A significant event: Ashgabat and Baku show common approaches to the regional agenda
Today, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov have signed the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan on joint exploration, development and completion of the hydrocarbon resources of the “Dostluk” field in the Caspian Sea. “This is a truly significant event in the life of our countries and peoples, it is aimed at strengthening friendship and cooperation.” said President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in his speech during today’s event. “It should be emphasized that the basis of effective bilateral relations is an open, constructive and friendly political dialogue established at the highest state level. However, the main guarantee of joint successful activities in the Caspian is strong brotherly ties between the Turkmen and Azerbaijani peoples that have existed for many centuries,” noted the Turkmen leader. Berdimuhamedov has emphasized the contribution to the mutual aspiration of Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan in creating an atmosphere of lasting peace, good-neighborliness, mutual understanding and cooperation in the Caspian region. It is as a result of the high political and diplomatic activity of the two countries that it has become possible to hold summits and other high forums of the Caspian states on a regular basis in recent decades, underlined the President of Turkmenistan. A modern international legal framework that meets the current and future needs of the coastal countries has been created, which determines the main parameters of multilateral cooperation in the Caspian Sea in such important areas as security, economy and ecology. According to Berdimuhamedov, in many respects, this became possible due to the high level of mutual understanding between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan and the commonality of the approaches to resolving all issues of the Caspian agenda. Having supported this idea, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said that through joint effort, we must continue to do everything to protect this unique reservoir, which brings so many benefits to our peoples. He also noted that today, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan have asserted themselves in the international arena as countries that can justifiably talk about an independent foreign and domestic policy that is not very common in the world today. “Our countries are completely self-sufficient. They do not depend on international loans, foreign aid or any other forms and types of external influence. We are countries that are strongly attached to our national, moral and ethical traditions,” concluded Aliyev. “In conclusion, as if confirming our commonness, I want to say words that will be understood in both Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan – Long live the Azerbaijani-Turkmen friendship! “Yashasyn Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan dostlugy!”,” said he.
