A reception marking the Day of German Unity was held in Ashgabat on 3 October 2026.
The reception was addressed by Ambassador of Germany to Turkmenistan Petra Dachtler and, on behalf of the Government of Turkmenistan, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers for Economic Affairs Hojamyrat Geldimyradov.
The Historical Path to a Reunited Germany
“October 3rd marks the completion of a journey that began long before the accession of the five new federal states to the Federal Republic of Germany – a path accompanied by profound events across all of Europe,” Ambassador Petra Dachtler said.
The Ambassador recalled the difficult path that led to German reunification. Following the opening of the Hungarian-Austrian border in the summer of 1989, many citizens of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) set out for Prague, hoping to reach the West.
Many made it as far as the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Prague, where they sought refuge. By September 1989, around 4,000 “embassy refugees” were staying in the embassy gardens and diplomats’ offices.
On 30 September 1989, then Federal Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher travelled to Prague and announced the result of negotiations with the GDR leadership: the refugees were allowed to leave.
Six weeks later, the Berlin Wall fell; six months later, the 2+4 Treaty was signed, and barely a year later, Germany was reunified.
“It was not only East Germans, people all across Eastern Europe took similar risks. They traded their perceived security for an uncertain future, driven by the desire for freedom and self-determination,” Ambassador Dachtler said.
German-Turkmen Relations
Speaking about bilateral relations, which span almost 35 years, Ambassador Dachtler noted that German companies enjoy a strong reputation in Turkmenistan, particularly in the field of medical technology.
German companies are also active in logistics, including the planning of the port of Turkmenbashy, as well as in the oil and gas industry and the banking sector.
“Just this past July, a German business delegation visited Turkmenistan and held talks with several Vice Premiers,” the Ambassador said, expressing her appreciation to the Turkmen Government for the high-level reception of the delegation.
Education is another important area of cooperation. According to the Ambassador, 63,000 Turkmen students are learning German at universities and at the DIL Language Center. There are also two partner schools in the country offering intensified German-language education.
Turkmen students can receive scholarships through the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), while several university partnership programmes are also in place.
“In terms of foreign policy, Germany and Turkmenistan stand together for multilateral cooperation, particularly within the framework of the United Nations, for the adherence to international law, and for the peaceful resolution of conflicts,” Ambassador Dachtler said.
Germany and Central Asia
Ambassador Dachtler also highlighted the historical significance of Germany’s engagement with the region, noting that Germany was among the first countries to open embassies in all five Central Asian states.
“As an export-oriented economy, Germany is especially committed to ensuring free trade routes and freedom of navigation, particularly in light of the current conflicts in the Near and Middle East,” she said.
As an active member of the European Union, Germany welcomes the recent conclusion of several free trade agreements, including those between the EU and Mercosur, as well as with India and Indonesia.
“As a result, the EU is the only region in the world with free trade agreements covering more than 50% of the global population, which contributes to the prosperity of all parties involved,” Ambassador Dachtler said.
“In Central Asia, Germany therefore supports the facilitation of cross-border trade as well as environmental and border protection measures,” she added.
The Ambassador also noted that another summit of heads of state and government in the C5+1 format is scheduled to take place in Berlin.
She expressed her gratitude to the Turkmen leadership for its cooperation within the format, which, she said, “still holds significant potential.”///nCa, 4 October 2026
Here are some photos from the article:
