OREANDA-NEWS. October 20, 2008. A working meeting at the level of the deputy foreign ministers of the Central Asian states was held at the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy in Ashgabat (UNRCCA).

The representatives of the foreign ministries of the Central Asian states – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and officer of the Department of Political Affairs of the United Nations Deputy Director of the Regional Office for Asia and Pacific Mr. Jahangir Khan had arrived in the Turkmen capital to participate in the meeting held under the aegis of the United Nations Organization.

Greeting the guests Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Head of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy Mr. Miroslav Jenca made presentation on the activities of the newly established peacemaking agency. Focusing on the importance of the joint work based particularly on close co-operation with the Central Asian governments M. Jenca stated with satisfaction that the recent meeting of the heads of the Central Asian states in Bishkek that he had participated in vividly illustrated the countries’ endeavours to maintain the open dialogue and readiness to work out the common approaches to the global problems manikin faced nowadays.

Thanking the Turkmen partners for an opportunity to discuss abroad range of the urgent issues the participants expressed overall support for the noble mission of the Centre aimed at preventing conflicts and eliminating the causes for conflicts through preventive diplomacy. The participants emphasized that this activity contributed to concerting global efforts to tackle common challenges and threats of the modern world. In particular the discussion focused on the problems and potential threats to the region posed by terrorism, religious extremism, cross-border organized crime, illicit drug, weapon and human trafficking, etc.

During the informal meeting the participants discussed the issues of border co-operation, efficient and effective use of water resources, environmental and energy sectary. The participants put emphasis on the topicality of Turkmenistan’s initiative on security of transnational pipeline infrastructure put forward at the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly.

The discussion focused on the situation in Afghanistan. The neighbourhood laid special responsibility on the countries of the region including assistance in stabilizing situation and social and economic development.

Exchanging views the participants focused on the importance of concerted efforts in elaborating the common programme of action of the countries of the region to counter new risks and threats, to enhance stability and security in Central Asia. The draft three-year programme of action of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy was presented to the participants for consideration.

Focusing on the importance of the issues under consideration and necessity of further joint search for the solutions to urgent problems the sides called for actively co-operating with the Centre and holding the meetings that would enable to work out the most effective and optimal approaches to co-operation in the interests of peace and sustainable development.