The Uzbek president also called Uzbek-Turkmen relations as a cornerstone of future relations in Central Asia. Speaking at a ceremony to lay a foundation stone of the new building of the Turkmen embassy in Tashkent, Berdimuhamedov said that this building would be a venue of constructive meetings and consultations on various issues of cooperation.

The following is an excerpt from report by Uzbek state-owned Television First Channel on 11 March; subheadings inserted editorially:

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has been in Uzbekistan on a two-day state visit.

Meetings at high level were held yesterday. Discussing the state of cooperation, the heads of state said there was a huge potential for developing it in various spheres of the economy and also in the humanitarian sphere. The presidents instructed the intergovernmental commission to increase trade, contribute to stepping up interaction of business circles, interdepartmental relations, as well as scientific and cultural exchange. They noted that this dialogue confirmed the similarity of the sides’ views on many areas of partnership.

A solemn ceremony was held [on 11 March] in the Oqsaroy residence to confer an honorary [doctorate of medicine] title on the Turkmen president. Our correspondents will tell about this event and other meetings as part of the visit.


Uzbek President Islam Karimov said: " In Uzbekistan we have always valued and value centuries-old friendship, mutual trust, common interests and all riches which were created by the creative labour and talent of our great ancestors. It is a great heritage. Without any exaggeration, we understand that it is a common property of our peoples and a reliable foundation, on which we are building our current life and our future.

"It is extremely important not only to preserve it with care but also to multiply it, enriching it with joint efforts, creation of our contemporaries in various spheres of our life and with the work of elder, middle and, I particularly note, younger generation," he said

The Uzbek president recalled the events in October 2007 as a big step in the chronicle of a bilateral dialogue, when the signing of a number of interstate and intergovernmental documents, as well as the warmth of relations richly reflected the spirit of partnership and friendship at the current stage of relations.

"Significant political event"

Islam Karimov called Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s current state visit a significant political event in their history. It is a proof that ties are growing stronger, the Uzbek president said. There is another simple truth - our peoples are living relying on one another. They will be together tomorrow too. They will go towards progress together and together strengthen stability, peace and security in the region. President Islam Karimov singled out a huge personal contribution of the Turkmen president to all processes of reforming modern Turkmenistan, adding that both states recognize the deciding significance of a specific chain - the intelligentsia - in developing cooperation, which is represented by society, cultural figures, artists and medical personnel. And here as it was said it is fair to mention the role of personally Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in developing this sphere in Turkmenistan.

Karimov said: "As a doctor by education, he has gone through all stages of growth - starting from an ordinary doctor, moreover, a rural doctor up to the level of the country’s health minister, the title of doctor of medical sciences. Dear friends, we have gathered here to mark this contribution and confer the title of honorary doctor of medical sciences of the Tashkent-based Academy of Medicine of Uzbekistan on Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov."

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said: "Esteemed Islam Abduganiyevich, dear friends and colleagues, my gratitude has no limits, as you conferred the honorary doctor title of the Tashkent-based Academy of Medicine on me. Seizing the opportunity, I would like to ask Islam Abduganiyevich so that we together work and have very close contacts. You know that we also have very ancient Turkmen State Medical Institute. I think that these mutual forms of both scientific and practical work would be of big use, depending on our climatic and geographical peculiarities and arid zone, for the sake and health of the peoples of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. "

Over the past six months, meetings at the high level raised mutually beneficial cooperation between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan to a qualitatively new level. A decision to construct a new building of the friendly neighbouring country in the centre of our capital is a proof of the priority interest for strengthening relations.

The Uzbek and Turkmen presidents noted today at a ceremonial meeting attended by the heads of the diplomatic missions that this fact was a significant event in history of relations between the two countries.

"Very successful" visit

Karimov said: " You yourselves see what kind of magnificent design the esteemed Turkmen president chose and presented to us. This in itself shows what significance and attention the Turkmen president attaches to the representative office - his Turkmen embassy in Tashkent. This design itself speaks of many things. And I think there is no need for comment."

"I am very pleased to see today representatives of the diplomatic corps [at the ceremony to] lay the foundation stone, because I hope that this kind of buildings of other embassies will stand out in the streets and squares of the city of Tashkent. The example of the construction of the new embassy [building] of Turkmenistan in Uzbekistan will be a contagious thing so that those agreements, those drafts and those desires of many embassies which we know will be brought about. I am convinced that this will also lay a good foundation for both bilateral and multilateral relations between our states, our peoples and our countries.

"I would like to say that the Turkmen president’s state visit to Uzbekistan is coming to an end. Seizing this opportunity, I would like to say that I think that the visit has been successful. The visit has been very successful. The visit has made it possible for us to continue that beginning which was laid in October 2007, when we, the Uzbek delegation, were in Asgabat and saw with our own eyes the attitude which we today continued here, that qualitatively new attitude which is being laid between our countries. In all this I see a political will, above all, new approaches which we visibly see in the policy the Turkmen president is conducting. And on behalf of all people who are present here, with huge satisfaction I would like to sincerely thank - to express words of sincere gratitude to the Turkmen president and the entire Turkmen people - who are fraternal to our people - whom he represents, for what we have today, and the main thing, for those prospects which will undoubtedly be implemented. Let me not only thank the Turkmen president but also wish him new successes in those undertakings which we see today with our own eyes, in those big processes of renovation. During yesterday’s conversation we repeatedly talked over these issues - what we see today and what we will see in our relations. And the main thing is that I am happy that relations between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan will be a cornerstone of what we should see tomorrow in Central Asia. And I hope that our relations with Turkmenistan will be that example around which, on the whole, relations between the states of our region will be built," Uzbek leader noted.

Berdimuhamedov hails new embassy building

Berdimuhamedov said: "We consider today’s event, which is taking place during the Turkmen delegation’s visit to Uzbekistan, as a good sign and high symbol of friendship of the two states. I would like to cordially congratulate all those people present on this historic event, which symbolizes a new and higher level of dynamic development of our bilateral cooperation at this stage."

"The beginning of the construction of the new Turkmen embassy building clearly shows new opportunities and new ways, above all, diplomatic ones for further extending relations between our states and peoples. In this regard, I would like to thank the Uzbek president, respected Islam Abduganiyevich Karimov, for supporting our common efforts, and attention and care for the diplomatic mission of Turkmenistan in Tashkent," he underlined.

"Dear friends, we are becoming closer, and one of the factors of this process is the activity of our embassies. The dynamics of relations at various levels as well as the efficiency of talks, preparations for and signing of bilateral documents, depend on their work. Drawing attention to this important issue, I would like to note that the new building of the Turkmen embassy will serve as a venue of constructive meetings and consultations on a wide spectrum of issues of cooperation and provision of information about the modern development, culture and historical traditions of Turkmenistan, as well as about huge opportunities for partnership and cooperation with our country.

"I am convinced that the dynamic diplomatic representative office and its staff will do everything needed for the sake of our peoples and for the prosperity of our countries. And in this regard, we are always glad to tell our friends ’welcome’," Berdimuhamedov said.

The presidents laid foundation stone of the embassy; the new embassy building is expected to be commissioned in October 2008.