OREANDA-NEWS. July 7, 2009. During the sitting of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, the agenda of which included the issues of implementation of the priority social and economic programs and large-scale investment projects Vice Premier M. Akmammedov reported to President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov on the first stage of construction of the unique hydraulic facility – the Turkmen Lake in the centre of the Karakum Desert that got the symbolic name of Altyn Asyr.

Focusing on the importance of this grandiose project Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that the Government had launched this multibillion project to develop the network of hydraulic facilities in the Karakum Desert, improve irrigated lands, develop agricultural sector and achieve environmental wellbeing and ensure efficient management of water resources – the urgent problem mankind faced nowadays.

Over 5,000 years of their history the Turkmen people cherish water as a valuable gift of nature that embodies the life itself. During the first years of independence the holiday reflecting the centuries-old national traditions of efficient use of water, which have acquired a new meaning in the new historical epoch, appeared in the national calendar of the remarkable. The issues of protection and efficient use of water resources, which are directly interrelated with the goals of the fundamental agricultural reform, are the major priorities of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s policy, the essence of which is reflected in the principle – “a state for the people”. In this regard, Turkmenistan demonstrates a well thought-out, comprehensive approach to the problems of efficient use of water resources playing an active role in promoting regional and international cooperation in this important area.

Pursuing the policy of openness and constructive cooperation with all partners concerned including close neighbours in particular Turkmenistan attaches special importance to the dialogue in such a vital area as water and energy use. That is evidenced by President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov’s important initiatives first put forward at the Summit of the Central Asian leaders in Bishkek last year during the regular meeting of the Council of the leaders of the CIS member states. This April, during the meeting of the leaders of the states – the founders of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea Turkmenistan’s water initiative to search for the balanced, mutually acceptable solutions to water management issues under the auspices of and in close cooperation with the UN, was fully supported by the countries of the region.

Addressing the urgent issues of supply of high-quality potable water and control of salinization of arable lands Turkmenistan carries on the large-scale work to efficiently use land and water resources through applying water-saving technologies and constructing hydraulic facilities throughout the country. In this regard Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov instructed to launch the large-scale work involving specialists and scientists to explain the significance of the Turkmen Lake for further successful social and economic development, preservation and enhancement of natural resources and achievement of environmental wellbeing.