ASHGABAT (TCA) — The Presidents of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are expected to meet on 24 April. However, it is not clear yet where the meeting is scheduled to be held, independent foreign-based news website Chronicles of Turkmenistan reports citing its sources.
Serious preparatory work for the visit of Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov is underway in Turkmenistan’s Dashoguz velayat (province), bordering Uzbekistan.
Chronicles of Turkmenistan previously reported that, in the run-up to the visit of the head of state, public utilities employees cleaned the streets, swept curbs and irrigation ditches, and planted trees.
Security measures which are being undertaken by the local authorities considerably exceed the “standard” precautionary measures during the visits of the Turkmen president.
In particular, public sector employees, who are sent to greet the President, are required to present a three-generation certificate to be checked. The executives of the organizations are obliged to provide personnel records of those who will be sent to participate in the red carpet welcome of the president.
According to the sources of Chronicles of Turkmenistan, preparations for some festivities will be taking place simultaneously in the Khorezm region of Uzbekistan and at the border with Dashoguz velayat of Turkmenistan.
In particular, there is a village of Gaibul, a compact settlement of ethnic Turkmens in this area. A new Turkmen school, an outpatient policlinic centre, a kindergarten and several apartment blocks were built there last year. The president of Turkmenistan is expected to attend the opening ceremony.
It appears that the heads of state will visit both regions one after the other.
Since coming to power in Uzbekistan in 2016, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has taken efforts to improve Tashkent’s relations with Central Asian neighbors, including Turkmenistan.
