Afghan President to Visit Turkmenistan Next Month

    President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan is expected to pay an official visit to Turkmenistan early next month.

The announcement was made Friday during a meeting of the cabinet of ministers of Turkmenistan. Turkmenistan is running on the fast track to build closer relations with the neighbouring and friendly countries.President Berdymuhammedov has already visited Saudi Arabia, Russia, Kazakhstan and Iran.Presidents of Kazakhstan and Russia have visited Turkmenistan.

The president of Iran has promised to visit Turkmenistan.Berdymuhammedov participated in the CIS summit earlier this month and he is slated to attend the Caspian summit expected to be held in Tehran later this year.

Several countries have invited the Turkmen president for official visit and he has accepted all the invitations.Turkmenistan is making quiet but tremendous efforts in stabilizing and rebuilding Afghanistan.Turkmenistan is providing electricity to three provinces of Afghanistan at heavily subsidized rates. More than 50% debts for supply of electricity to Afghanistan were written off by Turkmenistan last year.

Turkmenistan supplies liquefied gas and other petroleum products to Afghanistan at special prices.Turkmenistan has built electricity distribution networks and roads in several districts of Afghanistan. Hundreds of Afghan students are studying in Turkmenistan where they receive free education, course material, boarding, lodging and stipend.