ORIENT Interview | Ambassador Azizbek Madmarov on the Development of Turkmen-Kyrgyz Relations and Regional Dialogue
August 31st holds a special place in the calendar of the brotherly Kyrgyz people – it was on this day, 35 years ago, that the "Declaration of State Independence of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan" was adopted. On the eve of this historic date, Ambassador Azizbek Madmarov of the friendly country gave an interview to ORIENT.
- Azizbek Mamatovich, on behalf of our readers, allow me to congratulate you and the people of Kyrgyzstan on the upcoming glorious anniversary of Kyrgyzstan's independence. Could you say a few words about this holiday and how it is celebrated in your country?
– Thank you very much for your congratulations. I, in turn, heartily congratulate highly respected President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Gurbangulyevich Berdimuhamedov, highly respected National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty, Gurbanguly Myalikgulyevich Berdimuhamedov, and the fraternal people of Turkmenistan on the upcoming holiday – the 35th anniversary of your country's independence.
Independence Day of Kyrgyzstan is its main national holiday. On this day, new social and infrastructure projects are launched across the country, concerts, theatrical performances, folk art exhibitions, and equestrian games are held. In the evening, the sky is lit by celebratory fireworks.
This year, the republic will celebrate 35 years of its great independence. In the coming days, Bishkek will host large-scale celebratory events, coinciding with the opening of the 6th World Nomad Games and the SCO summit.
On weekends and holidays, the capital and regions of the country will transform into a vast festive venue, hosting interactive games, cultural events, and sporting activities. The opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games will take place on the evening of August 31 at the new Bishkek Arena stadium. To ensure everyone can witness the opening ceremony, 11 interactive free fan zones will be open in Bishkek. A live broadcast of the show from the Bishkek Arena will begin in the evening.
– Mr. Ambassador, congratulations once again. How would you rate the current state of our bilateral relations?
– Kyrgyz-Turkmen relations are developing on a solid foundation of friendship, mutual respect, and good-neighborliness. Since gaining independence in 1991, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan have built cooperation as sovereign and equal states. Over these years, the necessary foundation for political, economic, and humanitarian cooperation has been established.
Regular meetings and contacts at the highest and highest levels contribute to strengthening mutual trust and allow us to discuss pressing issues on the bilateral, regional, and international agendas.
The Kyrgyz Republic views Turkmenistan as an important and promising partner in Central Asia. Our countries are united by a desire to strengthen good-neighborliness, mutual respect, and constructive cooperation. In recent years, bilateral relations have demonstrated steady positive momentum, expanding the scope of interaction and acquiring new content.
Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan are actively developing bilateral cooperation, focusing on energy, transport, trade, culture, and education. Our countries effectively collaborate to ensure peace, stability, and security in Central Asia and create favorable conditions for developing partnerships. Furthermore, both countries closely cooperate within international and regional organizations, including the UN, OSCE, CIS, OIC, and ECO, as well as in the "CA+" format.
As a fraternal country and strategic partner, Kyrgyzstan supports Turkmenistan's policy of permanent neutrality and highly values its peace-loving foreign policy and significant contribution to maintaining peace and stability.
The Kyrgyz Republic consistently supports Turkmenistan's foreign policy initiatives and respects the country's chosen development path. I am confident that the further deepening of Kyrgyz-Turkmen relations will contribute to the further strengthening of the bilateral partnership, as well as to enhancing the resilience and connectivity of the entire Central Asian region.
– Azizbek Mamatovich, the Eighth Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and Azerbaijan will be held in the Avaza National Tourist Zone this October. Just the day before, on July 31, an informal consultative meeting of the heads of state of Central Asia and Azerbaijan was held in the Kyrgyz city of Cholpon-Ata. Do you think it could be seen as a bridge between these regional forums?
– Yes, of course. The Eighth Meeting of the Presidents of Central Asian States and Azerbaijan will be held in Avaza under the chairmanship of Turkmenistan. President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov highly praised Turkmenistan's chairmanship of the Consultative Meetings, and the Kyrgyz side confirmed its readiness to facilitate the success of this important regional forum.
