On July 16, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov left for Romania on a two-day official visit. The high-ranking officials of the Mejlis and cabinet ministers bade farewell to the Turkmen leader at Ashgabat International Airport.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Romania Lazar Comanescu, Head of the President’s Protocol Office Delia Dinu and other officials persons cordially greeted Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov at the International Airport in Bucharest decorated with the national flags of the two friendly countries.

This year the Turkmen leader has visited Bucharest for the second time. In early April the Turkmen President took part in the NATO Summit in the Romanian capital.

From the airport the President’s cortege headed for the historical part of the city to the Monument to Unknown Soldier erected in the centre of Karl the First Park (Parkul Karol). A wreath of flowers was laid to the memorial with the Eternal Fire of behalf of the Turkmen leader. Upon concluding the ceremony Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov wrote an entry to the Book of Honorary Guests.

Then the cortege headed for the Cotroceni Palace housing the official residence of the President of the Republic of Romania. At the approach of the palace square Romanian President Traian Basescu cordially greeted President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. The official ceremony of greeting the honorary Turkmen guest was held on the square in front of the Cotroceni Palace.

Upon concluding the official ceremony the leaders of Turkmenistan and Romania held the top level talks in the Blue Hall.

Cordially greeting the President of Turkmenistan the Romanian leader thanked Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for accepting the invitation to visit Romania and emphasized that this visit was viewed in Romania as an event of special importance for developing the intergovernmental relations, to the history of which a new page had been added. Touching upon the significance of the current Turkmen-Romanian talks Traian Basescu focused on Romania’s intense interest in enhancing and intensifying traditional bilateral co-operation with Turkmenistan on the long-term mutually advantageous basis.

Expressing sincere gratitude for the heartfelt welcome extended in Romania the President of Turkmenistan noted with satisfaction considerable intensification of the Turkmen-Romanian dialogue filled with the new dynamics and content. Highly appreciating the prospects and potential of bilateral partnership Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov reaffirmed Turkmenistan’s willingness to further intensify it.

The sides exchanged views on a broad range of the issues related to establishment of effective collaboration focusing on the reciprocal endeavours to establish full-scale partnership in both bilateral and multilateral forms – in the framework of the European Union. The trade and economic sphere, fuel and energy sector, transport and communication, industry, agriculture and construction industry were specified as the priority fields of partnership. Traian Basescu informed of the Romanian business companies’ willingness to expand on the Turkmen market considered by the Romanian and European businessmen very promising for the favourable investment climate and the dynamic rates of economic growth.

Humanitarian co-operation was a focus of the top level talks. The sides unanimously called for strengthening and expanding the fruitful contacts in the sphere of education, science and culture, first of all. Collaboration in tourism and recreation industry opening the vast opportunities through implementing the Avaza National Project on the Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea was deemed quite prospective.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Traian Basescu discussed the issues of international policy of mutual interest.

Then the talks were continued at the Ambassadorial Hall of the Cotroceni Palace with participation of the government delegations of Turkmenistan and Romania and the journalists.

Cordially greeting the honorary guest and the members of the Turkmen government delegation President Traian Basescu thanked Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for accepting the invitation to visit Romania on an official visit. Focusing on the extremely positive and fruitful character of the one to one talks the President of Romania gave the floor to the President of Turkmenistan.

Expressing sincere gratitude for inviting to pay an official visit to the friendly country to the Romanian colleague Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that Romania was among the first states to recognize Turkmenistan’s independence and to establish the diplomatic relations with the Turkmen state. Over the past years both countries had accumulated the positive experience of co-operation in various fields, the Turkmen leader said. In this context Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized that Romania remained to rank among the reliable partners of Turkmenistan that was considerably promoted by the intergovernmental dialogue.

Stating that the countries’ views on the key trends of global policy were similar for the most part or coincided, the Turkmen noted that it was related to maintenance of peace, security, stability and sustainable development in the region as well as all overt the world.

Focusing on the main aspects of bilateral co-operation in the framework of the authoritative organisations such as the United Nations and OSCE, first of all, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed sincere gratitude to the Romanian partners for supporting Turkmenistan’s initiative to establish the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy in Central Asia with the headquarters in Ashgabat.

Touching upon co-operation with Romania as an EU member country the Turkmen leader noted that the friendly country’s active position in the European Union was of paramount importance for implementing the Central Asia Strategy of the European Union. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that collaboration in this field would profoundly contribute to enhancement of Turkmenistan’s relationships with the European Union. These prospects had the realistic and reliable foundation, the Turkmen leader said. Both Turkmenistan and Romania with the favourable geopolitical and geoeconomic location built the constructive relations with the neighbouring states that created incentives to successfully advance the dialogue between Asia and Europe. Touching upon Romania’s contribution to global efforts to maintain security and stability in Afghanistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that there were the opportunities for co-operation.

Stating with satisfaction the positive dynamics of Turkmen-Romanian economic partnership with the profound potential, the Turkmen leader cited the growth of the trade turnover as an example. The trade turnover between Turkmenistan and Romania had tripled as compared to 2007.

