OREANDA-NEWS. June 25, 2009. Turkmenistan’s International Initiatives: Cooperation for Peace and Sustainable Development was the theme of the scientific conference which was held in the Turkmen capital. The political scientists and jurists, officials of the foreign ministry and other national departments, representatives of the large international organisations accredited to Ashgabat, teachers and students of the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan took part in the forum organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, the Turkmen National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under President of Turkmenistan, the Institute of State and Law.

The meeting, which was held in the conference hall of the Ministry of Justice, focused on the issues related to implementation of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy doctrine developed by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on a basis of the principles of positive neutrality, openness, peace, good neighbourliness and mutually advantageous cooperation. the conference participants emphasized that this policy backed by an effective mechanism for practical cooperation, the Turkmen leader’s constructive initiatives aimed at strengthening global peace and stability, global water and energy, environmental, food security had been welcomed and supported by world community, and the international prestige of the Turkmen state had been considerably raised today that was vividly illustrated by the election Turkmenistan Vice Chairman of the 62nd and 64th sessions of the United Nations General Assembly, the opening of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy in Central Asia in Ashgabat and the UN Resolution on The Reliable and Stable Transit of energy and Its Role in Ensuring Sustainable Development and International Cooperation.

The reports presented the overview of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy in the whole spectrum of its trends – close collaboration with the authoritative international organisations, particularly the UN, in the field of the so-called ‘human dimension’ – further development of democracy, human rights and freedoms of citizens, concerted efforts to address global threats and challenges of the modern world, as well as enhancement of friendly relations with the neighbouring states, the countries of the European Union, Asia and the Pacific, the Middle East. It was noted that Turkmenistan’s ‘economic diplomacy’ and in particular the large-scale international projects including construction of the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline, the Caspian gas pipeline, the North-South transnational transportation and communication corridor contributed considerably to achieving the global goals of the third millennium – peace, security, sustainable economic and social development.

The theme of the special report under discussion during the conference was the project on creation of the Avaza national tourism zone on the Caspian Sea coast. Having drawn a wide response among the political and business circles worldwide as an integral part of the progressive reforms in Turkmenistan the participants said that this project vividly illustrated an innovative approach to fulfilling the tasks of the effective use of abundant natural resources and advantageous location on the transport and transit routes, diversifying the national economy and developing mutually advantageous international cooperation.

Particular attention was paid to the Turkmen leader’s scientific and technological policy aimed at using the economic and intellectual potential of the nation in full, lay the firm foundation for moving forward to the heights of progress and prosperity. The conference participants emphasized that the study and dissemination of the best international practice, establishment of close contacts with the leading research and educational centers of the world, active introduction in practice of scientific and technological advances and innovative technologies in practice – all this was a key to the successful implementation of the tasks on comprehensive development of Turkmenistan.