Interview with Mr. Annamammet ANNAYEV, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to Romania,
Vasile Simileanu: Please tell us about important aspects of your country’s historical development!
Ambassador Annamammet ANNAYEV:
Turkmenistan, a country in Central Asia, gained its independence in 1991. Every year on 27 September Turkmenistan celebrates its Independence Day. The most important component of Turkmenistan’s development is its status of Permanent Neutrality. Turkmenistan’s first official declaration on neutrality was made at the 1992 Helsinki Summit of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. In 1995, at the Islamabad Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization, Turkmenistan’s initiative for permanent neutrality was formally welcomed. Later that same year, Turkmenistan joined the Non-Aligned Movement, which expressed its support in the Cartagena Declaration. Finally, on December 12, 1995, Turkmenistan’s neutrality was endorsed by 185 member states of the United Nations. Since that historic day, Turkmenistan has embraced this international mandate with responsibility and determination. Neutrality has empowered our country to become a reliable partner, a bridge of dialogue, and a constructive actor in international and regional affairs. Subsequently, this status was confirmed twice by UN resolutions in 2015 and 2025. It should be noted that there are only a few countries in the world that have declared their neutrality, but Turkmenistan’s neutrality is the first and only one declared by the UN.
V.S.: What are the geopolitical and geostrategic priorities of Turkmenistan for the period 2025-2040?
Ambassador Annamammet ANNAYEV: Turkmenistan’s priorities for the future were widely voiced during the speech of the distinguished President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov at the plenary meeting of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025 in New York. The key area of Turkmenistan’s co-operation with the international community, and first of all within the UN framework, is to ensure international peace and security.
Aware of its responsibility as a permanently neutral state, Turkmenistan is ready to implement further practical steps aimed at creating an atmosphere of cooperation, mutual understanding and respectful dialogue as the main and determining condition capable of ensuring stability and sustainable development in the global and regional dimensions.
Turkmenistan is promoting a draft resolution on ‘The role and significance of the policy of neutrality in maintaining and strengthening international peace, security and the process of sustainable development’.
Turkmenistan is also initiating the World Summit on the Culture of Peace and Trust; the International Forum ‘Central Asia – Space of Peaceful Coexistence’ in cooperation with the United Nations; the proclamation of the UN Decade on Sustainable Transport for the period 2026-2035. Our country will also submit to the UN General Assembly a draft resolution on ‘The key role of reliable and stable energy connectivity in ensuring sustainable development’. In addition, Turkmenistan is putting forward initiatives on the creation of the World Platform for Digital Integration and the establishment of the Regional Centre to Combat Desertification for Central Asian countries. The country will promote the Caspian Environment Initiative and proposes to hold the Caspian Environment Forum in 2026. These are just some of Turkmenistan’s geopolitical priorities for the future.
V.S.: What formats of economic co-operation does your state participate in? What goals and priorities are on your working agenda?
Ambassador Annamammet ANNAYEV: Turkmenistan is a member of many international organizations such as:
– Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO);
– United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP);
– Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) (associate member);
– European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD);
– Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE);
– International Monetary Fund (IMF);
– International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD);
– United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE);
– Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Regardless of the format of co-operation – international-multilateral or bilateral – Turkmenistan is guided by the principles of openness, equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit. Priority goals in economic terms are to build a high-tech industry, a developed innovation and digital industry and transport and logistics infrastructure. Over the past ten years Turkmenistan has invested more than 15 billion US dollars in the development of transport and logistics infrastructure alone. The International Sea Port in the city of Turkmenbashi, the International Railway Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran, airports have been built and reconstructed, hundreds of kilometers of roads and railways within the country and to neighboring countries, dozens of bridges and viaducts have been built. Oil refineries and complexes have been built and modernized. Enterprises of oil and gas chemistry, chemical, construction, textile, agricultural industries, new villages and towns, and many others are being built and modernized. Work in all these areas continues.
V.S.: The year 2025 has been declared the year of peace and trust! What are the goals and priorities of this strategy? How do you project your power regionally and globally?
Ambassador Annamammet ANNAYEV: On Turkmenistan’s initiative, 2025 was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly as the ‘International Year of Peace and Trust’, and the country celebrates the 30th anniversary of the status of Permanent Neutrality, which symbolically coincides with the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UN.
Turkmenistan is in favor of strengthening peace in the regional and global dimensions.
At the beginning of 2025, the ‘Concept of Turkmenistan’s activities and priorities within the framework of the International Year of Peace and Trust’ was published in the Turkmen and international media. The document reflects the positions of our country on the main issues of the current global agenda, as well as on consolidating the efforts of states on the basis of mutual trust, joint dialogue and responsibility. In particular, the concept states that Turkmenistan is putting forward an initiative to develop a global security strategy under the auspices of the United Nations. Among the main areas of the Strategy is the active use of preventive diplomacy as a tool for preventing and neutralizing conflict situations.