Opening the Cholpon-Ata Forum, the head of the Kyrgyz Republic noted that cooperation in the region has acquired a qualitatively new meaning in recent years. The informal summit in Issyk-Kul, attended by the presidents of all five Central Asian countries, as well as President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, became one of the most important regional events, opening up new opportunities for strengthening political dialogue, mutual trust, and developing multilateral cooperation.
The meeting's format allowed the heads of state to freely discuss current agenda items and identify new areas for future cooperation. As you may recall, the focus was on key issues.
These included: strengthening trust and good-neighborly relations between the Central Asian states; expanding trade, economic, and investment cooperation; developing transport and logistics ties; cooperation in energy and water resources; climate change and environmental issues; strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties; and expanding strategic ties between our region and Azerbaijan.
Holding the meeting in Cholpon-Ata also emphasized the active role of the Kyrgyz Republic in strengthening cooperation and mutual understanding in Central Asia.
– The informal summit in Issyk-Kul was the first working platform where Ilham Aliyev sat at the negotiating table not as an invited partner, but as one of six equal participants.
– The summit in Cholpon-Ata clearly demonstrated the desire of the Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan to further strengthen political dialogue, develop economic ties, and find joint solutions to pressing regional issues.
The full participation of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia marked an important step in expanding mutually beneficial cooperation. This decision marks a qualitatively new level of interaction between the Central Asian states and Azerbaijan, which are united by historical, cultural, economic, and transport and logistics ties.
Azerbaijan's inclusion in this format expands the geographic scope of regional dialogue and opens new opportunities for the formation of a unified cooperation space between Central Asia and the South Caucasus. Expanding partnership creates additional opportunities for the development of the Trans-Caspian international transport route, logistics infrastructure, and increased mutual trade.
The new format opens up prospects for closer cooperation in energy, investment, trade, digitalization, and infrastructure development. The combined economic potential of Central Asia and Azerbaijan could provide additional impetus for the implementation of major regional projects.
– Tell me, Mr. Ambassador, it hasn't been that many years since the Central Asian states could, to put it mildly, find common ground. But in recent years, they have even entered foreign policy forums with, if not a unified, then at least a coordinated position.
– I absolutely agree with you. President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov noted that one of the notable results of strengthening regional cooperation has been the mutual support of our states in the international arena. Kyrgyzstan's cooperation with international organizations is a sought-after tool for advancing national interests.
One of the Kyrgyz Republic's significant achievements on the international stage was its election in June 2026 as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2027-2028. This was a significant event in the year of the country's 35th anniversary of independence and a special achievement of Kyrgyz diplomacy. Our country views this victory as a sign of the high level of trust from the international community, as well as a significant responsibility to all member states of the United Nations."
During its membership in the UN Security Council, the Kyrgyz Republic intends to consistently advance priorities aimed at strengthening international peace and security, preventing conflicts, developing preventive diplomacy, supporting the peaceful settlement of disputes, strengthening the role of small and developing states in the international system, and taking into account climate, water, mountain, and environmental challenges in the context of global security.
– Do you think Kyrgyzstan's election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council will enable the country to represent and advance the interests of Central Asia?
– Yes, absolutely. Kyrgyzstan's election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2027–2028 is not only a triumph of Bishkek's national diplomacy but also a powerful tool for advancing the interests of all of Central Asia at the highest global level.
Participation in the UN Security Council will allow the Kyrgyz Republic not only to more actively participate in discussions of critical international issues but also to represent the interests of Central Asia.
The united position of the Central Asian states, reflected in the Joint Appeal to UN Member States, was of particular importance to Kyrgyzstan. This important step confirmed regional cooperation, mutual trust, and the desire of our countries to jointly defend common interests in the international arena.
The election of the Kyrgyz Republic to the United Nations Security Council is evidence of the strengthening role and authority of all Central Asian states and Azerbaijan as a member of the "six" in the system of international relations.
