Turkmenistan Received Two Russian-Built Missile Boats

10.10.2011 Turkmenian president Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov visited one of national naval bases on Oct 9 to see two new missile boats recently arrived from Russia.

The boats were built by Sredne-Nevsky shipyard under Russian-Turkmenian military cooperation program. The presidential visit was shown on national TV. "Turkmenistan as a state having access to sea needs patrol ships to protect its borders, maintain security, and counter terrorism, poaching, and drug trafficking", said the president speaking to naval servicemen.

"Caspian Sea will always be friendly and harmonious, and Turkmenistan's policy of neutrality, transparency, and neighborliness is aimed at this objective", emphasized Berdymuhamedov.

He announced the decision to build advanced fleet as early as in Aug 2009 at the session of national security council. In 2010 Turkmenian Defense Ministry established Naval Academy. By now, the navy development program for the period till 2015 has been drawn out and approved in accordance with Turkmenistan's military doctrine.

"Adoption of this document marks beginning of important work on establishment of national naval force which mission will be protection of our interests in the Caspian sea", pointed out Turkmenian president.