(January 6, 2012)
Esteemed Cabinet Ministers,
Esteemed friends,
The year 2011 that became a landmark in history of the sovereign Motherland on the path of sustainable development, the advancement of the people towards new heights of progress, the anniversary year marked by outstanding achievements was completed. The significant work was done and the important steps to fulfil new tasks were taken in the country last year that went down into chronicle of great undertakings of the Turkmen people as the year of the wide and solemn celebrations in honour of the 20th anniversary of sacred independence. In 2011, we gave an evaluation of the results achieved for twenty years of independence of the Motherland, and these results and the results of the last year showed that our people moving forward along the path of peace and constructive endeavours are able to fulfil all the tasks assigned.
The nationwide celebrations demonstrated to the world how much the Turkmen nation is solidary and united by the aspiration to work and create further under a peaceful sky of the country implementing the tremendous industrial, resource and spiritual potential of the beloved Motherland
The anniversary year significantly enhanced the already tremendous potential of our country. We made great progress in all fields of political, social, economic and cultural development and completed a transition period of the modern history of the Turkmen state.
As in the previous years, we set the specific goals to ourselves and pursued the multifaceted foreign policy based on positive neutrality and constructive principles in the anniversary year.
The scope of our contacts was remarkably broadened, and more countries and regions are now seeking to establish cooperation with us. To date the content of our international relations in the bi- and multi-lateral formats has been considerably enriched. We more confidently explore new areas of cooperation with the international community and take consistent steps to promote it.
Last year we concluded 111 bilateral intergovernmental documents that strengthened the regulatory framework of international partnerships we are building up.
Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan were accredited to many countries all over the world. Ambassadors of 17 states were accredited and started working in our country.
The government delegation of our country led by the President of Turkmenistan has paid state, official and working visits to 10 states since early 2011. The government delegations led by heads of states and governments from 11 countries, the President of the European Commission and other high-ranking officials visited our country last year.
The domestic policy we pursued in 2011 was distinguished for high economic indicators and considerable steps the state takes to radically improve living standards of citizens.
According to the preliminary economic figures, the GDP growth rate made up 114.7 percent and the industrial production growth rate – 124.2 percent as compared to the previous years.
A rapid pace of development is maintained in all the sectors. The social programmes are being successfully implemented in the country.
The State budget revenues significantly exceeded the expenditures. The investment growth rate made up 123.2 percent and the salary growth rate – 113.7 percent as compared to the previous years. Apartment houses, kindergartens, schools, shopping centres and other facilities were constructed and put into operation according to schedule last year.
Last year we pursued the policy to increase energy transit to world markets through diversifying our energy export.
The construction of a gas purification plant in Lebap Velayat was launched in December last year. This plant will enable to significantly increase natural gas deliveries from Turkmenistan to China.
Evaluating the results achieved in 2011, I am convinced that the last year was quite successful for the Turkmen state and people!
Esteemed Cabinet Ministers,
Esteemed friends,
We have started the year 2012. This year we are going to continue fulfilling the important tasks we set to ourselves in the main areas of development of our country. Now I would like to remind you about these tasks.
Given the historically established democratic values of the nation, we should continue working steadily and purposefully towards the strengthening of the legal foundations of the country.
Enhancing the economic strength of our country should be a priority direction of development and the main objective of the work we are carrying out.
We also must steadily work towards fundamental modernization of enterprises throughout the country, elaboration of the programme for training young specialists for the national economy in compliance with modern realities. This will give a powerful impetus to our activities to develop the social and cultural spheres under the National Programme of Social and Economic Development of Turkmenistan for 2011-2030 and other reforms aimed at the people’s welfare and intensive economic growth.
We must concentrate our efforts to improve the spiritual life of the society. In this regard the reforms in the spheres of education, science and culture should be furthered.
Also we should efficiently work towards the integration of our country as a worthy member in the international community.
The strategic objective Turkmenistan is to achieve in the near future is to reach the level of states with the high quality of living and rapid economic growth maintaining stable and fruitful relations with foreign countries within a short period of time.
Given these tasks I as head of state put forward the following programme of action for 2012.
In the sphere of foreign policy: R. Meredov, you and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are to fulfil the following tasks.
Turkmenistan views strict adherence to the Charter of the United Nations as an essential condition of strategic stability and peace. Our country will continue steadily and purposefully pursuing the policy of peacemaking and good neighbourliness and actively contributing to the work towards cohesion and sustainable development. We reject the use of military force as an instrument of foreign policy and international relations.
