Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Oct. 27
By Huseyn Hasanov – Trend:
A delegation of Turkmenistan, led by Deputy Prime Minister Gochmyrat Myradov, will take part in a meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the CIS, be held in Astana on Nov. 2, the state news agency Turkmen Dovlet Khabarlary reported.
A wide range of cooperation issues, in particular in the economic and social spheres, energy sector will be discussed at the event, the message says.
This topic was touched upon during a government meeting in Ashgabat. Cooperation within the CIS is one of the priorities of the foreign policy of neutral Turkmenistan, a message quoted President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov as saying.
In 2019, Turkmenistan will take over the chairmanship of the CIS.
In 2005, Ashgabat, referring to the status of permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan, recognized and supported by the UN, decided to participate in the CIS as an associate member. In 1999, Turkmenistan withdrew from the agreement on visa-free regime with the CIS countries.
In 2012, Turkmenistan even chaired the CIS and held about 30 events in this regard.
Turkmenistan ranks second in the CIS in terms of natural gas reserves after Russia. Gas is exported to China and Iran. At this stage, negotiations are underway to resume the supply of Turkmen gas to Russia, interrupted in 2016.