The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan held a briefing on the implementation of Turkmenistan Preparedness and Response Plan on Acute Infectious Disease (COVID-19). The meeting brought together the heads of relevant ministries and departments of our country, heads of diplomatic missions and representatives of international organizations, journalists of local and foreign media.

The meeting participants were briefed on the ongoing work in the country to implement the Plan. As emphasized, this document was developed in accordance with the recommendations of the World Health Organization and is of particular importance for the joint response to the coronavirus pandemic. Emphasis was placed on the importance of holding regular consultations on monitoring the implementation of the goals and activities laid down in this document, their organizational and logistical support.

Particular attention was paid to the initiative on creation of the COVID-19 Technology Access Platform, put forward by WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus on May 29 this year.

Officially announcing the decision of Turkmenistan to access the Platform, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan emphasized that the decision was driven by the proposals made by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to promote scientific diplomacy tools.

The heads of diplomatic missions of the PRC, Japan, the heads of representative offices of the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in Turkmenistan, the special representative of the UN Secretary General for Central Asia, the head of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy, the UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan, and the head of the OSCE Center in Ashgabat too part in the meeting.

Speaking during the forum, they highly appreciated the activities carried out in Turkmenistan to prevent the spread of acute infectious diseases, and emphasized Turkmenistan’s commitment to joint plans, programmes and mechanisms, aimed at strengthening solidarity in the fight against the pandemic.

Noting that there are no confirmed COVID-19 cases in Turkmenistan, those speaking underlined that the impact of the pandemic on the socio-economic situation throughout the world was inevitable. The meeting participants discussed the possibilities of cooperation in the framework of the Implementation of Turkmenistan Preparedness and Response Plan on COVID-19, including the search for joint solutions to mitigate the impact on the economies of the countries.