A Turkmen delegation, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Mahri Bashimova, attended the 31st meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Foreign Ministers, which took place on December 5-6, 2024, in Valletta, the capital of Malta, as reported by the Turkmenistan Foreign Ministry.
The event gathered over 30 foreign ministers from OSCE member states who discussed key security issues in Europe and Eurasia, as well as matters related to the organization’s activities. Among the decisions made were appointments to key OSCE positions and discussions on the budget for the upcoming year.
During the plenary session, Mahri Bashimova emphasized the importance of Turkmenistan's partnership with the OSCE in strengthening regional stability and promoting dialogue in political, economic, environmental, and humanitarian dimensions.
The deputy minister noted that Turkmenistan actively develops cooperation with the OSCE and called for enhanced interaction with the organization’s member states, particularly in international transport infrastructure and environmental issues.
The Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan also met with Cyprus’ Foreign Ministry Secretary Andreas Kakouris. They discussed bilateral relations and prospects for expanding political-diplomatic and economic cooperation. The conversation included strengthening the legal framework and working on memorandum of understanding projects.
The meeting included discussions with Michael Zibert, Managing Director of the European External Action Service.The parties talked about the importance of joint mechanisms for cooperation, including the Turkmenistan-EU Joint Committee and the human rights dialogue, as well as prospects for strengthening ties between the EU and Central Asia, including organizing a meeting of foreign ministers in Turkmenistan next year.