Armenia, the President of Armenia and Speaker of the Mejlis underscored the importance of creating such a group in the Mejlis as well.
After the meeting at the Mejlis, the President of Armenia visited the mausoleum of the first President of independent Turkmenistan Saparmurat Turkmenbashi in Ghipkap village and paid tribute to his memory. In the framework of his official visit to Turkmenistan, President Sargsyan visited also the Monument of Independence of Turkmenistan, laid a wreath and planted a tree at the alleyway of honorary guests. Serzh Sargsyan visited also the S. Turkmenbashi National Cultural Center.
President Sargsyan accompanied by President Berdimuhamedov visited the equestrian center where he observed the pride of the compound – the horses of the Akhaltekin breed.