Ashgabat, August 6, 2026 – The Europe Today: President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov on Wednesday received Ignazio Cassis, Vice President of the Swiss Confederation, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, and Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), for talks focused on strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation within the OSCE framework.
Welcoming the visiting dignitary, President Berdimuhamedov described the visit as an important milestone in advancing relations between Turkmenistan, the OSCE, and Switzerland, reaffirming his country’s commitment to constructive international engagement and multilateral cooperation.
Vice President Cassis expressed appreciation for the warm hospitality extended to him and underscored the OSCE’s strong interest in deepening cooperation with Turkmenistan, recognizing the country’s active role in promoting global peace, security, and sustainable development.
During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the growing partnership between Turkmenistan and the OSCE, highlighting the implementation of annual cooperation programmes jointly developed by the Government of Turkmenistan and the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat. President Berdimuhamedov noted that these programmes continue to provide a practical framework for collaboration across the Organization’s key areas of activity.
The Turkmen leader also reaffirmed his country’s commitment to protecting human rights and strengthening democratic principles, emphasizing the importance of continued engagement with the OSCE to exchange international best practices and further enhance national reforms.
President Berdimuhamedov identified several promising areas for expanding cooperation with the OSCE, including ensuring secure and reliable energy supplies to global markets, promoting sustainable economic growth, strengthening transport connectivity, protecting the environment, and improving the rational management of water resources.
He reiterated Turkmenistan’s readiness to broaden cooperation with the OSCE in support of international peace, regional stability, and sustainable development.
The discussions also focused on the positive trajectory of bilateral relations between Turkmenistan and Switzerland. President Berdimuhamedov expressed interest in further developing cooperation in the political, diplomatic, trade, economic, cultural, and humanitarian fields and affirmed Turkmenistan’s willingness to consider concrete proposals from the Swiss side to deepen the partnership.
Taking the opportunity, the Turkmen President congratulated Vice President Cassis and the people of Switzerland on the recent celebration of Swiss National Day.
In response, Vice President Cassis thanked President Berdimuhamedov for his congratulations and praised Turkmenistan’s foreign policy, describing it as an example of constructive international engagement. He reaffirmed Switzerland’s commitment to strengthening long-term cooperation with Turkmenistan across areas of mutual interest.
Concluding the meeting, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Vice President Ignazio Cassis expressed confidence that bilateral relations and cooperation between Turkmenistan, Switzerland, and the OSCE would continue to deepen, exchanging best wishes for the continued prosperity and well-being of both nations.
