OREANDA-NEWS. November 18, 2010. When reviewing the chronicle of international contacts at the level of ministries and departments for the last month, it should be emphasized that all of them, certainly, were marked by the preparations for and then Turkmenistan’s participation in the 65th session of the UN General Assembly in New York that was conditioned by the importance and significance of the historic speech of the Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who offered the international community the Strategy for the Future, which reflected the key tasks to build a broad and firm international consensus as a fundamental component of global security and sustainable development.

These constructive initiatives, which have become the property of the community of nations in terms of a new vision for global development, served in September 2010 as a powerful catalyst for international contacts of Turkmenistan and the national ministries and departments with the authoritative international organisations such as the UN and the EU.

These events included the visit of Brian Morgan, Regional Coordinator of EU-Central Asia monitoring programme, the visit of Matthew Savage, UNDP Chief Consultant for Climate Change and Water Resources and the roundtable and a photo exhibition organised to mark of the International Day against Nuclear Tests organized by the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia that became new evidence of an intense interest of the international community in Turkmenistan’s peaceful and progressive policy.

Presenting the credential letters this September by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Finland Ms. Tuula Yrjola and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic Mr. Robert Kopecky are quite illustrative in terms of further enhancement of relations with European countries.

The landmarks in the chronicle of the September events include the working visit of Ukrainian delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Viktor Maiko, the visit of the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan led by Mohammad Sharif Sharifi, Deputy Minister of Ministry of Commerce and Industries of Afghanistan , the visit of the delegation of Germany led by Klaus-Jurgen Hendrich, Chairman of the Turkmen-German Forum, the visit of the delegation of the Kingdom of Sweden led by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Sweden in Turkmenistan Hans Olsson, the visit of the delegation of the Italian Republic led by Adolfo Urso, Deputy Minister for Economic Development to Ashgabat to participate in the Turkmen-Italian business forum, the visit of Michael Randall, Project Manager at BBC World Service Training the bilateral political consultations between the foreign ministers held in the framework of the visit of the Swiss Confederation led by Christian Meuwly, Head of Political Division of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland.

The international seminar held this September with the assistance of ministries and departments of Turkmenistan provided a platform for a constructive exchange of views on priority vectors of cooperation, the study and adoption of international practices in various fields.

The training workshop conducted by the experts of the International Maritime Organization of the United Nations for specialists of the State Sipping Inspectorate of the State Sea and River Transport Service of Turkmenistan, the Modern Europe four-day seminar organized by the Europa House in Turkmenistan and the two-day seminar organized by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat also contributed to a further fruitful exchange of experiences with major international organisations, in particular the EU and the OSCE, in various fields.

The events related to the prospects for implementing the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project have a special place in the chronicle of this September. Looking at this large-scale project through in the light of comprehensive intergovernmental cooperation, it should be noted that in this aspect the crucial role given to its global peacekeeping mission that prevails largely over the economic aspect of the project by its significance.

The consultative and technical meetings focusing on the project implementation issues conducted on a regular basis testify to the paramount importance attached by Turkmenistan to this gas transportation line. The regular, sixth meeting of the Technical Group and the eleventh meeting of the Steering Committee of the TAPI Project, which involved the heads of ministries and representatives of all participating countries and experts of the Asian Development Bank, vividly evidenced the ongoing consistent efforts taken to promote the transnational gas pipeline project, which would contribute to strengthening peace and stability throughout the region.

The international exhibitions and conferences held this September became evidence of worldwide recognition of Turkmenistan’s attractiveness growing year by year in terms not only of the profound resource potential of our country and the favourable investment climate, but also collaboration in future humanitarian projects.

These include the International Exhibition and Conference “Avaza: towards New Heights of Creation, Construction and Progress”, the International Conference “Harmony of National and Universal Spiritual Values in the Epoch of New Revival” on the spiritual development of the nation, IV International Exhibition of telecommunications, telemetry, information technologies and broadcasting equipment Turkmentel-2010 and the International Conference “Turkmenistan and the World Information and Telecommunications Systems”’, the International Scientific Conference “Hoja Ahmed Yasawi and Sufi Literature of the East”, V International Fair and Conference “Book - the Way to Cooperation and Progress”.

As for the participation of Turkmen specialists in foreign forums at an international level, the indubitable success of the State Publishing Service of Turkmenistan in the Moscow International Book Fair that let book lovers and publishers from around the world make sure that Turkmen printing workers, who manufacture products at a qualitatively new level, were able to compete with one and a half thousand publishers from 56 countries of the world represented at the exhibition, should be mentioned. Last year President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s book “Medicinal Plants of Turkmenistan” was awarded the diploma of the Moscow International Book Fair last year. This September the Turkmen leader’s book “Ahalteke Horses - Our Pride and Glory” was awarded the diploma of VII International Contest of CIS states “Art of the Book” held in the framework of the Moscow International Book Fair.

Touching upon humanitarian cooperation between Turkmenistan and foreign countries, the Days of Culture Turkmenistan in Tajikistan held this September should be mentioned. This large-scale cultural event became a new important step to strengthen the ties of friendship, mutual understanding and confidence between the fraternal peoples and further the wide-ranging Turkmen-Tajik dialogue.

It was reported that one of the bright events of the Days of Culture of Turkmenistan in Tajikistan was the presentation of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov's book “Medicinal Plants of Turkmenistan” and the book “The Grandson who Makes His Grandfather’s Dream Come True” in the Tajik language. Those speaking at the presentation, which brought together prominent scientists of this friendly country, members of the public organisations, journalists, teachers and students of the Tajik State Medical University, emphasized that the publication of these books in Tajik became an important event in the history of our bilateral relations testifying to the profound interest shown in Tajikistan in the personality and versatile public, political and scientific activities of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

No less significant event in the aspect of international cultural cooperation was the official ceremony of completing the project for the restoration of the Mashad-Ata Mosque, which took place in the Ancient Dekhistan State Historical and Cultural Reserve. There is no doubt that this project will contribute to intensifying the Turkmen-U.S. partnership on a wide range of fields, including the protection, study and restoration of historical and cultural monuments.

A notable event fostering the international cultural dialogue became the performance of the CIS Youth Symphony Orchestra led by an outstanding violinist and conductor Vladimir Spivakov in Ashgabat.

The meeting of the heads of the headquarters staffs of border guard services of CIS countries in Ashgabat ranks among Turkmenistan’s international activities as an associate member of the CIS. This meeting was held in the context of the peace-building initiatives of our country aimed at promoting peace, security and sustainable development in the region.

Thus, the chronicle of international contacts at the level of ministries and departments for the last month once again proves that Turkmenistan consistently takes new steps to promote the wellbeing of the Turkmen people and other nations. Being invariably committed to the principles of positive neutrality that opens up the opportunities to develop equal and mutually advantageous relations with foreign partners, Turkmenistan uses its high status in the interests of global peace and security.