Today President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has made a working visit to the Republic of Turkey to participate in the VIII Summit of heads of states of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States (Turkic Council) at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The invitation of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to the present Summit of heads of states of the Turkic Council and his repeated participation in the forums of the given Organization at high level testifies to the initiative position of Turkmenistan in issues of interaction with regional and international institutions. Our country strives to use the available resources for expansion of efficient trade and economic and humanitarian-cultural relations in the wide geographical space, which Turkic speaking states occupy in the Eurasian content. 

Turkmenistan sees development of partnership with the given important Organization, which was established in October of 2009 and plays a key role in the integration process of participating countries of the Turkic Council, as one of the priority vectors of its foreign policy course.

Participation of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov as an honourable guest in the non-official Summit that was held online on March 31, the current year at the invitation of first President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Elbasy, Honoured chairman of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States Nursultan Nazarbayev also attested to this.

In the course of the informal online high-level meeting, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted an important role of culture, science, and education in the strengthening of friendly and brotherly ties between participating countries of the Summit. In this regard, the leader of the nation stated expediency of expansion of a range of programs and projects realized within the framework of the International Organization of Turkic Culture (Turksoy) and proposed to carry out proper work for expansion and popularization of works by famous poets and prose writers, outstanding workers of culture and art of participating states of the forum in the world.

…Having made a nonstop flight to Istanbul, the presidential airliner landed at the international airport named after Ataturk where on flagpoles the national flags of Turkmenistan and the Republic of Turkey were raised. 

In honour of the arrival of the high guest on both sides of the carpet runner leading from the boarding bridge soldiers of the guard of honour were lined. In the air harbour, the officials of the Turkic side welcomed the Turkmen leader.

From the airport, the motorcade of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov headed towards the designated residence, which was located in the Chiragan Palace.

Then, the head of Turkmenistan headed to the headquarters of the Turkic Council. 

At the central entrance, the Secretary General of the Turkic Council warmly welcomed the leader of the nation.

Here the solemn opening ceremony of the building of the main office of the given Organization took place. On the sidelines of the solemn event leaders of the participating states–members of the Turkic Council took part in the flag raising ceremony of Turkic speaking countries.

High guests to the noisy applauds of the gathered, cut the symbolic ribbon and enter the building where they familiarized themselves with the photo exhibition, which narrates the history of Turkic speaking countries.

Then, the motorcade of the President of Turkmenistan headed to the port of «Barbarossa Hayreddin Pasha», from there together with heads of delegations of Turkic speaking countries by yacht he headed towards one of the Princes’ islands in the Sea of Marmara, to southeast of Istanbul -«Democracy and Freedom Island».

Upon his arrival in the island, the leader of the nation by autotruck heads towards the hotel «Katre Island», which has become a venue for the Summit.

Here President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov was brotherly and sincerely welcomed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

In the hall for bilateral talks, the summit talks were held between leaders of Turkmenistan and the Republic of Turkey.

Before the start of the Summit in the foyer of the hotel, the ceremony of official photographing for heads of states and delegations took place.

The present meeting was held with participation of President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokaev, President of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev as well as Viktor Orban, Prime Minister of Hungary and Secretary General of the Turkic Council Baghdad Amreyev.

First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Elbasy, Honoured chairman of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States Nursultan Nazarbayev joined the Summit online.

Upon completion of the ceremony of official joint photographing in the conference hall of the hotel «Katre Island», the Summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States was held.

At the high-level meeting, the motto of which was «Green technologies and smart cities in the Digital Age», leaders of participating countries exchanged views of topical vectors of interstate interaction and adopted decisions on a number of important issues connected with the future of the Organization, including its renaming. Establishment of conditions of cooperation with third countries and institutions, creation of the Turkic investment fund and approval of the Conception of the Turkic world for 2040 which reflects the mid and long term goals and tasks of the Organization became the subject of discussion as well.

One of the significant events of the present Summit was the entry of Turkmenistan into the Organization as an observer.

Opening the meeting and warmly welcoming the gathered, President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave the floor to participants of the forum.

Speaking at the forum, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov first of all thanked President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the invitation to participate in this important and representative Summit as well as for its wonderful organization, hospitality, warm welcome and cordiality. 

The leader of the nation continued his word saying that for our country, it has a particular significance as today the decision on its entrance into the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States as an observer is taken and without exaggeration it is an important historical event which speaks of the start of the qualitatively new stage of interaction between Turkmenistan and Turkic speaking countries.

