OREANDA-NEWS. March 15, 2010. President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov chaired a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers to consider the important issues of the national policy.

The floor was given to Vice Premier, Minister of Foreign Affairs R. Meredov who reported on the activities carried out by the Ministry including the consultations with the foreign ministries of other countries.

It was noted that these meetings contributed to negotiating and elaborating the concrete steps aimed at intensifying a wide international dialogue in both bilateral and multilateral formats. These noble goals were achieved through conducting the talks during the visits of the President of Turkmenistan to the foreign countries as well as the foreign leaders to our country at the top and governmental levels. The increased number of these visits and talks vividly evidenced the success of the Turkmen leader’s foreign policy which was built on the principles of friendliness and long-term dependable partnership and had earned Turkmenistan worldwide prestige.

Underscoring the importance of the activities carried out by the MFA in the framework of inter-ministerial consultations, which had been noticeably intensified in recent years, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on the need to further deepen and diversify cooperation with foreign partners including the particular countries and various international organisations that met the national interests and foreign policy priorities of the country.

Vice Premier M. Yazmuhammedova reported on the ongoing work in the sectors under her supervision and the preparations for the Days of Culture of Vienna (Austria) in Turkmenistan, which would take place in Ashgabat on April 12-16. It was noted that this event would certainly promote expanding traditional contacts and Turkmen-Austrian cooperation which had received powerful incentives to develop during the Turkmen leader’s official visit to the Republic of Austria in November 2008.

Focusing on the importance to foster the constructive political, economic and cultural dialogue between the two countries, the President underscored the significance of the upcoming cultural action, which would serve as a bridge of friendship, mutual understanding and confidence between the peoples of Turkmenistan and Austria.

Vice Premier H. Saparlyev reported on the outcomes of the International Scientific Conference on the Heritage of Eastern Turkmenistan in the Medieval Civilizations, which had brought together the leading Turkmen and foreign scientists in Lebap Velayat.

Underscoring the important role of such forums in studying and popularizing worldwide the rich historical and cultural heritage of Turkmenistan, the Turkmen leader called for further intensifying fruitful contacts between Turkmen scientists and their foreign colleagues. The President noted that expansion of cooperation and mutually beneficial exchange of experience in the spheres of science and education stood as the key success factor of the ongoing reforms in the country.

Vice Premier N. Shagulyev reported on the ongoing work in the sectors under his supervision and including the communications and transport sectors. The Vice Premier informed that the bus itineraries had been modified due to the ongoing reconstruction of some streets in the capital city.

The national leader said that modernization of the transport sector as well as communications and telecommunications industries was an essential condition of the progress of the country emphasizing that the key points included wide adoption of advanced technologies that fostered economic growth and guaranteed an access to all kinds of modern communication services to citizens of Turkmenistan.

Vice Premier B. Hojamuhammedov reported on the measures taken to draft the Resolution “On Licensing the Activities related to Delivery, Production and Sal of Chemical Products” and to transfer on a gratuitous basis the desalination unit in Turkmenbashi town to the Committee for the national tourism zone Avaza.

Emphasizing the need to further improve the chemical industry infrastructure, the President noted that this industry was one of the most promising sectors of Turkmen economy and had all prerequisites for sustained development. Touching upon the issues related to the summer holiday season, the Turkmen leader instructed to launch the wide-scale campaign to advertise the world-class Avaza seaside resort and the comfortable hotels built on the Caspian Sea shore.

The President focused on the issues related to the currency gains of the ministries and departments. Noting that the country took the consistent efforts to increase the currency earnings for the state budget, the Turkmen leader mentioned the particular cases when these funds had been inefficiently spent by the oil and gas departments and enterprises. The President said that receiving substantial currency gains the ministries and department must learn to spend them efficiently and effectively. The President stated that the Government would continue to allocate substantial funds for the development of the oil and gas sector emphasizing the need to use equipment and machines purchased for the fuel and energy sector effectively and efficiently. The President instructed Chairman of the Supreme Chamber of Inspection O. Gurbannazarov to conduct an inspection of equipment and special equipment recently purchased and to present the report on the inspection results.

The floor was given to Vice Premier H. Muhammedov, who reported on the preparations for the exhibition and business forum of manufacturers and entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan, which would be conducted on March 17-18.

Commenting on the report the Turkmen leader said that the development of the private sector was a crucial factor in ensuring social and economic progress of the country and thus improving the people’s welfare. The President emphasized that the Government would further take the measures to encourage and support private producers.

Vice Premier M. Akmammedov reported on the progress of seasonal agricultural works. The Vice Premier reported on the preparations for the “A Drop of Water – A Grain of Gold” international forum and the international exhibition dedicated to international practices and advanced technologies of efficient use of water resources, which would be conducted on April 2-4. The Vice Premier reported on the preparations for a meeting of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (ICWC), which would take place in Ashgabat.

Focusing on the important role of the upcoming events in fostering constructive international cooperation, the Turkmen leader instructed the relevant high-ranking officials to ensure the high level of organisation of the forums. The President signed the documents including the Decree authoring to convene the Elders’ Council in Dashoguz this May.

Touching upon the ongoing agricultural reform and addressing Vice Premier M. Akmammedov, the President said that the measures undertaken in the country to rehabilitate saline soils and the condition of irrigation facilities were inappropriate. These problems still existed though they had been raised before and the substantial funds were allocated and large consignments of special machines and equipment were purchased to fulfill the designated tasks. However, the quality of work including compliance with farming requirements left much to be desired. The main reason was the lack of proper concern and supervision of the relevant high-ranking officials, the President said instructing M. Akmammedov hold a meeting to conduct the thorough analysis of the problems and specify the necessary measures to improve the situation.

