Turkmenistan considers Russia its strategic partner, but it does not consider joining the Eurasian Economic Union, RIA Novosti quoted Berdymurat Rejepov, Turkmenistan Ambassador to Russia, as saying.
Speaking with RIA Novosti correspondent after the meeting between Turkmenistan President Gurbangulu Berdymohammadov and Turkmenistan Ambassadors to foreign countries Rejepov said that Turkmenistan President emphasized strategic partnership between Turkmenistan and Russia.
Rejepov quoted Berdymohammadov as saying that five-billion worth trade turnover between the two countries shows that Russia is among the biggest trade and economic partners of Turkmenistan. “Turkmenistan and Russia support each other in the UN, OSCE, CIS and other international organizations. We also have a common vision of the Caspian Sea problem,” Rejepov added.
Asked Turkmenistan’s position to creation of the Eurasian Economic Union initiated by Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, Berdymurate Rejepov said that Turkmenistan occupies the neutral position, but in the foreign policy it places the emphases on development of bilateral relationship.
“Turkmenistan is the associate member of the CIS, our country takes part in discussion of the integration projects on the CIS space according to the status of our state,” said Turkmenistan Ambassador.
Turkmenistan occupies a neutral position in its foreign policy and at the same it stands for development of bilateral rrelationships with foreign countries, avoiding joining the unions and uniting with the national agencies. The associate membership in the CIS allows the country not being involved into the projects, which do not take into account Turkmenistan’s interests.
