2004 Press Releases

Commander of U.S. Central Command Meets the Turkmen President

General Abazaid

July 30, 2004

Commander of the United States Central Command, General John B. Abizaid paid an official visit to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, July 29-30. Today, he met President of Turkmenistan Saparmurat Niyazov and discussed military-to-military cooperation and border security support, as well as political and economic issues. General Abizaid also met with Minister of Defense, General-Colonel Agageldy Mammetgeldyev and Commander of the State Border Service of Turkmenistan, General Major Orazberdy Soltanov.

In his media statement after meeting with President Niyazov, General Abizaid noted that "the discussions with the President were extremely useful and beneficial for both sides". "We respect the President's position on the neutrality of Turkmenistan and we also respect his willingness to cooperate together on important issues such as the war against the terrorists that operate in the region". He also noted that "the United States of America continues as always to be very interested not only in security matters, but also in those matters that affect democratic reform and progress". General Abizaid expressed his appreciation for "the opportunity to exchange views with the President on the situation in Afghanistan".

General Abizaid assumed his duties as the Commander of the U.S. Central Command on July 7, 2003. During his more than three decades of service, General Abizaid has commanded at all levels during critical times in recent U.S. military history, to include the U.S. invasion of Grenada, an island in the Caribbean; the Gulf crisis, including the deployment of troops to Kurdistan in Northern Iraq; Bosnia-Herzegovina; and in Wurzburg, Germany, where he commanded the 1st Infantry Division, which provided the first U.S. ground forces into Kosovo. General Abizaid served as the Deputy Commander of Combined Forces Command during "Operation Iraqi Freedom". General Abizaid's military education includes the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, and a U.S. Army War College Senior Fellowship at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He earned a Master of Arts in Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University and was an Olmsted Scholar at the University of Jordan in Amman, Jordan. His decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2nd Award), the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (6th Award) and the Bronze Star.