Direct flights between Tashkent and Ashgabat may be restored

On August 16, 2019, Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov met in Ashgabat with the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov, the MFA press service said.

As part of the inter-MFA political consultations, the foreign ministers discussed the current state of bilateral relations and prospects for their further development in the context of practical implementation of the agreements reached during regular contacts between President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow.

The ministers noted with satisfaction the proximity and coincidence of the positions of the two countries on all pressing issues of Uzbek-Turkmen relations, international and regional politics. It was emphasized that the foreign policy priorities of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are concentrated around the tasks of ensuring peace, security, sustainable development and prosperity in Central Asia, reviving the historical role of the region as one of the trade, economic, transport, communication, cultural and scientific centers.

Kamilov and Meredov discussed the preparations for the upcoming visit of the President of Uzbekistan to Turkmenistan.

Special attention at the meeting was paid to the issues of enhancing interregional cooperation, strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties, including through the restoration of the direct Tashkent-Ashgabat air route, establishing bus services between the regional centers of the two countries, and simplifying the procedure for mutual trips of citizens.

Following the consultations, the ministers signed a Cooperation Program between the ministries of foreign affairs of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan for 2020-2021.