We put forward a number of initiatives to maintain peace and stability in Central Asia and Caspian region on regional and global scale. These initiatives have received ardent support from the world community.
In this regard the conference on security in Central Asia and Caspian region involving the delegations concerned should be held in the second half of 2012. The establishment of the Advisory Council for Central Asia and Caspian region could be a political result of this conference.
I consider it appropriate for our country to participate in the Global Forum Rio+20 which will be held by the United Nations in July 2012. We view this forum as an important event and further progress towards sustainable development. We are going to put forward a number of concrete proposals during this forum.
Turkmenistan as a permanent member of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees will actively contribute further to taking measures to support and promote them.
I consider it useful to carry out the work jointly with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees on the introduction of Turkmenistan’s experience in granting citizenship to refuges and stateless persons and conduct an international meeting on these issues with all parties concerned in Ashgabat in May 2012.
Also, it is important for Turkmenistan to participate in a regular meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation which will be held in the first decade of June 2012 in the People’s Republic of China.
As is known, Turkmenistan is presiding over the Commonwealth of Independent States in 2012. In this regard the Programme of actions to implement the Concept of the presidency of Turkmenistan in the CIS in 2012 was elaborated.
According to this Programme Ashgabat will host a meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Government in May, a meeting of the CIS Economic Council in September and a meeting of CIS Heads of States and the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers in November this year. It is also planning to conduct a number of important meetings and conferences of the CIS states in the capital of our state.
Relations between Turkmenistan on the one part and the United States of America and European states on the other part are based on friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation. We consider promotion of this cooperation a critical aspect of our foreign policy and enhance mutually advantageous relations with these countries on a long-term basis.
We also consider it very important to enhance further cooperation with countries of the Arab world and the Asia-Pacific region and states of Latin America and Africa.
In the economic sphere: A. Gochyev and the heads of financial and economic departments, you are to fulfil a number of important tasks.
The GDP growth is to be increased to 110.8 percent in 2012 through intensive development of the national economy.
We need to continue developing the banking and financial system, implementing best international practice.
To ensure that the revenues and expenditures of the 2012 State budget in collaboration with ministries and departments concerned will be implemented in a timely and proper manner and monitor this work rigorously.
All ministries and departments concerned in collaboration with velayat khyakimliks are to ensure that the goals set forth for the year 2012 in the National Programme of Social and Economic Development of Turkmenistan for 2011-2030 and the National Programme of the President of Turkmenistan for the improvement of the social and living conditions in villages, settlements, towns in etraps and etrap centres for the period till 2020 will be achieved.
It is necessary to take further measures to encourage business initiatives, create favourable conditions for entrepreneurial and investment activity, support small and medical enterprises and privatize state enterprises and facilities.
In the construction, energy and industrial sectors: D. Orazov, the important tasks are set to you and the heads of the sectors under your supervision.
You are to ensure that the construction works throughout the country will be performed in a timely and proper manner and strengthen control over these works.
The production of import-replacement building materials and manufactured goods should be increased, and the centres should be established to sell these materials.
The process of setting prices for building and assembly jobs should be optimized.
To ensure that the construction work as set forth in the National Programme of the President of Turkmenistan for the improvement of the social and living conditions in villages, settlements, towns in etraps and etrap centres for the period till 2020 will be performed in a timely and proper manner.
Ministries and departments concerned in collaboration with velayat khyakimliks to ensure that the goals set for the year 2012 in the General Programme for clean drinking water supply to settlement sin Turkmenistan will be achieved.
Electricity production and export to foreign countries should be increased.
The construction of the Ashgabat-Turkmenbashi highway, the Ashgabat-Mary-Turkmenabat-Farab highway and the Ashgabat-Karakum-Dashoguz highway should be continued. The construction of the cement plant with the annual capacity of 1 million tons in Garlyk settlement in Koytendag Etrap in Lebap Velayat and the highway bridge across the Amu Darya River should be completed.
Now, I would like to talk about the tasks set to the oil and gas and chemical industries. B. Hojamuhammedov and the high-ranking officials in charge of this sector, you are to continue working towards hydrocarbon export market expansion and export commodity composition through diversification.
Modern international practice in exploration and prospecting of the deposits of oil and gas and other hydrocarbon resources and hydrocarbon extraction, processing, transportation and placement should be widely adopted.
The work aimed at increasing the share of the refining industry in the fuel and energy export structure of Turkmenistan should be significantly intensified.
