A meeting took place in the Awaza National Tourist Zone between Dunyagozel Gulmanova, Chairwoman of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, and Valentina Matvienko, Head of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly and Head of the Federation Council of Russia. Dmitry Kobitsky, Secretary-General of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly Council, also took part in the negotiations, according to the IIC of Turkmenistan.

The main topic of the meeting was preparations for the CIS IPA’s away sessions, which are to take place in Turkmenistan on 19–20 November. The programme includes a meeting of the Assembly Council, the 61st plenary session and meetings of the standing committees.

Valentina Matvienko also stated that she had sent a proposal to the National Leader of the Turkmen people and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, to consider granting the Mejlis of Turkmenistan observer status within the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly.

The parties noted the high level of inter-parliamentary cooperation and called for the expansion of contacts between youth chambers, as well as the development of the women’s agenda.

The meeting took place as part of the events being held in Awaza. The National Tourist Zone hosted the international conference ‘Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals’ and the ‘International Women’s Dialogue’ forum.