The Elders Council of Turkmenistan held its regular meeting at the Congress Centre in the Avaza national tourism zone. President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov chaired the meeting. The agenda of the national forum was focused on the development priorities of the country and the major objectives of the social and economic and democratic reforms.
The participants included the cabinet ministers, the heads of Mejlis, ministries and departments, political parties and public organisations, the hyakims of velayats, towns and etraps, deputies of the Parliament, specialists of enterprises and institutions, the elders and young citizens of our country. The ambassadors of Turkmenistan in foreign countries, the heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Turkmenistan and Turkmen and foreign journalists were invited to attend the meeting.
Addressing those present with a keynote speech, the President of Turkmenistan identified the main areas of the foreign and domestic policies and specified the objectives to be achieved in 2016, dwelling on some important provisions of the new Basic Law of our country.
The decision on the improvement of the Basic Law of Turkmenistan was adopted in May last year. For this purpose the Constitutional Commission was established, under which the commission, responsible for considering and systematising the petitions and proposals submitted, was created at Mejlis. The content of the Basic Law was updated and its structure was fundamentally revised.
The Turkmen leader suggested incorporating the provision on the protection of state sovereignty of Turkmenistan which embodies the aspiration of the people to live in peace, unity and political stability, into Section I of the Basic Law that sets forth the foundations of the constitutional system of our country.
The President dwelt on the two fundamentally new constitutional provisions incorporated into the Basic Law. The first one states that “the ultimate goal of the bodies of state power is to protect, support and serve an individual”. The second one states that “Turkmenistan is the country that guarantees social protection to everyone”.
The Constitutional Commission suggested incorporating the new article that would state that “Turkmenistan shall recognize political diversity and multiplicity of parties. The state shall facilitate the development of civil society.” into the new Constitution. Another new provision submitted for consideration deals with the state policy aimed at the exercise and support of the rights and freedoms of youth.
The Constitution contains the provision on the separation of powers into three branches. The relevant section of the Constitution contains the provisions on the President of Turkmenistan, the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, the Cabinet of Ministers and the Supreme Court of Turkmenistan.
The Turkmen leader suggested reviewing in detail the proposals that would be submitted after the publication of the draft Constitution proposed by the Constitutional Commission. After serious consideration of all the issues, the final document will be submitted to the deputies of Mejlis for consideration and adopted at the meeting of the Elders Council which will take place next year.
The President of Turkmenistan focused on the immediate objectives of the country’s economic and social development. The issues relating to the administrative territorial structure, the industrial development programme for the period till 2030, hydrocarbon export diversification, exploration of other mineral resources, establishment of the national electronic industry, the transport and communications sector, investment and construction activities were raised. In 2016, it is planned to implement 428 large scale projects amounting to over US$ 9.7 billion and launch the construction on over 220 facilities amounting to about US$ 18 billion. It is planned to use investment amounting to over US$ 7.5 billion in rural areas.
The issues put on the agenda of the national forum were discussed; the participants, including religious figures, specialists of education and science, agriculture and other sectors of the national economy and the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, military servants and students, addressed the meeting. UN Resident Coordinator, UNDP Resident Representative in Turkmenistan Jacinta Barrins addressed the meeting.
Those speaking at the meeting expressed their opinion on the provisions incorporated into the draft Constitution and relating to the development of science, introduction of innovative technologies for sustainable use of land, water and other natural resources, etc. It was also noted that the transition of Turkmen economy to market relations required the most effective and efficient use of national resources. In this context and based on the fact that the standard of living of citizens has increased significantly, the opinion was expressed that the time to introduce water and gas usage charges had come.
Summing up the discussions, the President thanked all the speakers at the national forum, noting that all the proposals put forward at the meeting would be taken into consideration. The President signed the Decrees on the conferment of state awards and honorary titles in honour of the 24th anniversary of independence of Turkmenistan, the conferment of the Zenan kalby Order of Turkmenistan and the conferment of the title of the Honorary Elder of Turkmenistan.
The awarding ceremony took place after a short break. The Turkmen leader presented the awards for the conscientious work of many years to citizens of Turkmenistan who had made a worthy contribution to strengthen independence and sovereignty of the motherland, enhance its economic capacity, develop various sectors of the national economy and the social sphere, preserve and maintain national traditions and had performed special services to the state and the people and the delegates of the meeting who had received the title of the Honorary Elder of Turkmenistan.
The decision to hold the next meeting of the Elders Council in Ashgabat in 2016, when the country would be celebrating the 25th anniversary of independence, was adopted.