The construction of a gas-compressor plant in the Malay field, a gas dewatering unit in the Dovletabat gas field and a plant producing caustic soda, chlorine and chloride-bearing products in Uzboy settlement should be started.
The construction of the East-West gas pipeline, the plant producing carbamide in Mary and the ore-dressing plant producing potash fertilizers in Koytendag Etrap and the development of the Galkynys (Southern Yoloten-Osman) gas field should be continued.
The trade sector and the light industry: O. Gurbannazarov and the heads of the relevant sectors, you are to fulfil a number of tasks.
To create a surplus of goods in the domestic market and take steady measures to ensure the availability of goods and price stability.
To foster foreign trade and dramatically improve the procedure of licensing foreign trade contracts and organizing exchange sale.
Enterprises of the light industry are to increase production of export products and import-replacement products through applying innovative technologies, raise competitive capacity of goods and conduct commodities exhibitions to promote them in foreign markets and take other necessary measures on a regular basis.
In the private sector construction, industrial, service and other enterprises able to compete internationally should be established. They should be given support, and the conditions conducive to their fruitful work should be created. To ensure that small and medium enterprises are widely involved in implementing investment projects in our country.
The second stage of construction of the Ashgabat textile complex, the Kunya Urgench cotton-spinning factory in Dashoguz Velayat and the Seydi cotton-spinning factory in Lebap Velayat should be launched. The construction of the textile and dyeing factories in Ruhabat Etrap in Ahal Velayat and the second stage of construction of the cotton-spinning factory in Abadan town should be completed.
N. Shagulyev and the high-ranking officials in charge of the transport and communications sectors, you are to fulfil the important tasks.
You are to improve the organisational and legal framework of transport and communications enterprises, ensure that they render high-quality service and take all necessary measures to increase their profitability.
The important tasks you are to fulfil is to meet the demand of citizens and enterprises and organisations for high-speed communication technologies, fixed location phones, wireless telephones, cellular telecommunication and the Internet.
All necessary measures should be taken to explore outer space and to launch a national artificial satellite.
The construction of the Turkmen section of the Uzen (Kazakhstan)-Gyzylgaya-Bereket-Etrek (Turkmenistan)-Gorgan (Iran) should be completed. The construction of the dockyard and shipyard should be started.
In the spheres of health care, science, education, sport and tourism: S. Toylyev and the heads of relevant departments and institutions, you are to ensure that high-quality medical service is rendered to citizens.
To further the work on the provision of citizens and health care institutions throughout the country with high-quality medicinal preparations and other medical products in compliance with the World Health Organisation standards.
To ensure that academic subjects at secondary, vocational and higher schools will be taught in compliance with modern requirements, advanced teaching and vocational training methods will be applied.
The effectiveness of the ongoing research activities in the priority spheres of science and technology in Turkmenistan should be increased.
The significant work aimed at promoting the tourism industry in the country, increasing the number of tourists travelling to our country and improving tourist service should be carried out.
The projects of buildings and facilities as consistent with the State Programme for the medical industry development of Turkmenistan for 2011-2015 should be implemented in a timely and proper manner.
The new building of the National Institute and Sport in Ashgabat where 1,600 students will study should be put into operation in a timely manner.
In the cultural sphere: M. Yazmuhammedova and the high-ranking officials in charge of this sector, you are to take consistent efforts to fulfil the assigned tasks.
The work on the study of the origins and history of national cultural values, promotion and popularization of the riches of the national heritage among youth should be intensified and all necessary measures should be taken to train qualified specialists in this sphere.
The work of television and radio channels should be properly organized and managed, the high quality and richness of content of television and radio programmes, feature films enhancing the enthusiasm of the people and telling about the wonderful time we are living in and the large-scale reforms we are implementing.
Competitions that will reveal talented youth able to make a worthy contribution to the development of culture and arts should be conducted on a regular basis. The favourable conditions should be created for cultural and arts workers and art groups so that they will successfully perform in international and regional contests.
International festivals, contests, forums, scientific conferences should be held on a regular basis in order to promote the national culture worldwide.
A wide network of cultural centres should be established in the centres of velayats, etraps and towns, the library activity should be improved, libraries throughout the country should be provided with socio-political and fiction literature and journals and the work in this sphere should be furthered.
In the agro-industrial sector: М. Nurmammedov, khyakims and the high-ranking officials in charge of the agricultural sector, the important tasks are set to you too.
