On February 13, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov convened a regular session of the Cabinet of Ministers to consider the priority issues of state life, and some important draft documents. Addressing the agenda of session, the head of state gave the floor to Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet A. Gochyev. Reporting on the activity of the sectors, he is in charge of, the Vice-Premier informed about the comprehensive work on elaborating effective mechanisms for increasing export of national products, under way in accordance with the programs for the national economy further development. In this connection, a number of proposals were put forward to implement projects with participation of members of the Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Union of Turkmenistan. After the report, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov has highlighted that despite the rapid growth of private business, the level of its development does not reflect the potential available in the private sector of economy. Having noted with satisfaction that representatives of the Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Union of Turkmenistan, who have bright prospects for further progress, are taking an active part in carrying out the ongoing economic reforms in our country, the head of state has assigned the authorities concerned to thoroughly study the proposals submitted by the Union’s administration. The report of Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan R. Meredov covered the current work on implementing the Turkmen state’s initiatives on the development of constructive cooperation in the Caspian Sea. As stressed, one of the main trends of neutral Turkmenistan’s foreign-policy strategy is the development of friendly and equal relations with neighboring countries. In this context, much consideration is given to strengthening of fruitful interaction with the Caspian Sea littoral states. The international initiatives of strategic importance, which were put forward by the Turkmen leader at the Caspian Sea Summits in October 2007 in Teheran, in Baku in November 2010, and in Astrakhan in September 2014, are aimed at achieving these goals. At the IV Caspian Sea Summit, the President of Turkmenistan proposed to consider the issue of working out a draft Agreement on economic cooperation between the Caspian Sea littoral states, as well as put forward an initiative on establishing a permanent Caspian Economic Forum as a mechanism of implementing the within-said document. Besides, the Turkmen leader made a proposal to develop a draft Agreement on cooperation in the field of transportation in the Caspian Sea, destined to stimulate the development of international transport-communications infrastructure in the region, formation of new transit-transport corridors and promotion of active transport services between Asia and Europe. In this context, the President of Turkmenistan set forth an idea of creating a Caspian Regional Transport-Logistics Center, as one of the practical elements of interaction. One of the major initiatives of President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov on cooperation in the Caspian Sea is establishment of a single system of maritime specialists training. As noted, thanks to support of the head of state, international seminars are annually organized in Turkmenistan for specialists from the Caspian Sea littoral states in the fields of maritime law, ecology, cartography, and others. Summarizing the information, the head of state has emphasized that the issues concerning the Caspian Sea have a significant place in the foreign policy of neutral Turkmenistan. In this context, the nation’s leader has stressed Turkmenistan’s constant adherence to the active and initiative stand on the Caspian Sea issues, including the issues of establishing the modern legal framework of interstate relations in the Caspian Sea as a key factor of the effective long-term partnership development. In this connection, the head of state stressed the need to continue the task-oriented work on practical implementing our country’s initiatives (including the ones put forward at the Astrakhan Summit), aimed at optimization of the positive interaction in the Caspian Sea region, elaboration of well-balanced international legal mechanisms of regulating different aspects of the activity and partnership in the Caspian Sea. Speaking of this, the leader of nation gave the Minister of Foreign Affairs a number of concrete commissions on promoting Turkmenistan’s constructive proposals, in particular, on cooperation between the Caspian Sea littoral states in the trade- economic and transport fields, and working out the relevant Agreements, which would provide a fresh powerful impetus to the traditional partnership. In turn, Chairperson of Mejlis of Turkmenistan A. Nurberdyeva focused her report on the national parliament’s activity aimed at the national legislation further improvement. As noted, Mejlis deputies actively carry out the work on raising the population’s information awareness of legislative documents, and on the whole, of the progressive foreign and domestic policy, pursued by the head of state. Much consideration is given to the work aimed to popularize the principles of a healthy lifestyle among the population, and to instill in young people the spirit of patriotism. To advance the international cooperation, members of the parliament participate in activities and seminars organized by the regional representative offices of the United Nations in Turkmenistan. The Chairperson of Mejlis informed about the ongoing work on nominating mothers of large families for the honorary title of Turkmenistan -“Ene Mähri”. Stressing the importance of promoting the principles of a healthy lifestyle, sports and physical activities among the population, particularly, the younger generation, the head of state highlighted the need to intensify the work, to add variety to its forms and methods. Touching upon the issue of nominating the women, who distinguished themselves in work and public activities, the leader of nation emphasized that deputies should take the most responsible approach to the work. The report of Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet, Manager of the Presidential and Cabinet Administration Office Sh. Durdylyev was mainly focused on fulfillment of the commissions given earlier by the head of state, including on the town-planning program further implementation, the measures aimed at the Turkmen capital’s improvement and landscaping. Among the top-priority objectives of the large-scale programs carried out in Turkmenistan, realization of the Ashgabat Development Conception in the short term occupies an important place, the leader of nation said, having stressed the significance of keeping up the rapid pace of the progressive transformations ongoing in the city. It is necessary to keep strict control over timely execution of the planned work on renovating the capital’s related infrastructure, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov stated, having addressed a number of issue-associated instructions to the Vice-Premier. Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet A. Yazmyradov centered his report on the implementation course of the seasonal agri-works. At present, active preparations for the spring cotton sowing campaign, ploughing, leveling and mineral fertilization are well under way in the fields to be planted to cotton. By now, 14,440 hectares of farmlands have been ploughed and prepared for vegetable crops planting. The work on supplying agricultural producers with high-quality seeds and machinery is in progress as well. Summing up the report, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov demanded to pay maximum attention to adherence to the agro-technical norms and, in whole, to improvement of the farming standards as an important aspect of the comprehensive reforms ongoing in the agro-industrial complex of Turkmenistan. The main objective of the transformations is to bring the agricultural sector to a new higher level in compliance with present-day requirements. Among the currently central issues, the nation’s leader has outlined the dynamic development of farming, increase in production of vegetable, fruit, and cucurbitaceous crops, which are aimed to satisfy the consumer demand for high-quality and ecologically clean agricultural products. Reporting on the state of affairs in the branches of the fuel and energy complex, Cabinet Deputy Chairman B. Hojamuhammedov presented detailed information about the construction progress of the “East-West” gas pipeline. The total length of the gas pipeline, which is being constructed by the “Turkmennebitgazgurlushyk” Concern against the order of the “Turkmengas” State Concern, is 773 km. By now, welding works have been completed in a 574-kilometer-long section of the pipeline. The projected throughput capacity of the new pipeline is 30 BCMA of gas. To operate the gas pipeline at full capacity, 7-8 gas compressor stations are planned for construction. The gas pipeline project is scheduled to be completed in December, 2015. In the after-report comments, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov has stressed the special significance of the “East-West” main gas pipeline project, destined to connect the country’s largest gas fields. As the head of state noted, the pipeline will become an important segment of the modern gas-transport infrastructure, which Turkmenistan is upgrading and developing, given the growing needs of the national economy’s different sectors, as well as demands for energy resources at the international energy market. After completion of the “East-West” main gas pipeline project, a single gas transmission system will be created in Turkmenistan; it will enable to ensure reverse transmission of natural gas in any direction, in particular, transportation of “blue fuel” from Mary and Lebap velayats, where the fields with huge reserves of hydrocarbon resources are concentrated, to the dynamically developing Caspian Sea region. Implementation of the prospective and strategic in all respects project should be also regarded as an effective step of Turkmenistan towards strengthening the foundation its own and global energy security, given the country’s large-scale plans for diversification of energy exports to the world markets. Depending on demands, the leader of nation said, it will be possible to increase supplies of the fuel to foreign states, both through the existing gas pipelines to China, Iran, Russia and also the projected ones - Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India, Trans-Caspian and others. The head of state gave the Vice-Premier specific instructions on taking all the necessary measures to complete the construction of the “East-West” gas pipeline as scheduled and in compliance with high-quality standards. Cabinet Deputy Chairperson M. Yazmuhammedova reported on the ongoing preparations for Culture Days of the Islamic Republic of Iran to be held in Ashgabat on March 5-7. To participate in the event, a delegation consisting of cultural and art workers of the friendly country is to come to our country. The program of the Days will include a concert of the folk groups, an exhibition of decorative and applied arts, and movie screening. A concert of friendship of Turkmen and Iranian art workers will conclude Culture Days of the IRI in Turkmenistan. A cultural program, including visits to the museums and sightseeing tours of the Turkmen capital have been prepared for the guests. In the report follow-up comments, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov has stressed that development of the trade-economic and cultural relations with neighboring Iran is one of the priority areas of the interstate cooperation. Having expressed confidence that the forthcoming Culture Days of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Turkmenistan will significantly contribute to all-round strengthening of the fruitful Turkmen-Iranian relations based on the centuries-old traditions of friendship and good neighborliness in the interests of the two countries’ peoples, the head of state demanded to hold all the planned events at a better and higher level in terms of organization and content, having given the Vice-Premier concrete assignments. The state of affairs in the supervised structures, fulfillment of the earlier presidential commissions, the ongoing work on further improvement of the educational system, science and public healthcare, development of sports and tourism, complex modernization of the related infrastructure were in the focus of the report made by Cabinet Deputy Chairman S. Toilyev. Having placed accent on the reforms under way in the fields of education and science, the head of state has highlighted the importance of paying unremitting attention to all the issues connected with education of the highly erudite younger generation, training of qualified professional personnel, development and in-full use of the nation’s intellectual potential, and the theoretical and practical field, which are one of the key conditions for the country’s progressive development. The leader of nation also stressed the necessity of taking effective steps to widely encourage participation of the population, first of all, young people in regular sports and physical activities, and to promote the