This year the people of Ukraine celebrate the 17th anniversary of independence and the 91st anniversary of the restoration of Ukrainian statehood. The cherished aspiration of many generations of the Ukrainian people for freedom and independence came true on August 24, 1991.

At the current stage Ukraine imports natural gas. In this sphere our strategic partner is Turkmenistan. I should state that transparency and mutual understanding traditional for the bilateral relations between the two countries have been existed in the years of independence. Continuity of these relations has been traced since Gurbanguly Myalikguyevich Berdimuhamedov led the country.

President of Ukraine V. Yushchenko took part the ceremony of inaugurating Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov as President of Turkmenistan on February 14, 2007. Since then the leaders of the two states had several meetings and rounds of the talks in the framework of the international organisations and forums. The talks in 2008 proved the necessity of resuming the work of the intergovernmental Ukrainian-Turkmen commission called upon to specify bilateral partnership. The opportunities of accelerating a number of the joint projects were discussed. The partners exchanged views on the prospects of bilateral co-operation in the fuel and energy sector, construction industry, the trade and economic, scientific and technologies, cultural and humanitarian spheres. The high level of bilateral partnership, the closeness of the views of Ukraine and Turkmenistan on the broad range of the issues of international and regional importance was stated. Emphasis was put on the necessity of further development and intensification of co-operation in agriculture, textile industry, transport and communication. In whole, the content and character as well as the atmosphere of the talks reaffirmed the mutual intention to extend the bilateral dialogue, to bring it up to the level conforming to the huge potential of both countries.

Ukraine and Turkmenistan actively collaborate in the trade and economic sphere. The foreign trade turnover between Ukraine and Turkmenistan made up US$ 2.876,8 million in the first half year of 2008 and increased as high as US$ 482.9 million as compared to the same period of 2007. The main articles of Ukraine’s export to Turkmenistan are the materials produced by the Ukrainian metallurgical works, equipment and materials, machinery and mechanisms for the fuel and energy facilities, food products, grain, spirits, etc. The tradition import articles are natural gas, oil products.

The Ukrainian companies are Turkmenistan’s long-term partners with the profound experience of co-operation – Frunze Sumy public corporation and Ukrgazteh public corporation successfully implement the construction projects for Turkmenistan’s oil and gas industry. These companies implement the projects on construction of the booster stations Nayip, Khazar, Dovletabad-1 totalled US$ 120 million.

Cultural and humanitarian co-operation is one of the most promising aspects of the bilateral relations that are replenished with the new fields of collaboration opened by the education reform in Turkmenistan. With every passing year more and more Turkmen young people come to Ukraine to receive higher education. As of the beginning of 2008 over 1,300 citizens of Turkmenistan study various specialities of great demand in national economy at the Ukrainian higher educational establishments. This year the Ukrainian educational establishments will admit hundreds of students from friendly Turkmenistan.

The Ukrainian Sunday school is opened at the Embassy of Ukraine in Ashgabat. Each year the schoolchildren studying the Ukrainian language, the rich Ukrainian history and culture are sent free of charge to study at the institutions of higher education in Ukraine under the bilateral agreements. I believe this co-operation will be expanded on the mutually advantageous basis.

Ukraine’s participation in the international conference and forums organized in and outside Ashgabat has become a good tradition. In February and March, 2008 the Ukrainian scientists took part in the international conferences – Mahmyt Kashgari – the Founder of Turkology, Cultural Heritage – the Source of Knowledge of the History of Universal Cultural and Spiritual Revival, this May – the Interntional Scientific Conference Magtymguly Fraghi and the Universal Cultural Values.

At the invitation of the Turkmen partners a Ukrainian singer T.V. Kulchitzkaya, who had lived and worked in Ashgabat, took part in the International Festival Turkmenistan: Music – the Spiritual Treasury of Mankind (April 7-12). The people and guests of the Turkmen capital warmly welcomed her concerts that left the wonderful recollections of Ukrainian music.
Ukraine was represented at the international art and jewelry exhibition Turkmenistan and the Masterpieces of World Art which was held in Ashgabat on May 16-18.

Ukraine is sincerely grateful to the Government of Turkmenistan for the invitation to take part in these international events, the opportunity to know the cultural achievements of the Turkmen nation better.

The Days of Turkmen Culture in Ukraine scheduled for April of 2009 are in active preparations. We believe the Days of Turkmen Culture in Ukraine will initiate a new stage in the development of humanitarian co-operation between our friendly countries.

That our countries are advancing along the same path – the path of partnership and constructive endeavours aimed at increasing the welfare of the two nations is the basic feature of Ukrainian-Turkmen co-operation.

Taking an opportunity I would like to thank the Government of Turkmenistan, highly respected Gurbanguly Myalikguyevich Berdimuhamedov for the attention paid to development of the mutually advantageous relations between Ukraine and Turkmenistan. I would like to wish sincerely the leader of the Turkmen state good health, creative inspiration and great accomplishments in the work for the benefit of independent neutral Turkmenistan.