State Secretary Štucin expresses interest in more political dialogue with Turkmenistan
State Secretary Marko Štucin holding political consultations with Turkmenistan's Deputy Foreign Minister in Ashgabat | Author MZEZ
They expressed interest in further strengthening political dialogue and economic cooperation. Opportunities are emerging in the pharmaceutical industry, logistics (especially connections between ports) and sport, with many more opportunities in ICT. "Slovenia is committed to strengthening political dialogue with Turkmenistan. We also want to increase our diplomatic presence in Central Asia," said State Secretary Štucin.
They also exchanged views on current international issues, focusing on the situation in Afghanistan and the Middle East and on cooperation with the EU. Central Asian countries are becoming an increasingly important partner for both the EU and Slovenia, with intensified cooperation over the recent years. They agreed that respect for international law and multilateralism are key to addressing the challenges.
The State Secretary also met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Raşit Öwezgeldiýewiç Meredow. Minister Meredow expressed his satisfaction with the Slovenian delegation’s visit for political consultations. He recalled the high-level visits which took place nearly a decade ago, noting that the consultations provide an opportunity to renew relations between the two countries. They briefly discussed ways to deepen economic cooperation and touched on the current situation in the region.