A sitting of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan

Before the meeting the Vie Premiers and Speaker of the Mejlis heartily congratulated the Turkmen leader on two remarkable dates – World Environment Day and Textile Worker Day. Noting that these dates reflected the strategic trends in the policy of the New Revival the participants of the sitting wished good health, long life and great accomplishments in all deeds and undertakings for the benefit of the beloved Motherland.

Thanking for the congratulations Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that the concern for nature – the human habitat was one of the most important tasks of modern times. Attaching paramount importance to protection of the environment, the wellbeing of which was the wellbeing of the present and future generations our country actively contributed to international cooperation aimed at addressing global environmental problems and challenges.

The President said that having ratified the UN fundamental environmental convention Turkmenistan stood steadfast to its commitments under the international agreements. This was vividly evidenced by the National Environmental Action Plan and a number of the ongoing large-scale programmes including the tree planting programme.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that a wide range of the activities to achieve environmental security, use efficiently natural recourses have become the common cause for the people of Turkmenistan. The Turkmen leader emphasized that regarding it as a priority of the national policy the Government would continue to attach paramount importance to protection of the environment for the benefit of the Fatherland and people’s welfare.

Touching upon economic achievements of modern Turkmenistan the President highly appreciated the accomplishments of textile workers. Textile industry was a young but dynamically developing sector of Turkmen economy. During the years of independence dozens of factories and industrial complexes supplied with advanced thingies and equipment had been built throughout the country. Turkmenistan ranked among the world’s producers of high-quality products – textile of different kinds, knitted fabric and articles. Past fame of Turkmen silk and renowned keteni had been revived. The President said that the goods labeled “Made in Turkmenistan” had occupied a worthy niche on world markets. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that the enterprises of Turkmen textile industry applied environmentally friendly technologies that was proved by the international certificates.

The President said that the Government would continue to pay active attention to development and enhancement of the potential of textile industry and in the near future the infrastructure would be extended with the modern complexes manufacturing a broad range of high-quality products.

Then Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov gave the floor to the Vice Premiers who reported on the work done.

Vice Premier, Minister of Foreign Affairs R. Meredov reported on the results of the meeting of the Turkmenistan-European Union Joint Committee which had been held with the participation of the Turkmen government delegation in Brussels on June 3-4. The Vice Premier informed that during the talks the EU high-ranking officials had expressed intense interest in further intensifying the dialogue with Turkmenistan that the European community viewed as an important partner in building a new architecture of cooperation meeting modern requirements. The Minister reported on the results of the Turkmen-Belgian consultations on intensification of collaboration in the bilateral format as well as in the framework of cooperation with the EU.

Noting that the talks in Brussels had been held in the atmosphere of mutual understanding and constructive exchange of views on the prospects for cooperation as it was expected Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on mutual interest in developing fuel and energy cooperation. In this regard the Turkmen leader put emphasis on the need for laying the reliable legal foundation for cooperation in this strategic sector.

Focusing on significance of the decisions made at the regular meeting of the Turkmenistan-European Union Joint Committee, which could be regarded as the short-term plan of action the President instructed R. Meredov and the relevant cabinet ministers to draft the necessary documents to promote these decisions and submit them for review during the next government sitting.

Touching upon the major priority of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy strategy Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that its ultimate goal was to develop a constructive dialogue with different countries worldwide and particular the traditional partners including Russia, the EU member countries. The President focused on the need to enhance the contacts with such a world power as the United States of America noting that Turkmenistan attached significant importance to the relations with this country. In recent years the political and business circles of the United States showed keen interest in establishing full-scale cooperation in Turkmenistan. In this context the President instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs to hold the talks with American partners and harmonize the approaches to identifying a format of very promising partnership on a long-term basis.

During the sitting the President informed that he had signed the Decree on awarding the Watana bolan soygusi ucin (For Love to the Motherland) to Abdul Aziz Ibrahim Al-Ghadeer, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Turkmenistan for his profound personal contribution to enhancing the age-old relations of friendship and cooperation between the fraternal peoples of two countries. In this context Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov instructed Minister of Foreign Affairs R. Meredov to present the award to the diplomat on behalf of the President of Turkmenistan.

Speaker of the Mejlis A. Nurberdyeva reported on the work of the national Parliament to draft the laws and the further steps to develop a package of the statutory and legislative acts to ensure the enforcement of the Law “On Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism” recently adopted in Turkmenistan.

Putting emphasis on the significance of this document in the context of the ongoing reforms to strengthen the legal foundation of the Turkmen state and the supremacy of law in all spheres Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov set the tasks to the relevant institutions and put emphasis on the role of the Mejlis as the organ coordinating this work.

Vice Premier T. Japarov reported on the results of the 34th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Islamic Development Bank, which had brought together the representative delegations from 56 member countries of this authoritative financial organisation. The Vice Premier reported on the results of the bilateral talks with the Islamic Development Bank.

Putting emphasis on significance of the most representative summit of the Islamic Development Bank over its history and the fact of holding it in the Turkmen capital regarded as a token of special respect for Turkmenistan and recognition of its policy of openness and mutually advantageous cooperation the President said that the meetings and talks held in the framework of the IDB forum had illustrated the growing interest of potential foreign partners in collaborating in the ongoing large-scale investment projects, in particular in transport, energy and tourism sectors. In this regard the Turkmen leader focused on the importance of the bilateral agreements, which provided the vast opportunities to expand cooperation with the IDB – Turkmenistan’s long-term partner under a number of the national and international large-scale projects successfully implemented in recent years.