The effective work should be carried out in order to provide the population with high-quality agricultural and food products, the processing of agricultural products should be organized in a proper manner, the provision with seeds, fertilizers and agricultural equipment should be improved, the harvest, transportation and storage of crop yield losses should be reduced, the level of crop yield should be raised.
To use efficiently land and water resources of the country, continue adopting scientific advances and modern practices in order to improve reclamation and water supply.
Ministries and departments concerned in collaboration with velayat khyakimliks must ensure that the tasks set forth for 2012 in the National Programme of the President of Turkmenistan for the improvement of the social and living conditions in villages, settlements, towns in etraps and etrap centres for the period till 20200 and the General Programme for clean drinking water supply to settlement in Turkmenistan will be achieved.
The construction of the Altyn Asyr Turkmen Lake and the Zeyid water storage reservoir should be continued.
Now, I would like to talk about the tasks velayat khyakims are to fulfil.
Esteemed khyakims,
You are experienced in the fulfilment of contractual obligations to raise rich yields of grain, cotton and other crops. But this is not your main tasks. I have talked about this before, and now I want to say it again: today your task is to take all necessary measures to dramatically improve the people’s welfare and the social and living conditions in velayats and etraps, especially in rural areas.
It is essential that you finally understand what your main responsibilities are, which, despite the fulfilment and even overfulfilment of the production plans, including the agricultural production plans, your activity will be evaluated by the specific results of the work done in the social sphere, namely by the number of apartment houses, new schools and kindergartens equipped with multimedia technologies and other social facilities have been built and put into operation. We will evaluated your work by how effectively you supply the population with clean drinking water, how many new jobs you have created, how effectively you decide other social issues.
High-ranking officials who are unable to understand modern requirements continue working in the old way, and we will have to dismiss them. We will appoint new high-ranking officials able to think in a new way and show concern for the people’s needs and welfare to their posts.
These are the main tasks you are to fulfil this year.
We will make the year 2012 the year of the dramatic improvement of the social and living conditions in rural areas. We will spare no expense for this purpose. If necessary, we will allocate additional financial resources. We will take all necessary measures so that every rural home will have hot water and other necessary conditions of living, so that there will be consumer services and shopping centres in rural areas, small enterprises will work effectively, so that living conditions in rural areas will be as good as those in urban areas.
The high-ranking officials of military and law enforcement agencies must properly manage their work, and they must work more effectively and efficiently.
Strengthening further the material and technical basis of the agencies under their supervision, they must carry out the work on the improvement of the social and living conditions of military servants and their families, learn lessons and take measures not to repeat mistakes in the future!
We will discuss in detail the results achieved in 2011 and the tasks to be fulfilled in 2012 with high-ranking military and law enforcement agencies during a meeting of the State Security Council on January 27. On this day we will attend the ceremony of opening and putting the military town and building complex of the Ministry of Defence
Invite the heads of velayat, town and etrap departments and subdivisions to attend the meeting of the State Security Council on January 27.
I would also like to touch upon another important issue. The preparations for the important political campaign – the presidential election are under way in the country. Special significance is attached to the election as they will be held in an atmosphere of the ongoing legal and constitutional reforms, with the participation of several candidates, on a competitive basis. Citizens of Turkmenistan who reside abroad our country will vote in the presidential election. In this regard the polling stations will be opened at the embassies of Turkmenistan in foreign countries. According to the law all citizens of Turkmenistan who are now abroad can come to these polling stations and give their vote for any of the candidates.
In connection with the forthcoming presidential elections in our country our country draws close attention of the international community and numerous international organisations.
We must confirm in practice that Turkmenistan is open for wide international relations and follow the way of democratization of the society. We have invited observers from different countries of the world and authoritative international organisations. These will include representatives of the United Nations, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States. They will arrive in our country before the election and stay here until it is conlcuded.
We have created all the opportunities for them to observe the electoral processes, as well as visit the places they are interested in.
Our objective, in particular khyakims’, is to create the necessary conditions for citizens so that they will actively vote in the presidential election as well as the election will be held in a timely and proper manner, in a festive atmosphere.
Law enforcement agencies are entrusted with the task to maintain public order on the election day and ensure the safety of citizens.
Thus, by holding the election in a transparent and open atmosphere, our society will take another critical step forward along the path of the legal reforms.
Esteemed Cabinet Ministers,
After this enlarged meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, conduct meetings at all ministries and departments. Give evaluation of the results achieved in 2011 and the tasks set for 2012 by the Cabinet of Ministers.
I wish you good health and long life, family wellbeing and every success in your activities!
