At the Government meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and foreign Minister Rashid Meredov informed the head of state about the measures taken to implement Turkmenistan's environmental diplomacy.
In this regard, it was noted that one of the key vectors of the country's foreign policy is the development of multilateral cooperation on strategic issues on the international agenda, including those related to such topical aspects as climate change, environmental protection, rational use of natural resources, and ensuring environmental security.
In order to build an effective partnership in these areas, large-scale work is being carried out and important initiatives are being put forward that receive broad support from the international community.
To date, Turkmenistan is a party to 20 international Conventions and multilateral documents in the field of ecology. This contributes to the formation of a solid legal framework for further establishing fruitful cooperation in the above-mentioned areas at the national, regional and global levels.
Only this year, our country has joined 4 international documents on environmental protection. It was also noted that based on the initiative of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, a draft concept of the UN Special program for the Aral Sea region was developed.
It is expected that the draft document on the creation of this Special program will be considered during the regular session of the United Nations Economic and social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), upcoming in May 2021.
The relevant state institutions of the country have prepared a draft concept for the new Caspian environmental program, which is proposed to be discussed during the upcoming meeting of the member States of the framework Convention for the protection of the marine environment of the Caspian Sea.
In order to implement the constructive initiatives of the President of Turkmenistan to promote environmental diplomacy and strengthen the international legal framework in this area, the Deputy Prime Minister, head of the Ministry of foreign Affairs announced a proposal to join our country to the Nagoya Protocol to the UN Convention on biological diversity.
This document, which entered into force in 2014, is intended to regulate access to genetic resources and share the benefits of their use on a fair and equal basis. Currently, the European Union and 124 States of the world are parties to the Protocol.
As it was emphasized, Turkmenistan pays special attention to the implementation of international obligations and national legal acts in the field of ecology. It is proposed to establish a Working group on environmental issues in the country in order to carry out relevant activities on a systematic basis.
Summing up the information, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stressed that ensuring environmental well-being and protecting the environment are among the strategic priorities of the state policy of neutral Turkmenistan.
Taking practical steps to establish environmental issues in the agenda of global cooperation, Turkmenistan presents concrete initiatives from the rostrum of the United Nations and other authoritative international organizations aimed at activating multilateral partnership in this area and implementing joint long-term programs and projects, the head of state noted.
By ratifying the fundamental environmental documents of the United Nations, including the conventions on biological diversity, on the protection of the ozone layer, on combating desertification, the Paris Agreement on climate change and others, our country is actually demonstrating its commitment to its obligations.
Consolidation of common efforts, implementation of "green" economy standards, compliance with high environmental requirements in all spheres of activity are essential factors for achieving the goals of sustainable development in the regional and global dimensions, creating favorable conditions for people's lives. Putting forward environmental diplomacy as one of the key vectors of the foreign policy strategy, Turkmenistan makes a worthy contribution to the solution of vital issues of concern to humanity.
Speaking about this, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov generally approved the proposals, instructing the Deputy Prime Minister, the head of the foreign Ministry to continue comprehensive work in this direction, the state news Agency of Turkmenistan reports.