Vice Premier H. Muhammedov reported on the preparations for the international exhibition “The Major Trends in Development of Textile Industry of Turkmenistan” to mark the national holiday – Textile Worker Day.

Focusing on the importance of the coming exhibition and forum as a display of the accomplishments of textile industry – one of the priority sectors of the national economy the Turkmen leader demanded that the high level of organisation would be ensured noting that new meetings in Ashgabat were an open platform for the talks and enhancing effective business contacts with long-term as well as potential foreign partners.

Vice Premier M. Yazmuhammedova reported on the preparations for the Days of Culture of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which would be held in the Turkmen capital on June 6-9, and the versatile programme of cultural events timed to the ceremonies of putting new facilities in Avaza national tourism zone into operation.

Commenting on the report the President focused on special significance of the coming international action which was to expand the cultural dialogue between two countries and peoples who endeavored to strengthen the ties of friendship, fraternity and multi-aspect cooperation at the new historical stage. The President noted that the ceremonies of putting the facilities in Avaza seaside resort into operation should be as grandiose as scale and significance of the event that was to add a new chapter to the chronicle of Turkmenistan’s accomplishments on the path towards the great aims of the epoch of New Revival.

Vice Premier T. Tagyev reported on the results of the working trip to the People’s Republic of China and the talks in Beijing on further fuel and energy cooperation. The Vice Premier informed that the partners had negotiated the purpose loan of US$ 3 million that China would provide for commercial development of Southern Yoloten gas deposit.

Commenting on the report Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that diversification of mutually advantageous cooperation was the fundamental principles of the Turkmenistan’s policy of consistent intensification of oil and gas cooperation with the world’s energy producers and large companies. The President noted that China ranked among Turkmenistan’s strategic partners.

Touching upon further development of the fuel and energy sector the President focused on the need to work out a flexible approach to employing the country’s resource potential of the basic sector of the national economy. In this regard Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov put emphasis on the tasks to increase energy production, processing and export and efficiently use natural wealth of the Turkmen land.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that the present generations of the Turkmen people must see to it that the sufficient reserves of oil and gas would be left for the future generations.

Noting that the depths of the country from the Caspian shelf to the right bank of the Amu Darya River had the huge hydrocarbon reserves proved by the geological surveys the President instructed Vice Premier T. Tagyev to hold a meeting with the specialists of the fuel and energy sector on the implementation of the Oil and Gas Industry Development Programme. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on the need to identify the tasks in compliance with the modern realities and requirement, Turkmenistan’s initiatives on global energy security hat would promote achieving the designated aims – effective implementation of the country’s energy potential and then accumulate all existing resources in the priority fields.

Touching upon such a key aspect of Turkmenistan’s energy policy as building the diversified infrastructure for transit of natural gas to international markets the President focused on the need to elaborate the optimal system of deliveries of Turkmen energy to foreign consumers and bring it in compliance with the best international practice.

Vice Premier M. Akmammedov reported on the progress of the harvesting campaign, seasonal agricultural works, in particular the preparations for the rice sowing campaign.

Focusing on the need to accelerate the pace of the harvesting campaign Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov demanded that the agricultural high-ranking officials should take all necessary measures to hold the harvesting campaign in a proper and timely manner.

Vice Premier H. Saparlyev reported on the results of the traditional scientific contest announced among young scientists and students to mark Science Day that is traditionally celebrated in the country on June 12.

The President said that this intellectual contest was to play an important role in training highly-qualified scientific manpower and the national science in whole – an essential factor of successful implementation of the ongoing large-scale reforms and changes in the country. Noting that the state support would be provided to the contest and the winners would receive the valuable present Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov signed the relevant Resolution.

Emphasizing that the higher schools throughout the country should train highly qualified specialists including law enforcement officers the President instructed M. Islamov, Chairman of the State Border Service and I. Mulikov, Minister of Internal Affairs to enhance the work in this field.

Vice Premier N. Shagulyev presented the master plan for development and reconstruction of Turkmenbashi seaport.

Noting that construction of modern transport and communication infrastructure was a strategic trend in the national policy Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on the importance of modernization of the seaport on the Caspian Sea – the sea gateway to Turkmenistan that was primary importance for achieving the goals of the programme on development of the littoral region.

Vice Premier D. Orazov reported on the progress in reconstruction of the main city highways – Turkmenbashi Avenue, Neutrality Avenue and Galkynysh Street, the preparations for putting several facilities into operation. The Vice Premier made a request to the President to inspect the first results of the work done to implement the project on reconstruction of the highways in Ashgabat.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that he would inspect the work done in this field in the near future. The Turkmen leader instructed Vice Premier D. Orazov to hold an international conference and exhibition on urban development and architecture this year and expressed belief that these forums would bring together the specialists of the large construction companies and famous architects from all over the world in Ashgabat.

The President instructed to announce the international contest for the best architectural design of Ashgabat and establish the special commission consisting of the highly qualified experts for this purpose. The winner of the contest would receive the prize of US$ 300,000 on behalf of the President of Turkmenistan.

Chairman of the Supreme Chamber of Inspection O. Gurbannazarov reported on the results of the inspection conducted at the ministries and departments on the instructions of the President.

Commenting on the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov demanded that the high-ranking officials should eliminate the shortfalls revealed during the inspection and ensure the effective work of the sectors under their supervision. The Turkmen leader instructed the Chairman of the Supreme Chamber of Inspection to conduct the inspection of the ministries and departments in the second half of the year and report on the results.

Other important issues of the current national policy were considered during the sitting and the relevant decisions were adopted.