OREANDA-NEWS. October 29, 2010. Upon concluding the Independence Day festivities, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers. Opening the meeting, the Turkmen leader congratulated the participants on the 19th anniversary of independence and wished every success in their work for the benefit of the Motherland.

Addressing the meeting participants, the Turkmen leader noted that an essential aspect of the policy of the independent Turkmen state was the status of neutrality recognized by the international community and embodied in Turkmenistan’s firm and invariable commitment to global security and peace, the determination to uphold national interests and guarantee the inviolability of achievements of sacred independence.

“Our goal,” the Turkmen leader said, “is to defend a peaceful life and constructive labour of the Turkmen people, support global efforts, reliably protect the borders of the Motherland and turn them into the borders of friendship, improve the mechanism for countering global threats and challenges of XXI century such as international terrorism and extremism, transnational crime, illicit drug trafficking.

Courageous military and law enforcement officers coped with the tasks in a worthy manner, noted President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. The versatile work they carried out created the conditions for a peaceful life of citizens and their productive labour, contributed to improving people’s welfare, enhancing the defence capacity of the country and, most importantly, patriotic education of the younger generation, emphasized the Turkmen leader.

In this regard the President informed of the decision to present the government awards and confer the military ranks to the high-ranking officials of the military and law enforcement agencies for a worthy contribution to enhancing the defence capacity of and security of the country, ensuring law and order, the special merits in protecting a peaceful life of people and the meritorious service of many years for the benefit of people and to strengthen the foundations of sovereignty.

Then the President signed the Decrees on presenting the commemorative medal “Participant of the parade in honour of the 19th anniversary of independence” to military servants and the high-ranking officials and officers of the military and law enforcement agencies and conferring the military and special ranks to mark the remarkable event. The President instructed Secretary of the State Security Council, Minister of Defence Ya. Berdyev to hold the awarding ceremonies.

Then President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov gave the floor to Chairperson of the Mejlis A. Nurberdyeva, who read out the Decrees on awarding the government awards and conferring the ranks to the high-ranking officials of the military and law enforcement agencies.

The head of the national Parliament read out the Resolution of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan on awarding the commemorative medal “Turkmenistanyn Garashyzlygynyn 19 yyllygyna bagyshlanyp gechirilen dabaraly harby yorishe gatnashyja” to President of Turkmenistan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces General of the Army Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. Secretary of the State Security Council, Minister of Defence Ya. Berdyev presented the government award and a bouquet of flower sot the Turkmen leader to the applause of those present.

In a solemn atmosphere the Turkmen leader presented the government awards and conferred the military ranks to the heads of the military and law enforcement agencies in accordance with the Decrees.

Congratulating on the high evaluation of their activity by the state, President of Turkmenistan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces General of the Army Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov thanked the high-ranking military and law enforcement officials for the perfect performance of their official duties and wished every success in performing the solemn duty to the Motherland and the Turkmen people.

The high-ranking military and law enforcement officials expressed gratitude to the Turkmen leader for giving the confidence and presenting the high awards and assured the President that they would perform their duty to the Motherland with dignity, spare no effort to protect achievements of independence and defend a peaceful and happy life of citizens of the country and vigilantly stand guard over unity and solidarity of the Turkmen people.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov appointed J. Akyev Deputy Minister of Defence and conferred the rank of major general on First Deputy Minister of Defence B. Gundogdyev.

The Ministry of Defence expressed gratitude to the leader of the Turkmen state on behalf of personnel of the military and law enforcement agencies and assured that military servants would serve faithfully to the Motherland and defend the sacred borers of our independent Motherland.

The meeting participants congratulated the Turkmen leader on the holiday and presented the bouquets of flowers.

In conclusion the Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov congratulated the meeting participants on the holiday and noted that the Independence Day celebrations widely and solemnly held throughout the country would inspire the Turkmen people to work selflessly to make our beloved Motherland more prosperous and beautiful.