The Turkmen delegation led by Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty chamber of Turkmen bicameral parliament Milli Gengesh, paid a visit to Abu Dhabi on Saturday to take part in commemorative events in connection with the death of UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
At the reception center for high-ranking guests, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov met with the eldest son of the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and expressed condolences on the death of his father, the official Turkmen media reports.
The Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty also met with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Berdimuhamedov said Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan assisted in the construction of the Ashgabat mosque, the Döwletliler Köşgi palace (the orphanage), the Ene Myahri center (the maternity hospital), the International Center for Internal Medicine, the children's hospital in Mary province, the modernization of the Archman sanatorium and the Mary International Air harbor, and also provided charitable assistance to the Döwletliler köşgi palace.
"The good deeds of the deceased will never be forgotten," Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stressed. Addressing the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, the Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty said with his consent he intends to hold a memorial event next Friday for the late UAE leader in the mosque that the Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed built in Ashgabat.
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov also visited the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, where a prayer was offered in memory of the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed.
The UAE announced a 40-day period of mourning and three-day halt of activity in all ministries and the business sector as well, with flags flying at half-staff.
On Saturday, the UAE’s Federal Supreme Council elected the 61-year-old Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as President of the UAE.