Putin presents former Turkmen president with Order For Merit to Fatherland 4th Degree

MOSCOW. Nov 3 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has presented Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, the former president of Turkmenistan and chairman of the People's Council of the Turkmen National Assembly, with the Order For Merit to the Fatherland, 4th Degree, noting his enormous contribution to the development of bilateral interstate relations.

"You are visiting Russia these days in a different capacity, not the way we are used to working together with you for many years, but in whatever capacity you appear in Russia, we are always pleased, because you have made a huge contribution to the development of our bilateral interstate relations," Putin said at a meeting with Berdimuhamedow in Moscow on Thursday.

This concerns all areas of activity of the two countries, the Russian president said. "With your personal, direct participation, the relations between Russia and Turkmenistan have reached a very high, almost allied level of strategic partnership. We are very proud of the results we have achieved together in recent years under your leadership," Putin said.

With the election of the new president, the momentum in the enhancement of bilateral relations has not declined, he added. "We have established very good personal relations with him, interstate relations are developing very actively, and of course, this is also the foundation that you have made. We assume that Turkmenistan's policy toward Russia will continue in the traditional vein developed by you," Putin said.

Berdimuhamedow's merits were recognized by the Order For Merit to the Fatherland, 4th Degree, which Putin presented to the former Turkmen president. "This is a very high award, it fully corresponds to the contribution you have made to the development of our interstate relations," the Russian president said.

For his part, Berdimuhamedow thanked Putin for the meeting and conveyed the kindest words and health wishes from Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

"Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation are strategic partners, we have proved this by life and time," he said, noting that the relations between the two countries are growing and expanding year by year.

He drew attention to the fostering of inter-parliamentary ties between the two countries, noting that during his visit to Moscow a historic document was signed, namely, the agreement on the establishment of the inter-parliamentary commission on cooperation.

This is in line with the logic of the strategy of boosting cooperation between the two countries, he said. "As it befits us, we will go further in this direction," Berdimuhamedow said.

He thanked for the high state award presented to him. "And of course, it is gratifying that together with you we have probably also made a certain historic contribution to resolving our common issues," he said.

He wished Putin good health, further success in his state activities and all the best to the people of Russia.