April 28, 2008

President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, on his first-ever state visit to Afghanistan, arrived Monday April 28 in Kabul for meeting with President Karzai and other government officials.

The two Presidents met in the Palace following a formal welcoming ceremony held in his honor.  Issues of discussion included different aspects of relations between the two countries. Situation in Afghanistan and the region as well the war against terrorism were discussed. Other important matters of mutual focus were cooperation in areas of energy trade, transportation, telecommunications, the Turkmen-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India Gas Pipeline, a new railroad between Turkmenistan and Afghanistan that will also link the neighbors, imported electricity from Turkmenistan and other issues of bilateral importance like that of educational and cultural exchanges.

A set of bilateral agreements on energy, transport, and culture were signed between the authorities of the two countries. The new energy agreement calls for the construction of a new natural-gas pipeline to transport Turkmen gas through Afghanistan and on to Pakistan and India.

Following the meeting, a declaration was signed by both the Presidents in a press availability, during which President Karzai said the two nations enjoy a deeply- rooted religious, cultural and social relationship, thus any step to further these relations has been a common practice.

Speaking to reporters, President Karzai welcomed his Turkmen counterpart to Afghanistan as his “own homeland” and said, “Relationship with Turkmenistan is one of Afghanistan’s best relations.”

President Berdymukhammedov said he was happy to come to Afghanistan and strongly condemned the incident Sunday during Afghanistan’s Victory Day and expressed condolences to the President, the families of the victims and the people of Afghanistan saying, “such incidents and attacks can not deter Afghanistan from its path to democracy and progress.”

President Berdymukhammedov said his country supports all efforts in Afghanistan for peace and stability and does everything possible to provide Afghanistan with discounted electricity and gas and with agriculture and textile facilities. He said he looks forward to the implementation of the Gas Pipeline between the four nations.