President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov chaired a sitting of the Cabinet of Ministers to consider the results of the elections to the Mejlis of IV convocation and the priority issues of the current national policy.

Opening the sitting and presenting the agenda the President said that the year 2008 marked with the important events and outstanding labour achievements was coming to an end. The President noted that the large-scale work had been carried out in the period and many important tasks requiring the most serious and responsible approach should be fulfilled in future.

Emphasizing that the historic event in the social and political life of the country – the parliamentary elections took place on December 14 the President gave the floor to Chairman of the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda M. Karriev.

Reporting on the results of the elections M. Karriev said that the elections had been held in an effective manner in compliance with the current legislation and international law norms. The Chairman of the Central Commission noted that citizens of Turkmenistan residing abroad for some reasons received an opportunity to vote for the first time. Also, the international observers and experts representing the European countries and the authoritative international organisations had been drawn for the first time to monitor the electoral process. M. Karriev reported that the turnout of voters made up about 94 percent. The Central Commission would hold the closing sitting to sum up the elections within the next few days.

The Turkmen leader congratulated those present and the people of Turkmenistan on the parliamentary elections which had been held on the broad alternative transparent democratic basis demonstrating Turkmenistan’s invariable adherence to democratic development and wide international co-operation.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized that this year’s parliamentary elections continued the legal and constitutional reforms initiated in Turkmenistan at a new stage of its history, a new word in the national practice of election campaigns. Demonstrating their unity and solidarity and high civic consciousness the Turkmen society had taken an important forward step along the path of fundamental reforms and progress. The President expressed gratitude to the people of Turkmenistan for the active participation in the elections, the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda for the large-scale work done and the international experts and observers for co-operation.

Speaker of the Mejlis A. Nurberdieva reported on the compliance of the parliamentary elections with the national election law and international law norms. The Speaker reported on the preparations for the first session of the national Parliament of the fourth convocation.

Noting that the parliamentary elections marked a new stage of building the democratic state the Turkmen leader focused on the significant tasks set to the Parliament as conditioned by its new status. Touching upon the major aspects of the activity of the newly elected members of the Mejlis the President mentioned the thorough preparations for the first parliamentary session which was to take the important decisions and consider the organizational issues.

Suggesting that the first session should be convoked at the begging of 2009 the President invited the deputies of the Mejlis to attend the enlarged sitting of the Cabinet of Ministers in January. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that it would a splendid opportunity for the newly elected representative of the people to get better acquainted with the priority tasks on the further progress of the country that was the ultimate goal of all branches of power, high-ranking officials and deputies of the Parliament as well.

Vice Premier, Minister of Foreign Affairs R. Meredov reported on the preparations for the official visit of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Bulgarian government delegation to Turkmenistan. Reporting on the parliamentary elections the Minister noted that this important political action vividly evidencing Turkmenistan’s openness and adherence to the universally recognized democratic principles had drawn a wide response and been covered by the leading news agencies all over the world.

Focusing on the significance of the Turkmen-Bulgarian top level talks Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that the Bulgarian leader’s official visit would allow bringing the bilateral relations at a higher level and promote further development of fruitful co-operation with European community in the framework of the Turkmenistan-EU dialogue. The Turkmen leader reaffirmed Turkmenistan’s willingness to build co-operation with different countries worldwide on the principles of openness and friendship.

Vice Premier M. Yazmuhammedova reported on the preparations for the coming winter holidays and school vacations and the versatile programme of cultural events and festivities.

The President noted that the New Year was one of the most favourite holidays of the people of Turkmenistan and the necessary measures should be taken to ensure the high level of organisation of the celebrations therefore.

The President noted that the national television should contribute actively to these activities and informed that the beginning of 2009 would be marked with opening the new cultural and entertainment channel. Signing the relevant resolution the Turkmen leader said that the new, fifth channel was called upon to introduce the treasury of Turkmen classical and modern music, to present the national cultural achievements to the people of Turkmenistan and contribute to aesthetic education and integrated development of Turkmen youth.

Putting emphasis on the importance of the spiritual sphere in the life of the modern Turkmen state and society the Turkmen leader touched upon the issues of careful treatment and preservation of purity and imaginary character of the Turkmen language noting that it was an important task set to the Turkmen society and particularly Turkmen cultural and mass media workers. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov informed that the ceremony of commemorating the first President of Turkmenistan Saparmurat Niyazov would be held on December 21. On that day the high-ranking officials, heads of the sectoral ministries and departments and public organisations and citizens of Turkmenistan would take part in the ceremony of laying flowers to the family mausoleum in the Gypjak settlement and the repast.

Commenting on the reports of the cabinet ministers the President gave relevant instructions. The President instructed Vice Premier H. Saparliev to take strict control over the aspects of the implementation of the educational reform, enhancement of the material and technical basis of the research and educational establishments, healthcare and sports institutions.

Considering the priority aspects of the agricultural reform the President focused on the need to elaborate the optimal approach to implementing the strategy of development of this leading sector which was of paramount importance for the further wellbeing and progress of the country.

Giving the relevant instructions to Vice Premier M. Akmammedov the President noted that every step towards success of the agricultural reform should thoroughly analyzed and the situation in the regions should be studied so that the profound opportunities for further growth of the agro-industrial sector would implemented to the full extent.

The President instructed Vice Premier D. Orazov to take strict control over the implementation of the large-scale urban development programme and compliance of the construction projects with the schedule and the quality norms and standards.

Giving the relevant instructions to Vice Premier H. Geldimyradov the President demanded that strict control should taken over all the aspects of the coming denomination of the national currency unit.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov instructed Vice Premier H. Muhammedov to ensure the readiness of trade and service industries for the coming denomination and abundance of the goods and products on the counters. In particular, the President demanded that on January 1, 2009 the price tags would indicate two prices in old and denominated manats.

The President instructed Vice Premier T. Tagiev to ensure the dynamic development of oil and gas industry and take strict control over the progress of the important energy projects aimed at diversifying Turkmen energy export to the world markets.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov instructed Vice Premier N. Shaguliev to ensure the effective transportation system performance and strict control over effective operation of equipment and machines.

The other issues of the current policy were considered during the sitting.