OREANDA-NEWS. December 29, 2007. President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov chaired a sitting of the Cabinet of Ministers to analyze the achievements gained in 2007 and to set the tasks of further implementation of the strategy of the fundamental reforms in all fields of national policy.

Opening the sitting the Turkmen leader noted that the year 2007 had been marked with the large-scale undertakings to improve and intensify national development and to bring the living conditions in Turkmenistan up to the European standards. Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov said that the intense work dictated by the interests of the Motherland, the diligent, friendly and solidary people had been carried out this year. The President said that the high pace of development would be maintained in 2008 and no effort would be spared to achieve the goals.

The President said that the most important task for the future – democratization of the society, enforcement of the law and order and establishment of the principles of justice. The Turkmen leader noted that the processes of democratization were going on steadily and consistently, the theoretical basis of the Turkmen statehood would be a priority in 2008.

The priority tasks included wide introduction of the principles of market economy and thus, steadily improvement of the life quality in the country.

Putting emphasis on the necessity to employ in full the profound potential of the country’s fuel and energy sector, which stood as a guarantor of a success of the large-scale social and economic development programmes, the President noted that the priority tasks – expanding exploration work and accelerating development of new, prospective oil and gas fields.

Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov said that an audit of the hydrocarbon deposits would be carried out in the country next year to elaborate the strategy of the use of hydrocarbon resources and foster mutually advantageous international co-operation in energy sector and charged Vice Premier T. Tagiev with the task.

Touching upon the tasks of developing the agricultural sector Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov focused on the paramount importance of the decisions adopted at the XX Halk Maslakhaty, which had specified the key trends and legislative basis of the agricultural reforms. Touching upon other aspects of the agricultural reform strategy the President put emphasis on the importance of uninterrupted and prompt supply of mineral fertilizers to agricultural producers. In this regard the Turkmen leader instructed Vice Premier T. Tagiev to take the measures to increase the production capacity of the enterprises manufacturing fertilizers from local raw materials

The President emphasized that the priority task was to achieve the return on the substantial investments the government made in the agro-industrial sector. Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov gave the relevant instructions to Minister of Agriculture E. Orazgeldiev.

Touching upon the social reforms the Turkmen leader said that in 2008 the construction industry would be developed through constructing cement works, quarrying opencast mines, establishing the specialized enterprises and organisations. The Turkmen leader said that the direct business contacts should be established with large companies, newly-constructed buildings should meet the international quality standards and advanced technologies should be applied.

Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov instructed Vice Premier N. Shaguliev to monitor the construction works carried out throughout the country.

The President said that the large-scale reforms should be implemented on the solid legal basis noting that the current legislation sometimes hampered the reforms and national development in whole. The Turkmen leader said that in 2008 the Mejlis was to fulfill the important tasks the important tasks aiming the activity at improving the national legislation and bringing it in compliance with the norms of intentional law.

In this context setting the tasks to the Turkmen Parliament, the Ministry of Justice, recently established Institute of State and Law for the next year the Turkmen leader informed that a large forum would be held on the days of Harvest Day celebrations to specify the trends of reforms and the agenda of the XXI Halk Machete

Touching upon the national economic development strategy Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov emphasized that developing an extensive network of transportation links was a priority task. The President said that the year 2007 was rich in the remarkable events and very promising undertakings in the sphere of transport and communications including launching the Uzen-gyzylkaya-Bereket-Etrek-Gorgan railway project. The President instructed Vice Premier G. Ashirov to accelerate the project.

Touching upon the progress of the sphere of communications Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov charged the Vice Premier with the task of monitoring the projects aimed at introducing internet and modern information and communication technologies, developing telecommunications facilities, improving and expanding telecommunications services.

Touching upon the progress of trade activity Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov noted that the priority tasks included intensification of the close business contacts with foreign partners. The President said that independent Turkmenistan had the prerequisites to establish itself on the world market through expanding and diversifying mutually advantageous co-operation. Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov that the Ministry of Trade and External Economic Relations and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry were to play the key role on the process and aim the activity at increasing exports and increasing currency earnings. The President gave the relevant instructions to Vice Premier H. Muhammedov. The President put emphasis on the profound potential of the textile industry – a leading sector of Turkmen economy to be developed in full.

Touching upon the issues of international co-operation Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov said that it would be intensified in 2008. The President said that the foreign policy strategy would be developed with due regard to the on-going geopolitical process in the world. The Turkmen leader said that it was dictated by the vital interests of the Turkmen state and the role it played in international relations.

Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov said that the year 2007 had been marked with the large-scale reforms in such important spheres as education, science and healthcare. The projects on construction of modern schools and kindergartens had been launched, advanced multimedia and informational technologies were actively introduced to the educational process. This autumn hundreds of the Turkmen students started to study at the higher educational establishments all over the world. The national science had been offered a powerful incentive to develop focusing on training young specialists. In this regard the Turkmen leader instructed Vice Premier H. Saparliev to intensify the activity in those spheres.

Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov said that in 2008 cultural workers would fulfill the important tasks including bringing up a younger generation to love the native land and to respect the high spiritual and moral vales of the Turkmen people. The Turkmen leader instructed to elaborate the complex programme involving cultural workers and mass media. Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov gave the relevant instructions to Vice Premier M. Yazmuhammedova.

The President issued the documents aimed at improving exchange transactions carried out in the country and providing the mortage credits to citizens of Turkmenistan.

During the sitting Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov appointed Sh. Ataev Chairman of the Turkmenobahyzmat Association.

Upon concluding the sitting the President expressed belief that the high-ranking officials would spare no efforts to achieve the designated goals for the benefit of the independent neutral Motherland, happiness and wellbeing of the solidary people of Turkmenistan. Congratulating those present on the coming New Year the Turkmen leader wished everyone good health, family wellbeing and great accomplishments.