10.07.2008 (TDH) President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Hungary Ferenc Gyurcsany, who had arrived in Turkmenistan leading the big government delegation, held the talks in Ashgabat.
Greeting the honorary Hungarian guest in the Turkmen land Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that he was glad to welcome such a representative delegation from the friendly European country in Ashgabat. The Turkmen leader emphasized that consistently implementing the open door policy Turkmenistan stood steadfast to the positions of constructive co-operation with all countries worldwide interested in establishing fruitful business contacts. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov briefed the guest on the priorities of Turkmenistan’s social and economic development, the key trends of the fundamental reforms and the large-scale reform programmes implemented in the country.
Cordially thanking the Turkmen leader for the heartfelt welcome and hospitality Mr. Ferenc Gyurcsany noted that it was the first visit the head of the Hungarian Government had ever made to Turkmenistan. The guest said that he was very glad to have an opportunity to visit Ashgabat and was greatly impressed with the rapid rates and dynamics Turkmenistan’s development. Informing of Hungary’s intense interest in establishing close bilateral co-operation Mr. Ferenc Gyurcsany said that this interest was conditioned by Turkmenistan’s profound economic and resource potential as well as the Turkmen leader’s constructive reformative policy that had won the country the high prestige worldwide. The Hungarian Prime Minister said that nowadays Turkmenistan played the more significant role on the world arena, and this fact was in favour of the Turkmen state’s way. In this regard Mr. Ferenc Gyurcsany focused on the unprecedented social programmes aimed at steadily increasing the welfare of the Turkmen people.
During the talks the President of Turkmenistan and the Hungarian Prime Minister considered the prospects and format of co-operation on the bilateral basis as well as in the framework of the Turkmenistan-European Union dialogue. Specifying the priorities of effective collaboration with due regard to the two countries’ capacities and interests Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Ferenc Gyurcsany exchanged views on long-term fuel and energy partnership that, in mutual opinion, opened a vast field for concerting efforts. The sides noted that complementarity of the economies of Turkmenistan and Hungary as well as the reciprocal interest in mutual experience in agriculture, food industry, recreation and tourism industry, etc stood as the major factors for fruitful partnership.
Humanitarian co-operation was a focus of the talks. The sides called for enhancing the fruitful cultural contacts, in particular the regular cultural exchange. The Hungarian Prime Minister said that here, in Ashgabat he had been inspired with uniqueness and greatness of ancient Turkmen culture that was embodied in architecture of the Turkmen capital, national costumes and jewelry, the way of life of the Turkmen people. The guest called Turkmen horses a living symbol of Turkmen culture and made a request for seeing these miraculous horses in their homeland.
Emphasizing that nowadays paramount importance was attached to restoring the glory of Ahalteke horses – the national pride of the Turkmen people Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov invited Ferenc Gyurcsany to visit the Ahlateke Horse Breeding Complex. The Hungarian prime minister accepted the invitation with gratitude.
Upon concluding the meeting the Prime Minister of the Republic of Hungary gave an interview. “I came in Turkmenistan to know your country better,” the honorary guest said. “Turkmenistan’s power and influence on the world arena is increasing. And not only due to the country’s energy potential but also other achievements in various fields.” Focusing on the large scale of the reforms in Turkmenistan Mr. Ferenc Gyurcsany said that the talks with President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov had focused on the opportunities of collaboration for Hungary and other EU member states in this large-scale process that opened the vast prospects for mutually advantageous co-operation.
The Hungarian Prime Minister said that he viewed the visit to Turkmenistan as an event of historic significance for the potential and opportunities of developing bilateral partnership, the priority trends of which had been specified during the talks with the Turkmen leader. The head of the Hungarian Government reaffirmed his country’s willingness to establish the close contacts with Turkmenistan at the political and economic levels as well as at the level of communication among people – through the broad contacts in the sphere of tourism and regular cultural exchange.
