The OSCE forum on regional cooperation in the environmental sector was held in Turkmenistan
75On March 4, a high-level meeting of the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Ministers of Environmental Protection of the Central Asian States was held in the conference hall of the Yyldyz Hotel in the capital.
One of the priorities of the foreign policy of neutral Turkmenistan is the development of effective cooperation with reputable international organizations. Long-term relations with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe are systemic and integrated. The meeting at such a level in Ashgabat clearly confirms that the country is open to multilateral dialogue aimed at developing balanced solutions to the important problems of today, and unifying efforts to achieve the goals of sustainable development.
In this regard, special attention is paid to the ecological system. By promoting specific initiatives in this field, Turkmenistan takes an active role in promoting cooperation on nature protection at the regional and global level, including within the OSCE. OSCE programs and projects in Central Asia are aimed at sharing knowledge, best practices, and developing joint strategies to help solve environmental problems. The agenda of the meeting held in Ashgabat with the support of this organization also shows that environmental protection is a priority for the countries of the region, the OSCE and the entire international community.
In his speech, Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Helga Schmid emphasized the importance of the current meeting, which allows to focus on the main areas of climate issues that are directly related to environmental concerns, sustainable development, energy and food security, global well-being and stability in the region. Also, sustainable management of water resources, development of water diplomacy, active involvement of women in this work were identified as important issues. In this regard, it was emphasized that close cooperation has been established between the OSCE and Central Asian states in this field.
The Secretary General of the OSCE expressed his sincere gratitude to the Government of Turkmenistan for organizing this meeting, and its goals are to continue discussing the main issues and ways to solve them, to create practical tools for mutual cooperation, and to achieve concrete results. He also said that it is important to integrate.
During the meeting, the priorities of the country on the development of regional cooperation in this field were expressed. As mentioned, protecting the environment, ensuring ecological well-being and developing effective cooperation with foreign partners is one of the main directions of Turkmenistan's national policy, which is being implemented under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. Joining all major international conventions and agreements in this field, our country consistently promotes important initiatives that have the support of the world community and takes a responsible approach to their implementation. Among them are the proposals of the Turkmen leader to ensure the safety of the environment, the systematic use of natural resources, to combat climate change and desertification, and others.
Turkmenistan successfully cooperates with international organizations in the field of environmental protection. The high level of cooperation between the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the country and the Ashgabat Center of the OSCE was noted. Considering its special importance for the region, Turkmenistan pays great attention to issues related to climate change within the framework of developing effective cooperation with the countries of Central Asia. As it is known, based on this, our country promoted the initiative of opening the UN Regional Center for Climate Change Technologies in Central Asia in Ashgabat. In this regard, a proposal was made to hold an OSCE forum on technologies related to climate change.
It was emphasized that Turkmenistan, as an active participant in international cooperation on environmental issues, has approved the main multilateral documents related to the above-mentioned areas. The position of our country in this field is reflected in the planned version of the National Strategy of Turkmenistan on Climate Change. Within its framework, large-scale programmatic activities are carried out, modernization of all sectors of the economy, extensive introduction of ecologically clean and low-waste technologies into production, major works are being implemented in order to continuously reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. In addition, within the implementation of the National Forestry Program in Turkmenistan, millions of trees are planted every year.
It was also noted that Turkmenistan's contribution determined at the national level in 2022 under the Paris Agreement was approved. At present, measures arising from this document are being implemented in the country, and in 2025, work will be carried out to update it.
As it is known, in order to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, a high-level interagency group on reducing methane emission gases was established in June 2023 based on the Resolution of the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov. In his speech at the 28th meeting of the parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Turkmen leader said that Turkmenistan joins the commitment to methane and is ready to continue cooperation with international organizations and partner countries in this field. At the same time, it was confirmed that the country is committed to further intensify effective cooperation in the environmental sector at the regional and global levels.
In the speeches of the participants of the meeting representing the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as during the discussions, it was shown that there are similar views and opinions in various areas regarding the historical and cultural relations, the development of the Central Asian countries, the region and relations with other countries of the world. It was noted that it helps to solve the problem together successfully.
The need to develop coordinated measures to adapt to climate change, reduce the risk of natural disasters, and increase awareness of these issues was emphasized. Water and agriculture, transition to a "green" economy, waste management, reduction of harmful emissions, raising the ecological culture of the population, especially the youth, were in the focus of special attention. In this regard, it was emphasized that Turkmenistan made an important contribution to the expansion of regional and international cooperation in these areas, to the development of environmental and water diplomacy, and to the projects of "smart" cities. The city of Arkadag, built on the foothills of the beautiful Kopetdag Mountains on the initiative of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, was highlighted as an example.
At the end of the meeting, sincere gratitude was expressed to President Serdar Berdimuhamedov for the high organizational level of the event and the created conditions. Confidence was expressed that cooperation between the Central Asian countries and the OSCE and the continuation of such a dialogue will help to achieve sustainable development and prosperity in the region, attract the attention of the international community to the issues of environmental protection, and preserve the common natural heritage for future generations.
