The year 2007 – the year of the fundamental changes, unprecedented by the scale and boldness of the idea decisions and reforms initiated by President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov, is coming to an end. Reviewing the last week rich in the events one can say with confidence that they are of epoch-making significance for the Turkmen people. Nowadays, the doors to the big world, the big politics are opened for the Turkmen people. A new epoch – the epoch of progress, common prosperity and welfare has started in the history of national revival.

The number one news of the last week was signing the Agreement between Turkmenistan, Russia and Kazakhstan on construction of the Caspian Sea pipeline. The international community’s interest in the project called upon to add a new page to the history of economic relations among the participating countries is natural and consistent, the new gas main line is the project of international dimensions and profound social and economic and geopolitical importance

The intergovernmental Agreement concluded in Moscow can be regarded as the triumph of the national leaders’ goodwill based on the political confidence and mutual respect, the reciprocal endeavors to expand and intensify mutually advantageous co-operation. The concerted effort aimed at harmonizing the common and national interests preceded the signing ceremony. As it is known President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov had put forward the initiative to increase the pipeline transmission capacity at the summit talks in Turkmenbashi town. This spring the leaders of three countries affixed the signatures to the relevant Memorandum. In the following months the Presidents of Turkmenistan, Russia and Kazakhstan reached the agreements, which underlay the intergovernmental document.

The Caspian gas pipeline project recognized at the highest level became a priority for the participating countries. Called into being by the modern realties it is to accelerate economic integration among the countries in the region stipulating for the real economic benefit and practicability not ideology that will dictate the course and trends of the political processes and interstate relations that will promote mutual understanding and confidence among the peoples.

The Caspian gas pipeline project will promote realizing the initiative to build another transnational energy bridge between Asia and Europe. Highly appreciated the importance of the future gas main line RF President Vladimir Putin emphasized that Turkmen natural gas exports via the gas pipeline would strengthen energy security in the Eurasian continent as well as the West European countries, provide the guarantees of implementation of the relevant long-term commitments.

The participants of the Moscow meeting - the President of Russia and Kazakhstan highly appreciated Turkmenistan’s endeavours to create the climate of confidence and security that the Turkmen leader’s new initiative on drafting the UN Convention “On the Guarantees of the Security of Transnational Gas Pipelines” was called upon to serve for. In his messages to Vladimir Putin and Nursultan Nazarbaev Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov noted that it should be a complex international document providing the political, economic, legal, technological and other conditions ensuring sustainable and safe operation of transnational pipelines. Implementation of the idea can be one of the first practical steps of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy headquartered in Ashgabat.

After the relevant mechanism is elaborated the United Nations Organisation can stand as a political and legal guarantor of construction of transnational gas pipelines, safe and unimpeded transit via the trunk interstate pipelines. The tasks set to the participating countries conform to the principles of the United Nations and are aimed at expanding the ideas of sustainable social development of different regions worldwide.

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov gave the resolute support to the Turkmen leader’s initiative to ensure achievement of energy security and in particular the transnational pipeline infrastructure. During the telephone conversation with Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov Islam Karimov said that it was this that responsible and constructive approach Turkmenistan took to the energy policy related issues completely conforming to the aims and objectives of the United Nations and meeting the national and common interests

Touching upon the issues of establishing the new system of West-East economic relations based on equal international co-operation the Turkmen leader’s ideas and constructive proposals, the economic and geopolitical practicality of which have been recognized worldwide. These include the Caspian Action Plan, the national programmes on development of transport and communications, tourism industry, intensification of investment activity of the national and foreign companies providing the unique opportunity to accelerate industrial and social development of the Central Asian states and the post-Soviet republics. Speaking at the ceremony of signing the Caspian gas pipeline Agreement President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev focused on Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov’s initiative on construction of the North-South transational railway.

The sphere of transport and the Avaza National Project were offered a powerful incentive to develop last week. The President of Turkmenistan issued the resolution approving the results of the international tender for construction of an air terminal in Turkmenbashi town.

When speaking about Turkmenistan’s relations with the international community the special significance that the Turkmen leader attaches to development of the humanitarian contacts should be focused on. The programme of the cultural events for the year 2008 including the musical, folk and film festivals, exhibitions and contests to be held at the national and international levels. The forums devoted to the prominent Turkmen classical writers Magtymguly Fragi, Najmeddin Kubra, a Turkmen scholar Mahmyt Kashgari, the ancient monuments of Dehistan, etc would promote study and enlarge the international scientific community’s knowledge of the ancient and rich culture and history of the Turkmen people and mutual enrichment of the nations.

These seven days brought the new evidence of the country’s resolute steps along the path chosen once and forever and highlighted two main aspects of the Turkmen leader’s policy: the constructive nature and the invariable orientation to the worthy conditions of living of the people of Turkmenistan. That is vividly illustrated by the “National Programme of the President of Turkmenistan on improvement of social and living conditions in villages, settlements, towns in the etraps and entrap centres” approved by the special Resolution of the President of Turkmenistan.

The Programme stipulates for substantial investments in construction of plants and factories, agro-industrial enterprises, telecommunications facilities, social and cultural and municipal engineering facilities including highways and railways, water, gas and power supplies lines in the regions. In the nearest future comfortable apartment houses, schools, healthcare centres, Palaces of Culture and recreation centres, sports facilities will be build in the etraps. The considerable investmens made in the social spheres, healthcare and education have gained in importance as the economic categories.

The fuel and energy sector, agriculture, informational and telecommunications technologies and development of the particular kinds of mobile communication, a wide access to Internet, construction industry, film production, financial system, improvement of the national legislation, application of latest technologies in all spheres and sectors are the focus of the recent sitting of the Cabinet of Ministers and of high concern to the President of Turkmenistan.

With the accumulated experience, with the concern of implementation of the large-scale social and economic development programmes Turkmenistan is going to enter the next stage of the modern history. New aims, tasks and plans which only a solidary, united people are able to implement are before us.