UPDATE - 'Türkiye, Turkmenistan will always contribute to regional, world peace'

UPDATE WITH MORE DETAILS, CHANGES DECK

By Merdan Velhanov and Emre Gurkan Abay

ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan (AA) – The Turkish parliament speaker on Friday stressed the importance of cooperation between Türkiye and Turkmenistan for ensuring peace and stability in the world.

Addressing the lower house of Turkmenistan parliament, the National Council, on the last day of his two-day official visit to Ashgabat, Mustafa Sentop said: "The unity of our countries, which undertake their obligations in ensuring international security, prosperity and peace, and strive to fulfill them duly, will always contribute to the security and stability of not only the region but also the entire world.”

"Türkiye and Turkmenistan are two brotherly countries that have a respected place in the international community with their stance in favor of peace and justice in international conflicts," Sentop said.

He highlighted a range of cooperation opportunities between the two nations, from economy to health, and from transportation to energy.

Underlining that the Turkic world has become the center of global geopolitics, Sentop said it is also significant to develop cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries.

He also held delegation-level talks headed by his Turkmenistan counterpart, speaker of National Council Gulsat Mammedova.

Later in the day, Sentop held a one-on-one meeting with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

Türkiye will continue to back Turkmenistan on all international platforms, the Turkish official said, adding that he discussed bilateral and regional cooperation, which has gained momentum in every field. The two countries derive their strength from their common history and culture, he said.

Sentop was later presented with a state award, the Order for the Love of Turkmenistan, by former Turkmen President Kurbankulu Berdimuhamedov.

"I accept this award as a concrete manifestation of the strengthened relations between Türkiye and Turkmenistan,” Sentop told the ceremony.

*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz