1995

 

Tim Eggar, British Minister for Energy, visited Turkmenistan.

 

Appointed in September 1995, Mr Neil Hook was the first British Ambassador to Turkmenistan and headed a team comprising two British diplomats and four Turkmen staff, located in the ABC Business Centre.

 

1996

 

On 22 July 1996 the Embassy relocated to the Business Centre at the Four Points Ak Altin Hotel in Ashgabat where it has since remained.

 

In November 1996 HRH the Prince of Wales visited Ashgabat and Merv. He formally opened the Embassy and the English Language Centre at the National Institute of World Languages.

 

In 1997 the first edition of the Embassy magazine issued, initially with a circulation of 25 copies, featuring stories about life in the UK and British achievements. The magazine is still published and has a growing readership, including Turkmen government officials, students and teachers and members of the diplomatic and NGO community.

 

Since 1997 the Embassy has offered young Turkmens the potential to become tomorrow's leaders, opinion formers and decision-makers under the Chevening scholarship programme. Thanks to this programme, 34 Turkmens have undertaken postgraduate studies in the UK so far.

 

1998

 

In 1998 the Embassy opened a Visa Section enabling citizens of Turkmenistan to apply for visas in Ashgabat, instead of Moscow. The number of Turkmen citizens applying to visit or study in the UK significantly increased.

In May 1998 the Foreign Office Minister of State, Douglas Henderson, paid an official visit to Turkmenistan.

 

In October 1998 Mr Fraser Wilson was appointed to lead the Embassy team of 5 British diplomats and 13 Turkmen staff.

 

2002

 

Following a post as Deputy Head of Eastern Department at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London, Mr Paul Brummell arrived to take up his new post as Ambassador to Turkmenistan on 22 February 2002.

 

2003

 

In April 2003 the British Embassy in Ashgabat became the first British mission overseas to be gain the Investors in People award.

 

2004

 

The Embassy launched its website at www.britishembassy.gov.uk/turkmenistan

 

2005

 

On 28 July 2005, Mr Peter Butcher presented letters of credence from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to the President of Turkmenistan and became the fourth British Ambassador at Ashgabat.