The first meeting of the intergovernmental Turkmen-Azerbaijani commission for economic co-operation held in the capital of independent Turkmenistan resulted in issuing the bilateral Protocol.

The representative delegation of the Republic of Azerbaijan led by First Deputy Prime Minister Yagub Abdula ogly Eyubov, Chairman of the Turkmen-Azerbaijani commission had arrived in Ashgabat to take part in the talks. Vice Premier Hydyr Saparliev co-chaired the intergovernmental Turkmen-Azerbaijani commission.

The partners specified the priority trends of Turkmen-Azerbaijani co-operation, discussed the prospects and opportunities of intensifying collaboration in a broad range of fields. The participants noted with satisfaction that the interstate relations had been intensified and promoted by the Turkmen and Azerbaijani leaders’ personal contacts. The talks proved the mutual readiness to expand mutually advantageous trade and economic co-operation and establish effective collaboration in the energy sector. Partnership in the sphere of transport and communication and environmental protection was a focus of the talks. The partners called for intensifying the fruitful contacts in the humanitarian sphere that was conditioned by the common spiritual traditions of the neighbouring nations.

The agenda of the meeting held in the constructive atmosphere of mutual understanding and confidence included the sensitive item of paying off the debts of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Turkmenistan for natural gas deliveries in 1993-1995 and settling the inter-bank accounts for the period of 1992-1993. The parties found the mutually acceptable solution through making the mutual concessions and compromises and secured it in the relevant bilateral document. Thus, showing the good will the neighbouring states solved the problem that had hindered the relations to progress.

During the meeting participants exacted the date of the second meeting of the intergovernmental Turkmen-Azerbaijani commission for economic co-operation which would be held in Baku.

Upon concluding the talks the partners expressed belief that the Ashgabat meeting would be an effective step towards enhancing and strengthening equal mutually advantageous co-operation that had been developed at a new stage of the interstate dialogue.


Within he framework of the visit to Turkmenistan First Deputy Prime Minister Yagub Abdula ogly Eyubov and the members of the governmental delegation visited the Mosque of Spirituality in Gypjak and laid flowers to the mausoleum commemorating the first President independent Turkmenistan Saparmurat Niyazov.

In the evening an official dinner was given in honour of the participants of the meeting of the intergovernmental Turkmen-Azerbaijani commission for economic co-operation.