OREANDA-NEWS. On 04 August 2008 was announced, that President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov chaired a sitting of the Cabinet of Ministers to sum up the last week’s achievements, the progress of the important programmes and projects and to take the decisions on the priority issues of the current national policy. The relevant senior officials reported on the work done in the period and the state of affairs in the sector under their supervision. The high-ranking officials of the national ministries and departments, the khyakims of the Ahal Velayat and Ashgabat took part in the sitting.

Speaker of the Mejlis A. Nurberdieva reported on the work on further development of the national legislation in the framework of the constitutional reform in particular. The head of the national Parliament reported that draft Constitution had drawn a wide public response. The members of the Parliament systematized and analyzed numerous proposals on amendment of the fundamental law from citizens and organisations of Turkmenistan.

Commenting on the report the President focused on the paramount importance of strengthening the legal foundations of the Turkmen state by amending the Constitution and bringing it into compliance with the modern realities and requirements of the new historical epoch as well.

The President said that the proposals on amendments and additions to the Constitution, the recommendations on the participial articles of the draft law opened to the public must be analyzed and taken into consideration when revising the Constitution standing as the guarantor of the supremacy of law, respect to the rights and freedoms of citizens, the country’s consistent development. the Ministry of Justice, the Institute of Right and Law, the National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights should be actively involved in this work. The Turkmen leader said that this important document should embody the best national and international practices of constitutional development in compliance with the norms of international law.

Vice Premier, Minister of Foreign Affairs R. Meredov reported on the preparations for the President’s visit to the People’s Republic of China to participate in the ceremony of opening the ХХIX Summer Olympic Games in Beijing and hold a series of the meetings with the heads of the foreign states, the top managers of the large firms and companies.

Commenting on the report Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that the Turkmen team’s participation in the Olympic Games was of particular importance for development of sports and physical culture in the country that was a priority of the national policy aimed at strengthening the people’s health and bringing up a healthy, physically and intellectually developed younger generation.

Touching upon the priority tasks to propagate sport and healthy lifestyle Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said the country’s sports achievements should be widely covered by the national mass media. Noting that the Olympic Games were a splendid opportunity to demonstrate Turkmenistan’s openness and willingness to maintain wide international co-operation and expand humanitarian contacts, sports and cultural ties to the world. The President focused on the activity of the national TV and radio and demanded that the relevant high-ranking officials should ensure the coverage of the events of the country’s social, political and intentional life.

Vice Premier M. Yazmuhammedova reported on the preparations for the International Children’s Art Festival, which would be held in Ashgabat on August 1-7.

Putting emphasis on the significance of the children’s forum in strengthening the ties of peace and friendship among different peoples of the world, propagating national art the Turkmen leader demanded that the comfortable conditions for improving the health and full-value recreation would be created for participants.

Vice Premier M. Akmammedov reported on the preparations for the Turkmenagro-2008 International Exhibition, which would be held in Ashgabat on August 7-9 and the upcoming national holiday – Turkmen Melon Day and an exhibition timed to the nationwide celebrations.

Putting emphasis on the importance of these events aimed at demonstrating the modern achievements of Turkmenistan’s agricultural sector and succession of the national traditions of farming the President demanded that the events should be held at the high level of organization.

Vice Premier T. Tagiev reported on the progress of the large-scale projects aimed at strengthening the industrial infrastructure of the oil and gas industry enterprises and developing the gas-transport system. Commenting on the report Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov set the priority tasks to employ the profound resource potential of the leading sector of national economy

Vice Premier H. Saparliev reported on the campaign of admitting to the institutions of higher education throughout the country. The Vice Premier reported on the campaign on admitting Turkmen students to the educational establishments of the foreign countries.

Demanding that strict control should be taken of the process of admitting to the higher educational establishments Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized that the result of this work should be selection of talented and worthy entrants. Noting the importance of training national specialists and assisting in employment in various sectors of national economy the Turkmen leader said that highly qualified, well-educated young employees trained at the prestigious institutions of higher education abroad would replenish the ranks of Turkmen specialists.

The President focused on the issues of development of national science and advanced training of the teaching staffs of the institutions of higher education.

Touching upon the issues of development of the national healthcare system the Turkmen leader focused on the tasks of development of resort and tourism industry, in particular a world-class resort Archman.

Vice Premier H. Geldimuradov reported on the progress of the financial reform and the upcoming denomination of the Turkmen manat.

Vice Premier N. Shaguliev reported on the progress of the urban planning programme, in particular the construction projects to be completed by the 17th anniversary of Turkmenistan independence.

Focusing on the importance of steadily increasing the pace of construction works throughout the country Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that the projects should comply with the high quality standards. In this regard the President demanded that the relevant senior officials should ensure the observance of the engineering norms and period of construction.

Vice Premier H. Muhammedov reported on the fulfillment of the President’s instructions and the preparations for the international exhibitions, which would be held in Turkmenistan in the next few months.

A number of the construction projects, first of all apartment houses, to be implemented in Ashgabat and its suburbs were presented to the Turkemn leader for consideration. In particular, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov considered the draft designs of two apartment houses for the specialists of the Archman sanatorium and cultural centre to be built in the territory of the balneological resort.

The draft designs of the 4-storey apartment houses with establishments for homehold services and commercial establishments to be built in the western part of Ashgabat in the framework of the new housing programme were presented to the President for consideration.

Then Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov considered the project on development of the village of Gurtly in Ruhabat Etrap, Ahal Velayat elaborated in the framework of the national programme on improvement of the social and living conditions in rural areas. In particular, four 4-storey apartment houses will be built in the rural region.

Upon considering the projects thoroughly Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov provided some recommendations and remarks to the authors of the projects. Focusing on the issues of housing construction the Turkmen leader said that newly-constructed buildings should meet the modern requirements and be comfortable. The Turkemn leader demanded that the projects and construction works should comply with the high quality standards.

During the sitting the President issued the documents aimed at successful implementation of the reforms and large-scale reform programmes in the country.