20th Anniversary Of The Opening Of OSCE Center In Ashgabat

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov met with Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Thomas Greminger, who arrived in the Turkmen capital to attend the events dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the opening of OSCE Center in Ashgabat

Ashgabat (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2019 ) President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov met with Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Thomas Greminger, who arrived in the Turkmen capital to attend the events dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the opening of OSCE Center in Ashgabat. During the meeting, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov reaffirmed Turkmenistan’s commitment to fruitful cooperation with the OSCE. As a full member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Turkmenistan is in favor of establishing a multi-vector dialogue designed to exert a positive influence on global processes, the Turkmen leader said, expressing gratitude to Thomas Greming for actively promoting this partnership. During the conversation, an exchange of views took place on the prospects for cooperation between Turkmenistan and the OSCE. The subject of special attention was the formation of new international transport routes on the Eurasian continent, which was dictated by global economic processes. In this regard, the growing role of transport diplomacy was emphasized, in the development of which a great contribution is made by Turkmenistan, which initiated a multilateral dialogue on this issue within the UN and other international organizations. In the continuation of the meeting, the President and the head of the OSCE noted the strategic importance of the Turkmen navy and all relevant infrastructures. The head of state expressed his conviction that the functioning of the new Turkmenbashi seaport would have a positive impact on the situation in the region and beyond, and would promote cooperation among the Caspian states on a number of topical issues. The President of Turkmenistan stressed that, occupying an exceptionally advantageous geographical position, Turkmenistan has a huge transit potential, which it seeks to realize with maximum efficiency. The implementation of major projects for the creation of international corridors is identified among the priorities of state policy. In this context, there were emphasized the importance of the multimodal transport and transit corridor Lapis Lazuli (Afghanistan-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan- Georgia-Turkey), as well as the increased potential of the transport infrastructure of Turkmenistan, reviving the Great Silk Road in a new format. The priority aspects of cooperation were the provision of energy security and stable energy supply, environmental issues, the rational use of water resources and Embassy of Turkmenistan in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan the settlement of the situation in Afghanistan, to which Turkmenistan’s economic revival makes a significant contribution. In this regard, in the opinion of the OSCE Secretary General, the initiatives of the head of the Turkmen state on the construction of power lines and fiber-optic communications along the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) route, as well as the commissioning of the Serhetabat-Turgundi railway, are of particular importance. The President and his guest exchanged views on the prospects for building a mutually beneficial partnership in the humanitarian field. As the Turkmen leader stressed, the well-being of the country's citizens is one of the keys to its successful socio-economic development. It was noted that, on the basis of the Constitution and the corresponding Law, the position of the Ombudsman - the authorized representative for human rights was established. Particular emphasis was placed on the topic of combating border crime, drug trafficking, the threat of violent extremism and radicalism. In this aspect, the head of the OSCE emphasized the successes achieved by Turkmenistan, which are of particular interest to the world community and authoritative structures in the field of combating terrorism. The experience of Turkmenistan can serve to improve the international practice of preventing and countering such transnational threats, said Thomas Greminger. While appreciating the position of Turkmenistan, open for constructive cooperation, the grandiose achievements of independent neutral Turkmenistan, recognized by the world community, the high-ranking guest said that the OSCE is also counting on a fruitful partnership with Turkmenistan. Thanking for the kind words, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed conviction in building up cooperation with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, built on the principles of mutual respect. The meeting was attended by the head of the OSCE Center in Ashgabat, Natalia Drozd.

The conference on the 20th anniversary of the OSCE Centre is held at the
Foreign Ministry

On 16 April, 2019, the Ministry of Foreign affairs of Turkmenistan hosted the conference on occasion of the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Centre of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Ashgabat. The events under this celebration are held under slogan “Twenty Years in Action!” Representatives of international organizations like the UN, EU, OSCE, heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Turkmenistan as well as leaders and specialists of some departments of Turkmenistan, public organizations and mass media took part in the forum. The conference became some sort of the platform for summing up of 20 years of cooperation between Turkmenistan and the OSCE. Being full member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Turkmenistan steadily fulfils the obligations standing for positive influence on the world development process.

