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Marking the 10th anniversary of formal diplomatic consultations about issues of regional security, Turkmenistan and the United States reiterated their commitment to countering terrorism, arranging educational and cultural exchanges, promoting human rights, and expanding trade and investment.
The annual bilateral discussions, held in April 2024 in the Turkmen capital of Ashgabat, were hosted by Rashid Meredov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. John Mark Pommersheim, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, represented the U.S.
Meredov and Pommersheim discussed issues related to combating regional and global security threats, including transnational terrorism, which remains a threat to stability in the Central Asian region. They also discussed Turkmenistan’s new legislation to reduce methane emissions produced as a byproduct of the country’s gas industry.
The meeting also focused on the importance of the “C5+1” diplomatic platform, which brings together the five Central Asian states and the U.S. Following the success of the first “C5+1” Presidential Summit in September 2023, both countries reaffirmed their support for this regional initiative, which serves as a forum for addressing common security challenges.
Both countries expressed their intention to hold the next round of annual bilateral consultations in Washington, D.C., in 2025.
Sources: Turkmenistan.gov, Voice of America