Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov leveled severe criticism against Ukrainian construction companies during his working visit to Lebap province of Turkmenistan on January 4, according to Turkmenistan.ru.
As the Turkmen State News Service (TDH) reports, having inspected the construction of a bridge over the Amudarya river, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov prompted a number of complaints against Ukrtransstroy corporation that failed to commission the bridge on time.
"The bad situation at the construction site did not arise today or yesterday, and the Ukrainian leadership was informed about it last year, the president said to Ukrtransstroy Turkmenistan office director Victor Shevchenko. A special government commission that was sent to Turkmenistan had fully agreed with the Turkmen side`s arguments and assured that all problems would be resolved without delay. However, as time proved, these assurances were simply empty promises. The situation at the bridge construction site has got even worse, yet the Turkmen side has been strictly fulfilling its obligations all this time, including in terms of payments."
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that the same can be said about the construction of an engineering-communication tunnel by Ukrainian Interbudmontazh company. "The construction has virtually gone dead there, and the contractor company does not care. It seems to be a peculiar style of Ukrainian partners. We will not tolerate such disrespectful, cynical disregard of the common laws of partnership," the president said.
The head of state said that Turkmenistan will appeal to the international court of arbitration if practical steps are not taken within one month to correct the existing situation.
