Central Asian Presidents meet in Turkmenistan

The 3rd Consultation Meeting of the Presidents of Central Asian countries was held in the Awaza region of Turkmenistan. The 3rd Consultation Meeting of the Presidents of Central Asian Countries, chaired by Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, was attended by Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon, and Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov.

The meeting focused on cooperation between Central Asian countries in the political, trade, economic, transport, logistics, cultural and other fields, as well as regional security and issues related to the resolution of the situation in Afghanistan.

Uzbekistan President Mirziyoyev, speaking at the meeting, said that the region has turned into a place of good neighbourhood, cooperation, and sustainable development as a result of the common political will and efforts. Mirziyoyev stressed the importance of consultative meetings of Central Asian leaders in shaping the new political environment in the region. Mirziyoyev, noting that the high-level meetings served to fully realise the unique potential of the region, proposed to organise the Forum of Regional Parliaments in Tashkent.

Mirziyoyev also noted, “the security and sustainable development of the Central Asian region depends largely on the political solution in neighbouring Afghanistan” and added, “Our vision for the peace process is a complete ceasefire and the cessation of violence, the achievement of mutually acceptable compromises as a result of negotiations. We will encourage the implementation of large transportation, energy projects to redevelop the countries destroyed economy. We will continue to provide all possible humanitarian assistance to the friendly Afghan people.”

Tajik President Rahmon noted that the Afghan issue was of great importance for the region and said,

“The events of recent months, especially the withdrawal of US troops and allies from Afghanistan, have sharply strained the military-political situation in this country.”

Rahmon stated that the entire border of Afghanistan with Tajikistan had passed into Taliban control, emphasising that the accumulation of various groups near the Tajik borders was worrying. Rahmon noted that they had taken additional measures to strengthen border protection taking this into account and stated that “We support the establishment of Afghanistan as a peaceful and prosperous state”.

Kazakh President Tokayev stressed that the situation in Afghanistan was alarming, noting that Central Asian countries should take a common step in this situation. Tokayev, noting that the countries of the region were the key bridges connecting Asia and Europe, said Kazakhstan would continue to strengthen the potential of the International Trans-Caspian Corridor.

Kyrgyz President Japarov said that Central Asian countries that do not have access to the world’s oceans should strive to create new transportation corridors that would allow access to ports and increase the efficiency of existing ones. Japarov stated in this context that the China-KyrgyzstanUzbekistan railway line project would become one of the important connections of the Eurasian railway network. (www.cumhuriyet.com.tr)