A MEETING OF DEPUTY MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF CENTRAL ASIAN COUNTRIES AND RUSSIА

On May 21, 2020, a meeting of Deputy Foreign Ministers of the Russian Federation and Central Asian countries was held, including the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan. The meeting was held in a video conference format.

The meeting participants exchanged views on the agenda of the upcoming third ministerial meeting in the format of CA5 + Russia.

The participants in the meeting especially noted the importance of strengthening and coordinating the interaction and efforts of the states of Central Asia and Russia, including the entire world community, aimed at countering the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context, the Turkmen side emphasized the need to exchange views on the development of coordinated steps in order to successfully counter this threat and added that, based on the recommendations of WHO and relevant international structures, as well as its own experience, a set of measures was taken in Turkmenistan in a timely manner aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus COVID-19.

Diplomats also reaffirmed the special importance of mutual assistance and help of the Central Asian countries and Russia during the pandemic, including overcoming the socio-economic consequences and facilitating the conditions for citizens to be in force majeure situations.

In his turn, the head of the Turkmen delegation noted the importance of regular communication and exchange of views on regional stability and security, as well as the need to strengthen political and diplomatic interaction, where the parties have considerable potential for mutual implementation. The President’s initiatives on the need for a quick and complete restoration of transport links between countries and regions, transit corridors, the search for new routes and the inclusive use of effective mechanisms of scientific diplomacy were also announced.

Diplomats also spoke in favour of intensifying the current lines of trade-economic, transport-logistics, and regional cooperation.

Also within the framework of the meeting, an exchange of views took place on resolving the situation in neighbouring Afghanistan and ensuring approaches acceptable to all participants regarding regional stability, security and development.