European Parliament Holds Hearing on Human Rights Situation in Turkmenistan
On October 9, the Subcommittee on Human Rights of the European Parliament held hearings on human rights in Turkmenistan. Heads of human rights organizations Vyacheslav Mamedov (the Civil Democratic Union of Turkmenistan) and Farid Tukhbatullin (Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights) made presentations to the members of the European Parliament and the Subcommittee on the clampdown on national minorities, the decline of the educational system, political prisoners, freedom of media and movement, and the general deterioration of the human rights situation in Turkmenistan. Within the next three months the European Parliament will decide whether to ratify the EU – Turkmenistan Trade Agreement signed in 2010.
Source: Turkmenistan Chronicles
World Bank Named Turkmenistan Upper Middle Income Country
The World Bank classified Turkmenistan as the Upper Middle Income Country, says a telegram from the World Bank Vice-President for Europe and Central Asia regions, Philippe Le Houerou, to President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru
President of Turkmenistan Begins First Official Visit to Switzerland
On October 8 President Berdymukhamedov began his first official visit to Switzerland, and in Bern held talks with President of the Swiss Confederation Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf.
The parties spoke about partnership, agreed to intensify cooperation and signed a number of bilateral agreements.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru, Turkmenistan.ru, trend.az
President of Turkmenistan Meets President of Swiss Parliament
During his official visit to Switzerland, in Bern, Berdymukhamedov met with President of the National Council of the Federal Assembly of the Swiss Confederation, Hansjörg Walter. The Turkmen leader and the Head of the Swiss Parliament stressed the importance of strengthening parliamentary relations and called for establishment of exchanges on legislative work.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru
Berdymukhamedov Met with Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization
During his visit to Switzerland, in Geneva, President Berdymukhamedov met with Francis Gurry, the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). They spoke about international experience on legal issues relating to intellectual property rights, as well as details of creating a national system for protecting intellectual property in Turkmenistan.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru
President of Turkmenistan Met with Secretary General of World Meteorological Organization
Environmental protection is a top priority of the state policy of Turkmenistan, said President Berdymukhamedov during a meeting with the Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Michel Jarraud, in Geneva. Jarraud stressed WMO’s interest in strengthening and further expanding the comprehensive cooperation with Turkmenistan.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru
Berdymukhamedov Met with Director General of UN Office in Geneva
On the final day of his official visit to Switzerland, President Berdymukhamedov visited the UN Office in Geneva, where he spoke with Director General of the UN Office, Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev on cooperation between Turkmenistan and various UN agencies and current issues of global economic development, environmental security, and cultural partnerships.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru
Berdymukhamedov Held Talks with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees
During his visit to Switzerland, in Geneva, President Berdymukhamedov met with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres. Mr. Guterres noted that the international community highly appreciates the important contribution of Turkmenistan as a permanent member of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner for Refugees, helping refugees and protecting their rights.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru
Berdymukhamedov Met with Executive Secretary of UN Economic Commission for Europe
During a visit to Switzerland, in Geneva, President Berdymukhamedov held talks with Sven Alkalaj, the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Berdymukhamedov expressed appreciation for the UNECE support of Turkmenistan's initiatives in the area of energy security. In turn, Sven Alkalaj said that the Economic Commission for Europe regards productive partnership with Turkmenistan as one of its priorities.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru
President Berdymukhamedov Met with Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union
During his visit to Switzerland, President Berdymukhamedov met with Hamadoun Toure, the Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) - the leading UN agency for information and communication technologies (ICT) - to discuss the newly created National Space Agency of Turkmenistan and the upcoming space launch of the Turkmen communication satellite.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru
Swiss company “Solid Energy Solutions” to take part in construction of Ashgabat-Turkmenbashi-Balkanabat power line
During his visit to Switzerland, President Berdymukhamedov met with the Chairman of the Board of Solid Energy Solutions, Koen Minne, who presented plans for the construction of a 620 km long modern power line, connecting Ashgabat, Turkmenbashi, and Balkanabat. The project was developed by a consortium of companies including Solid Energy Solutions.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru
German Parliamentarians Hold Series of Meetings in Ashgabat
A delegation of the Federal Republic of Germany, headed by Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Group of Bundestag for Central Asia Manfred Grund, held meetings in Turkmenistan’s Parliament, at the Turkmen National Institute of Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan, and at the Institute of International Relations under the Foreign Ministry of Turkmenistan. During the talks, the German parliamentarians and their Turkmen colleagues discussed development of Turkmen-German cooperation.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru
Presidents of Turkmenistan and Romania Hold Talks
President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov met President of Romania Traian Basescu in Ashgabat to discuss bilateral cooperation in key areas, including trade and economy, fuel and energy, transport and communications, tourism, as well as in the humanitarian and cultural sectors. They stressed the importance of expanding bilateral partnership in the context of Turkmenistan-European Union dialogue. As Basescu noted, Romania is ready to fulfill its mission as the “EU Gate.” The two leaders signed a number of joint documents and agreed to ”expand bilateral dialogue regarding energy security and supplies of Turkmen gas to Europe.”
