OREANDA-NEWS. February 20, 2008. President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received Chief of the Section of the Department for Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat Alexey Tikhomirov and UN official, President of the International Academy of Iformatization Aleksander Khariton.

The guests cordially congratulated Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on the first anniversary of presidency and National Flag Day and wished the Turkmen leader new outstanding accomplishments in his large-scale activity for the benefit and wellbeing of the Turkmen people.

Greeting the guests Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov thanked for the congratulations and heartfelt wishes. The Turkmen leader emphasized that Turkmenistan-United Nations co-operation built on the long-term basis conformed to the goals of the policy of the Turkmen state including the basic one - the welfare of the people.

The interlocutors discussed the progress of the agreements including those on collaboration in the social and economic sphere and modern information technologies. The interlocutors exchanged views on elaboration on the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Turkmenistan and the UN Secretariat in the sphere of public management.

Putting emphasis on the concrete, practical nature of the large-scale projects initiated by the Turkmen leader and aimed at intensifying the national social and economic development the guests noted that resolutely advancing along the way of progressive reforms Turkmenistan had gained the impressive achievements within the year. Aleksander Khariton said that the progress had been made in reforming national education and science through applying information technologies.

Emphasizing that the Turkmen leader’s reformative policy had been recognised worldwide the guests informed that Highest International Order “For Outstanding Services in Informatiology” had been awarded to Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. The diploma and crystal sculptural composition “Preserve the World for the Future Generations” were presented to the President of Turkmenistan for an outstanding contribution to achievement of mutual understanding among the nations. Cordially congratulating Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on the remarkable events Alexey Tikhomirov and Aleksander Khariton wished the Turkmen leader new accomplishments in his important work.

Cordially thanking for high appreciation of the country’s foreign-policy course and social and economic development strategy aimed at the phased, smooth transition to market economy the Turkmen leader emphasized that working towards that aim Turkmenistan relied on wide international co-operation.

In this context Alexey Tikhomirov suggested holding a regional information technology seminar in Ashgabat that would enable participants to get acquainted with the latest achievements in this important sphere and the guests of Turkmenistan - with the accomplishments the country had gained on the way of the fundamental reforms and progress

Approving the suggestion Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that Turkmenistan was ready to provide the organisers of the forum with every possible support. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov invited his guests to take part in the National Flag Day celebrations and the ceremony of opening the Ruhnama School in Ashgabat. Informing that the schools supplied with modern information technologies were under construction throughout the country the President said that Turkmenistan was planning to open an international university in the nearest future and invite the world’s leading research and educational centres to collaborate for these purposes.

Upon concluding the meeting the guests thanked the Turkmen leader for the opportunity of a personal meeting and expressed belief that Turkmenistan-UN partnership would be successfully developed and continued in new joint projects.