The Vice-Chairman of the Elders Council was elected. Rahman Gelleyev was nominated by the elders from Ashgabat. The participants adopted the Address of the Elders Council to the Turkmen people.
The participants included the cabinet ministers, the heads of Mejlis, ministries and departments, political parties and public organisations, the hyakims of velayats, towns and etraps, deputies of the Parliament, specialists of enterprises and institutions, the elders and young citizens of our country. The ambassadors of Turkmenistan in foreign countries, the heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Turkmenistan and Turkmen and foreign journalists were invited to attend the meeting.
Addressing those present with a keynote speech, the President of Turkmenistan identified the main areas of the foreign and domestic policies and specified the objectives to be achieved in 2016, dwelling on some important provisions of the new Basic Law of our country.
The decision on the improvement of the Basic Law of Turkmenistan was adopted in May last year. For this purpose the Constitutional Commission was established, under which the commission, responsible for considering and systematising the petitions and proposals submitted, was created at Mejlis. The content of the Basic Law was updated and its structure was fundamentally revised.
The Turkmen leader suggested incorporating the provision on the protection of state sovereignty of Turkmenistan which embodies the aspiration of the people to live in peace, unity and political stability, into Section I of the Basic Law that sets forth the foundations of the constitutional system of our country.
The President dwelt on the two fundamentally new constitutional provisions incorporated into the Basic Law. The first one states that “the ultimate goal of the bodies of state power is to protect, support and serve an individual”. The second one states that “Turkmenistan is the country that guarantees social protection to everyone”.
The Constitutional Commission suggested incorporating the new article that would state that “Turkmenistan shall recognize political diversity and multiplicity of parties. The state shall facilitate the development of civil society.” into the new Constitution. Another new provision submitted for consideration deals with the state policy aimed at the exercise and support of the rights and freedoms of youth.
The Constitution contains the provision on the separation of powers into three branches. The relevant section of the Constitution contains the provisions on the President of Turkmenistan, the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, the Cabinet of Ministers and the Supreme Court of Turkmenistan.
The Turkmen leader suggested reviewing in detail the proposals that would be submitted after the publication of the draft Constitution proposed by the Constitutional Commission. After serious consideration of all the issues, the final document will be submitted to the deputies of Mejlis for consideration and adopted at the meeting of the Elders Council which will take place next year.
The President of Turkmenistan focused on the immediate objectives of the country’s economic and social development. The issues relating to the administrative territorial structure, the industrial development programme for the period till 2030, hydrocarbon export diversification, exploration of other mineral resources, establishment of the national electronic industry, the transport and communications sector, investment and construction activities were raised. In 2016, it is planned to implement 428 large scale projects amounting to over US$ 9.7 billion and launch the construction on over 220 facilities amounting to about US$ 18 billion. It is planned to use investment amounting to over US$ 7.5 billion in rural areas.
The issues put on the agenda of the national forum were discussed; the participants, including religious figures, specialists of education and science, agriculture and other sectors of the national economy and the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, military servants and students, addressed the meeting. UN Resident Coordinator, UNDP Resident Representative in Turkmenistan Jacinta Barrins addressed the meeting.
Those speaking at the meeting expressed their opinion on the provisions incorporated into the draft Constitution and relating to the development of science, introduction of innovative technologies for sustainable use of land, water and other natural resources, etc. It was also noted that the transition of Turkmen economy to market relations required the most effective and efficient use of national resources. In this context and based on the fact that the standard of living of citizens has increased significantly, the opinion was expressed that the time to introduce water and gas usage charges had come.
Summing up the discussions, the President thanked all the speakers at the national forum, noting that all the proposals put forward at the meeting would be taken into consideration. The President signed the Decrees on the conferment of state awards and honorary titles in honour of the 24th anniversary of independence of Turkmenistan, the conferment of the Zenan kalby Order of Turkmenistan and the conferment of the title of the Honorary Elder of Turkmenistan.
The awarding ceremony took place after a short break. The Turkmen leader presented the awards for the conscientious work of many years to citizens of Turkmenistan who had made a worthy contribution to strengthen independence and sovereignty of the motherland, enhance its economic capacity, develop various sectors of the national economy and the social sphere, preserve and maintain national traditions and had performed special services to the state and the people and the delegates of the meeting who had received the title of the Honorary Elder of Turkmenistan.
The decision to hold the next meeting of the Elders Council in Ashgabat in 2016, when the country would be celebrating the 25th anniversary of independence, was adopted.
The Vice-Chairman of the Elders Council was elected. Rahman Gelleyev was nominated by the elders from Ashgabat. The participants adopted the Address of the Elders Council to the Turkmen people.