Session of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan

On February 18, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov convened a regular Cabinet session to Address topical issues of state life and consider some draft documents.

Having announced the session agenda, the head of state noted that before the important holidays it is customary in our country to grant pardons to the convicted people, who broke the law, but sincerely repented of their actions. According to our great ancestors’ traditions of mercy and humanism, we release them on a regular basis, the nation’s leader said, and gave the floor to Defense Minister, Secretary of the State Security Council, Chairman of the Commission for Citizenship and Clemency Affairs under the President of Turkmenistan Ya. Berdiev (invited to the government session) to report on the work done by the Commission. A relevant draft Ukase was presented for consideration by the head of state.

Following in the noble tradition of our ancestors, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov signed the Ukase on pardoning 1,485 convicted citizens in honor of Turkmenistan’s State Flag Day. Addressing the Defense Minister, State Security Council Secretary, Chairman of the Commission, the nation’s leader assigned to take necessary measures jointly with the heads of law enforcement authorities to release the pardoned people and make it possible for them to celebrate the holiday in the bosom of their families.

The nation’s leader instructed khyakims of velayats, etraps and cities as well as other senior officials concerned to tackle the issue of providing employment for the released. The President of Turkmenistan expressed hope that the pardoned people would work diligently and enthusiastically, taking part in the large-scale reforms ongoing in the country, would sincerely serve their country, live and take a joy in the fruits of their labor.

Reporting on the Ministry’s activity, Cabinet Deputy Chairman, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan R. Meredov informed about the festive events in honor of Diplomatic Workers Day, annually celebrated in our country on February 18.

After the report, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov warmly congratulated the staff of the Foreign Ministry and the session attendees on Diplomatic Workers Day.

The head of state noted a weighty contribution of Turkmen diplomats to the implementation of the country’s foreign policy, whose top priorities are strengthening and expansion of effective cooperation both in the bilateral and multilateral format, within authoritative international organizations, including the United Nations and its large specialized agencies.

Cabinet Deputy Chairman B. Hojamammedov focused his report on the comprehensive measures taken as part of the State Development Program for Insurance Activities in Turkmenistan, in particular, on preparation for the introduction of a national compulsory fire insurance scheme aimed to protect property interests of the insured, and to pay compensation for fire damages to a third party.

As reported, a package of documents had been prepared to regulate insurance activities in this direction. A relevant draft Resolution was submitted for consideration by the head of state.

The Vice-Premier also informed about the work done to upgrade normative acts in the field of standardization and national certification mark schemes for products and services. The Vice-Premier presented a relevant draft Resolution to the President of Turkmenistan for consideration.

After signing the documents, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov commissioned to ensure strict control over their implementation.

The state of affairs in the sectoral departments of the fuel and energy complex and the measures aimed to successfully carry out the “Turkmenistan’s Oil-and-Gas Industry Development Program for the period until 2030” were in the center of the report made by Cabinet Deputy Chairman, Director of the State Agency for the Management and Use of Hydrocarbon Resources under the President of Turkmenistan Ya. Kakaev.

In the report follow-up comments, the President of Turkmenistan gave the Vice-Premier a number of instructions on further expansion of the sector’s production capabilities, introduction of innovative technologies, and attraction of foreign investments for the implementation of large infrastructure projects.

In his turn, Cabinet Deputy Chairman E. Orazgeldiev delivered a report on the seasonal agri-works in the country, and the preparations for the upcoming tree-planting campaign.

Stressing the importance of the “National Forest Program of Turkmenistan” designed to tackle the tasks of environmental protection, creation of a favorable microclimate in the country’s cities and villages, the head of state Addressed the Vice-Premier a number of concrete commissions concerning a spring tree-planting yovar.

The report of Cabinet Deputy Chairman B. Ereshov covered the progress of the carbamide plant project, which is in the implementation phase in Garabogaz in compliance with the Resolution of the President of Turkmenistan.

Having highlighted the significance of the tasks of increasing the number of facilities in the chemical industry, including the ones for the production of high-quality mineral fertilizers to meet the national economy’s needs, the nation’s leader assigned the Vice-Premier to keep constant control over the quality and construction schedule of the new carbamide plant.