The Turkmen leader said that implementing the large-scale economic reforms Turkmenistan relied on balanced development of national economy, re-orientation to manufacture of final products. Specifying the implementation of the country’s profound energy potential as a priority of the national economic policy Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on the significance attached to intensified co-operation with foreign partners including Romania. In this context the Turkmen leader suggested that the Romanian companies with the profound expertise in oil and gas industry would consider the opportunities of collaborating in the particular energy projects, in particular development of offshore hydrocarbon deposits in the Caspian Sea, construction of pipelines, establishment and modernization of processing enterprises, procurement of modern equipment for Turkmenistan’s fuel and energy sector.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov mentioned co-operation in the sphere of transport and communication, in particular the large-scale regional and transnational projects as mutually advantageous and very promising. The President of Turkmenistan suggested that the Romanian partners would contribute to the implementation of the large-scale programmes to develop the relevant infrastructure including construction of railways and highways, reconstruction of the Turkmenbashi sea port and delivery of equipment.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that Turkmenistan and Romania could successfully concert efforts in textile industry as a dynamically developed sector of national economies.

The Turkmen leader said that both countries had the profound potential for co-operating in agro-industrial sector, in particular agricultural processing. Turkmenistan was interested in Romania’s experience in applying advanced agricultural technologies, in particular water use. Such co-operation was viewed of current importance as during the nearest two years Romania would chair the EU group for water resources management in Central Asia and Caucasus. In this regard Turkmenistan stood ready to assist Romania’s chairmanship in conducting various international conferences and meetings in Ashgabat.

Calling for intensifying Turkmen-Romanian partnership in whole Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov put emphasis on the establishment of the intergovernmental commission for economic co-operation as an effective mechanism of enhancing fruitful collaboration.

Putting emphasis on the importance of fostering the humanitarian and cultural ties Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov called for expanding fruitful co-operation in the spheres of education and science and suggested establishing the direct inter-institute contacts between the Turkmen Polytechnic Institute in Ashgabat and the University of Petroleum and Gas in Ploeste. The Turkmen leader said that Turkmenistan was grateful to the Romanian friends for the respect to Turkmen history and culture that was proved by the translation of the works of the Turkmen classics into the Romanian language. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov suggested drafting and approving at the intergovernmental level the cultural co-operation programme including joint festivals, the days of cinematography, exhibitions, etc.

Summing up the Turkmen leader thanked the Romanian leadership for the wonderful atmosphere of the talks and hospitality Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov invited the President of Romania to pay an official visit to Turkmenistan. The invitation as accepted with gratitude.

In conclusion Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov wished success in the work to Traian Basescu and wellbeing and prosperity to the people of Romania.

Then the President of Romania gave the floor. Traian Basescu focused on the significance of the Turkmen leader’s visit foe fostering the Turkmen-Romanian relations – in both bilateral and Turkmenistan-EU formats. The Romanian leader noted the importance of establishing the intergovernmental commission for economic co-operation that would aim the activity at implementing the agreements.

Characterizing Turkmen-Romanian partnership as extremely successful in the framework of global policy as well Traian Basescu expressed gratitude to the Turkmen partners for supporting Romania’s initiatives put forward through the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

The President of Romania highly appreciated Turkmenistan’s peacemaking policy as a country playing the key role in maintaining peace and stability in the region. In this regard Traian Basescu focused on Turkmenistan’s profound contribution to Afghanistan’s social and economic and cultural revival that was of concern to the world community.

Confirming that Romania would chair the EU group for water resources management in Central Asia and Caucasus in 2009-2010 the Romanian expressed gratitude to the President of Turkmenistan for the willingness to co-operate in this field.

Stating Romania’s intense interest in intensifying fuel and energy co-operation Traian Basescu said that his country stood ready to offer its expertise and advanced technologies in chemical and oil and gas industries in particular to Turkmenistan. In this regard Traian Basescu informed of the willingness of the Romanian companies including Romgaz to establish close business contacts with the Turkmen partners.

The Romanian leader thanked Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and the members of the Turkmen government delegation for the visit that opened the vast opportunities for enhancing and developing traditionally friendly mutually advantageous co-operation.

Upon concluding the top level talks the ceremony of signing the bilateral documents took place in presence of the leaders of Turkmenistan and Romania. These included the Convention to liquidate double taxation and to prevent income and capital tax evasion between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of Romania, the Agreement on Economic and Scientific and Technical Cooperation between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of Romania, the Protocol between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of Romania to the Agreement on Encouragement and Mutual Protection of Investments between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of Romania of November 16, 1994, the 2008-2012 Programme of Cooperation between the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Enlightenment, Science and Youth of Romania, the Protocol on Cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania.

Then Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Traian Basescu gave the brief press conference.

Introducing the honorary Turkmen guest Traian Basescu focused on the complete success of the top level talks that had became an important step towards intensifying the Turkmen-Romanian relations. That was proved by the package of the bilateral documents signed in Bucharest to coordinate bilateral co-operation in all fields including the trade and economic, scientific and technical spheres, education, and the contacts between the foreign ministries of both countries, the Romanian leader said.

Touching upon the opportunities of implementing the potential of multi-aspect co-operation in full the Romanian leader focused on the role of the intergovernmental Turkmen-Romanian commission – the structure responsible for advancing the bilateral agreements and mutually advantageous partnership in whole. Specifying the fuel and energy sector as a priority of partnership Traian Basescu informed that the issues related to the Nabuco Project had been touched upon during the talks. The Romanian leader said that there were the vast opportunities for establishing large-scale co-operation that Turkmenistan and Romania intended to develop for the benefit of the two peoples.

Addressing the press conference Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov once more greeted the Romanian partners and the people of Romania and thanked for the hospitality and heartfelt welcome. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stated that Turkmenistan highly appreciated and shared the Romanian partners’ friendliness and readiness for co-operation, the priorities of which had been a focus of the top level talks.