BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 19. National Leader of the Turkmen People, Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has sent a congratulatory letter to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports.
"Dear Ilham Heydar oglu,
Dear brother,
I sincerely and wholeheartedly congratulate You, and through you the entire people of Azerbaijan, on the unanimously adopted decision of the 7th Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia, “On the full-fledged participation of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia”!
Undoubtedly, this event is 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-neighborliness, equality, and cooperation, as well as a sound understanding of our shared and inseparable historical destinies.
I am firmly convinced that the adopted decision is absolutely natural, objectively reflecting the historical trajectory of development of the Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan, their vital needs, and their true interests.
For many centuries, our peoples have been united by geographic proximity, common civilizational roots, and the closeness of culture, traditions, and spiritual values. In this way, a unique archetype of relations has been formed—one that, in today’s conditions of independence, constitutes a powerful factor in shaping current and future continental developments in politics and the economy, as well as the social and humanitarian spheres.
It is Central Asia and Azerbaijan that are destined to become a key link in transcontinental, multi-vector interconnectedness, without which the creation of a balanced, successful, and sustainable architecture of the modern economy is inconceivable. The participation of your country in achieving this magnificent goal is now reinforced by an additional solid political and legal foundation.
Dear Brother,
The Consultative Meeting format serves as a vital platform for ensuring peace, trust, harmony, good-neighborliness, and mutually beneficial partnership for all its participants. I am proud that Turkmenistan stood at the very origins of this form of political cooperation. The initiative to establish the Consultative Meeting, put forward by our country, was announced and received full support more than fifteen years ago in Uzbekistan.
The first official Consultative Meeting in Kazakhstan became the next important step, laying the conceptual foundations of multilateral dialogue and defining its long-term objectives and prospects.
Subsequent meetings were held as planned in Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. They provided an atmosphere of trust and openness in which key issues of intra-regional cooperation and the international agenda were discussed, and important decisions and agreements were reached. Time has confirmed the relevance, effectiveness, and necessity of this format and its alignment with the fundamental interests of all participating states.
A new stage in strengthening understanding and recognizing the importance and prestige of the Consultative Meeting was the establishment of the Honorary Badge of the Heads of State of Central Asia, the first recipient of which became the President of the Republic of Tajikistan.
Esteemed Ilham Heydar oglu,
It is a matter of particular pride and honor for me that at the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, held this August in the national tourist zone of Awaza, an extraordinary Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia was convened at Turkmenistan’s initiative. It was at this meeting that Turkmenistan proposed that Azerbaijan join the Consultative Meetings as a full-fledged member and thereby become an important participant in this format, further strengthening its ties and comprehensive integration with the family of brotherly nations.
I am deeply pleased to note that this initiative received full support from the presidents of the Central Asian states in Tashkent, becoming an exceptionally significant and promising step in our joint movement toward shared prosperity.
I am convinced that Azerbaijan’s accession to the Consultative Meeting—considering the political authority of your country, its immense resource, industrial, and technological potential, and its achievements in the cultural and humanitarian spheres—will become a defining factor in further strengthening relations between our countries and peoples. It will also act as a stimulus to promote active engagement in modern regional and international development processes and enhance the role and standing of the Central Asian states and Azerbaijan on the global stage as responsible, united partners who understand their worthy place in the world and are prepared to work together to achieve common goals.
We look forward to welcoming You, esteemed Ilham Heydar oglu, as a dear brother and friend, at next year’s 8th Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and Azerbaijan in Turkmenistan.
Once again, please accept my most sincere congratulations.
I wish You robust health, long life, and continued success in your state and international activities, and I wish the brotherly people of Azerbaijan peace, happiness, prosperity, and progress," reads the letter.
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