Ukraine, Turkmenistan sign deals during Yanukovych’s visit
By Aynur Jafarova
Ukraine and Turkmenistan signed a package of documents during the three-day visit of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to Turkmenistan on February 12-14.
First, President Yanukovych and his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov signed a joint statement on deepening the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
The document stressed the aspiration of the parties for further intensification of political dialogue, including at the highest level, and the intention to work closely in the international arena, particularly within the UN and other global and regional organizations, as well as on the issues of strengthening the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of states.
Yanukovych and Berdymukhamedov agreed to take the necessary measures for the organization of the Days of Ukrainian Culture in Turkmenistan in 2013, as well as the Days of Turkmen Culture in Ukraine in 2014.
In the joint statement, Turkmenistan and Ukraine also stressed their readiness to contribute to the social and economic development of Afghanistan.
Following the signing ceremony, the presidents held a press conference where Yanukovych confirmed Ukraine's interest in resuming gas supplies from Turkmenistan and willingness to deepen cooperation in this field.
He said Turkmenistan and Ukraine are well positioned to join efforts to explore alternative routes for gas supplies, both for their own needs and further exports to Europe.
Berdymukhamedov also proposed holding a summit in Ashgabat under the auspices of the OSCE to discuss issues related to energy security.
Yanukovych invited his Turkmen counterpart to pay an official visit to Ukraine and the invitation was accepted. Dates of the visit will be agreed through diplomatic channels.
The two countries also inked a memorandum of understanding aimed at enhancement of bilateral cooperation in the oil and gas sector. The document, undersigned by the Ukrainian state oil and gas firm Naftogaz and Turkmengas State Concern, envisions the development of further cooperation on a contractual basis.
The other documents signed by the sides include a program of cooperation between the foreign ministries of the two countries in 2013 and an agreement on cooperation between the national Olympic committees. Also signed were a memorandum of understanding between the State Financial Monitoring Service of Ukraine and the Ministry of Finance of Turkmenistan on countering the legalization (money laundering) of proceeds from crime and financing of terrorism; an agreement between the Kyiv Regional State Administration of Ukraine and executive authorities of the Akhal province of Turkmenistan on trade-economic, scientific and cultural cooperation, etc.
The local media reported that the Ukrainian and Turkmen leaders' meeting would give a new impetus to the development of interstate dialogue, particularly within the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), chaired by Ukraine this year.
Shortly before the talks, President Berdymukhamedov said the Turkmen-Ukrainian partnership has considerable positive experience of cooperation and a solid versatile potential with meeting to the greatest extent possible the interests of the two nations.
Diplomatic relations between Turkmenistan and Ukraine were established in 1992. So far Turkmenistan and Ukraine have signed 120 documents at interstate, intergovernmental and interdepartmental levels.