A high-level delegation of Turkmen officials led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov has arrived in Washington for two days of meetings as part of annual bilateral consultations with the United States.
Meredov was due to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on March 22 before attending a dinner of the U.S.-Turkmenistan Business Council.
Robert Blake, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs, will also meet with the delegation during its visit.
According to a statement released by the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat, the meetings will focus on regional security issues, the situation in Afghanistan, economic ties, and "cooperation in the humanitarian sphere to develop social and cultural ties and ensure the protection of human rights."
Washington has previously criticized Ashgabat's severe repression of civil liberties.
Meredov was due to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on March 22 before attending a dinner of the U.S.-Turkmenistan Business Council.
Robert Blake, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs, will also meet with the delegation during its visit.
According to a statement released by the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat, the meetings will focus on regional security issues, the situation in Afghanistan, economic ties, and "cooperation in the humanitarian sphere to develop social and cultural ties and ensure the protection of human rights."
Washington has previously criticized Ashgabat's severe repression of civil liberties.
