OREANDA-NEWS. December 30, 2010. A briefing held at the Ministry of Foreign of Turkmenistan for foreign diplomats accredited to the country focused on the results of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy in the current year, the priorities and plans of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the coming year 2011 based on the instructions of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

Foreign diplomats were briefed on various aspects of the implementation of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy aimed at developing wide constructive cooperation, including with the major international organisations, in particular the United Nations and its agencies – UNESCO, WHO, UNCTAD, UNICEF, UNEP and others. The United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia headquartered in Ashgabat works actively. In 2010 the traditional dialogue between Turkmenistan and the UN has been continued anew that testifies to the correctness and success of the foreign policy strategy of our country which has won recognition of the world community.

New international initiatives put forward by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to strengthen security, stability and sustainable development at regional and global scale have been supported worldwide. In particular, this is evidenced by the election of Turkmenistan the Chair of the UN Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) and the Vice Chair of the Bureau of the Committee on Sustainable Energy of the UN Economic Commission for Europe.

A specific step towards implementation of the international initiatives put forward by the Turkmen leader at the session of the UN General Assembly was the International Conference on Disarmament Issues in Central Asia and the Caspian Basin, which was held in Ashgabat in June 2010. That month, Turkmenistan joined the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (EAG) that became an important factor in enhancing cooperation of our country with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and other organisations in this field.

Favourable opportunities to expand traditional cooperation in all fields are opened up through current comprehensive reforms aimed at modernisation of the national economy which having laid the firm foundations for further progress of the country facilitate its successful integration in the modern global economic system causing a growing interest of the international business community in the rapidly developing Turkmen market. In this context emphasis was put on progressive dynamics of cooperation of Turkmenistan with leading international financial institutions affiliated with the UN such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, and the regional banks including the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Islamic Development Bank.

Viewing intensification of the activity within the UN agencies dealing with socio-economic matters as a key priority of international cooperation, Turkmenistan intends to nominate its candidature for membership of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the period of 2013-2015.

In 2010 the activity within the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has been promoted. Energy partnership was a focus of the high-level international forum on “Strengthening regional co-operation in Central Asia for promoting stable and reliable energy within Eurasia” organized jointly by the Ministry of Oil and Gas Industry and Mineral Resources of Turkmenistan and the OSCE in Ashgabat this May.

As is known, the priority objectives and vectors of partnership within this authoritative international organisation to meet modern realities were spotlighted in the statement of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov at the 7th Summit of Heads of States and Governments of the OSCE, which was held in Astana in early December. These include the development of effective mechanisms for preventing and mitigating international conflicts, countering terrorism and extremism, drug trafficking and transnational crime, elaboration of a modern model of international cooperation on energy transit.

It was emphasized during the briefing that in the coming year, as before, the ultimate goal of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy would be the comprehensive support for global efforts to strengthen peace, stability, security, an active and constructive contribution to addressing regional challenges. In 2011 Turkmenistan intends to focus its efforts on enhancement of trade, economic and cultural contacts with foreign partners. For this purpose trade missions of Turkmenistan will be opened in foreign countries and the possibility for appointing cultural attaches to the Turkmen embassies will be thoroughly considered in accordance with the Turkmen leader’s instructions. Priority will be given to cooperation in the information sector that will facilitate the country’s integration in global information space.

Thus, the effective implementation of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy strategy based on the principles of neutrality, peace, good neighborliness and equal cooperation will be furthered in the coming year.