Russian Foreign Minister Meets With Turkmen President

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has met with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov for talks in Ashgabat.

Lavrov arrived in the Turkmen capital on April 4 to discuss a variety of issues.

Russian news agencies report that Lavrov and Berdymukhammedov discussed international security, ways to resolve sovereignty and mineral rights issues concerning the Caspian Sea, and future cooperation between the two countries on humanitarian affairs and education.

The pro-government website Turkmenistan.ru offered a different view of the talks ahead of Lavrov’s arrival, saying the focus of the meeting would be “economic ties and boosting trade.”

Lavrov is also meeting his Turkmen counterpart, Rashid Meredov.

Lavrov plans to attend a gathering of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) foreign ministers in Uzbekistan on April 5.

Based on reporting by ITAR-TASS, Interfax, and Turkmenistan.ru