The message reads, in part:
“Over the past twenty years, Turkmenistan has made significant strides in economic development and enhanced its standing in the global arena.
It is encouraging that together we were able not only to maintain a long tradition of friendly Russian-Turkmenistani relations, but also to bring them to a new level. We have seen an expansion of our interaction within the Commonwealth of Independent States, whose presidency will be held by Turkmenistan this year.
Our greatest current priorities include maintaining an atmosphere of mutual understanding and trust, which largely determines the future development of bilateral relations. I perceive our recent meeting on the sidelines of the Council of CIS Heads of State in Dushanbe as an important step in this direction and a head start in preparing your visit to Russia in December. I am confident that it will open up new prospects for the development of mutually beneficial and equal cooperation between our countries.
I am firmly convinced that strengthening good neighbourly relations between Russia and Turkmenistan will benefit our nations and promote peace and progress in Central Asia.”