President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov arrived to Sochi (the Russian Federation) on a working visit to take part in a meeting of the CIS Council of the Heads of State.
From the airport, the Turkmen leader headed to the Congress Centre in the Radisson Blu Resort & Congress Centre Hotel, located on the picturesque coast of the Black Sea, where President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held a meeting with President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.
Cordially greeting the distinguished guest, the President of Russia expressed gratitude to the Turkmen colleague for the accepted invitation to visit Sochi and take part in the CIS Summit, as well as for the cordial welcome of the RF delegation during the recent official visit to Turkmenistan.
Underlining that the fundamental documents were signed during the Ashgabat meeting with the aim to ensure the further development of the interstate relations over the whole range, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin once again expressed sincere gratitude to President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for the fruitful joint work.
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov thanked the leader of the Russian Federation for the kind words and, taking the opportunity, congratulated Vladimir Putin on his birthday.Wishing the RF President strong health and success in his activity, the Turkmen leader presented a puppy of the Alabai breed named Wepaly (Faithful) to the President of the Russian Federation.
According to President Gurbenguly Berdimuhamedov, the dogs of the Alabai breed have always been the Turkmen people’s faithful companions and friends.The choice of alabai as the symbol of the V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games was not accidental.
The Turkmen leader noted that it was known that the President of Russia paid particular attention to the environment, preservation of flora and fauna, and the gifted puppy represented the most ancient and unique breed.
In the afternoon, the meeting of the CIS Council of the Heads of State took place in the Congress Centre of the Radisson Blu Resort & Congress Centre Hotel.As an associated member of the Commonwealth of Independent States, our country actively participates in CIS affairs, promoting the development of fruitful cooperation in a wide range of areas both in bilateral and multilateral formats.
Considering cooperation in the framework of the CIS as one of the important vectors of the foreign policy course, neutral Turkmenistan builds up relations with the CIS countries based on goodwill, the traditions of friendship, respect for each other's interests, the principles of equal dialogue and mutually beneficial long-term partnership.
Regularly participating in various activities in the framework of the CIS, our country hosted important meetings and forums of the Commonwealth, including the meeting of the CIS Council of the Heads of State and Government.
It should be noted that Turkmenistan has always been proactive in matters of cooperation, paying great attention to the implementation of the existing multidimensional potential in such priority fields as trade and economy, transport and communication sector, energy, humanitarian and cultural fields as well as ecology, sports, tourism, etc.
In this context, it is notable that in 2012 and 2016, the Turkmen cities of Mary and Dashoguz were proclaimed the CIS cultural capitals.The events, held in these cities in the framework of the honorary status delegated to them, became a significant contribution of Turkmenistan to the development of the dialogue of cultures in the CIS area, the enrichment of traditional humanitarian ties, the preservation of the priceless historical and cultural heritage of the peoples of the CIS states for the future generations and its popularization all around the world.
Our country is also committed to working with the CIS countries in the light of the development of balanced solutions on topical issues on the regional and global agenda, especially those related to countering the dangerous challenges and threats of the present time, ensuring universal peace, security and sustainable development.In 2012, as the Chair of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Turkmenistan demonstrated the most serious and responsible approach to the fulfillment of this important mission, contributing to strengthening the traditionally friendly, good-neighborly relations between the CIS member countries, building an effective partnership that meets the goals of the universal prosperity.
The participation of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in the regular meeting of the CIS Council of the Heads of State vividly proves that independent neutral Turkmenistan consistently implements its foreign policy strategy that prioritizes the development of constructive cooperation both at the intergovernmental level and in the format of authoritative regional and international organizations and structures.