– The majestic Tien Shan and Pamir-Alai Mountain ranges occupy most of Kyrgyzstan's territory. It's understandable how actively the country promotes issues of sustainable development in mountain regions, glacier conservation, and climate change mitigation at the UN.
– Indeed, advancing the mountain agenda holds a special place in Kyrgyzstan's activities. Our country continues to consistently strengthen its role as an international leader in addressing these complex issues, which are relevant to all humanity.
For many years, Kyrgyzstan has put forward concrete proposals at the UN aimed at attracting international attention to the problems of mountain states and regions. Thanks to these initiatives, vital issues not only for mountain states but also for the global community have received broader international attention.
Kyrgyz diplomacy recognizes that the problems of mountain countries cannot be resolved solely within national frameworks. Melting glaciers, dwindling water resources, land degradation, natural disasters, and climate change require broad international cooperation.
Kyrgyzstan initiated the adoption of 15 UN resolutions on mountain issues, declaring the International Year of Mountains and International Mountain Day, promoting the sustainable development of mountain regions, protecting mountain ecosystems, preserving glaciers and water resources, and proclaiming the Five Years of Action for Mountain Development 2023–2027.
Another important initiative of Kyrgyzstan is the establishment of the Global Centre for Sustainable Mountain Development in Bishkek, which aims to create an international platform for coordinating science, ecology, and sustainable development in mountain regions.
For Kyrgyzstan, mountains are not only a natural landscape but also the basis of life for millions of people, a source of fresh water, a crucial factor in food and energy security, and a space particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Mountainous regions cover approximately 94 percent of Kyrgyzstan's territory.
Glaciers and mountain ecosystems provide water resources not only to the country's population but also to a significant portion of the Central Asian states. This is why Kyrgyzstan consistently raises issues of mountain conservation, adaptation to climate change, rational use of natural resources, and sustainable development of high-mountain regions at the international level.
The Second Global Mountain Summit "Bishkek+25," to be held in Kyrgyzstan from October 21–23, 2027, is expected to be a key event in this regard. Hosting this summit in Kyrgyzstan is of particular importance for the entire Central Asian region.
The mountain systems of Kyrgyzstan and neighboring countries are a vital source of water resources. The future of agriculture, energy, and environmental security for millions of people depends on the health of glaciers and mountain ecosystems.
– At the informal summit in Cholpon-Ata, President Sadyr Japarov presented a number of important proposals aimed at further strengthening regional cooperation. Could you please elaborate on this?
– At this forum, special attention was paid to the development of tourism, transport, energy, and the promotion of the region's shared interests internationally. The head of Kyrgyzstan proposed considering the possibility of introducing a single tourist visa for foreign citizens traveling to Central Asian countries.
This would allow tourists to visit several countries in the region with a single visa. Such an initiative could make Central Asia a more attractive and convenient tourist destination, increase the flow of foreign visitors, and facilitate the development of the hotel industry, transport, and services.
The meeting also focused on developing transport connectivity – expanding road, rail, and air routes connecting Central Asian countries with each other and with other regions. In this context, new international transport corridors, including the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project, as well as the development of routes through the Caspian region and Azerbaijan, are of particular importance.
President Sadyr Japarov also emphasized the importance of implementing joint energy projects, which will strengthen the region's energy security. In particular, the Kambar-Ata Hydroelectric Power Plant-1 project, which Kyrgyzstan is implementing in cooperation with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, is of great significance. Such projects can contribute to economic development and strengthen mutually beneficial partnerships between the countries of Central Asia.
– Azizbek Mamatovich, on behalf of ORIENT readers, I would like to thank you for this interesting interview.
– I would like to take this opportunity to once again warmly congratulate highly respected President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Gurbangulyevich Berdimuhamedov; highly respected National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty, Gurbanguly Myalikgulyevich Berdimuhamedov; and the fraternal people of Turkmenistan on the upcoming holiday – the 35th anniversary of Turkmenistan's independence – and wish them good health, happiness, peace, well-being, and continued prosperity.
Bekdurdy AMANSARYEV