Esteemed Cabinet Ministers,
Esteemed friends,
The year 2011 that became a landmark in history of the sovereign Motherland on the path of sustainable development, the advancement of the people towards new heights of progress, the anniversary year marked by outstanding achievements was completed. The significant work was done and the important steps to fulfil new tasks were taken in the country last year that went down into chronicle of great undertakings of the Turkmen people as the year of the wide and solemn celebrations in honour of the 20th anniversary of sacred independence. In 2011, we gave an evaluation of the results achieved for twenty years of independence of the Motherland, and these results and the results of the last year showed that our people moving forward along the path of peace and constructive endeavours are able to fulfil all the tasks assigned.
The nationwide celebrations demonstrated to the world how much the Turkmen nation is solidary and united by the aspiration to work and create further under a peaceful sky of the country implementing the tremendous industrial, resource and spiritual potential of the beloved Motherland
The anniversary year significantly enhanced the already tremendous potential of our country. We made great progress in all fields of political, social, economic and cultural development and completed a transition period of the modern history of the Turkmen state.
As in the previous years, we set the specific goals to ourselves and pursued the multifaceted foreign policy based on positive neutrality and constructive principles in the anniversary year.
The scope of our contacts was remarkably broadened, and more countries and regions are now seeking to establish cooperation with us. To date the content of our international relations in the bi- and multi-lateral formats has been considerably enriched. We more confidently explore new areas of cooperation with the international community and take consistent steps to promote it.
Last year we concluded 111 bilateral intergovernmental documents that strengthened the regulatory framework of international partnerships we are building up.
Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan were accredited to many countries all over the world. Ambassadors of 17 states were accredited and started working in our country.
The government delegation of our country led by the President of Turkmenistan has paid state, official and working visits to 10 states since early 2011. The government delegations led by heads of states and governments from 11 countries, the President of the European Commission and other high-ranking officials visited our country last year.
The domestic policy we pursued in 2011 was distinguished for high economic indicators and considerable steps the state takes to radically improve living standards of citizens.
According to the preliminary economic figures, the GDP growth rate made up 114.7 percent and the industrial production growth rate – 124.2 percent as compared to the previous years.
A rapid pace of development is maintained in all the sectors. The social programmes are being successfully implemented in the country.
The State budget revenues significantly exceeded the expenditures. The investment growth rate made up 123.2 percent and the salary growth rate – 113.7 percent as compared to the previous years. Apartment houses, kindergartens, schools, shopping centres and other facilities were constructed and put into operation according to schedule last year.
Last year we pursued the policy to increase energy transit to world markets through diversifying our energy export.
The construction of a gas purification plant in Lebap Velayat was launched in December last year. This plant will enable to significantly increase natural gas deliveries from Turkmenistan to China.
Evaluating the results achieved in 2011, I am convinced that the last year was quite successful for the Turkmen state and people!
Esteemed Cabinet Ministers,
Esteemed friends,
We have started the year 2012. This year we are going to continue fulfilling the important tasks we set to ourselves in the main areas of development of our country. Now I would like to remind you about these tasks.
Given the historically established democratic values of the nation, we should continue working steadily and purposefully towards the strengthening of the legal foundations of the country.
Enhancing the economic strength of our country should be a priority direction of development and the main objective of the work we are carrying out.
We also must steadily work towards fundamental modernization of enterprises throughout the country, elaboration of the programme for training young specialists for the national economy in compliance with modern realities. This will give a powerful impetus to our activities to develop the social and cultural spheres under the National Programme of Social and Economic Development of Turkmenistan for 2011-2030 and other reforms aimed at the people’s welfare and intensive economic growth.
We must concentrate our efforts to improve the spiritual life of the society. In this regard the reforms in the spheres of education, science and culture should be furthered.
Also we should efficiently work towards the integration of our country as a worthy member in the international community.
The strategic objective Turkmenistan is to achieve in the near future is to reach the level of states with the high quality of living and rapid economic growth maintaining stable and fruitful relations with foreign countries within a short period of time.
Given these tasks I as head of state put forward the following programme of action for 2012.
In the sphere of foreign policy: R. Meredov, you and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are to fulfil the following tasks.
Turkmenistan views strict adherence to the Charter of the United Nations as an essential condition of strategic stability and peace. Our country will continue steadily and purposefully pursuing the policy of peacemaking and good neighbourliness and actively contributing to the work towards cohesion and sustainable development. We reject the use of military force as an instrument of foreign policy and international relations.
