MOSCOW, July 14 (RIA Novosti) - Turkmenistan considers Russia its strategic partner but it is not considering joining the Eurasian Economic Union (EAU), Turkmen Ambassador to Russia Berdymurat Redjepov told RIA Novosti.
“In a political context, Turkmenistan and Russia support each other at the United Nations, OSCE, CIS and other international organizations. On the whole, we have a similar vision of Caspian issues,” Redjepov said Sunday.
Answering a question about Turkmenistan’s prospects of joining the EAU, Rejepov said that Turkmenistan adhered to the neutrality policy and its foreign relations emphasized bilateral relations.
“Turkmenistan is an associate member of CIS; our country is discussing integration projects on the territory of CIS,” said the ambassador.
Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan signed the Eurasian Economic Union Treaty on May 29. The EAU will officially go into effect on January 1, 2015.
The EAU envisions a single economic market with the potential to become a new and influential region of economic growth and development. The republics of Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have also expressed interest in joining the organization.