Vice Premier T. Japarov reported on the Regulation on the financing of the design of the plants producing ammonia and carbamide in Mary town, delivery of necessary equipment and provision of technical assistance drafted in accordance with the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding and further expansion of mutually advantageous cooperation, which had been signed between the State Bank of Foreign Economic Activities of Turkmenistan and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation in the first official visit of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to Japan last December. The Vice-Premier in charge of the financial and economic sphere presented the draft Resolution "”On the Science-Based Increase of the Effectiveness of the Activity of the Intergovernmental Commissions of Turkmenistan” to the President for consideration. It was suggested that the responsibility for conducting the analysis on a regular basis be laid on the Institute of Strategic Planning and Economic Development of Turkmenistan with a view to improving the activities of the bilateral commissions, and the special directorate for foreign economic relations and international affairs affiliated with the Institute of Strategic Planning and Economic Development be established.

Underscoring the importance of deepening and expanding international cooperation built with all foreign partners on an equal and mutually advantageous basis, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that this was the goal of Turkmenistan’s investment policy that created the conditions conducive to fruitful collaboration. The Turkmen leader emphasized the important role of modernization of the financial and economic system in implementing successfully the reforms. The President instructed Vice Premiers T. Japarov and M. Akmammedov to submit the statistics reports on the cotton sowing campaign starting from March 17.

Vice Premier D. Orazov reported on the progress of construction of new important facilities throughout the country.

Commenting on the report the Turkmen leader reprimanded Vice Premier D. Orazov and Chairman of the Turkmenawtoyollary State Concern A. Sarybaev for the poor quality of construction of roads. The President said that the development plan had not been elaborated and the measures taken to train highly qualified road builders were inappropriate. In particular, the Turkmen leader said that the construction of the ring road around Ashgabat did not comply with norms and standards. “If such is the situation in the capital, what can we tell about construction of roads in the velayats?” Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov summed up.

In this regard the Turkmen leader provided the example of the Ashgabat-Karakum-Dashoguz highway which had been built for 10 years already. The substantial funds in the national and foreign currency had been allocated for construction of this highway though the detailed list of the construction documents had not been prepared and some sections of the highway needed repairing.

The President emphasized that all facilities including roads built in the country must meet international standards. Modern road transport infrastructure was a key factor in the economic growth of any state as well as an indicator of its progress. Autobahns were built and used in all countries of the world though there was no high-quality highway built by Turkmen specialists in Turkmenistan.

The President severely reprimanded Chairman of the Turkmenawtoyollary State Concern A. Sarybaev for weakling the control over the quality of construction of roads in the country and warned A. Sarybaev if the he took no measure to eliminate the shortfalls, he would be dismissed.

The President instructed Vice Premier D. Orazov to hold an international tender for the construction of high-quality roads in the country and invite the well-known foreign companies which had the profound expertise in this field to participate in the tender.

The road building projects should provide for construction of the necessary infrastructure including facilities, interchanges, illumination, bus stops, filling stations, car washes, restaurants, hotels, etc. The Turkmen leader said that 70 percent of workers involved in construction of facilities by the foreign companies must be citizens of Turkmenistan who could learn the best international practices.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on the need to build autobahns which become toll highways after being put into operation that would allow covering the construction costs.

It was necessary to continue building roads in the velayats and etraps that the Turkmenawtoyollary State Concern could do in collaboration with the khyakimliks.

To ensure training highly qualified specialists for this sector the President suggested opening a new educational institution in the country – the Institute of Highway Technology, which could occupy the old building of the Turkmen Polytechnic Institute. The new educational institution would train specialists in construction of roads and railways and necessary infrastructure facilities, the Turkmen leader said.

Speaker of the Mejlis A. Nurberdyeva reported on the activities carried out to update the national legislation and the preparations for the fifth meeting of the Mejlis of the fourth convocation.

Commenting on the report Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that though much work was being done, the activities of the national Parliament in this field did not meet modern requirements. In this regard the President set the new tasks to the parliamentarians including conducting the thorough analysis of the current legislative acts, drafting and adopting new laws which would conform to the requirements of the contemporary historical epoch – the epoch of new Revival. The Turkmen leader said that so that Turkmenistan could further advance the firm regulatory framework in the spirit of the ongoing changes and reforms should be built in the country.

The President touched upon the issues related to the development and beatification of the capital focusing on the results of the recent working trip round Ashgabat and its vicinities. Addressing Ashgabat Khyakim Sh. Durdylyev the Turkmen leader put emphasis on the cases of neglect, in particular collection of garbage in the city outskirts. Though there were necessary machines and equipment available, the work to clean the city and maintain order was carried out in an improper manner.

There many temporary constructions in the city outskirts including houses. In this regard the President instructed Prosecutor General Ch. Hojamyradov and Minister of Internal Affairs I. Mulikov to keep strict control over these issues, prevent illegal construction of houses and ensure compliance with sanitary regulations that should be of particular concern for the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry and especially the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Service and the Chairman of the Supreme Chamber of Inspection.

Noting that these issues would be further considered at the government meeting devoted to the results achieved in the first quarter of 2010, the President instructed Ashgabat Khyakim Sh. Durdylyev to develop the plan to clean the vicinities and outskirts of the city, demolish temporary constructions, build high-quality roads and improve the urban environment.

Touching upon the preparations for the nationwide yovar, the Turkmen leader demanded that the proper level of organisation of this action be ensured putting emphasis on the significance of the large-scale planting campaign launched in Turkmenistan as a key aspect of the national environmental policy, a critical factor of the ecological wellbeing of the country. President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov called all citizens of Turkmenistan upon to participate actively in the spring planting campaign, which would make the beloved Motherland more beautiful.

The President signed the documents during the meeting.

In conclusion the Turkmen leader wished everyone good health and every success in their work to fulfill the designated tasks.