We put forward a number of initiatives to maintain peace and stability in Central Asia and Caspian region on regional and global scale. These initiatives have received ardent support from the world community.
In this regard the conference on security in Central Asia and Caspian region involving the delegations concerned should be held in the second half of 2012. The establishment of the Advisory Council for Central Asia and Caspian region could be a political result of this conference.
I consider it appropriate for our country to participate in the Global Forum Rio+20 which will be held by the United Nations in July 2012. We view this forum as an important event and further progress towards sustainable development. We are going to put forward a number of concrete proposals during this forum.
Turkmenistan as a permanent member of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees will actively contribute further to taking measures to support and promote them.
I consider it useful to carry out the work jointly with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees on the introduction of Turkmenistan’s experience in granting citizenship to refuges and stateless persons and conduct an international meeting on these issues with all parties concerned in Ashgabat in May 2012.
Also, it is important for Turkmenistan to participate in a regular meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation which will be held in the first decade of June 2012 in the People’s Republic of China.
As is known, Turkmenistan is presiding over the Commonwealth of Independent States in 2012. In this regard the Programme of actions to implement the Concept of the presidency of Turkmenistan in the CIS in 2012 was elaborated.
According to this Programme Ashgabat will host a meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Government in May, a meeting of the CIS Economic Council in September and a meeting of CIS Heads of States and the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers in November this year. It is also planning to conduct a number of important meetings and conferences of the CIS states in the capital of our state.
Relations between Turkmenistan on the one part and the United States of America and European states on the other part are based on friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation. We consider promotion of this cooperation a critical aspect of our foreign policy and enhance mutually advantageous relations with these countries on a long-term basis.
We also consider it very important to enhance further cooperation with countries of the Arab world and the Asia-Pacific region and states of Latin America and Africa.
In the economic sphere: A. Gochyev and the heads of financial and economic departments, you are to fulfil a number of important tasks.
The GDP growth is to be increased to 110.8 percent in 2012 through intensive development of the national economy.
We need to continue developing the banking and financial system, implementing best international practice.
To ensure that the revenues and expenditures of the 2012 State budget in collaboration with ministries and departments concerned will be implemented in a timely and proper manner and monitor this work rigorously.
All ministries and departments concerned in collaboration with velayat khyakimliks are to ensure that the goals set forth for the year 2012 in the National Programme of Social and Economic Development of Turkmenistan for 2011-2030 and the National Programme of the President of Turkmenistan for the improvement of the social and living conditions in villages, settlements, towns in etraps and etrap centres for the period till 2020 will be achieved.
It is necessary to take further measures to encourage business initiatives, create favourable conditions for entrepreneurial and investment activity, support small and medical enterprises and privatize state enterprises and facilities.
In the construction, energy and industrial sectors: D. Orazov, the important tasks are set to you and the heads of the sectors under your supervision.
You are to ensure that the construction works throughout the country will be performed in a timely and proper manner and strengthen control over these works.
The production of import-replacement building materials and manufactured goods should be increased, and the centres should be established to sell these materials.
The process of setting prices for building and assembly jobs should be optimized.
To ensure that the construction work as set forth in the National Programme of the President of Turkmenistan for the improvement of the social and living conditions in villages, settlements, towns in etraps and etrap centres for the period till 2020 will be performed in a timely and proper manner.
Ministries and departments concerned in collaboration with velayat khyakimliks to ensure that the goals set for the year 2012 in the General Programme for clean drinking water supply to settlement sin Turkmenistan will be achieved.
Electricity production and export to foreign countries should be increased.
The construction of the Ashgabat-Turkmenbashi highway, the Ashgabat-Mary-Turkmenabat-Farab highway and the Ashgabat-Karakum-Dashoguz highway should be continued. The construction of the cement plant with the annual capacity of 1 million tons in Garlyk settlement in Koytendag Etrap in Lebap Velayat and the highway bridge across the Amu Darya River should be completed.
Now, I would like to talk about the tasks set to the oil and gas and chemical industries. B. Hojamuhammedov and the high-ranking officials in charge of this sector, you are to continue working towards hydrocarbon export market expansion and export commodity composition through diversification.
Modern international practice in exploration and prospecting of the deposits of oil and gas and other hydrocarbon resources and hydrocarbon extraction, processing, transportation and placement should be widely adopted.
The work aimed at increasing the share of the refining industry in the fuel and energy export structure of Turkmenistan should be significantly intensified.
