CENTRAL COMMISSION FOR HOLDING ELECTIONS AND REFERENDUMS IN TURKMENISTAN

On October 24-25, 2025, at the invitation of the President of Italy Sergio Mattarella, our esteemed President Serdar Berdimuhamedov paid a visit to the friendly Italian Republic.

The relations between Turkmenistan and Italian Republic are vivid example of successful and mutually beneficial cooperation, which has a long history and confidently looking to the future. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, our countries have been actively developing multifaceted cooperation based on principles of mutual respect.

The relations between the Turkmen and Italian peoples have ancient roots. In ancient times, the Great Silk Road connected the Parthian Empire located on the territory of Turkmenistan with the Roman Empire. Famous Italian travelers and traders, such as Marco Polo left information about the Turkmen land, culture, traditions, famous Ahal-Teke horses and Turkmen carpets. Thus, today’s bilateral relations based on a rich historical foundation.

At Fiumicino “Leonardo da Vinci” International Airport in the Italian city of Rome, our esteemed President Serdar Berdimuhamedov was warmly welcomed by officials of the Italian Republic, as well as members of the official delegation of our country.

During his visit to Rome, the Head of State laid flowers at the grave of the Unknown Soldier in the “Altare della Patria” memorial complex (“Altar of the Motherland”).

The tribute paid by the esteemed President to the heroes, who gave their lives for the freedom and independence of Italy became a vivid expression of the deep respect of the people of Turkmenistan for the history and national values ​​of their friendly country.

Then, as part of his visit to the Italian Republic, the Head of State visited the Quirinal Palace of the President of the Italian Republic. In the courtyard of the Quirinal Palace, esteemed President Serdar Berdimuhamedov was warmly welcomed by President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella. Then, bilateral talks took place between esteemed President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella.

President Sergio Mattarella warmly welcomed the distinguished Turkmen guest and noted that Italy highly appreciates ​​the fruitful cooperation with Turkmenistan based on the principles of mutual respect.

The head of state expressed gratitude for the invitation to visit Italy on an official visit and for the hospitality, expressing confidence that this first meeting with the President of the Italian Republic will make a significant contribution to the further development of Turkmen-Italian cooperation. The esteemed President also took the opportunity to convey warm greetings to President Sergio Mattarella from the National Leader of the Turkmen People, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Hero Arkadag, noting that Hero Arkadag warmly recalls his official visits to Italy as head of state and the meetings with Sergio Mattarella that took place during them.

The President of the friendly country expressed gratitude for the warm words, conveyed his best wishes to Hero Arkadag and noted the high level of interstate dialogue, which serves the interests of both countries. The head of state noted that our countries successfully cooperate at the international level, demonstrating a commitment to peace, dialogue and sustainable development and expressed gratitude to Italy for its consistent support of Turkmenistan’s permanent Neutrality, recognized three times by United Nations General Assembly resolutions. “We highly appreciate the Italian Republic’s commitment to developing close cooperation with Turkmenistan. In turn, we are interested in expanding our partnership with Italy – both bilaterally and multilaterally” – said President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, noting the importance of the first “Central Asia–Italy” summit held in April of this year.

During the meeting, the esteemed President announced that this year Turkmenistan celebrates the 30th anniversary of its permanent Neutrality and that an international forum dedicated to this event will be held in Ashgabat on December 12 and invited President Sergio Mattarella to participate.

At the end of the meeting, esteemed President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and President Sergio Mattarella reaffirmed their commitment to further developing bilateral cooperation between Turkmenistan and Italy across a wide range of areas and expressed best wishes to each other and the friendly peoples of the two countries.

On October 25, esteemed President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, as part of his official visit to the Italian Republic, participated in the Turkmen-Italian business forum. Opening the forum, the advisor to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation noted, that the President’s participation in this forum further enhances its significance and expressed his sincere gratitude to the Head of State for this.

Then the floor was given to the esteemed President.

In his informative speech, the Head of State expressed gratitude for the invitation to speak at this important forum and warmly welcomed the heads of Italian companies, the business community and all forum participants, noting that such a representative attendance demonstrates growing interest in Turkmenistan and desire to expand mutually beneficial cooperation. The esteemed President wished the participants of the Turkmen-Italian business forum fruitful work. The speech of the Head of State listened to with great attention.

The forum also featured an exhibition of products manufactured in Turkmenistan. Thus, the success of the Turkmen-Italian business forum demonstrated not only the achievements of the parties, but also their willingness to explore new avenues of cooperation.

Then, as part of his official visit to Italy, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov met with Stefano Pontecorvo, CEO of “Leonardo S.p.A”.

Also, as part of his official visit to the Italian Republic, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov took part in the opening ceremony of the archaeological exhibition “Ancient Civilizations of Turkmenistan”.

On the square of the Capitoline Museum, the Head of State was warmly welcomed by the Mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri.

Welcoming the participants of the ceremony and the esteemed President, Mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri noted that the archaeological exhibition “Ancient Civilizations of Turkmenistan” is opening today on Capitoline Hill, where the history of Rome has been shaped for thousands of years and noted that this large-scale event, which will be held from October 2025 to April 2026 is a unique bridge connecting the cultural heritage of Central Asia with the origins of European civilization.

Then the floor was given to the esteemed President.

The head of state warmly congratulated the participants of the ceremony on the opening of the archaeological exhibition “Ancient Civilizations of Turkmenistan” in the Italian city of Rome and expressed confidence that the magnificent ancient artifacts discovered at archaeological sites in our country and stored in museums in Turkmenistan will generate great interest among visitors to the exhibition.

Also during the ceremony, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the State Museum of the State Cultural Center of Turkmenistan and the Department of Cultural Heritage of the Capitoline Hill of Italy, as well as a Memorandum of Understanding between the Museum of Fine Arts of Turkmenistan named after Saparmurat Turkmenbashi the Great and the Department of Cultural Heritage of the Capitoline Hill of Italy.

Thus, the official visit of the Head of State to Italy, the negotiations held during it and signed bilateral documents represent an important stage in the traditionally friendly Turkmen-Italian relations, opening new horizons for the further development of mutually beneficial cooperation across a wide range of areas.