On September 26, the special session of XXI Halk Maslakhaty has been convoked in Ashgabat. Numerous delegates from all over the country had gathered under the magnificent domes of the Ruhiyet Palace. The elected representatives of the Turkmen people are to perform the very important mission – to take the epoch-making decisions aimed at securing and replenishing the achievements of independence, laying the reliable foundation for the welfare of the native land, happiness and wellbeing of the Turkmen people.

The key item of the agenda of the nationwide forum is to debate the new version of the Constitution of Turkmenistan. This truly historic event marks the beginning of a new stage of the country’s advancement towards the heights of progress and humanism, and will offer a powerful incentive to the fundamental reforms in all spheres of the society.

The future of the Turkmen state is inseparable from the supremacy of law, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized putting forward the initiative to carry out the legal reform, the ultimate goal of which – to ensure the solid legal basis for the ongoing progressive changes in the country. Further enhancement and expansion of the democratic principles in the society and state, the rights and freedoms of citizens – the basis of these processes in Turkmenistan is the priority of an individual and, respectively, the concern of the state for the people’s welfare, life and health.

“An individual is the highest value of the society and state” – this thesis set forth in Article 3 of Section I of the Constitution serves as ‘the supporting frame’ of the draft law, which was drafted and widely discussed in the atmosphere of the great enthusiasm and civil activism. The unprecedented response in the Turkmen society is vividly illustrated by the headlines in the newspapers, the titles of numerous television and radio programmes and an endless stream of the telephone calls and letters from the public organizations, labour collectives, farmers associations and ordinary citizens to the Constitutional Commission chaired by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the Mejlis, the work groups under the national ministries and research institutions, khyakimliks and self government bodies. The specialists as well as the people of various occupations and profession, who have little to do with the constitutional law, expressed their opinions on the necessity of amending the Constitution, their views on the goals of further development of the country, enhancement of its strength and wellbeing. This is the vivid evidence of the unprecedented support of the Turkmen leader’s progressive undertakings by the society, the timeliness and urgency of the constitutional reform the necessity of which is dictated by the time itself!

The proposals, comments and suggestions were thoroughly considered, summarized and incorporated into the final version of the draft Constitution. The deputies of the Turkmen Parliament, leading scientists and experts, experienced lawyers and jurists who were to thoroughly study the best international practice of constitutional development, the universally recognized norms of international law were involved in drafting the fundamental law to integrate them into the national legislation. The interest of the international community and world’s mass media in this event in Ashgabat is immense. Thus, not yet opened XXI Halk Maslakhaty has grown to an event of timeless significance.

Reflecting the priorities of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s policy of reforms – the policy based on the principle “a state for the people” the amended Constitution of Turkmenistan has the profound constructive potential. Securing the strategic goal to build the democratic jural state with the socially oriented economy and the high standards of living this document creates the prerequisites for the country’s integration into the global system and the incentives for the growth of national economy and increase of the people’s welfare. Complying with the modern realities the Constitution guarantees the right to comfortable housing, an access to scientific and cultural advances, education and health care meeting the international standards to citizens of Turkmenistan. Each individual has the right to realize his creative abilities, talents and aptitudes, dreams and desires, entrepreneurial initiative – in a word, everything that the concept of freedom of the individual embraces.

Another item on the agenda of Halk Maslakhaty is an amnesty to mark the holy Night of Almighty. The Decree of the President of Turkmenistan will be another step towards establishing the unshakable principles of humanism, mercy and mutual help that were intrinsic of the spiritual mentality of the Turkmen nation from ancient times.

Thus, we can clearly see: the democratic processes in our country are developed through creating and improving the political forms and institutions as well as forming the new world outlook of the people. The work to humanize the national legislation on law and order and social system is carried on. Turkmenistan’s endeavours testify to its adherence to the humanistic values and ideals, respect to the human rights and freedoms.

September 26 will go down in history of independence as the day of adoption of the new Constitution of Turkmenistan that embodies the Turkmen people’s best wishes and cherished desires for the bright, happy future of their country. And, reflecting the unbreakable unity of people’s freedom and state power the nationwide forum is and will be another step on the path of peace, prosperity and progress that our Motherland – independent neutral Turkmenistan has been successfully advancing along for 17 years.