Turkmenistan and Russia expand strategic cooperation
The Federal Law of the Russian Federation on June 27, 2018 “On Ratification of the Treaty on Strategic Partnership between the Russian Federation and Turkmenistan” came into force from July 8, the Parliamentary Newspaper reports. The Treaty signed in Ashgabat on October 2, 2017 determines that long-term and stable strategic partnership relations between the Russian Federation and Turkmenistan are based on the principles of mutual respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity, and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, and with equality, mutual benefit, peaceful coexistence and reciprocal trust. The parties agreed to expand practical cooperation on priority areas of cooperation in trade and economic, transport-communication, investment, energy, cultural, humanitarian and other fields. In particular, the Treaty supports the creation of reliable and safe transport corridors that meet the economic interests of both sides and ensure the shortest and most effective access to international markets. Under the Treaty the two sides will expand and deepen their cooperation in the struggle against terrorism and other manifestations of extremism, various forms of transnational organized crime, corruption, illegal trafficking of drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, weapons, illegal arms trafficking, as well as the smuggling of cultural item, and other manifestations of threats and challenges to security. A separate article of the Treaty says that the parties will ensure protection of ethnic, linguistic, cultural and religious identity of ethnic groups residing on their territories, and will create conditions for preservation and development of the identity, for effective participation of these persons in cultural, social and economic life, as well as in state affairs in accordance with the national legislation. There is also an item on cooperation in the development of natural and mineral resources of the Caspian Sea on the basis of relevant international treaties, on preservation of the unique ecological system of the Caspian Sea, and on development of maritime transport.