Then Cabinet Deputy Chairman, Senior Manager of the Presidential and Cabinet Administration Office Sh. Durdylyev reported on the outcomes of a working trip made to the city of Sydney (the Commonwealth of Australia) on February 13-17 to exchange experience in the field of construction and architecture. As informed, during the trip, the Turkmen delegation had become acquainted with the activity of different government establishments, the work organization in tourism-related institutions, as well as had examined the prospects for bilateral cooperation. At the meetings, consideration was also given to issues of organizing and holding large sports events in the light of the V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat in 2017.

Summing up the report, the nation’s leader noted that the strengthening of productive cooperation with foreign partners and study of the world’s advanced experience in all directions serve as key aspects of the reforms. To boost the efficiency of the relevant sectoral structures, it is necessary to actively employ new forms and methods of management, the head of state stressed, having instructed the Vice-Premier to ensure proper control over the implementation progress of the Ashgabat Development Conception and plans of activities in Ashgabat’s etraps.

The situation in the sector he is responsible for, the preparations for the 12th specialized exhibition of goods of the Islamic Republic of Iran to be held in Ashgabat on February 23-25 were the key issues the report made by Cabinet Deputy Chairman B. Atdaev was centered on.

In the after-report comments, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov assigned to hold the exhibition of goods from the neighboring country at a high organizational level. The traditional event should be another step towards fostering productive partnership between Turkmenistan and Iran, defining new ways of the trade-economic interaction in a wide spectrum of fields, the head of state said.

The report made by Cabinet Deputy Chairperson M. Yazmuhamedova was an extensive coverage of the measures aimed to protect the historical and cultural monuments. A draft Resolution on Protection of the Immovable Historical and Cultural Monuments of Turkmenistan was submitted to the nation’s leader for consideration.

After signing the within-said Resolution, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov Addressed the Vice-Premier commissions on ensuring control over its implementation.

Reporting on the state of affairs in the sectors he is responsible for, Cabinet Deputy Chairman S. Toilyev informed about the preparations for mass sport activities and socio-cultural events under the slogan “Health and Happiness” to be held countrywide in April with the participation of students, schoolchildren, and workers of different sectors. In this connection, a Plan of Activities for the traditional one-month action, which also includes the festivities to mark the Year of honoring heritage and transforming the country and the 25th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s independence, was presented for consideration by the head of state.

After the report, the nation’s leader emphasized that the state would continue to give close consideration to the promotion of health and the principles of healthy lifestyle in the country.

Recognizing the advisability of launching the “Health and Happiness” Month in early April, the head of state instructed the Vice-Premier to hold the events at a better and higher level in terms of organization and content, and actively encourage people, especially young ones to participate in them.

The work done in the supervised sectors, and the measures aimed at developing the country’s railway transport were in the focus of the report made by Cabinet Deputy Chairman S. Satlykov.

Summarizing the report, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov underlined the modernization of the sector, which is one of the national economy’s important segments, as a priority trend of state policy.

It is necessary to maintain high quality standards in the construction of new and reconstruction of the existing railway tracks, while employing the latest technologies to ensure the effective long-term operation of the country’s railway system, the head of state emphasized, having Addressed the Vice-Premier concrete assignments.

Chairperson of Mejlis A. Nurberdyeva informed about the parliament’s activity on the national legislation improvement. Along with the preparation of the country’s revised Constitution, twenty working groups (set up in Mejlis) are currently drawing up a number of draft laws.

Having highlighted the exceptional importance of the work on upgrading the legislation given present-day requirements for Turkmenistan’s development and democratic reforms, the nation’s leader noted that Mejlis deputies should take active part in tackling the issues of the region’s socio-economic development, and raise public awareness of the essence of the progressive reforms aimed at the country’s prosperity and well-being of its citizens.

Expressing his hearty congratulations to the session attendees and the Turkmen people on State Flag Day, which is widely and solemnly celebrated in our country, the President of Turkmenistan wished his compatriots excellent health, happiness, well-being and impressive achievements in work for the benefit of our independent country.

The Cabinet session also discussed some other issues of state life and adopted the relevant resolutions.

State News Agency of Turkmenistan (TDH)