In the International Year of Peace and Trust, Turkmenistan pays special attention to regional security issues. In this context, our country proceeds from the need for the most attentive attitude to the problems of Central Asia and neighboring regions and to the whole range of problems that exist there – political, social, humanitarian, environmental, energy, water use and other issues. The following United Nations General Assembly resolutions, adopted on Turkmenistan’s initiative: ‘Zone of Peace, Trust and Cooperation in Central Asia’, ‘Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia’ and ‘Cooperation between the United Nations and the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea’, serve as a basis for that.
In the course of 2025, Turkmenistan has held and is holding thematic conferences and dialogues both domestically and internationally, including within the framework of the Security Council and the United Nations General Assembly; regional meetings on strengthening peace, confidence and security; regular meetings of the Group of Friends of Neutrality for Peace, Security and Sustainable Development; international events on the role of women and youth in advancing the peace and security agenda; and many others.
The Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (UNLDC), held in early August 2025 in the Avaza National Tourist Zone under the chairmanship of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov of Turkmenistan, was an important event not only of this year but also of the decade in the political life of the world. The International Forum resulted in the adoption of the ‘Avaza Political Declaration’. Subsequently, on 14 October 2025 in New York, during the 18th plenary meeting of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Resolution ‘Awaza Political Declaration’ was considered and unanimously adopted. The Resolution ‘Awaza Political Declaration’ reflects the key conclusions and strategic directions enshrined in the ‘Awaza Programme of Action 2024-2034’ adopted at the end of the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3).
The culminating event will be the holding of a high-ranking international forum on 12 December 2025, dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust, International Neutrality Day and the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s Permanent Neutrality.
V.S.: Turkmenistan has huge energy resources as well as rare earth metal reserves. What strategies have you used to establish international co-operation and with which states?
Ambassador Annamammet ANNAYEV: Our country ranks fourth in the world ranking in terms of natural gas reserves. The Galkynyş field ranks first in the world in terms of gas reserves, with reserves of 27.4 trillion cubic meters.
The strategic vector of development of Turkmenistan’s oil and gas sector is focused on deepening the processing of local raw materials and production of highly profitable, export-oriented products. The main goal is to strengthen energy cooperation, attract strategic investments and confirm Turkmenistan’s role as a regional energy center.
In the oil and gas sector, Turkmenistan cooperates with many well-known foreign companies, such as China’s CNPC, Italy’s ENI, Dragon Oil (UAE), US Backer Hughes, Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), and many others.
Turkmenistan pursues a balanced approach combining the development of the fuel and energy sector with programs to reduce its carbon footprint. It views natural gas as an important low-emission transition fuel capable of meeting the growing demand for clean energy sources. Priority is given to the implementation of projects to reduce methane emissions and the widespread introduction of digitalization.
The energy transition for Turkmenistan does not mean replacing hydrocarbons, but rather their efficient and deep processing. Work is underway to attract investment in the modernization of the petrochemical industry to produce high-tech products such as polymers and mineral fertilizers; and to expand Turkmen gas export routes to South Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
Special attention is paid to the introduction of modern monetization tools – liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, blue hydrogen, petrochemical development and technologies to reduce methane emissions.
China remains the largest buyer of Turkmen natural gas today. Currently, the three lines (A, B and C) of the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline system deliver about 40 billion cubic meters of gas per year. After the fourth line (line D) is put into operation, it is planned to increase the volumes to about 65 billion cubic meters per year.
V.S.: From a cultural and religious point of view, does your region have unique traditions? How do you promote them abroad?
Ambassador Annamammet ANNAYEV: From the cultural point of view, the territory of Turkmenistan is the birthplace of the Margian civilisation, the Parthian Empire, Dehistan and the founders of the Seljuk State. Ancient Merv was the scientific and cultural center of the Middle Ages and had the most famous library and observatory of that time. There are unique monuments of architecture and art of town-planning, land reclamation, such as Gonur-Depe, ancient Anev, Altyndepe, Shakhrislam and many others. Famous monuments of antiquity and favorite places for Turkmen and foreign tourists are the fortress city of Nisa of the ancient Parthian Empire, the beautiful city of Kone Urgench, the State Historical and Cultural Reserve ‘Ancient Merv’, which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The exquisite Turkmen carpets created by the hands of the Turkmen people over thousands of years and the famous Akhalteke horses, called heavenly horses in China since ancient times, still amaze with their finesse.
Unique natural sights are the Valley of Dinosaurs, located in the east of the country, which reveals the traces of giant foot-and-mouths that died out millions of years ago; the fire crater ‘Gates of Hell’ located in the Kara-Kum desert; the subtropical oasis in Kara-Kala surrounded by mountains and many others.
Speaking about the culture of the Turkmen people, it is necessary to mention the poetry of Makhtumkuli Pyragy, whose 300th anniversary was widely celebrated both in Turkmenistan and abroad in 2024, which was declared the year ‘The Fount of Wisdom of Magtymguly Pyragy’.
