20.07.2008 (TDH) President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov completed the official visit to the Republic of Romania. That this visit was a considerable success is important not only for strengthening the bilateral relations but also in the view of the actively developed dialogue between Turkmenistan and the European Union. Romania is the first EU member country that the Turkmen leader paid an official visit to. This fact testifies to the significance in the talks in Bucharest.
The success of any action is measured by its result. The result is obvious here: the substantial package of the documents that considerably expand the scope for traditional bilateral collaboration under the new historical conditions was signed upon concluding the top level meeting. The Turkmen leader’s short-term visit contoured clearly new co-operation in the particular fields. The approaches to implementing the bilateral agreements in detail were a focus of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s meetings at the Romanian Parliament and Government as well as the intergovernmental talks.
It is natural that a dominant theme of the talks was co-operation in the strategy c- energy sector an interest in which is conditioned by Turkmenistan’s profound hydrocarbon potential as well as the European community’s intense interest in Turkmen natural gas exports. In particular, collaboration in development of the offshore deposits, geological exploration and modernization of oil and gas processing and petrochemical industries was offered to the Romanian companies standing ready to expand on the very promising Turkmen market.
Both Turkmenistan and Romania are interested in intensifying co-operation traditional oil and gas sector in which the partners have accumulated the positive experience of collaboration that was proved during the intergovernmental talks as well as the visits of the Turkmen governmental delegation consisting of the high-ranking officials of the largest fuel and energy agencies to the world-known plant in Ploesti specialized in manufacturing oil and gas equipment.
“We have something to offer to each other,” Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stated during the meeting with the Romanian President emphasizing that the success and accomplishments of Turkmenistan, which managed to occupy the leading positions on the world arena within a short period, had been gained not only through the fuel and energy sector but also dynamical development of other as much important sectors such as textile, construction and chemical industries, transport.
The dominant themes of the Turkmen-Romanian talks included education. The interest in this field is quite natural as today Turkmenistan ranks among the countries that regard the education policy as a priority national task. During the talks sides reached the new agreements, in particular on substantial increase of admission to the Romanian institutions of higher education for Turkmen young people. On the second day of the visit to Romania the Presided visited the University of Oil and Gas in Ploesti – one of the European leading higher educational establishments specialized in training highly qualified specialists in oil and gas industry. As usual there was nothing unimportant for Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov – he showed interest in almost everything, even the procedure of testing future students, who were to acquire professional knowledge and skills in the walls of the University. The Turkmen leader looked into the lecture room where the university entrants were taking an examination. The presence of the guest of such a high rank was a surprise to the members of the examination commission and entrants as well.
Walking around the University Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov looked into the laboratory of advanced technologies and innovations. The Turkmen leader got added evidence that the latest scientific advances enabling to simulate various worst-case situations in oil and gas fields had been introduced there.
In a word, the busy schedule of the Turkmen leader’s visit included a series of the business and familiarization meetings, during which the conversation became sincere from the first moments. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s amicability and sincerity appealed to the hosts and allowed turning the course of conversation into a frank dialogue, open exchange of views on the future of Turkmen-Romanian co-operation.
The unquestionable success of the Turkmen leader’s voyage can be associated, first of all, with the success and unconditional recognition of the strategically though-out political course pursued by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov at a crucial point of the Turkmen history. Thus, it can be asserted that while getting acquainted with the Turkmen leader the people of Romania were discovering Turkmenistan.
That the ancient Turkmen not Turkish, as it had been considered before, handmade carpets adorned the Peles Palace – one of the European largest museums and a pride of the Romanian people was a surprising revelation for the cultural circles in the friendly country. While walking around the former royal residence in the town of Sinaya the Turkemn leader noticed the wonderful handmade carpets exhibited in one of the magnificent halls of the Palace and asked the local specialists how these carpets had been brought to the Museum. After the President knew that the carpets had been brought from Turkey many years ago he supposed that it were enterprising merchants who had brought the carpets to Romania that one more time testified to wide popularity of Turkmen carpets and unsurprised craftsmanship of Turkmen carpet makers. The museum specialists said that they had been heard much about the masterpieces created by Turkmen craftswomen and they would never have thought that the priceless treasures adorned the interior of the magnificent historical building. The museum specialists were greatly astounded and at the same time pleased at this discovery.
Though Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s visit to Romania was short it can be rightfully defined as a breakthrough in the bilateral relations and Romania’s serious bid for strategic partnership with Turkmenistan. That was repeatedly focused on during numerous meetings and talks, in particular at the Ministry of Economy and Finance demonstrating the sides’ willingness to intensify the dialogue established and the Romanian partners’ intention to attach priority importance to co-operation with Turkmenistan.
The significance attached to the meeting between Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Traian Basescu was evidenced by numerous articles in the Romanian print mass media and the TV and radio reportages about the Turkmen leader’s visit that become the number one event in the social and political life of this European country on those days.