principles of a healthy lifestyle in the society. Further, Cabinet Deputy Chairman B. Ereshov made a report on the situation in the structures answerable to him. Reporting on fulfillment of the commissions given earlier by the head of state, the Vice-Premier focused on the comprehensive measures taken to further strengthen the industrial sector’s material and technical base, and production potential, as well as on the implementation course of a number of projects. After the report, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov has noted that the ongoing large-scale work on development of the industrial complex, modernization and expansion of its sectoral infrastructure is aimed to more fully realize the country’s enormous resource potential and to bring the national economy up to the world standards. In this context, the head of state instructed to supply the domestic market in full with high-quality country-produced goods, to step up the production of competitive industrial products for export, as well as to take steps to ensure timely and qualitative construction of important objects of the sector, to enhance efficiency and profitability of the operating enterprises with application of the world’s best practices and innovative technologies. The report of Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet M. Artykov was concentrated on the activity of the ministries and agencies, he is in charge of, and execution of the assignments given earlier by the nation’s leader. Having noted with satisfaction the steady-state high dynamics of the building industry development, the President of Turkmenistan assigned the Vice-Premier to keep up the accelerating rates of the building program implementation, within the framework of which many industrial- and social-purpose facilities are under construction countrywide. In this regard, the head of state instructed to ensure perfect quality of the objects under construction and to strictly adhere to their commissioning schedule. The President of Turkmenistan directed attention of the Vice-Premier to the need to improve the activity of the supervised sectors and to widely apply the most advanced technologies and latest equipment. In this context, the head of state demanded to ensure high-quality construction of roads and bridges countrywide, and their maintenance. The report of Cabinet Deputy Chairman P. Taganov was an extensive coverage of the current work in the sectors, he is responsible for, and the ongoing preparations for a regular meeting of the Joint Turkmen-Austrian Commission and the Turkmen-Austrian Business Forum to be held in Ashgabat. Members of the Austrian delegation will participate in the meetings. The delegation will consist of about 60 specialists and businessmen, representing state-run enterprises and more than 30 companies, which specialize in the fields of trade, construction, tourism, healthcare, power and textile industries, innovative technologies, and others. In the after-report comments, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov has noted that the key aspect of the Turkmen state’s foreign-policy strategy is strengthening and advancement of mutually advantageous international cooperation with all countries, including the Republic of Austria. Turkmenistan is willing to promote full-scale partnership with the friendly country in the long term, the head of state said. Having emphasized the importance of the upcoming business forums, destined to give a renewed impulse to the Turkmen-Austrian relations both in the traditional fields, and also in new areas, the leader of nation instructed the Vice-Premier to ensure a high organizational level of the meetings. The report of Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet S. Satlykov was centered on the state of affairs in supervised ministries and agencies. Reporting on the construction course of the Turkmenbashi International Seaport, the Vice-Premier informed that according to the “The 2020 General Plan for Development of the Turkmenbashi International seaport and Turkmen Merchant Navy”, the multi-functional seaport would occupy a total area of more than 138.5 hectares, a part of it would be in the offshore zone. With the help of slides, the nation’s leader was shown the scope of work completed, including the work on applying advanced technologies, which make it possible to achieve the required density of the seabed within a short period of time. As reported, the results of the study proved ecological cleanness of the sea area, where a complex of port facilities would be located and environmental friendliness of the soil extracted; it is planned to be used for construction of an artificial island, 4 kilometers away from the seaport. The island will become a habitat and provide nesting and wintering places for hundreds of thousands of birds. To this end, the work on assembling a 5,310-meter pipeline for transportation of the soil and construction of a 3, 800-meter dam is well under way. Summarizing the report, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov has stressed the significance of the International Seaport as a key component of the growing modern transport-communications infrastructure in Turkmenistan which is destined to contribute to the country’s further progress, its successful socio-economic development and integration into the international logistics system. Having focused on the necessity of taking into account the development prospects of the International Seaport, the leader of nation noted that increase in loading capacities of the port terminals load and expansion of the services should be taken into account during the construction of facilities. Accordingly, it is high time to apply the latest scientific achievements in this field, the last generation technologies to keep ahead. It is necessary to carefully study the possibilities of practical applying the best world experience in maritime passenger and goods transportation, operating seaports, exercising the state engineering supervision over the construction of all facilities of the country’s main sea-gate, the President of Turkmenistan emphasized, having given the Vice-Premier a number of concrete commissions. At the same time, the leader of nation once again stressed the importance of ensuring ecological well-being in the “Avaza” National Tourist Zone, located in the unique, picturesque place of the Turkmen land. Dwelling upon the issue, the head of state demanded from the executives concerned to keep strict control over the ecological condition of the aquatic area in the course of construction. The Cabinet session participants also considered some other important issues of state life and passed the relevant decisions.