The fourth meeting of the heads of external policy agencies in the format of “Central Asia – Russia” was held

On the 16^th of July 2021, the fourth meeting of the heads of external policy agencies in the format of “Central Asia – Russia” was held in Tashkent.

The session was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mukhtar Tileuberdi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Nurlan Niyazaliev and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation S.Lavrov.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the key aspects of cooperation between the countries of Central Asia and the Russian Federation in political, trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian spheres. The efficiency of collaboration in the framework of regional and international structures was stated.

The participants of the session considered the key aspects of international agenda and the issues of regional security, in particular the situation in Afghanistan.

Speaking at the meeting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov noted the effectiveness of the political-diplomatic collaboration between the states of the given format. The high pace of development of trade-economic, investment, cultural and humanitarian ties was emphasized.

During the discussions of the Afghan matters, the head of the MFA of Turkmenistan noted that the establishment of peace in Afghanistan stands as one of the vital components of stable and consistent development of the region of Central Asia. He underlined the significance of the search for ways of settling the situation in Afghanistan taking into consideration all the present factors, as well as proposed to strengthen the collaboration in the framework of the initiatives on Afghanistan set forth by the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia.

It was stated that Turkmenistan is ready to continue rendering utmost support to the advancement of joint efforts with the aim of establishing peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Upon the results of the meeting, the heads of external policy agencies adopted a Joint Statement.