Thomas Greminger, the OSCE Secretary General, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat Natalya Drozd, Chargé d'affaires of the European Union in Turkmenistan Lubomir Frebort, First Secretary of Permanent Delegation of Slovakia under the OSCE Tomáš Bican and other expressed sincere gratitude to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for the input of Turkmenistan to the expansion of fruitful partnership with the states of European region and international organization as well as for the transparency of constructive dialog. High level of existing bilateral and multilateral cooperation and big potential for its intensification have been noted. Today, the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat cooperates with more than fifty government structures, educational facilities, public organizations and mass media. In her speech, Natalya Drozd highlighted that Turkmenistan and the OSCE gives great importance to further expansion of fruitful partnership on the principles of mutual respect, understanding and aim at full format dialog on current subjects of the present. Development of bilateral cooperation has not only increased the number of joint projects but also made the themes of these project to be more various, the Head of the Centre in Turkmenistan said. Speaking of the importance of the work that has been done for all these years, the participants of the meeting noted positive results of consolidated efforts in solution of the main issues. It includes the implementation of the 2030 Global Agenda on sustainable development, creation and implementation of the mechanisms of provision of regional and global energy security, systems of sustainable transport, solution of the problems of Aral Sea, peaceful regulation of the situation in Afghanistan, protection of human rights, combating of terrorism, illegal drug, weapon and human trafficking as well as support and promotion of ecological projects. Turkmenistan comprehensively supports the intent of the OSCE to strengthening of peace and stability, expansion of form of interstate cooperation.

Ashgabat Hosts OSCE Regional Conference on Countering Terrorist
Financing and Organized Crime

On 17 April, 2019, timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the opening of the OSCE Center in Ashgabat, an OSCE High-Level Regional Conference on Countering Terrorist Financing and Organized Crime has begun in the Turkmen capital. Close collaboration among financial regulatory authorities, relevant departments and services of the region’s states with reputable international organizations is one of the key themes of representative forums hosted by Turkmenistan on a regular basis. Co-organized by the Government of Turkmenistan and the OSCE Center in Ashgabat, the conference stands as another eloquent testimony to the country’s growing international reputation and wide recognition of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s initiatives aimed at tackling major tasks of regional and global development, including pooling efforts to address threats and challenges of today. The conference, which brought together representatives of OSCE departments and offices, experts from the UN and international organizations, national ministries, focused on upgrading national laws, improving data exchange and inter-agency cooperation in combating terrorist financing, and exploring the connection between terrorist financing and organized crime. The forum aims to provide detailed insights into international standards and best practices in the field to ensure financial security, peace, sustainability and social wellbeing. The conference participants expressed their gratitude to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for his extensive support of the efforts to fight terrorist financing and organized crime. Highly praising Turkmenistan’s practical steps in this direction, those speaking at the conference emphasized that Turkmenistan has adopted an active position on the development of constructive regional and international cooperation as a reliable strategic partner of the OSCE and other international organizations. Foreign experts offered their expertise and experience of countering terrorist financing, having pointed out the importance of drawing up appropriate laws and conducting national risk assessments. They also shared mechanisms for inter-agency collaboration, having stressed the role of international cooperation in detecting cross- border terrorist financing channels. Turkmenistan is actively participating in the world community’s activities in this area, while attaching special significance to fostering constructive partnerships of nations to eradicate terrorist financing and organized crime. President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov regards the battle as a strategic task that requires putting legal measures into practice and stepping up the efforts across the globe to completely eliminate the threat. Today, Turkmenistan is taking effective steps, both nationally and internationally, to successfully tackle the problem. The speakers at the conference highlighted that OSCE participating states’ joint anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing efforts are seen as one of the priority areas of interaction within the OSCE in the context of increased cooperation in the fight against terrorism and organized crime. The conference attendees drew attention to the particular importance of the forum in enhancing constructive cooperation in the interests of universal security, sustainable development and progress in the region and throughout the world.