Source: Turkmenistan.ru, trend.az
Delegation of International Organization for Migration Visited Turkmenistan
A delegation of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), headed by the Regional Director for South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Renate Held, had a meeting at the Foreign Ministry of Turkmenistan. According to the press service of the Foreign Ministry of Turkmenistan, members of the IOM delegation were briefed on the practical steps taken by Turkmenistan to implement international agreements and treaties on migration. They noted the important role of the national legal framework and effective lawmaking activities of the National Parliament.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru
Turkmenistan Studies Poland’s Experience in Human Rights Sector
A group of specialists from Turkmenistan’s various ministries and universities visited Poland to exchange experience with foreign organizations working in the area of human rights. The seminar was part of a project conducted jointly by the European Union, UNDP, and High Commissioner for Human Rights Office.
Source: turkmeninform.com
Development of Agro-industrial Sectors of CIS Countries Discussed in Ashgabat
Ashgabat hosted a meeting of the Intergovernmental Council for the agricultural sector of the CIS, which was attended by representatives of the CIS Executive Committee, relevant ministries and agencies of the CIS, and experts. Turkmenistan held the forum in the framework of its presidency of the CIS in 2012, aiming to use the potential of traditional economic relations and develop partnership in the sphere of agriculture.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru
CIS Food Security Discussed in Ashgabat
At the initiative of President Berdymukhamedov, Ashgabat hosted an International Scientific-Practical Conference on improving food security in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The forum was organized by the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations and convened more than 300 participants including scientists, experts, and specialists of relevant organizations from the CIS.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru
VII Forum of Creative and Scientific Intelligentsia of CIS under way in Ashgabat
The VII Forum of Creative and Scientific Intelligentsia of the CIS countries entitled “Strategy of Development of Humanitarian Cooperation of CIS countries: Trends and Prospects” is under way in Ashgabat as part of Turkmenistan’s presidency in the CIS in 2012. President Berdymukhamedov attended the opening ceremony.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru
Naryshkin to take part in CIS intelligentsia forum in Ashgabat – Duma
State Duma speaker Sergei Naryshkin will take part in the CIS Forum of Creative and Scientific Intelligentsia due to take place in Ashgabat, the State Duma Committee for Relations with the Public and Interaction with Mass Media told Itar-Tass. Naryshkin will make an official visit to Turkmenistan on October 14-15. While in Ashgabat, the State Duma speaker will have meetings with President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, Vice-Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, and Speaker of the Parliament, Akzha Nurberdyyeva. “The meeting with the Turkmen parliament speaker will focus on stepping up cooperation between the parliaments of Russia and Turkmenistan,” the Duma committee said.
Source: ITAR-TASS
President of Turkmenistan receives UEFA President
In Ashgabat President Berdymukhamedov received President of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), Michel Platini, to discuss development of football in Turkmenistan.
Source: Turkmenistan.gov.tm
Humanitarian Association of Turkmen in the World Imposes Ashgabat’s
The Humanitarian Association of Turkmen in the World (HATW) involves non-profit organizations and individuals (primarily Turkmen youth studying in Russia) in illegal activities, making them its accomplices in imposing the views of official Ashgabat to people in Russia, CIS, and the entire world. The views disseminated by the Association are false and do not reflect the reality, says the joint statement of three non-profit organizations: International Union “Courage and Humanism”, non-commercial partnership “Turkmen – Russian House”, and Moscow Society of Turkmen Culture. According to Regnum information agency, the authors of the statement claim that HATW works in Russia illegally.
Source: Turkmenistan Chronicles, chrono-tm.org
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