Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Jan.14
By Huseyn Hasanov- Trend:
U.S. President Barack Obama conveyed his gratitude to Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for his contribution towards the settlement of the situation in Afghanistan, Turkmen Dovlet Khabarlary (TDH) State News Service reported on Jan.14.
The message was delivered by U.S. Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, Nisha Desai Biswal, who arrived in Ashgabat for annual political consultations and was received by the country's president.
The U.S. Assistant Secretary expressed his country's support for the important international initiatives put forward by the Turkmen leader and aimed primarily at ensuring peace, stability and security in Central Asia.
Nisha Desai Biswal conveyed to the Turkmen leader gratuitous words from U.S. government circles and President Barack Obama for the huge positive contribution from Turkmenistan towards resolving the situation and progressive socio-economic development of neighbouring Afghanistan, a report said.
According to the report, it is about Turkmenistan's efforts on the consistent implementation of large-scale projects of regional and international importance, the most important of which include the construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline and laying of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Tajikistan railway.
'As was stressed, the U.S. government is deeply interested in the further development of inter-state dialogue that fully meets the interests of both countries and their friendly people', the report said.
Turkmenistan, which has a long border with Afghanistan, has repeatedly put forward a number of initiatives on economic and social revival of its neighbor. These initiatives have been appreciated by the UN and the OSCE.
In early 2013 Ashgabat hosted an international meeting on assistance to Afghanistan, which brought together representatives of neighboring states, international organizations and potential donor countries.
Works are underway for creation of the Atamyrat-Imamnazar-Akina-Andhoi (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan) railway at Ashgabat's initiative.
Ashgabat is also working on a project that allows significantly increasing the volume of exports of Turkmen electricity to Afghanistan.
Construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline is one of the largest proposed projects. The formation of an international consortium for this pipeline's construction is being carried out at the moment.
Translated by M.L.
Edited by S.M.