The construction of a gas-compressor plant in the Malay field, a gas dewatering unit in the Dovletabat gas field and a plant producing caustic soda, chlorine and chloride-bearing products in Uzboy settlement should be started.
The construction of the East-West gas pipeline, the plant producing carbamide in Mary and the ore-dressing plant producing potash fertilizers in Koytendag Etrap and the development of the Galkynys (Southern Yoloten-Osman) gas field should be continued.
The trade sector and the light industry: O. Gurbannazarov and the heads of the relevant sectors, you are to fulfil a number of tasks.
To create a surplus of goods in the domestic market and take steady measures to ensure the availability of goods and price stability.
To foster foreign trade and dramatically improve the procedure of licensing foreign trade contracts and organizing exchange sale.
Enterprises of the light industry are to increase production of export products and import-replacement products through applying innovative technologies, raise competitive capacity of goods and conduct commodities exhibitions to promote them in foreign markets and take other necessary measures on a regular basis.
In the private sector construction, industrial, service and other enterprises able to compete internationally should be established. They should be given support, and the conditions conducive to their fruitful work should be created. To ensure that small and medium enterprises are widely involved in implementing investment projects in our country.
The second stage of construction of the Ashgabat textile complex, the Kunya Urgench cotton-spinning factory in Dashoguz Velayat and the Seydi cotton-spinning factory in Lebap Velayat should be launched. The construction of the textile and dyeing factories in Ruhabat Etrap in Ahal Velayat and the second stage of construction of the cotton-spinning factory in Abadan town should be completed.
N. Shagulyev and the high-ranking officials in charge of the transport and communications sectors, you are to fulfil the important tasks.
You are to improve the organisational and legal framework of transport and communications enterprises, ensure that they render high-quality service and take all necessary measures to increase their profitability.
The important tasks you are to fulfil is to meet the demand of citizens and enterprises and organisations for high-speed communication technologies, fixed location phones, wireless telephones, cellular telecommunication and the Internet.
All necessary measures should be taken to explore outer space and to launch a national artificial satellite.
The construction of the Turkmen section of the Uzen (Kazakhstan)-Gyzylgaya-Bereket-Etrek (Turkmenistan)-Gorgan (Iran) should be completed. The construction of the dockyard and shipyard should be started.
In the spheres of health care, science, education, sport and tourism: S. Toylyev and the heads of relevant departments and institutions, you are to ensure that high-quality medical service is rendered to citizens.
To further the work on the provision of citizens and health care institutions throughout the country with high-quality medicinal preparations and other medical products in compliance with the World Health Organisation standards.
To ensure that academic subjects at secondary, vocational and higher schools will be taught in compliance with modern requirements, advanced teaching and vocational training methods will be applied.
The effectiveness of the ongoing research activities in the priority spheres of science and technology in Turkmenistan should be increased.
The significant work aimed at promoting the tourism industry in the country, increasing the number of tourists travelling to our country and improving tourist service should be carried out.
The projects of buildings and facilities as consistent with the State Programme for the medical industry development of Turkmenistan for 2011-2015 should be implemented in a timely and proper manner.
The new building of the National Institute and Sport in Ashgabat where 1,600 students will study should be put into operation in a timely manner.
In the cultural sphere: M. Yazmuhammedova and the high-ranking officials in charge of this sector, you are to take consistent efforts to fulfil the assigned tasks.
The work on the study of the origins and history of national cultural values, promotion and popularization of the riches of the national heritage among youth should be intensified and all necessary measures should be taken to train qualified specialists in this sphere.
The work of television and radio channels should be properly organized and managed, the high quality and richness of content of television and radio programmes, feature films enhancing the enthusiasm of the people and telling about the wonderful time we are living in and the large-scale reforms we are implementing.
Competitions that will reveal talented youth able to make a worthy contribution to the development of culture and arts should be conducted on a regular basis. The favourable conditions should be created for cultural and arts workers and art groups so that they will successfully perform in international and regional contests.
International festivals, contests, forums, scientific conferences should be held on a regular basis in order to promote the national culture worldwide.
A wide network of cultural centres should be established in the centres of velayats, etraps and towns, the library activity should be improved, libraries throughout the country should be provided with socio-political and fiction literature and journals and the work in this sphere should be furthered.
In the agro-industrial sector: М. Nurmammedov, khyakims and the high-ranking officials in charge of the agricultural sector, the important tasks are set to you too.
