Turkmen Ambassador to the Netherlands Discusses Cooperation Despite Ongoing Human Rights Concerns

Turkmen Ambassador to the Netherlands Discusses Cooperation Despite Ongoing Human Rights Concerns Turkmenistan's Ambassador to the Netherlands, Sapar Palvanov, met with Joost Flamand, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. The main focus of the meeting was preparations for the World Championship in Equestrian Sports and the Akhal-Teke Horse Beauty Contest, which will take place from 4 to 6 September in the Dutch province of Limburg. The event will be the first international competition of its kind to be held outside Turkmenistan. In addition to preparations for the championship, the parties discussed prospects for expanding bilateral cooperation, organizing a Turkmen-Dutch business forum in The Hague, cooperation in water resource management, the implementation of water-saving technologies, and climate change adaptation. Following the meeting, the Human Rights Platform of the Civil Movement "Dayanç" / Turkmenistan sent an official letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. In the letter, the organization stressed that political, economic, and other forms of cooperation with Turkmenistan should not be developed without taking into account the country's ongoing and systematic human rights violations. The organization called on the Dutch authorities to consistently raise issues such as political prisoners, transnational repression, enforced disappearances, the persecution of civil society activists, restrictions on freedom of expression, and impunity for human rights violations during all official dialogue with the Turkmen authorities. According to the letter, sustainable international cooperation is only possible when it is based on respect for fundamental human rights and freedoms. Human rights should remain an integral part of bilateral relations rather than being overshadowed by economic or diplomatic interests. Source: Chronicles of Turkmenistan – "Turkmen Ambassador and Dutch Deputy Foreign Minister Discuss Preparations for Equestrian Championship." https://share.google/C8nRTjcvvF7SrC4LE