To bring up worthy successors – generation of a new formation – last week rich in events this topical theme was comprehended anew in the context of the priorities of national development.

Highly qualified personnel, professionals and specialists with profound knowledge and practical skills, freely employing scientific and technological advances are the key factor that will ensure the economic, political and spiritual upsurge of the society, strengthen the country’s position on the world arena. President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who has declared integrated development and upbringing of a healthy physically strong young generation to be a priority of national policy, formulates his ultimate aim thus.

The Turkmen leader demonstrated adherence to this principle during the meetings with the frontier guards and tankmen setting the new tasks of practical implementation of the military reform initiated in Turkmenistan this spring and aimed at strengthening the country’s defence capacity and fighting efficiency of the national army standing as the guarantor of the peaceful and constructive life of the Turkmen people to the military high-ranking officials.

Along with the purely professional aspect - fitting out of all branches of the army and training of military personnel paramount importance is attached to improving the system of youth military and patriotic training. Undoubtedly, a personal example – showed by father, elder brother, sergeants and officers is especially important for young soldiers and future warriors – present-day schoolchildren. Their attitude towards military service, combat training, sport that help to take good shape serves as a role model that forms children’s outlook and behaviour.

It is obvious that the strong-willed, vigorous, sporty Turkmen leader who flies by a MiG-29 supersonic aircraft, pilots a racing KAMAZ, encourages the Turkmen sportsmen – participants of the XXIX Summer Olympic Games in Beijing is keeping with the times and the impetuous rhythm the that the country is living to. During these moments watching the President forcing a water barrier together with the tank crew in a tactical situation, shooting accurately at the targets the young people comprehend anew their place in the life, receive evidence that the success in any business will never come by itself, it must be achieved – persistently and purposefully. Once achieved it serves as a step to the next success – and thus infinitely.

Another step towards enhancing the prestige of the army was the measures the Government took to guarantee social protection to armed forces personnel and their families. The projects on military camps and frontier posts stipulate for everything required for successful service and comfortable life of soldiers and officers – from improving combat and theoretical training, practicing sport, medical services to comfortable dwelling. One of these projects was presented to the President during his working trip to Bitaraplyk frontier post.

Turkmenistan’s adherence to the defensive military doctrine is known. Assuming for the high fighting capacity of the armed forces it stipulates for only defensive actions and declares the principle of peaceful settlement of any conflicts. That having put forward a number of the peacemaking initiatives and foreign policy innovations Turkmenistan has won the reputation of a guarantor of peace and stability in the region is not occasional. Ashgabat was chosen to host the headquarters of the UN body – the Centre for Preventive Diplomacy in Central Asia and more often Ashgabat becomes the venue for international symposiums, conferences, diplomatic and business talks.

Last week the first international exhibition and conference Basic Trends in Developemtn of Turkmenistan’ Power Industry brought together numerous participants from all over the world – over 50 foreign companies. Intense interest shown by the international business community in the forum vividly testifies to the exceptional prospects of the energy sector of Turkmen economy. This sector with the profound resource potential demonstrates not only the high pace of development but also rapidly puts on ‘weight’ as an exporter of the product of enormous demand in the world market – electric power exported to power to a number of the countries in the region – Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan.

The favourable investment climate considerably promotes international energy c-operation. Thus, some days ago the new Law of Turkmenistan “On Hydrocarbon Resources” came into force signed by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on August 20, 2008. Drafted on the basis of the universally recognized international law norms and the key principles of Turkmenistan’s economic policy this document is to ensure efficient use of the country’s huge natural wealth in the interests of the Turkmen people, to preserve it for the future generations. The Law creates the necessary legal and economic incentives for the dynamic development of Turkmenistan’s fuel and energy sector and wide international co-operation, including hydrocarbon production and processing, maintenance services of oil and gas facilities, encouragement of investments, application of latest technologies and scientific and technological advances.

Goodwill is the sole imperative of Turkmenistan’s policy and its leader who consistently pursuing the policy of peace and good neighbourliness enhances its relationships with the neighbours and remote countries. Another milestone on this path was the first official visit of King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Abdullah II ibn Al-Hussein to Ashgabat. The visit of Jordan’s King who enjoys the profound respect in the Arab states and all over the Muslim world to Ashgabat is a landmark event, an evidence of the intense interest in Turkmenistan that evolved from the grandiose reforms and changes that have transformed fundamentally the view of our country taken nowadays all over the world as a rapidly advancing state with the huge economic potential.

During the talks held in the atmosphere of mutual understanding and confidence the leaders of the two countries exchanged views on the broad range of the issues of mutual interest. The prospects of the trade and economic relations based on complimentarity of the economies of Turkmenistan and Jordan were a focus of the talks. The fuel and energy sector, industry including petrochemistry, textile and construction industries, agriculture, the banking and investment spheres were mentioned as the priority fields of co-operation. The Turkmen President and Jordan’s King noted the importance of establishing the close humanitarian contacts.

Expressing profound interest in opening the embassies of Turkmenistan and Jordan in the capitals of both states the sides agreed to prepare the bilateral documents on co-operation that would be specified during the coming meting between King Abdullah II ibn Al-Hussein and President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

Autumn reminded about its coming last week with the cotton picking camping and final preparations for the new academic year. Both themes were a focus of the recent sitting of the Cabinet of Ministers. The cotton picking campaign will be a serious examination for the agricultural high-ranking officials and farmers, the new ‘educational’ season will check up correctness of a professional choice made by thousands of young citizens of Turkmenistan who have entered the educational establishments this year.

In general, each of these events accentuates Turkmenistan’s policy as if adding one more link to the common chain of interrelated actions and phenomena. And each of them was not only conditioned by the ongoing constructive process in the country but also projected to the future.