President of Turkmenistan meets with UN Secretary-General

September 24, 2009 -- President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who had arrived in New York to attend the 64th session of the UN General Assembly, had a meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Cordially greeting the leader of the Turkmen state at the UN office the UN Secretary-General expressed the gratitude to the Turkmen leader for the personal participation in the large international forum as well as the country?s active contribution to building long-term, fruitful cooperation with the United Nations. Ban Ki-moon emphasized that electing Turkmenistan Vice Chair of the regular session of the advisory body of the United Nations for the second time vividly evidenced the high authority of the Turkmen state, which resolutely moved forward along the path of fundamental reforms and put forward the important international initiatives under the leadership of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

Thanking the UN Secretary-General for the heartfelt welcome Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed gratitude for assisting in effective promotion of the constructive dialogue established in recent years as well as comprehensive support of Turkmenistan?s initiatives aimed at ensuring sustainable development of the countries in the region and global security.

In the traditionally friendly and sincere atmosphere the sides exchanged views on the current state and prospects for further cooperation that was firmly based on the positive practice of partnership. Focusing on primary significance attached to collaboration with the United Nations Organisation Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that Turkmenistan, in turn, welcomed and completely supported the idea of reforming, extending the role and functions of this largest and authoritative international organisation.

It was noted that over the years of fruitful cooperation as a full member of the United Nations Turkmenistan had proved its adherence to the undertaken international commitments declaring and implementing in practice its intention to develop the mutually beneficial, equal dialogue with all interested countries of the world and international organisations. Standing steadfast to the humanistic ideals advocated by the United Nations Turkmenistan, whose status of neutrality had been delegated by the community of nations and supported by 185 UN members states, put forward the initiative to open the unique structure, which had no analogues in the region, - the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia that brightly illustrated active and close cooperation among the countries in the region and the United Nations Organisation.

Thanking Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for providing comprehensive support and assistance to the UN Regional Centre the UN Secretary-General congratulated the leader of the Turkmen state on the success of the high-level conference ?Stable and Reliable Transit of Energy and Its Role in Ensuring Sustainable Development and International Cooperation?, which had been organized on the initiative of Turkmenistan to implement the relevant Special Resolution of the UN General Assembly.

Touching upon the issues of regional cooperation Ban Ki-moon welcomed the endeavours of Turkmenistan, which played a profound role in restoring the peaceful life in neighbouring Afghanistan and expressed gratitude for Turkmenistan?s new initiatives and constructive ideas to address problems and challenges of the region. In particular, these included the water and energy problems that were the focus of the meeting of the Central Asian leaders in Almaty (Kazakhstan), during which Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov had suggested establishing the special expert group which would closely collaborate with the UN and its agencies and other international organisations on the water and energy problems.

Emphasizing that only the well-coordinated and fair approach must be taken to these problems the President of Turkmenistan invited the UN Secretary-General to take part in a special meeting which would be conducted in the Turkmen capital this November.

Noting that Turkmenistan implemented its foreign-policy strategy in strict compliance with the UN standards and principles Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov put emphasis on the need to establish a work group under the aegis of the United Nations, which would be responsible for drafting the complex international legal document that would stand as the guarantor of stable and reliable transit of energy to world markets.

During the meeting Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov briefed Ban Ki-moon on the large-scale reforms implemented in all spheres of the life of the Turkmen state, which ranked among the dynamically developing countries of the world during many years. Highly appreciating the positive reforming processes taking place in the country Ban Ki-moon expressed belief that Turkmenistan viewed by the United Nations as a dependable and long-term partner would be successfully develop further.

In conclusion the sides exchanged the wishes of every success and expressed the mutual interest in new joint projects which had the common noble aim ? to actively promote social and economic development of independent neutral Turkmenistan and achieving the global goals of the third millennium.