ASHGABAT (TCA) — Mark Moody, Director of the Office of Central Asian Affairs of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, led a U.S. delegation to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, last week to discuss the midterm results of the October 2018 U.S.-Turkmenistan Annual Bilateral Consultations, the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat said on May 6.
The fifth Annual Bilateral Consultations took place in Ashgabat October 25–26, 2018, led by a high-level delegation from the United States and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. The Annual Bilateral Consultations are a regular mechanism to discuss the full range of issues in the U.S.-Turkmenistan relationship and to strengthen collaboration between the two nations. While in Ashgabat, Mr. Moody held meetings with Government of Turkmenistan officials to assess progress by both parties on identified issues of mutual interest.
The consultations focused on all aspects of U.S.-Turkmenistan cooperation and engagement, including security issues, economic and trade relations, and the bilateral political relationship. The delegation likewise discussed cooperation in the humanitarian sphere, including social, educational, and cultural cooperation, as well as human rights issues. The two sides also discussed regional issues, including the C5+1 dialogue framework and our mutual interests in Afghanistan.
During his meetings with Turkmen officials, Mr. Moody noted, “Turkmenistan and the United States have made good progress since our last Annual Bilateral Consultations in October, and we would like to see that progress continue up to the next consultations.” The U.S. delegation members expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for hosting the Annual Bilateral Consultations midterm review and noted their enthusiasm to host the sixth Annual Bilateral Consultations in Washington, D.C., in autumn 2019.
