On March 29, 2017 in the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the French Republic the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development of France Jean-Marc Ayrault hosted an official reception with the participation of his counterparts from the countries of Central Asia, dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries of Central Asia and France.
This reception was attended by the delegation of Turkmenistan headed by Deputy Foreign Minister V. Khadzhiev. Before the beginning of the reception, the exhibition hall was visited, where photographs of initial visits and archival documents were posted. Then a ceremony of joint photography took place. The solemn dinner was attended by the foreign ministers of France, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and deputy foreign ministers of Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, during which an exchange of views on the prospects for cooperation took place.
On the same day, Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development of France, Jean-Marc Ayrault. The French minister thanked the Turkmen side for participating in the solemn event and noted the positive development of bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the political, trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian spheres.
In turn, the head of the delegation of Turkmenistan thanked the French Minister of Foreign Affairs for the warm welcome and conveyed the welcoming remarks of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. The Turkmen side shared information about the ongoing work in the field of human rights, a new version of the Constitution, the establishment of the institution of the Ombudsman.
During the meeting, the parties also discussed the issues of holding the next meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation, as well as the Days of Turkmenistan's Economy in France next year.
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between France and the countries of Central Asia, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development of the French Republic published the Declaration (the text in French is attached).
Paris, le 29 mars 2017
DÉCLARATION DE M.JEAN-MARC AYRAULT MINISTRE DES AFFAIRES É́TRANGÉRES ET DU DÉVELOPPEMENT INTERNATIONAL
FRANCE-ASIE CENTRALE - VINGT-CINQUIÉME ANNIVERSAIRE DE L'ÉTABLISSEMENT DES RELATIONS DIPLOMATIQUES
J'ai accueilli aujourd'hui á Paris mes homologues d'Asie centrale á l'occasion du vingt-cinquiéme anniversaire de l'établissement des relations diplomatiques entre la France et le Kazakhstan, le Kirghizstan, l'Ouzbékistan, le Tadjikistan et le Turkménistan.
C'était la premiére fois que la France et ses partenaires d'Asie centrale se réunissaient dans ce format. Nous avons souhaité ainsi ouvrir une nouvelle étape dans notre dialogue avec cette région.
A cette occasion, j'ai rappelé á mes interlocuteurs l'attachement de la France á la souveraineté, á la sécurité et á la prospérité de chacun des cinq pays d'Asie centrale.
Nous avons également eu des échanges sur les principaux enjeux internationaux du moment, et notamment la lutte contre le terrorisme dans un environnement instable.
La France a noué au cours des 25 derniéres années une relation fructueuse avec ces partenaires.
La France est l'un des deux États membres de l'Union européenne qui disposent d'une ambassade dans chacun des cinq pays. Elle est déterminée á poursuivre son dialogue et sa coopération dans tous les domaines, y compris économique et culturel. Elle continuera d'appuyer ces partenaires dans leurs efforts de réforme, de modernisation de leurs institutions, de renforcement de l'Etat de droit et de diversification de leur économje.
