Valletta, December 7, 2024 – The Europe Today: A Turkmen delegation, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Mahri Bashimova, took part in the 31st meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Foreign Ministers, held on December 5-6, 2024. The event, hosted in Valletta, the capital of Malta, brought together over 30 foreign ministers from OSCE member states to address key security issues in Europe and Eurasia and discuss the organization’s operational priorities, including appointments to key positions and the approval of the 2025 budget.
During the plenary session, Deputy Foreign Minister Bashimova underscored Turkmenistan’s active partnership with the OSCE, emphasizing the country’s commitment to strengthening regional stability and fostering dialogue across political, economic, environmental, and humanitarian domains. She highlighted Turkmenistan’s ongoing efforts to enhance cooperation, particularly in developing international transport infrastructure and addressing environmental challenges.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Bashimova held bilateral discussions with Andreas Kakouris, Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus. The talks focused on deepening political and economic ties, enhancing the legal framework for cooperation, and advancing projects under memoranda of understanding.
Additionally, Bashimova met with Michael Zibert, Managing Director of the European External Action Service. Their discussions centered on mechanisms for cooperation between Turkmenistan and the European Union, including the Turkmenistan-EU Joint Committee and the human rights dialogue. They also explored opportunities to strengthen EU-Central Asia relations, with a proposal to host a foreign ministers’ meeting in Turkmenistan in 2025.
The OSCE Foreign Ministers’ meeting reaffirmed Turkmenistan’s role as a proactive partner in fostering regional and global dialogue, furthering its contributions to international security and cooperation.
