"Central Asia and Azerbaijan transform into a unified geopolitical space" Turkmen leader congratulates President Aliyev via a letter

Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty (People's Council) of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, has sent a letter to the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, Azertag informs.

The letter reads as follows: 

"Sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, I congratulate you, and through you, the entire people of Azerbaijan, on the unanimously adopted decision of the 7th Consultative Meeting of the Heads of Central Asian States regarding 'The Full Participation of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Consultative Meeting of the Central Asian Heads of States.'

Undoubtedly, this is an event of historic significance. It marks the transformation of Central Asia and Azerbaijan into a unified geopolitical and geoeconomic space, thereby creating a strong union of our peoples and states based on brotherhood, good-neighbourliness, equality, and cooperation, with a true understanding of our historical destinies in their inseparability and indivisibility.

I am firmly convinced that the adopted decision is entirely natural, objectively reflecting the historical trajectory of development of the countries of Central Asia and Azerbaijan, their pressing needs, and genuine interests.

For many centuries, our peoples have been united by geographic proximity, shared civilizational roots, and the closeness of culture, traditions, and spiritual values. This created a unique archetype of relations, which today, in conditions of independence, serves as a powerful factor in the development of present and future continental processes—in politics, economics, social, and humanitarian spheres.

It is destined that Central Asia and Azerbaijan will be key links in transcontinental multi-vector interconnectivity, without which it is impossible to create a balanced, successful, and sustainable architecture of the modern economy. The participation of your country in achieving this grand goal is now supported by an additional firm political and legal foundation.

Dear brother!

The Consultative Meeting format serves as a crucial platform necessary for ensuring peace, trust, consensus, good-neighborliness, and mutually beneficial partnership for all its participants. I am proud that Turkmenistan was at the origins of creating such a form of political interaction. The initiative put forward by our country to establish the Consultative Meeting was announced and fully supported more than fifteen years ago in Uzbekistan.

The next step was the first official Consultative Meeting in Kazakhstan, where the philosophical foundations of multilateral dialogue were laid, and its long-term goals and prospects were defined.

Subsequent meetings were held according to an agreed plan in Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. At these meetings, important issues of intraregional cooperation and the international agenda were discussed in a trusting and open atmosphere, and significant decisions and agreements were reached. Time has shown the correctness of creating this format, its demand and effectiveness, and its alignment with the fundamental interests of the peoples and all member states without exception.

A new stage in developing mutual understanding, awareness of the importance, and prestige of the Consultative Meetings was the establishment of the Honorary Award of the Heads of Central Asian States, the first recipient of which was the President of the Republic of Tajikistan.

Esteemed Ilham Heydar oglu!

It is a source of particular pride and honor for me that, within the framework of the Third UN Conference for Landlocked Developing Countries held this August in the National Tourist Zone 'Avaza,' Turkmenistan organized an extraordinary Consultative Meeting of the Heads of Central Asian States. At this meeting, Turkmenistan proposed that Azerbaijan join the Consultative Meetings as a full member, thereby becoming an important participant in this format and further strengthening its ties and comprehensive integration into the family of brotherly peoples. I am delighted to note that this initiative was fully supported by the Presidents of the Central Asian countries in Tashkent, becoming a highly significant and promising milestone in our joint progress toward shared prosperity.

I am convinced that Azerbaijan's participation in the Consultative Meetings, given your country’s political authority, its immense resource, industrial, and technological potential, as well as its achievements in cultural and humanitarian spheres, will become a defining element of comprehensive rapprochement between our countries and peoples, a stimulus for active participation in modern trends of regional and international development, and will enhance the role and weight of Central Asian states and Azerbaijan on the global stage as responsible, united partners, aware of their rightful role and place in the world order and ready to pursue shared goals together.

We look forward to welcoming you, esteemed Ilham Heydar oglu, as a dear brother and friend at the upcoming 8th Consultative Meeting of the Heads of Central Asian States and Azerbaijan in Turkmenistan next year.

Once again, please accept my sincerest congratulations!

I wish you robust health, long life, and success in your state and international activities, and to the people of brotherly Azerbaijan—peace, happiness, prosperity, and well-being!"

By Khagan Isayev