President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of the European Council Charles Michel discussed the situation in Afghanistan by telephone.
During the conversation, the Turkmen leader noted that he got acquainted with Charles Michel's assessments of the situation in Afghanistan, as well as with the vision of the European side of further multilateral cooperation in the Afghan direction. In this regard, the head of state dwelled on three main principles on which Turkmenistan's position on the Afghan problem is based.
“First, in the political aspect, we stand for the settlement of the situation in Afghanistan only by peaceful, political and diplomatic means and methods,” G. Berdimuhamedov said. He stressed that Turkmenistan is ready to assist in establishing appropriate contacts and creating conditions for the early establishment of peace in Afghanistan.
“Secondly, in the economic aspect, we emphasize the need to further advance issues related to the implementation of large infrastructure projects, in particular, the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, power lines and fiber-optic communications along the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan route, as well as railways connecting Afghanistan with Turkmenistan, ”the Turkmen leader continued.
He stressed that the third principle of the Turkmen policy on Afghanistan is the provision of constant humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people to promote the establishment of peace in the country. “Ashgabat regularly provides direct humanitarian aid to the brotherly Afghan people. Construction of schools, hospitals, a mosque at the expense of Turkmenistan, sending humanitarian convoys on a regular basis is an important support for Afghanistan, ”the head of state said.
He expressed confidence that as a result of the search for mutually acceptable forms of government, new national institutions in this country will be formed in the near future in the legal field and with the broad participation of all groups of the Afghan population. G. Berdimuhamedov also noted the expediency of stepping up the activities of the UN, OSCE and the EU in assisting the Afghan settlement.
In turn, Charles Michel stressed the relevance of the initiatives put forward by Turkmenistan aimed at ensuring security, stability and sustainable development in Central Asia. He stressed that the European Union supports Ashgabat's foreign policy and initiatives.
The President of Turkmenistan also invited the President of the European Council to the celebration of the Day of the country's neutrality, which is celebrated on December 12. Charles Michel gratefully accepted the invitation.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru