The important social and political events, which took place in June, spotlighted the increasingly active foreign policy of Turkmenistan.
A number of the significant dates of international and national significance that vividly illustrated the great progress made by the country as well as its readiness to promote multifaceted mutually beneficial cooperation with partner countries made the last month of the current year particularly important.
Promoting consistently the peacemaking foreign policy strategy pursued by the leader of the Turkmen state and implementing the Turkmen leader’s grandiose initiatives are the priority task set to the national ministries and departments. The last month as well as the previous ones showcased the significant work carried out for this purpose.
Paulo Joppert, Special Envoy of the Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil visited Turkmenistan early June. Collaboration between the two friendly countries in the bi- and multi-lateral formats as well as in the framework of the Turkmenistan-Latin America dialogue was evaluated highly during the meetings held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture of Turkmenistan.
The high-level delegation of Ukraine led by Viktor Mayko, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs was on a visit to Ashgabat during those days. The issues related to further Turkmen-Ukrainian cooperation in the wide spectrum of fields, in particular the fuel and energy, transport and communication and urban planning sectors, were discussed during the meetings held at the Government and the Ashgabat Khyakimlik.
The aspects of Turkmen-Uzbek cooperation were a focus of the talks held at the Government, the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Communal Services as well as at the Ministry of Energy and Industry and the Ministry of Motor Transportwith the high-level delegation of the Republic of Uzbekistan led by Deputy Minister of Economy Gayrat Niyazov, who was on a visit to Turkmenistan on June 2-3.
Collaboration in the trade and economic, fuel and energy, transport and communication sectors and other issues were a focus for discussion during the meetings. Emphasis was put on the implementation of the Agreement to establish the transnational transport corridor, which would link Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Iran with Middle East and other countries.
Cooperation of our country with leading international organisation was promoted significantly last month. Thus, the focus of the meetings held with Armen Harutyunyan, Regional Representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on June 2 was the prospects for furthering constructive partnerships between Turkmenistan and the UN agencies. The guest had the meetings at the Ministry of Justice, the Turkmen National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan and other ministries and departments, where the prospects for further collaboration in the legislative and legal sectors were considered.
Dwelling upon cooperation with the international organisations, the two-day regional conference and the Fourth Annual Meeting on promotion of human rights and social justice for people with disabilities arranged in Ashgabat on June 2-3 should be mentioned. The representatives of the national institutes for human rights and UN regional offices from European and Asian countries, the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, the Turkmen National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights, a number of Turkmen ministries and departments, the public organisations of the Galkynysh National Movement, the National Red Crescent Society and specialists of the UN agencies and foreign diplomatic missions accredited in Turkmenistan took part in the forum organized by the Government of Turkmenistan and the UN Development Programme.
International experts made the reports and presentations focusing on social integration, human rights, international practices in social protection and other issues. The forum participants underlined that the issues of social security of people were regarded as of paramount importance in Turkmenistan. The effective regulatory framework and the system of the functioning of public organisations facilitated achieving the aims of protection and promotion of the human rights and legitimate interests of citizens.
The forums organized to mark the World Environment Day, including the conference on Cooperation in the Framework of the Environmental Conventions organized by the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan and the UN Economic Commission for Europe and the conference on Turkmenistan’s achievements in protecting the environment in the epoch of new Revival and great reforms, were held in the Turkmen capital.
An exchange of views on the approaches to addressing the priority issues related to the use of water resources, protection of natural ecosystems and adoption of advanced practices in this sphere took place during the forums held on June 5. The conference participants learn about Turkmenistan’s tremendous experience in conserving the nature.
The gender policy issues were a focus of the seminar organized by the Turkmen National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan jointly with the United Nations Population Fund within the framework of the joint project “Strengthening the System and Mechanisms to Protect Gender Equality and Reproductive Rights” on June 4.
The Exhibition Centre in Ashgabat hosted the International Exhibition on the Achievements of the Textile Industry of Turkmenistan during the Years of Independence and the Prospects for Development organized by the Ministry of Textile Industry and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan on June 4-6. The economic forum, which brought together leading specialists from Turkmenistan and foreign countries, businessmen and private producers from Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, Turkey, Republic of Korea and other countries, was conducted in the framework of the exhibition.
The meeting of the Member States of the UN Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) took place in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan on June 7-8. The meeting agenda focused on the plan of action to strengthen stability and sustainable development of Afghanistan through regional economic cooperation in Central Asia and the approaches to further intensification of regional economic cooperation. The forum was organized by the Government of Turkmenistan, which currently chairs the SPECA, in collaboration with the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCC). This meeting brought together the heads and representatives of the UN structures, the European Union, OSCE, the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), a number of regional and international structures, including the authoritative financial organisations, diplomatic missions accredited to Turkmenistan and the delegations from nineteen countries.
The reports spotlighted the topicality of the initiatives put forward by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov at the sessions of the UN General Assembly to strengthen peace and security in the region and on the planet and promote positive collaboration and global sustainable development. In this context Turkmenistan’s approaches to settling the situation in neighboring Afghanistan were clearly identified, only by peaceful, diplomatic means and methods. From this point of view Turkmenistan has expressed the willingness to provide its political space to facilitate a wide dialogue between all constructive and authoritative forces in Afghanistan.
The fact of holding such an important international forum in the Turkmen capital is another bright evidence for the enhanced prestige of Turkmenistan in the world arena and wide recognition of the Turkmen leader’s constructive initiatives aimed at addressing topical issues of regional and global development.
The reforms taking place in the epoch of Revival in various sectors of the national economy are certainly in the focus of attention. This is illustrated once again by the visit of the delegation of the International Monetary Fund led by Veronika Bacalu, Deputy Head of the IMF Department for Middle East and Central Asia
During the two-week visit to Ashgabat the IMF mission conducted the consultations with the Government of Turkmenistan, including the meetings at a number of the national ministries and departments, which focused on the progress in and the outcomes of the ongoing large-scale reforms.
As in December 2010 the IMF experts again evaluated highly the ongoing economic and financial reforms in our country and appreciated the great progress in developing the national economy stating with satisfaction that Turkmenistan was expected to see the high economic growth in the future.
The Intergovernmental Turkmen-Tajik Commission for trade and economic, scientific and technical cooperation held the third meting in Ashgabat on June 8-9. The meeting resulted in identifying the specific steps to be taken to intensify cooperation in the trade, railway, motor and air transport and agro-industrial sectors. The meeting participants discussed the issues related to Turkmen electricity exports to Tajikistan. The Tajik side also expressed the willingness to foster cooperation in machine building, the light, textile, food and other industries.
The seminar entitled “Enhancing Framework and Legal Base of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea organized by the UNECE and the Ministry of Water Industry of Turkmenistan was held in the framework of the Regional Dialogue and Cooperation in Water Resources Management programme of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ). The seminar participants focused on the importance of our country’s efforts to promote efficient water use and called for intensifying positive cooperation in this field.
The International Exhibition and Conference on Science, Technology and Innovations in the Epoch of New Revival brought together numerous guests from all over the world in the Turkmen capital. The participants were unanimous that the aim of this large-scale forum – to showcase the country’s tremendous research potential and the most promising fields of its implementation and to contribute to expanding cooperation with foreign countries and international organizations in this sphere had been achieved.
This meeting brought together specialists and experts from nearly 45 countries of the world, including the heads of the national Academies of Sciences, research organizations and institutions of higher education and renowned scientists, who conducted research in various spheres of modern science.
The forum participants represented numerous foreign companies, which ranked among Turkmenistan’s long-term partners and actively collaborated with the sectoral institutions of the Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan.
The fact of holding such a large-scale exhibition is vivid evidence for the irreversibility of the strategy for building an intellectually developed society and its scientific and technological advance chosen by the Turkmen state and its leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
A regular meeting of the Interagency Commission for Monitoring the Implementation of International Human Rights Commitments of Turkmenistan consisting of the representatives of the Mejlis, the ministries and departments concerned, law enforcement agencies and public organisations was held in the Turkmen capital on June 11.
The meeting agenda focused on the issues related to the implementation of the National Programme of Early Child Development and School Readiness for 2011-2015 of Turkmenistan and the submission of the national reports on the implementation of the human rights convention to the UN treaty bodies.
The First Turkmen-Russian Scientific Innovation Forum “Innovations, Advanced Technologies and Energy Efficiency Issues”, which added a new page to the history of cooperation between the friendly countries, took place on June 13.
The forum participants discussed a wide range of issues related to the priority aspects of inter-academic cooperation, latest research in various spheres of science and technologies, the construction and oil and gas industries, the agricultural and health sectors and other spheres.
The proposals for promotion of the innovations of Russian companies in Turkmenistan were put forward and the current state and prospects for cooperation between young scientists of Russia and Turkmenistan and other important issues were discussed during the forum. The programme of the innovation forum included business meetings and consultations between Russian participants and heads of research institutes, enterprises and organizations of Turkmenistan.
The delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel led by Ambassador Pinhas Avivi, First Deputy Director General, Head of the Division for Central Europe and Eurasia of the MFA of Israel and the delegation led by Ronald Nash, Co-Chair of the Turkmenistan-UK Trade and Industry Council, who were on a visit to Ashgabat, held a series of meetings at Turkmen ministries and departments on June 14-15.
The Days of Culture of Turkmenistan held in the Republic of Turkey on June 18-20 were a great success. The Turkmen artistic delegation consisting of popular signers, famous musicians, folk and dance groups, theatrical actors and cinematographers, artists, poets, journalists, art critics, museum specialists presented the rich programme including concerts, performances, exhibitions and meetings.
The regular cultural action held in compliance with the top level agreements reached during the meetings of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of the Republic of Turkey Abdullah Gul evidenced the willingness of the two states to expand multifaceted relations successfully developed between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Turkey.
The programme of the Days of Culture of Turkmenistan in the Republic of Turkey included the exhibition of decorative and applies art woks and museum collection and the festival of Turkmen cinematography.
Dwelling upon the aspects of bilateral partnership, the presentation of credentials from Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Ghana to Turkmenistan Ahmed Mohammed Hassan, who assured that hew would apply every effort to promote and enhance interstate cooperation, should be mentioned.
A high-level delegation of the People’s Republic of China led by Li Feng Lin, Director of the Institute for Social Development of Eurasia under the PRC State Council visited the Turkmen capital on the same day, June 21.
The members of the Chinese delegation were received at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Turkmen National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan, the Institute of State and Law under the President of Turkmenistan and the Institute of Strategic Planning and Economic Development. The guests visited Turkmenbashi town, where they held a meeting at the Committee for the Avaza National Tourism Zone and saw the prospects for further development of the littoral town and facilities built in the resort area on the Caspian seashore.
The elaboration of the national human rights action plan was a focus for discussion during the two-day workshop held on June 21-22 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Turkmen National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan in the framework of the EU/UNDP/OHCHR Project Strengthening the National Capacity of Turkmenistan to Promote and Protect Human Rights.
On June 21, the delegation led by Edwin Ferdinand Eichler, a member of the Executive Board of ThyssenKrupp AG, Deputy Head for Central Asia of the Eastern Committee of German Economy was received at the Government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Energy and Industry of Turkmenistan, where a fruitful discussion of the approaches to promoting Turkmen-German collaboration in a number of priority fields, including the fuel and energy, transport and communication, construction and industrial sectors took place.
The first international handball coaches' seminar in the framework of the programme of the International Olympic Committee organized by the National Olympic Committee in collaboration with the National Handball Centre to promote this sport in Turkmenistan and raise the professional skills of Turkmen coaches was held in Ashgabat during those days.
On June 23, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Swiss Confederation (Baku based residence) Mrs. Sabine Ulmann Shaban, who was on a visit to the Turkmen capital, was received at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Turkmen National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan. Focusing on the vast opportunities to promote Turkmen-Swiss cooperation were opened up, the meeting participants called for intensifying effective bilateral partnerships in various fields, including in the trade, economic and humanitarian spheres. Emphasis was put on the willingness of large Swiss companies to expand on the Turkmen market where the favourable conditions to foster mutually advantageous business relations were created.
The seminar organized jointly by the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Turkmenistan on June 23 focused on innovations and technologies for protection of the environment and a ‘green economic growth’. The forum brought together leading scientists and specialists of a number of research institutes, ministries, concerns, corporations and companies from the two countries that actively promoted cooperation on environmental protection and climate change control.
The delegation of the Verkhovna Rada led by a deputy Pavel Ungurian and the Turkish delegation led by led by Ahmed Yakyji, Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade held a series of the meetings and talks at Turkmen ministries and departments on June 24.
The International Conference on Transboundary Cooperation between Turkmenistan and Neighbouring Countries to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was held in Ashgabat on June 24.
The delegations of the Caspian states, the United States, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Afghanistan, India, China, Japan, Korea, Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and other countries participated in the forum organized on the initiative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Turkmenistan and organized by the Government of Turkmenistan. Forum participants represent the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the OSCE, the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre for Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors (CARICC), Interpol, TIKA, the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), the ECO, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
It was emphasized during the forum that standing steadfast to its commitments Turkmenistan, which had defined decisive and uncompromising struggle against this evil to be a priority of the state policy, worked closely with partner countries and international organizations.
The delegation of the People’s Republic of China led by led by Mr. Liu Weiping, Governor of Gansu Province was on a visit to Turkmenistan on June 26. During the visit to the Turkmen capital the guests held the meetings at the Government and a number of ministries and departments, , including the Ministry of Oil and Gas Industry and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations of Turkmenistan and the Ashgabat Khyakimlik. In particular, the guests were briefed on the prospects of development of the main city of the country and the possibilities to implement joint projects.
On June 27-28, Ashgabat hosted the international seminar entitled Facilitation of Safe Trade and Automotive Industry Development and organized in collaboration with the International Road Transport Union (IRU). The high-level delegation of the International Road Transport Union led by Secretary General Martin Marmy was invited to Ashgabat to participate in the forum.
The major issues put on the seminar agenda included universally recognized and criteria for the activity of automotive carriers, cooperation on development of the automotive market, the potential to facilitate transnational road transport transit in Turkmenistan, international conventions in this sphere.
Cooperation in the transport sector was a focus for detailed discussion at the 8th ECO Ministerial Meeting on Transport and Communications, which was held in the Turkmen capital on June 28-929. The forum brought together about 60 participants from the member countries of the Economic Cooperation Organisation, including experts, representatives and heads of sector departments in charge of the transport and communication sectors. The delegations from Turkey, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Afghanistan arrived in Ashgabat to participate in the forum. Such authoritative organisations as the Islamic Development Bank and the International Road Transport Union were represented at the meeting. The agenda of the two-day meeting focused on the issues related to the development of the regional transport and communication market, cooperation on establishment of new transport and transit corridors, elaboration and introduction of advanced technologies and advanced practices in this field.
The delegation of the Secretary General of the Permanent Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Commission TRACECA led by Eduard Biryukov was received at the Government and Ministry of Foreign Affairs on June 27. An exchange of views on the approaches to implementing the strategy for Turkmenistan-TRACECA partnerships as consistent with the ongoing large-scale programmes of reforms aimed at developing modern transport and communication infrastructure took place during the meetings.
The important June events included Turkmenistan’s participation in the Anniversary Interstate Exhibition “20 years of CIS: to New Horizons of Partnership-2011”, which was held in Moscow. It illustrated the commitment of our country to the traditional ties of friendship and mutually advantageous cooperation with the CIS states. The Day of Turkmenistan in Moscow, which aroused keen interest, launched the parade of the national days of the participating states and evidenced the universally recognized of our country in the CIS and all over the world.
The conference on International Practice and the Prospects for Further Improvement of Governance in Turkmenistan organized in the framework of the joint project of the Government of Turkmenistan and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) was held in Ashgabat on June 29.
The conference agenda focused on the issues related to the improvement of governance, training government officials, introduction of information communication technologies in this sphere, and the overviews on the national and international practices in governance reforms were presented.
The last day of exceptionally fruitful June was marked with a number of the meeting and talks with guests from different countries. The meetings with the delegation of the People’s Republic of China led by the Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region took place at the Ministry of Education, the Turkmen State Medical University and Magtumguly Turkmen State University, the delegation led by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Lebanon to Turkmenistan Jibrail Butros Jaara held the meetings at the Mejlis and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting with First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus I. Petrishenko and Deputy Minister of Education of the Republic of Belarus V. Yakjik was held at the Ministry of Education
Such are the June events that spotlighted the purposefulness of the policy of peace and progress pursued by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov that underlay the rapid development of Turkmenistan in the epoch of new Revival and great reforms.
A number of the significant dates of international and national significance that vividly illustrated the great progress made by the country as well as its readiness to promote multifaceted mutually beneficial cooperation with partner countries made the last month of the current year particularly important.
Promoting consistently the peacemaking foreign policy strategy pursued by the leader of the Turkmen state and implementing the Turkmen leader’s grandiose initiatives are the priority task set to the national ministries and departments. The last month as well as the previous ones showcased the significant work carried out for this purpose.
Paulo Joppert, Special Envoy of the Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil visited Turkmenistan early June. Collaboration between the two friendly countries in the bi- and multi-lateral formats as well as in the framework of the Turkmenistan-Latin America dialogue was evaluated highly during the meetings held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture of Turkmenistan.
The high-level delegation of Ukraine led by Viktor Mayko, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs was on a visit to Ashgabat during those days. The issues related to further Turkmen-Ukrainian cooperation in the wide spectrum of fields, in particular the fuel and energy, transport and communication and urban planning sectors, were discussed during the meetings held at the Government and the Ashgabat Khyakimlik.
The aspects of Turkmen-Uzbek cooperation were a focus of the talks held at the Government, the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Communal Services as well as at the Ministry of Energy and Industry and the Ministry of Motor Transportwith the high-level delegation of the Republic of Uzbekistan led by Deputy Minister of Economy Gayrat Niyazov, who was on a visit to Turkmenistan on June 2-3.
Collaboration in the trade and economic, fuel and energy, transport and communication sectors and other issues were a focus for discussion during the meetings. Emphasis was put on the implementation of the Agreement to establish the transnational transport corridor, which would link Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Iran with Middle East and other countries.
Cooperation of our country with leading international organisation was promoted significantly last month. Thus, the focus of the meetings held with Armen Harutyunyan, Regional Representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on June 2 was the prospects for furthering constructive partnerships between Turkmenistan and the UN agencies. The guest had the meetings at the Ministry of Justice, the Turkmen National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan and other ministries and departments, where the prospects for further collaboration in the legislative and legal sectors were considered.
Dwelling upon cooperation with the international organisations, the two-day regional conference and the Fourth Annual Meeting on promotion of human rights and social justice for people with disabilities arranged in Ashgabat on June 2-3 should be mentioned. The representatives of the national institutes for human rights and UN regional offices from European and Asian countries, the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, the Turkmen National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights, a number of Turkmen ministries and departments, the public organisations of the Galkynysh National Movement, the National Red Crescent Society and specialists of the UN agencies and foreign diplomatic missions accredited in Turkmenistan took part in the forum organized by the Government of Turkmenistan and the UN Development Programme.
International experts made the reports and presentations focusing on social integration, human rights, international practices in social protection and other issues. The forum participants underlined that the issues of social security of people were regarded as of paramount importance in Turkmenistan. The effective regulatory framework and the system of the functioning of public organisations facilitated achieving the aims of protection and promotion of the human rights and legitimate interests of citizens.
The forums organized to mark the World Environment Day, including the conference on Cooperation in the Framework of the Environmental Conventions organized by the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan and the UN Economic Commission for Europe and the conference on Turkmenistan’s achievements in protecting the environment in the epoch of new Revival and great reforms, were held in the Turkmen capital.
An exchange of views on the approaches to addressing the priority issues related to the use of water resources, protection of natural ecosystems and adoption of advanced practices in this sphere took place during the forums held on June 5. The conference participants learn about Turkmenistan’s tremendous experience in conserving the nature.
The gender policy issues were a focus of the seminar organized by the Turkmen National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan jointly with the United Nations Population Fund within the framework of the joint project “Strengthening the System and Mechanisms to Protect Gender Equality and Reproductive Rights” on June 4.
The Exhibition Centre in Ashgabat hosted the International Exhibition on the Achievements of the Textile Industry of Turkmenistan during the Years of Independence and the Prospects for Development organized by the Ministry of Textile Industry and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan on June 4-6. The economic forum, which brought together leading specialists from Turkmenistan and foreign countries, businessmen and private producers from Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, Turkey, Republic of Korea and other countries, was conducted in the framework of the exhibition.
The meeting of the Member States of the UN Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) took place in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan on June 7-8. The meeting agenda focused on the plan of action to strengthen stability and sustainable development of Afghanistan through regional economic cooperation in Central Asia and the approaches to further intensification of regional economic cooperation. The forum was organized by the Government of Turkmenistan, which currently chairs the SPECA, in collaboration with the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCC). This meeting brought together the heads and representatives of the UN structures, the European Union, OSCE, the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), a number of regional and international structures, including the authoritative financial organisations, diplomatic missions accredited to Turkmenistan and the delegations from nineteen countries.
The reports spotlighted the topicality of the initiatives put forward by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov at the sessions of the UN General Assembly to strengthen peace and security in the region and on the planet and promote positive collaboration and global sustainable development. In this context Turkmenistan’s approaches to settling the situation in neighboring Afghanistan were clearly identified, only by peaceful, diplomatic means and methods. From this point of view Turkmenistan has expressed the willingness to provide its political space to facilitate a wide dialogue between all constructive and authoritative forces in Afghanistan.
The fact of holding such an important international forum in the Turkmen capital is another bright evidence for the enhanced prestige of Turkmenistan in the world arena and wide recognition of the Turkmen leader’s constructive initiatives aimed at addressing topical issues of regional and global development.
The reforms taking place in the epoch of Revival in various sectors of the national economy are certainly in the focus of attention. This is illustrated once again by the visit of the delegation of the International Monetary Fund led by Veronika Bacalu, Deputy Head of the IMF Department for Middle East and Central Asia
During the two-week visit to Ashgabat the IMF mission conducted the consultations with the Government of Turkmenistan, including the meetings at a number of the national ministries and departments, which focused on the progress in and the outcomes of the ongoing large-scale reforms.
As in December 2010 the IMF experts again evaluated highly the ongoing economic and financial reforms in our country and appreciated the great progress in developing the national economy stating with satisfaction that Turkmenistan was expected to see the high economic growth in the future.
The Intergovernmental Turkmen-Tajik Commission for trade and economic, scientific and technical cooperation held the third meting in Ashgabat on June 8-9. The meeting resulted in identifying the specific steps to be taken to intensify cooperation in the trade, railway, motor and air transport and agro-industrial sectors. The meeting participants discussed the issues related to Turkmen electricity exports to Tajikistan. The Tajik side also expressed the willingness to foster cooperation in machine building, the light, textile, food and other industries.
The seminar entitled “Enhancing Framework and Legal Base of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea organized by the UNECE and the Ministry of Water Industry of Turkmenistan was held in the framework of the Regional Dialogue and Cooperation in Water Resources Management programme of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ). The seminar participants focused on the importance of our country’s efforts to promote efficient water use and called for intensifying positive cooperation in this field.
The International Exhibition and Conference on Science, Technology and Innovations in the Epoch of New Revival brought together numerous guests from all over the world in the Turkmen capital. The participants were unanimous that the aim of this large-scale forum – to showcase the country’s tremendous research potential and the most promising fields of its implementation and to contribute to expanding cooperation with foreign countries and international organizations in this sphere had been achieved.
This meeting brought together specialists and experts from nearly 45 countries of the world, including the heads of the national Academies of Sciences, research organizations and institutions of higher education and renowned scientists, who conducted research in various spheres of modern science.
The forum participants represented numerous foreign companies, which ranked among Turkmenistan’s long-term partners and actively collaborated with the sectoral institutions of the Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan.
The fact of holding such a large-scale exhibition is vivid evidence for the irreversibility of the strategy for building an intellectually developed society and its scientific and technological advance chosen by the Turkmen state and its leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
A regular meeting of the Interagency Commission for Monitoring the Implementation of International Human Rights Commitments of Turkmenistan consisting of the representatives of the Mejlis, the ministries and departments concerned, law enforcement agencies and public organisations was held in the Turkmen capital on June 11.
The meeting agenda focused on the issues related to the implementation of the National Programme of Early Child Development and School Readiness for 2011-2015 of Turkmenistan and the submission of the national reports on the implementation of the human rights convention to the UN treaty bodies.
The First Turkmen-Russian Scientific Innovation Forum “Innovations, Advanced Technologies and Energy Efficiency Issues”, which added a new page to the history of cooperation between the friendly countries, took place on June 13.
The forum participants discussed a wide range of issues related to the priority aspects of inter-academic cooperation, latest research in various spheres of science and technologies, the construction and oil and gas industries, the agricultural and health sectors and other spheres.
The proposals for promotion of the innovations of Russian companies in Turkmenistan were put forward and the current state and prospects for cooperation between young scientists of Russia and Turkmenistan and other important issues were discussed during the forum. The programme of the innovation forum included business meetings and consultations between Russian participants and heads of research institutes, enterprises and organizations of Turkmenistan.
The delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel led by Ambassador Pinhas Avivi, First Deputy Director General, Head of the Division for Central Europe and Eurasia of the MFA of Israel and the delegation led by Ronald Nash, Co-Chair of the Turkmenistan-UK Trade and Industry Council, who were on a visit to Ashgabat, held a series of meetings at Turkmen ministries and departments on June 14-15.
The Days of Culture of Turkmenistan held in the Republic of Turkey on June 18-20 were a great success. The Turkmen artistic delegation consisting of popular signers, famous musicians, folk and dance groups, theatrical actors and cinematographers, artists, poets, journalists, art critics, museum specialists presented the rich programme including concerts, performances, exhibitions and meetings.
The regular cultural action held in compliance with the top level agreements reached during the meetings of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of the Republic of Turkey Abdullah Gul evidenced the willingness of the two states to expand multifaceted relations successfully developed between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Turkey.
The programme of the Days of Culture of Turkmenistan in the Republic of Turkey included the exhibition of decorative and applies art woks and museum collection and the festival of Turkmen cinematography.
Dwelling upon the aspects of bilateral partnership, the presentation of credentials from Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Ghana to Turkmenistan Ahmed Mohammed Hassan, who assured that hew would apply every effort to promote and enhance interstate cooperation, should be mentioned.
A high-level delegation of the People’s Republic of China led by Li Feng Lin, Director of the Institute for Social Development of Eurasia under the PRC State Council visited the Turkmen capital on the same day, June 21.
The members of the Chinese delegation were received at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Turkmen National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan, the Institute of State and Law under the President of Turkmenistan and the Institute of Strategic Planning and Economic Development. The guests visited Turkmenbashi town, where they held a meeting at the Committee for the Avaza National Tourism Zone and saw the prospects for further development of the littoral town and facilities built in the resort area on the Caspian seashore.
The elaboration of the national human rights action plan was a focus for discussion during the two-day workshop held on June 21-22 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Turkmen National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan in the framework of the EU/UNDP/OHCHR Project Strengthening the National Capacity of Turkmenistan to Promote and Protect Human Rights.
On June 21, the delegation led by Edwin Ferdinand Eichler, a member of the Executive Board of ThyssenKrupp AG, Deputy Head for Central Asia of the Eastern Committee of German Economy was received at the Government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Energy and Industry of Turkmenistan, where a fruitful discussion of the approaches to promoting Turkmen-German collaboration in a number of priority fields, including the fuel and energy, transport and communication, construction and industrial sectors took place.
The first international handball coaches' seminar in the framework of the programme of the International Olympic Committee organized by the National Olympic Committee in collaboration with the National Handball Centre to promote this sport in Turkmenistan and raise the professional skills of Turkmen coaches was held in Ashgabat during those days.
On June 23, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Swiss Confederation (Baku based residence) Mrs. Sabine Ulmann Shaban, who was on a visit to the Turkmen capital, was received at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Turkmen National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan. Focusing on the vast opportunities to promote Turkmen-Swiss cooperation were opened up, the meeting participants called for intensifying effective bilateral partnerships in various fields, including in the trade, economic and humanitarian spheres. Emphasis was put on the willingness of large Swiss companies to expand on the Turkmen market where the favourable conditions to foster mutually advantageous business relations were created.
The seminar organized jointly by the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Turkmenistan on June 23 focused on innovations and technologies for protection of the environment and a ‘green economic growth’. The forum brought together leading scientists and specialists of a number of research institutes, ministries, concerns, corporations and companies from the two countries that actively promoted cooperation on environmental protection and climate change control.
The delegation of the Verkhovna Rada led by a deputy Pavel Ungurian and the Turkish delegation led by led by Ahmed Yakyji, Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade held a series of the meetings and talks at Turkmen ministries and departments on June 24.
The International Conference on Transboundary Cooperation between Turkmenistan and Neighbouring Countries to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was held in Ashgabat on June 24.
The delegations of the Caspian states, the United States, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Afghanistan, India, China, Japan, Korea, Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and other countries participated in the forum organized on the initiative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Turkmenistan and organized by the Government of Turkmenistan. Forum participants represent the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the OSCE, the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre for Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors (CARICC), Interpol, TIKA, the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), the ECO, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
It was emphasized during the forum that standing steadfast to its commitments Turkmenistan, which had defined decisive and uncompromising struggle against this evil to be a priority of the state policy, worked closely with partner countries and international organizations.
The delegation of the People’s Republic of China led by led by Mr. Liu Weiping, Governor of Gansu Province was on a visit to Turkmenistan on June 26. During the visit to the Turkmen capital the guests held the meetings at the Government and a number of ministries and departments, , including the Ministry of Oil and Gas Industry and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations of Turkmenistan and the Ashgabat Khyakimlik. In particular, the guests were briefed on the prospects of development of the main city of the country and the possibilities to implement joint projects.
On June 27-28, Ashgabat hosted the international seminar entitled Facilitation of Safe Trade and Automotive Industry Development and organized in collaboration with the International Road Transport Union (IRU). The high-level delegation of the International Road Transport Union led by Secretary General Martin Marmy was invited to Ashgabat to participate in the forum.
The major issues put on the seminar agenda included universally recognized and criteria for the activity of automotive carriers, cooperation on development of the automotive market, the potential to facilitate transnational road transport transit in Turkmenistan, international conventions in this sphere.
Cooperation in the transport sector was a focus for detailed discussion at the 8th ECO Ministerial Meeting on Transport and Communications, which was held in the Turkmen capital on June 28-929. The forum brought together about 60 participants from the member countries of the Economic Cooperation Organisation, including experts, representatives and heads of sector departments in charge of the transport and communication sectors. The delegations from Turkey, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Afghanistan arrived in Ashgabat to participate in the forum. Such authoritative organisations as the Islamic Development Bank and the International Road Transport Union were represented at the meeting. The agenda of the two-day meeting focused on the issues related to the development of the regional transport and communication market, cooperation on establishment of new transport and transit corridors, elaboration and introduction of advanced technologies and advanced practices in this field.
The delegation of the Secretary General of the Permanent Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Commission TRACECA led by Eduard Biryukov was received at the Government and Ministry of Foreign Affairs on June 27. An exchange of views on the approaches to implementing the strategy for Turkmenistan-TRACECA partnerships as consistent with the ongoing large-scale programmes of reforms aimed at developing modern transport and communication infrastructure took place during the meetings.
The important June events included Turkmenistan’s participation in the Anniversary Interstate Exhibition “20 years of CIS: to New Horizons of Partnership-2011”, which was held in Moscow. It illustrated the commitment of our country to the traditional ties of friendship and mutually advantageous cooperation with the CIS states. The Day of Turkmenistan in Moscow, which aroused keen interest, launched the parade of the national days of the participating states and evidenced the universally recognized of our country in the CIS and all over the world.
The conference on International Practice and the Prospects for Further Improvement of Governance in Turkmenistan organized in the framework of the joint project of the Government of Turkmenistan and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) was held in Ashgabat on June 29.
The conference agenda focused on the issues related to the improvement of governance, training government officials, introduction of information communication technologies in this sphere, and the overviews on the national and international practices in governance reforms were presented.
The last day of exceptionally fruitful June was marked with a number of the meeting and talks with guests from different countries. The meetings with the delegation of the People’s Republic of China led by the Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region took place at the Ministry of Education, the Turkmen State Medical University and Magtumguly Turkmen State University, the delegation led by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Lebanon to Turkmenistan Jibrail Butros Jaara held the meetings at the Mejlis and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting with First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus I. Petrishenko and Deputy Minister of Education of the Republic of Belarus V. Yakjik was held at the Ministry of Education
Such are the June events that spotlighted the purposefulness of the policy of peace and progress pursued by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov that underlay the rapid development of Turkmenistan in the epoch of new Revival and great reforms.