Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, May 7 / Trend H.Hasanov /
Turkmen President Gurbangulu Berdimuhamedov will pay a visit to Russia May 7 to attend an informal CIS summit.
At the meeting, the sides will discuss the significance of the victory over Fascism in World War II, and also consider othe rissues of further cooperation within the CIS.
The event is timed for the celebrations of the sixty-fifth anniversary of the end of WWII.
"Berdimuhammedov's regular participation in meetings with CIS heads of state underscores the importance of Turkmenistan participating in CIS activities as an associate member," the Turkmen Dovlet Khabarlary (TDH) reported.
Referring to the country's status of permanent neutrality acknowledged and supported by the U.N., Ashgabat adopted a decision on its participation in the CIS as an associated member in 2005.
Turkmenistan's principled position is based "on the country's international obligations arising from the status of permanent neutrality delegated by the international community," TDH reported.
In recent years, Ashgabat has hosted several CIS events, including the CIS Film Festival, the CIS Agricultural Forum and the CIS Summit of Foreign Ministers.