Statement by President Serzh Sargsyan at the meeting with the representatives of the mass media on the results of the negotiations with the President of Turkmenistan

Dear Gurbanguli Berdimuhamedov,
Distinguished members of the delegation,
Distinguished representatives of the mass media,

We have just concluded our meeting with the President of Turkmenistan, and I would like to express my satisfaction with the results of the negotiations. It’s been a very concrete, positive and substantial conversation during which we have discussed many different issues and outlined the prospects of our cooperation. Certainly, considerable part of time was allocated to the trade, economic and humanitarian relations, investment climate existing in our countries.

We have discussed the process of development of our relations, their dynamics since our meeting in Ashgabat in 2010.

Along with that we have underscored that the Armenian-Turkmen relations have a much greater potential and its utilization will undoubtedly serve interests of our peoples.

Thus, we are confident that the turnover between the two countries, which is yet far from the level we would like to see, can be increased through our joint efforts. With this regard, a considerable role is assigned to the Armenian-Turkmen interstate commission on economic cooperation. We hope that the 4th session of the commission, which took place in Yerevan a month and a half ago, gave a new impetus to our bilateral cooperation.

Based on the results of today’s negotiations, in your presence signed were some important agreements and the Joint Declaration, which reflect our mutual desire to strengthen the mutually beneficial economic cooperation in different areas: energy, transport, agriculture, light and chemical industry.

We have reached agreement on the necessity to create favorable conditions for the development of the trade relations, different forms of industrial and investment cooperation as well as establishment of closer direct links among the business entities of our two countries.

Gurbanguli Berdimuhamedov has proposed and we have accepted with pleasure to conduct our business forum next year in Turkmenistan, and I believe that organization of such a forum will certainly boost our relations.

We have also paid due attention to the regional and international issues of mutual interest since coordinated actions regarding these issues is important for the full-grown relations between our countries.

Based on the results of the conducted negotiations, we have affirmed the intention of Armenia and Turkmenistan to continue to promote peace and security. This is the objective of our cooperation in the framework of the UN, OSCE, CIS and other international structures.

On the regional issues, we have expressed our concern with the escalation of tension in the South Caucasus. I have reiterated our principled position regarding the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict: it must be solved exclusively through peaceful means, based on the norms and principles of international law. Only this approach, which precludes preference of one principle over the others, will ensure the possibility of reaching a durable solution.

Among the agreement signed today, I would like to single out the agreement on cooperation in the area of air communication. We assume that this agreement will in any case open new prospects for the development of business ties, as well as for contacts between our peoples, development of tourism and exchange of students. It is based on the conviction that contacts in the area of education will certainly continue since they hold the promise of the future. I am confident that our Turkmen friends will concur with our position on that issue.

Concluding today’s negotiations, I mean - the first round of negotiations, I would like to note with satisfaction the following: the mutual desire for further strengthening of the Armenian-Turkmen relations has been reiterated, as well as the intention to elevate them to a new, higher level.