Swiss Vice-President and OSCE Chairman-in-Office Holds Talks in Turkmenistan
On August 5, Ignazio Cassis, Vice-President of the Swiss Confederation, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, and Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, made an official visit to Turkmenistan. President Serdar Berdimuhamedov received the distinguished guest at the Avaza National Tourist Zone. He also held talks with Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov and visited the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.
During the meeting, the two sides praised Turkmenistan's initiatives to expand international legal partnerships and ensure global stability. President Berdimuhamedov emphasized the particular importance of cooperation within the OSCE, highlighting strategic areas such as the secure transit of energy resources, the development of transport corridors, the environment, and rational water and land use. The head of state also noted the importance of further work to study best international practices in the area of human rights and democratic principles.
Rashid Meredov and Ignazio Cassis discussed the implementation of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat's annual Project Plan, covering the politico-military, economic-environmental, and human dimensions. During the talks, the parties focused on the preparation of high-level joint regional events and the work of the diplomatic mission led by William Leaf.
Behind the high-profile protocol of the visit lies a profound analytical agenda, uniting the interests of Ashgabat, Bern, and the OSCE mechanisms. Ignazio Cassis's visit to Ashgabat was part of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office's regional tour, which included visits to the Caucasus and Central Asia. For Bern, which is undergoing a national debate on constitutional neutrality reform ahead of the September 2026 referendum, the Turkmen model of positive neutrality is of practical interest as an example of a stable peacekeeping tool.
The economic and institutional dimension of the two countries' relations is underpinned by a long-standing partnership within a common constituency in the Bretton Woods framework, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, as well as the EBRD and the Global Environment Facility. For Swiss businesses, Central Asia is an important area for investment in infrastructure, logistics, and innovation.
Furthermore, Bern's strategic interest in the region is reinforced by the Swiss Blue Peace Initiative in Central Asia, which focuses on transboundary water management, and the Regional Cooperation Programme for 2026–2029.
The talks in Turkmenistan demonstrated that Ashgabat remains a reliable platform for advancing multilateral diplomacy and promoting sustainable development throughout the OSCE region.
