BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 5. Turkmenistan and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) discussed prospects for expanding cooperation and preparations for upcoming regional events in Ashgabat.
This was reflected in a press release published by Turkmenistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 5 following the meeting between Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov and Ignazio Cassis, who also serves as Switzerland's Vice President and head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.
"During the meeting, the parties discussed current issues related to the OSCE, the further development of cooperation between Turkmenistan and the Organization, and the strengthening of interaction between Turkmenistan and the Swiss Confederation," the report says.
The parties noted that cooperation is carried out through the annual project plan of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, which covers the organization's politico-military, economic-environmental and human dimensions.
They also discussed preparations for a number of joint events planned in Ashgabat in the coming months, aimed at promoting regional cooperation and the exchange of best practices, and reaffirmed their commitment to further cooperation with Switzerland's OSCE Chairmanship, the organization's Secretariat, its institutions and the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.
The visit to Ashgabat followed Ignazio Cassis' meetings in Azerbaijan on August 4, where discussions focused on the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process, regional security, connectivity and cooperation between Baku and the OSCE. During talks with Azerbaijani officials, Cassis also highlighted the organization's potential role in supporting humanitarian demining efforts and reaffirmed Switzerland's backing for dialogue aimed at achieving lasting stability in the South Caucasus.
For reference, Turkmenistan has maintained a long‑standing partnership with the OSCE since signing the Helsinki Final Act in 1992, becoming a participating state of the organization. The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat has been operating since 1999, facilitating cooperation across political, economic, environmental, and humanitarian dimensions.
In recent years, Ashgabat and the OSCE have prepared and begun implementing multi‑project cooperation plans. In 2024, some 37 joint projects across fields, including peace and security, environmental protection, and humanitarian issues, were planned, and for 2025, around 40 projects were scheduled with support from the OSCE Centre and relevant Turkmen agencies. These initiatives encompass conflict prevention, economic and environmental cooperation, strengthening democratic institutions, human rights protection, and addressing statelessness.
