A few days after his appointment, the EU Special Representative for Central Asia, Ambassador Eduards Stiprais, visited Turkmenistan from 4 to 6 March (see EUROPE 13586/26) to strengthen diplomatic dialogue ahead of the EU-Central Asia Summit in early April.
The High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, was due to attend the EU-Central Asia ministerial meeting on 4 March, but was prevented from doing so due to illness (see EUROPE 13591/17). If this meeting has to be postponed, no new date has been announced at this stage.
During his visit, Mr Stiprais met high-level officials, including the Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rashid Meredov, to discuss cooperation between the EU and Turkmenistan, regional stability and multilateral engagement.
He also met Dünýägözel Gulmanowa, President of the Mejlis (Parliament) of Turkmenistan, and international representatives, including from the UN, OSCE and UNRCCA, to strengthen multilateral cooperation.
He also met the EU Heads of Mission and the resident ambassadors for Central Asia.
“The visit reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to deepening its engagement with Turkmenistan and the Central Asian region as a whole, with a focus on regional cooperation, economic development and security dialogue”, summarised the European External Action Service (EEAS) in a press release. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)