OREANDA-NEWS. November 11, 2009. The second interregional seminar on strengthening international legal cooperation was conducted under the aegis of the UN at the President Hotel in the Turkmen capital.

The organizers of three-day forum were the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) with the active assistance of the Government of Turkmenistan. The seminar brought together the senior officials of the prosecutors’ offices, judicial and law enforcement bodies from five countries of Central Asia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Thailand, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. The international experts from other countries including France, Italy and the United States, the officials of the Interpol and Eurojust and the representatives of the non-profit organizations had arrived in Ashgabat to participate in the forum.

According to the organizers, the main goal of the seminar was to promote cooperation to counteract such a negative phenomena as human trafficking and eradicate this urgent problem of the modern world. It was emphasized that as a full member of the international community Turkmenistan joined a number of the fundamental conventions of the United Nations Organisation that governed the issues of peace and security, human rights and freedoms and stood steadfast to its commitments. This fact was vividly illustrated by the adoption of the Law “On Combating Trafficking in Persons” by Turkmenistan in December 2007. In this regard the participants noted that President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s progressive policy aimed at intensifying constructive partnership for common wellbeing and sustainable development was recognized and welcomed worldwide. Spotlighting Turkmenistan’s approach to combating crime the forum participants focused on the Turkmen partners’ commitment to effective international cooperation in this field.

Viewing this meeting as an important step to expand partnership to address global challenges the participants put emphasis on the significance of the tasks set to the region today including the major one – to develop the common strategy to ensure global security. In this context particular emphasis was put on the need to concert efforts to establish the effective mechanisms for combating the most dangerous forms of organized crime. During the seminar the international experts made the presentations and thematic overviews on these issues.

In conclusion of the first day of the seminar the participants expressed belief that the meeting in Ashgabat would promote concerting efforts and developing constructive cooperation aimed at guaranteeing a happy and safe life to people, protecting their honour and dignity.