National Assembly Vice-President Younal Loutfi, who is paying a visit to Turkmenistan on the initiative of OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, met with the Speaker of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, Mr. Ovezgeldy Ataev.

In the course of the meeting Mr. Loutfi was acquainted with the preparations for the upcoming parliamentary elections in Turkmenistan scheduled for 19 December 2004.

The Turkmenian parliamentary leader familiarized his Bulgarian guest with the reforms taking place in the Turkmenian educational system and the activity of OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.

Special attention was paid to the state and prospects of the Bulgarian-Turkmenian relations, including the development of interparliamentary contacts.

Later on, Mr. Loutfi conferred with the Turkmenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Rashid Meredov covering a wide scope of topical international issues, object of interest for UN and OSCE.

Readiness to develop and deepen bilateral relations between the Republic of Bulgaria and Turkmenistan was voiced by the sides.