OREANDA-NEWS. October 28, 2011. President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received Jan Kubis, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), United Nations Under-Secretary-General, who had arrived in the Turkmen capital to attend the celebrations in honour of the 20th anniversary of independence of Turkmenistan, at the Oguzkhan palace complex in Ashgabat.

Thanking for hospitality extended in Turkmenistan and the opportunity to discuss critical issues of cooperation during a personal conversation, the UN high-ranking official handed over the congratulatory message from UN Secretary-General ban Ki-moon who had expressed the best wishes for the national holiday to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov an the Turkmen people.

Jan Kubis also congratulated President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on receiving the high government awards and the 20th anniversary of independence of Turkmenistan that moved forward with confidence along the path of progress and prosperity. It was noted that the United Nations warmly welcomed and supported the large-scale reforms launched by the Turkmen leader to boost social and economic development and strengthen the democratic and legal foundations of the state.

Greeting the distinguished guest and thanking for the hearty wishes to the Turkmen people, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov underlined the strategic character of cooperation with the United Nations standing as the most effective mechanism for maintaining peace and stability on the planet. Emphasizing that a priority of the foreign policy strategy of Turkmenistan that took an active part in international affairs was the enhancement of the role of this authoritative international organisation, the Turkmen leader stated that our country intended to actively cooperate further with the UN structures, including the UN Economic Commission for Europe.

In this context President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov reminded that Turkmenistan as the Chair of the UN Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) had undertaken the commitments to host two important events this year. The follow-up meeting of the 2010 SPECA Economic Forum was held in Ashgabat on June 7-8. On November 10-11 Ashgabat will be hosting a regular session of the SPECA Governing Council and the Economic Forum entitled “20 Years of Regional Economic Cooperation and Integration in Central Asia: Successes, Challenges and Prospects”.

Expressing satisfaction with increased dynamics of Turkmenistan-UN cooperation as was illustrated by a number of joint projects completed in recent years, Jan Kubis highly evaluated the active position that Turkmenistan took towards the search for solutions to urgent problems and challenges of modern times. It was noted that nowadays the Turkmen state acted as the author generator of up-to-date constructive initiatives on regional and global scale as was evidenced by the new proposals put forward by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov from the rostrum of the UN General Assembly.

Thanking for supporting Turkmenistan’s initiatives on such global challenges as the settlement of the situation in Afghanistan, achievement of global energy security, efficient use of natural resources and the protection of the environment, the Turkmen leader reaffirmed that Turkmenistan was committed to the long-term constructive dialogue with the UN meeting mutual interests.

Expressing belief that Turkmenistan-UNECE cooperation would be developed further and strengthen in these and other areas of international collaboration, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and. Jan Kubis underscored the mutual interest in new joint projects that would facilitate implementing national programmes and achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Upon concluding the meeting, President of Turkmenistan wished his guest every success in his versatile activity and asked to convey the cordial greetings and wishes of good health and wellbeing to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.