‘Frequent exchange of visits at highest level a great impetus to upping bilateral relations’

Ambassador Myrat Mammetalyyev of Turkmenistan in Seoul said, “The Republic of Korea is one of the most friendly and reliable partners of the Republic of Korea.” Speaking at a reception he hosted at the Grand Hyatt Seoul on Nov. 9, 2016 to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of independence of his country, Ambassador Mammaetalyyv said, “Frequent exchanges of the visits on a highest level during the past few years has given a great impetus for the increasing the level of bilateral relations between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea.” (See excerpts from his speech toward the end of this article.)

An estimated 500 Korean and international dignitaries from all walks of life attended the reception, including many ambassadors.

Among the Korean guests in attendance were Deputy Minister Choi Jong-moon of Multilateral and Global Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and leading figures from various segments of Korean society, including the media where Publisher-Chairman Lee Kyung-sik of The Korea Post media.

From the international community also came many dignitaries including the Seoul Diplomatic Corps, from which many ambassadors attended the function with their spouses.

Among them were (in alphabetical order) Ambassadors Albino Malungo of Angola, Luis Fernando de Andrade Serra of Brazil, Dato Paduka Haji Modh Rosli Bin Haji Sabtu of Brunei Darussalam , Petar Andonov of Bulgaria, Fernando Danus of Chile, Grecia Fiodalicia Pichardo of Dominican Republic, Oscar Gustavo Herrera Gilbert of Ecuador, Hany Moawad Selim Labib of Egypt, Askar Beshimov of Kyrgyzstan, Peteris Vaivars of Latvia, Ganbold Baasanjav of Mongolia, Mohamed Salim Alharthy of Oman, Zahid Nasrulah Khan of Pakistan, Raul S. Hernandez of the Philippines, Alexander Andreevich Tomonin of Russia, Mamadou Ndiaye of Senegal, Omrie Michael Golley of Sierra Leone, Yip Wei Kiat of Singapore, Sharifzoda Yusuf Toir of Tajikistan, Mohamed Ali Nafti of Tunisia, Hakan Okcal of Turkey, Myrat Mammetalyyev of Turkmenistan and Botirjon Asadov of Uzbekistan.

Excerpts from the speech of Ambassador Mammetalyyev:
This year Turkmenistan celebrates the 25th anniversary of our Independence. It is very meaningful and important for the Turkmen people.
Any country, which has taken the road of true independence, is forced to address a lot of challenges in a very short period of time, to seek the way to have its place in new realities, respond to objective questions that the history puts to it. For Turkmenistan, which gained independence after the Soviet Union collapse, the choosing its own internal and foreign policy strategy became one of most important and crucial tasks.
Relying on National consent and stability, a high level of credibility of the people, Turkmenistan as a result of the reforms being realized under the leadership of distinguished President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, have managed the possibility to pass through a difficult transition period of change of the economic and political formations. Today, estimating the passed way, it could be emphasized with confidence that our country succeeded to realize centuries-old dream of many generations of the Turkmen people consisting of creation of their own independent state.

For the last 25 years our country vigorously has joined in the world community as the democratic, secular and constitutional state and has taken the worthy place on that stage. Now, Turkmenistan occupies one of key places of the world in view of existence of the richest energy resources and a unique geographical position at the intersection of transport ways, being some kind of the "Gates" to Central Asia.

For many centuries Turkmenistan standing on the intersection of the roads connecting the East to the West and the South with the North, serves as the bridge uniting continents, the people and their cultures. Since the first Independence Day our country has developed own foreign policy strategy, at which Turkmenistan adheres to policy of "open doors", positive neighborliness, a constant neutrality, non-interference to internal affairs of other states, non-use of force, non-alignment to military blocks and formations, promotes development of friendly and mutually beneficial relations.
For the years of independence Turkmenistan has established diplomatic relations with 142 countries of the world and now it is an equal member of 45 international organizations, 15 of which have representations in Ashgabat.
Thanks to the active expansion of the framework of multi-format cooperation with all interested partners--s separately taken states, as well as the international organizations, the foreign policy of Turkmenistan has found support of all world community which has realized need of creation the constructive dialogue with the aim of fastest solution of actual problems of the present. Such kind of support we also met from the government of Republic of Korea.

The Republic of Korea is one of the most friendly and reliable partners. Frequent exchanges of the visits on a highest level during the past few years gives a great impetus for the increasing of level of the bilateral relations between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea. I believe that our works, aimed on strengthening and deepening of mutual relations will be on a rise.
Availing myself of this opportunity once again I would like to welcome all of you at today’s reception and express my sincere gratitude for your coming. Please enjoy by our national food, music program and the company of friends.