President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov received First Deputy Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee V. Garkun, who had arrived in Turkmenistan at the head of the representative delegation.

Cordially greeting the leader of the Turkmen state the guest conveyed the best wishes on behalf of the leadership of the Republic of Belarus that housed the CIS headquarters. V. Garkun noted that he arrived in the Turkmen capital by the Minsk-Ashgabat flight. The CIS high-ranking official said that the fact of establishing the regular air communication between the Turkmenistan and the Republic of Belarus vividly evidenced the positive policy of wide international co-operation pursued by the Turkmen leader. The First Deputy Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee thanked Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov for the participation in the CIS Summit in Dushanbe and the invitation to hold the summit of CIS Prime Ministers in Ashgabat.

Thanking the guest for the kind words and addressing the greetings to the leadership of the Republic of Belarus Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov noted that the Turkmen capital was ready to receive the honorary guests and create all necessary conditions for the fruitful work of the summit. Briefing on Turkmenistan’s position it took on establishment and enhancement of wide international co-operation the Turkmen leader sad that the position conformed to the policy of openness, friendship and good neighbourliness pursed by the Turkmen state. The President noted that in the modern period the states worldwide built the relations on a new basis – through balancing the national and common interests, mutual advantage and equal co-operation. Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov reaffirmed that as an associated member of the Commonwealth of Independent States Turkmenistan would actively implement its status and participate in the CIS activities through developing fruitful relations in both bilateral and multilateral formats.

The interlocutors considered the organisational issues and agenda of the summit of CIS Prime Ministers, which would be held on November 22 in the Turkmen capital.

Upon concluding the meeting interlocutors expressed satisfaction at the exchange of views and focused on further constructive interaction within the CIS based on equality, financial viability and respect for the traditional ties of friendship and co-operation.