In these June days, the Great Britain every year celebrates big national holiday – the birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. On the occasion of this momentous date, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Turkmenistan Sanjai Vadvani gave interview to the State news agency of Turkmenistan TDH.
This is great honour for me to meet Turkmen journalists today and pass the warmest words of greetings to all Turkmenistan people and President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on behalf of the Government of Great Britain and Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth who celebrates her 90-years anniversary in this year and 64 years of her reign on the British throne.
Our Queen, who is the longest ruling monarch for the whole history of Great Britain, devoted all her life to the selfless service to the Motherland, having applied all her efforts for unification of four parts – “historical provinces’ of the Kingdom.
It is remarkable that in this year the birthday of Her Majesty concurred with the fifth session of Turkmen – British Trade and Industrial Council for participation in which big delegation of the leaders of the largest British companies arrived to Ashgabat.
We are glad to see the productive development of friendship relations between our countries, which received the positive dynamic recently. I am confident that Baroness Emma Nicholson Winterbourne, assigned as Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Great Britain for Trade in Turkmenistan, will further promote mutally beneficial cooperation in trade and economic sphere.
Mr. Ambassador, another session of Turkmen – British Trade and Industrial Council, where important document was signed, completed successfully today. Please tell, what was the working programme of Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Great Britain Baroness Emma Nicholson Winterbourne besides her participation in the Council?
Within the frameworks of her current visit, the productive meetings in the Government and Mejlis of Turkmenistan were held where topical issues such as current state and perspectives of the development of interstate relations in all key directions of mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries were discussed. During the meetings, the need for activation of bilateral including inter-parliament relations were highlighted.
Today, the relations between Turkmenistan and Great Britain are based on mutual respect, trust and common visions of key issues of international agenda. The official London and Ashgabat defined fuel and energy sector, trade and economic and banking spheres, constructions, development of transport and communication infrastructure, implementation of new technologies, tourism amongst the priority directions of cooperation.
The fact of holding such business meetings and forums indicates the deep mutual interests of Turkmenistan and Great Britain in realization of new joint projects.
In your opinion, what are the perspectives of Turkmen and British relations in cultural and humanitarian spheres?
It worth mentioning that besides trade and economic relations the special meaning is given by parties to the expansion of traditional cultural and humanitarian relations, I the first turn in the sphere of education and science to development of which the governments of both countries pay greatest attention.
Huge successes achieved in cultural sphere as well. Thus, in the last year, the play “Hamlet” by the great English playwright William Shakespeare performed by world famous GLOBE theatre was shown in Ashgabat. It was very warm welcomed by the grateful Turkmen spectators.
In these days, Baroness Nicholson Winterbourne, arrived in Ashgabat as the head of delegation of Great Britain businessmen, has visited the National Museum of Turkmen Carpet, which exhibits amazed her their beauty and elegance.
By the way, your beautiful carpets are the decoration of the largest world museum of visual and decorative applied arts located in one of the most respectable London areas – the Museum of Albert and Victory (V & A) which unique collection consists of the items of different ages and cultures of the people of our plane. I hope that present mutual interest will favour the activation of contacts between the museums of our countries and serve as a bridge of friendship and mutual understanding between our people.
Mr. Ambassador, it is well-known that Great Britain is one of the greatest sport power in the world. In this context, we would like to know your opinion on perspectives of cooperation between our countries in sport sphere.
Large opportunities for cooperation in sport sphere are opened for our countries and, first of all, in relation with forthcoming V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in the autumn of next year towards which Turkmenistan actively prepares. Great Britain has big professional experience and practices for carrying out largest sport competition of international level, including Olympic Games, and we are willing to became Turkmenistan partners and render all around support to your country. I have no doubts in the success of the Asian Games and sure that 2017 will become one of the indicative year for Turkmenistan.
Taking this opportunity, I want to express the gratitude to the Government of your country for support and attention to the issues of the comprehensive development and consolidation of Turkmen – British relations and one more time congratulate President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and all Turkmen people with forthcoming in this year 25 – anniversary of the state independence and wish them happiness, peace, wellbeing and success in achievements of high targets.
Mr. Ambassador, let us thank you for the interview and wish great success in the work of your diplomatic mission for the sake of friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation of Turkmenistan and Great Britain people.
