Turkmenistan Strengthens Diplomatic Ties and International Cooperation

Strategic Insights -

Turkmenistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, in a series of meetings with international counterparts in Geneva, deepened bilateral relations and international cooperation in key areas such as trade, economics, and migration. On April 18 and 19, 2023, the Minister met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, the Director General of the World Trade Organization, and the Director General of the International Organization for Migration, exploring opportunities for collaboration and outlining a framework for cooperation.

Key Takeaways:

  • Turkmenistan and Portugal agreed to prepare a document on foreign policy cooperation between their ministries, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral relations.
  • The World Trade Organization (WTO) and Turkmenistan are set to establish a working group to promote the country's accession to the WTO, with the goal of joining the organization.
  • Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the WTO, pledged to provide active assistance to Turkmenistan in the accession process, with a high-ranking WTO delegation scheduled to visit the country in May 2023.
  • Turkmenistan and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) are planning to implement a set of projects in 2023, prioritizing areas such as technical cooperation, border management, and countering trade people.
  • The IOM Director General, Antonio Vitorino, emphasized the important role of Turkmenistan as a neutral state in the implementation of international treaties on migration.

Statistics:

  • Turkmenistan joined the WTO activities as an observer in July 2020 and was unanimously approved to grant the status of an acceding country in February 2022.
  • The number of countries in the WTO is 164, with Turkmenistan set to become the 164th member.
  • The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, with estimated annual expenditure of $680 million (2020 figure).

Sources:

  • "Turkmenistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Meets with WTO Director General, Discusses Country's Accession to WTO"
  • "Turkmenistan to Join World Trade Organization, EU Ready to Help"
  • "Turkmenistan and IOM to Implement Projects on Migration and Border Management"