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Energy Charter Secretariat Conducts Meetings in Ashgabat

Officials from the Energy Charter Secretariat visited Ashgabat on 22 January 2019, to conduct important meetings with Turkmen counterparts. The first meeting was devoted to the possible modernisation of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) and was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.  It was attended by representatives of key ministries and state bodies, including the Parliament and those dealing with energy issues. The meeting was interactive, and the officials of the Secretariat gave an overview of the legal background and current situation related to the modernisation of the ECT and the review. The participants enjoyed the opportunity to ask questions and share their understanding of the subject matter. The meeting had a practical impact and was the first of its kind to be organised jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Secretariat.  

As a continuation of the visit to Ashgabat, Energy Charter Secretary-General Dr Urban Rusnák held a working meeting with His Excellency Mr Rashid Meredov, Vice-Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. The meeting, which was also covered in the government press, was a follow-up to a previous consultation held in Brussels in November 2018, and focused on the practical aspects of the modernisation process, the review and potential areas of cooperation with Turkmenistan in areas related to transit. The participants also discussed the 15th Meeting of the Regional Task-force on Energy Cooperation in Central Asia which is to be held in Ashgabat in spring this year.  

The busy schedule of the visit to Ashgabat was finalised by a meeting with Mr Batyr Hudayberdiyev, Deputy Minister of Energy of Turkmenistan. The meeting touched upon such areas as energy efficiency in Turkmenistan, cross-border electricity trade, use of renewables, and potential areas where the Secretariat could be of assistance.