As President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov underlined, the legal status of permanent neutrality which was unanimously recognized by the related Resolution of December 12, 1995 of the UN General Assembly and once again supported by the Resolution of June 3, 2015 lie at the heart of the foreign policy strategy of Turkmenistan. 

Besides it, at the initiative of Turkmenistan on February 2, 2017, the UN General Assembly adopted the Resolution on declaration of December 12 as International Day of Neutrality. This event once again confirmed the key role of neutrality policy in support of universal peace.

In case of full consensus on the given proposal, one can soon start preliminary diplomatic procedure in the General Assembly, and then act with a general draft of the related resolution. I hope this will help reach understanding and win support of international community a constructive and unique position to adjust systematic integration between Turkic speaking countries and the United Nations as well as it will serve an efficient tool for consolidation of efforts in the name of common interests, the head of Turkmenistan said.

Drawing the attention of participants of the Summit to the importance of strengthening of links between Turkic speaking countries and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed confidence in the presence of wide opportunities for joint work in such areas as economy, trade, investment, ecology, science and education.

Further, the leader of the nation pointed out that this confidence is stipulated with age-old experience, our kindred, steadiness and unshakability of our spiritual and moral values and principles.

In the course of long historical period the Turkic world served as centre for emergence and dawn of cultures, great civilizations and to a significant extent, it made an impact on the course and development of world history, culture and civilization.

Magtymguly Fragi, Yunus Emre, Muhammet Fizuly, Abay, Yusuf Balasugunly, Muhammet Ulugbeg are outstanding representatives of Turkic peoples and works by them up to day inspire us into achievements of high marks.

Stating presence of definite prospects in this direction, the leader of the nation marked that in his opinion, unification of potentials, use of resource, geographical, industrial and technological opportunities will help our states not only to obtain a powerful support to our national economies but also to give completely a new content and quality to the entire geo-economic structure of Eurasia.

First of all, it concerns such strategic spheres as energy and transport.

Turkic speaking states form a “natural belt “in the Eurasian space and it will unite Asia and Europe through reliable and stable transport and energy links. Our countries can play a key role in their formation. It is the shortest, reliable and safe route for delivery of energy carriers, goods and services to the largest markets of Asia, Europe and the Near East by routes of East-West and North-South. 

In this regard, we envisage projects of creation of energy system by the scheme of the Caspian region- Turkey-Europe as well as transport- logistics corridors to revive the great Silk Road.

Proceeding from this, the head of Turkmenistan noted importance of intensification of cooperation and start of the considered development of the unique strategy of Turkic speaking countries in the given direction and realization of coordinated transport and energy diplomacy on its basis.

I think, for it one should create the related legal and organizational conditions, optimal political, diplomatic and information platform for international perception and support of our efforts, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said.

In our opinion, expansion of directions and geography of international cooperation of the Council of Turkic speaking states requires the strengthening and improvement of its organizational structure, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said noting that one can think over creation of special committees, which will deal with the strengthening of cooperation of our countries in economic, ecological and humanitarian spheres.

Recognizing an important role of the Secretary General of the Turkic Council, the leader of the national pointed out, we propose to think over approval of posts of its deputies taking into account the geographical factor. Such high rank will enable them to deal in detail relations of different countries in Asia and Europe.

The present Summit heralds a new epoch in the interaction between Turkmenistan and brotherly countries. Adoption of the decision on entry of our country into the Turkic Council as an observer is a joyful event for us, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted stating that today having joined our efforts and endeavour to ensure progress of our brotherly peoples on the path of development, flourishing and wellbeing we have become stronger.

Highly appreciating the organizational level and results of the present Summit, which is held in the atmosphere of full mutual understanding, trust and openness, the leader of the nation expressed his sincere gratitude to heads of the states who participate in the meeting and for their efficient support and strive and invariable readiness and more personal attention to the development of fraternal relations with Turkmenistan.

Completing his speech, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov also expressed his acknowledgment to Secretary General Baghdad Amreyev for skilful coordination of work of the Organization and his contribution to the successful conduction of the Summit.

At the high-level meeting, exchange of opinions on current regional and international political and economic processes took place.

By the outcome of the VIII Summit of heads of the states of the Cooperation Council of Turkic speaking states in which chairmanship of the Organization passed from Azerbaijan to Turkey, the Istanbul Declaration as well as a number of resolutions were signed.

Today on the margin of the Summit, the meeting between President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov was also held. 

Then President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov took part in the official dinner given on behalf of President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan in honour of high guests.

Upon completion of the program of his working visit to the Republic of Turkey, the head of Turkmenistan headed towards the Istanbul international airport from where he left for his country.