Cuban State Council chairman: Turkmenistan’s neutrality an important stability factor in Central Asia

Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, June 22 / Trend H. Hasanov / Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov met with the chairman of the State Council and the Council of Ministers of Cuba Raul Castro during the UN Conference on Sustainable Development Rio +20 which is currently being held in Brazil, the Turkmen government said. Key issues of cooperation in the light of experience and many-sided potentials were considered at the meeting. 'During the meeting Cuban leader Raul Castro said he appreciated the Turkmen peaceful policy based on the principles of positive neutrality which has become an important factor of stability in Central Asia', the information said. Castro expressed his support for Turkmenistan's creative international initiatives, including those reflected in Berdimuhamedov's statement at this world summit and aimed at ensuring global peace and security as well as creating favourable conditions for global sustainable development. President Berdimuhamedov said that Turkmenistan is interested in establishing a full-scale inter-state dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation with the Republic of Cuba, as well as within international organisations in the context of expanding relations between Turkmenistan and Latin America. During the meeting the sides discussed the prospects of cooperation in political, economic and cultural fields. They touched upon the prospects for partnership in the sphere of investment, recreation and tourism, as well as in the field of humanitarian cooperation, health care. Turkmenistan has intensified cooperation with Latin America. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez visited Ashgabat in 2009 and proposed that Turkmenistan should join the Organisation of Gas Producers. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az