To promote cultural cooperation, Turkmenistan regularly holds international festivals, contests of theatre, cinema, music and national folklore, various exhibitions and days of culture, both domestically and worldwide, and actively participates in similar events held by other countries. Just by the example of cooperation with Romania, it is worth mentioning the ‘Days of Turkmenistan Culture in Romania’ held in May 2023 in the cities of Bucharest and Constanta; various exhibitions held regularly, the most recent of which were the First Exhibition of Turkmen carpets in March 2025 at the Museum of Peasantry in Bucharest; the Days of Turkmenistan Cinema in the same museum in April 2025; the Exhibition of Turkmenistan Culture in June 2025 at the Dimitri Gusti Village Museum; the annual Novruz holiday in March and many others.
V.S.: How do you assess the bilateral political, economic, cultural relations with Romania?
Ambassador Annamammet ANNAYEV: Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkmenistan and Romania on 21 July 1992, for more than 33 years, cooperation has been developing very successfully in political-diplomatic, trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian spheres. Bilateral visits are carried out at the highest levels, between ministries and departments, parliaments of the two countries, cultural and scientific institutions, economic departments and enterprises. Political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, the inter-parliamentary Turkmen-Romanian friendship group, meetings of the intergovernmental commission on economic and scientific-technical cooperation, the Turkmen-Romanian working group on cooperation in the field of transport, the Turkmen-Romanian working group on cooperation in the field of energy are held. The most recent of such events was the 8th meeting of the Turkmen-Romanian Working Group on Energy Cooperation in April 2025 in Ashgabat. In the cultural and humanitarian sphere, the relations between our countries can be called exemplary among European countries. In addition to the very active co-operation in the cultural sphere, as mentioned above, very fruitful co-operation continues in the field of education. Within the framework of the Program of Cooperation between the Ministries of Education of Turkmenistan and Romania, more than one hundred Turkmen students start studying in Romanian higher education institutions every year.
V.S.: What strategies should be developed in bilateral relations: economic, cultural, tourism and trade?
Ambassador Annamammet ANNAYEV: In order to intensify trade, economic and tourist relations between Turkmenistan and Romania, it is necessary to establish transport connectivity between our countries. Turkmenistan and Romania have initiated the creation of the Caspian Sea-Black Sea Transport Corridor, Azerbaijan and Georgia have also joined it. In order to prepare an agreement on this transport corridor, a quadripartite meeting of the foreign ministers of Turkmenistan, Romania, Azerbaijan and Georgia was held in Bucharest in March 2019, which resulted in the adoption of the Bucharest Declaration. The preparatory work for the signing of this agreement is nearing completion. Turkmenistan and Romania have great potential for cooperation in transport and logistics, energy resources, oil and gas products, construction materials, agriculture, chemical industry, pharmaceuticals, digitalization, ecology, tourism and other areas.
V.S.: How is your country perceived in Romania, given that you have initiated so many activities? Could you tell this to the readers of Geopolitica?
Ambassador Annamammet ANNAYEV: From the very beginning, I found Romania a warm country, not only in terms of climate and nature, but also in terms of people. Later on, in many towns and villages I met and continue to meet this openness, kindness and hospitality.
In addition to the above-mentioned events, the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Romania organizes conferences, round tables, exhibitions, sports events in the exhibition halls of the Parliament, in the city and municipal museums, universities, libraries of the cities of Bucharest, Ploiesti, Constanta, Iasi, Alba Iulia, Cluj-Napoca, Brasov, the municipality Carei of Satu Mare region, Mogosiai and other cities. The Embassy also actively participates in the events organized by the local administrations of Romania. Many similarities can be seen between our peoples in the way Turkmens and Romanians value their history, culture and traditions. There are similarities in the patterns, ornaments and colors of Turkmen and Romanian carpets, women’s clothing. Even the language has such similar words as gazan- cazan, pisik- pisică, perde- perdea and others. Turkmenistan, like Romania, with its ancient culture, is both close and understandable to Romanians and attracts them with its originality. Thanks to this cultural exchange, Romanians not only learn about Turkmenistan, but also show interest to go there. And this is not only in terms of economic relations, but also in terms of culture, tourism and nature. This is confirmed by the words of a Romanian woman at the stand of Turkmenistan at the Festival of Asian Culture in September 2025 at the Dimitri Gusti Museum: “I look at your stand and do not want to leave it, I want to go to Turkmenistan”.
V.S.: Please write a message to the readers of Geopolitica!
Ambassador Annamammet ANNAYEV: First, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the friendly staff of your magazine ‘Geopolitica’ and personally to you, Mr. Simileanu, for your useful, creative work in strengthening friendship and mutual understanding between Turkmenistan and Romania, between our peoples.
I wish the readers of ‘Geopolitica’ magazine peace, health, further success in preserving and disseminating history, culture, tradition, in the development of the country and friendship between people.
Your Excellency,
On behalf of the staff of Geopolitica and our readers, we wish you success in achieving the goals of the diplomatic mission in Romania!