At the invitation of Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, and Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov, Luxembourg's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn, paid a working visit to Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, on Wednesday 6 September 2016.
In addition to bilateral talks with his Turkmen counterpart, Rashid Meredov, Minister Asselborn was also received in audience by President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, and also met with the Vice President of the Cabinet of Ministers in charge of Transport and Communications, Satlyk Satlykov.
While the visit of Minister Asselborn was arranged around the celebrations of the 25th anniversary of Turkmenistan's independence, the respective meetings were intended to take stock of bilateral relations, addressing several issues aimed at improving trade relations and strengthening economic ties between the two countries, especially in the aviation sector.
In this context, the presence of the CEO of Cargolux Airlines International SA, Richard Forson, and Vice President and CFO, Maxime Strauss, Minister Asselborn and his Turkmen counterpart signed an aviation agreement between the two countries. Welcoming the signing of this agreement which will greatly benefit the economic relations of the two countries, Minister Asselborn also discussed with his counterparts in other sectors that could potentially be subject to mutually beneficial cooperation. Similarly, the ministers agreed on the need to start negotiations on an agreement to avoid double taxation.
Discussions also focused on the situation in the country and on the state of relations between Turkmenistan and the European Union. Minister Asselborn reiterated the EU's willingness to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with Turkmenistan, particularly through the partnership and cooperation agreement that would strengthen the institutional framework of cooperation. In this regard, both sides reported on the annual dialogue on human rights with the EU and the Minister Asselborn inquired about the situation of human rights in the country.
Regarding major regional challenges, the ministers had a detailed exchange of views on the situation in Afghanistan, while addressing the preparations for the next conference on Afghanistan to be held in early October in Brussels.
Photo by MAEE (L-R): Minister Jean Asselborn; the President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov
