President Gul welcomes Turkmen counterpart Berdimuhamedow with formal ceremony

ANKARA (A.A) - February 29, 2012 - Turkish President Abdullah Gul welcomed his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow to Ankara with a formal ceremony at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. The welcoming ceremony took place within the palace instead of its garden due to heavy snowfall.  Gul and Berdimuhamedow will hold a joint press conference following a tete-a-tete meeting and a meeting between respective delegations. President Gul will decorate Berdimuhamedow with a state medal of honor. February 29 marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Turkmenistan. This is Berdimuhamedow's first official trip abroad after having been elected as the President of Turkmenistan on February 12.