The effective work should be carried out in order to provide the population with high-quality agricultural and food products, the processing of agricultural products should be organized in a proper manner, the provision with seeds, fertilizers and agricultural equipment should be improved, the harvest, transportation and storage of crop yield losses should be reduced, the level of crop yield should be raised.
To use efficiently land and water resources of the country, continue adopting scientific advances and modern practices in order to improve reclamation and water supply.
Ministries and departments concerned in collaboration with velayat khyakimliks must ensure that the tasks set forth for 2012 in the National Programme of the President of Turkmenistan for the improvement of the social and living conditions in villages, settlements, towns in etraps and etrap centres for the period till 20200 and the General Programme for clean drinking water supply to settlement in Turkmenistan will be achieved.
The construction of the Altyn Asyr Turkmen Lake and the Zeyid water storage reservoir should be continued.
Now, I would like to talk about the tasks velayat khyakims are to fulfil.
Esteemed khyakims,
You are experienced in the fulfilment of contractual obligations to raise rich yields of grain, cotton and other crops. But this is not your main tasks. I have talked about this before, and now I want to say it again: today your task is to take all necessary measures to dramatically improve the people’s welfare and the social and living conditions in velayats and etraps, especially in rural areas.
It is essential that you finally understand what your main responsibilities are, which, despite the fulfilment and even overfulfilment of the production plans, including the agricultural production plans, your activity will be evaluated by the specific results of the work done in the social sphere, namely by the number of apartment houses, new schools and kindergartens equipped with multimedia technologies and other social facilities have been built and put into operation. We will evaluated your work by how effectively you supply the population with clean drinking water, how many new jobs you have created, how effectively you decide other social issues.
High-ranking officials who are unable to understand modern requirements continue working in the old way, and we will have to dismiss them. We will appoint new high-ranking officials able to think in a new way and show concern for the people’s needs and welfare to their posts.
These are the main tasks you are to fulfil this year.
We will make the year 2012 the year of the dramatic improvement of the social and living conditions in rural areas. We will spare no expense for this purpose. If necessary, we will allocate additional financial resources. We will take all necessary measures so that every rural home will have hot water and other necessary conditions of living, so that there will be consumer services and shopping centres in rural areas, small enterprises will work effectively, so that living conditions in rural areas will be as good as those in urban areas.
The high-ranking officials of military and law enforcement agencies must properly manage their work, and they must work more effectively and efficiently.
Strengthening further the material and technical basis of the agencies under their supervision, they must carry out the work on the improvement of the social and living conditions of military servants and their families, learn lessons and take measures not to repeat mistakes in the future!
We will discuss in detail the results achieved in 2011 and the tasks to be fulfilled in 2012 with high-ranking military and law enforcement agencies during a meeting of the State Security Council on January 27. On this day we will attend the ceremony of opening and putting the military town and building complex of the Ministry of Defence
Invite the heads of velayat, town and etrap departments and subdivisions to attend the meeting of the State Security Council on January 27.
I would also like to touch upon another important issue. The preparations for the important political campaign – the presidential election are under way in the country. Special significance is attached to the election as they will be held in an atmosphere of the ongoing legal and constitutional reforms, with the participation of several candidates, on a competitive basis. Citizens of Turkmenistan who reside abroad our country will vote in the presidential election. In this regard the polling stations will be opened at the embassies of Turkmenistan in foreign countries. According to the law all citizens of Turkmenistan who are now abroad can come to these polling stations and give their vote for any of the candidates.
In connection with the forthcoming presidential elections in our country our country draws close attention of the international community and numerous international organisations.
We must confirm in practice that Turkmenistan is open for wide international relations and follow the way of democratization of the society. We have invited observers from different countries of the world and authoritative international organisations. These will include representatives of the United Nations, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States. They will arrive in our country before the election and stay here until it is conlcuded.
We have created all the opportunities for them to observe the electoral processes, as well as visit the places they are interested in.
Our objective, in particular khyakims’, is to create the necessary conditions for citizens so that they will actively vote in the presidential election as well as the election will be held in a timely and proper manner, in a festive atmosphere.
Law enforcement agencies are entrusted with the task to maintain public order on the election day and ensure the safety of citizens.
Thus, by holding the election in a transparent and open atmosphere, our society will take another critical step forward along the path of the legal reforms.
Esteemed Cabinet Ministers,
After this enlarged meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, conduct meetings at all ministries and departments. Give evaluation of the results achieved in 2011 and the tasks set for 2012 by the Cabinet of Ministers.
I wish you good health and long life, family wellbeing and every success in your activities!