Last week, a regular (the 17th in succession) Mejlis session of Turkmenistan of the fifth convocation was held to adopt a number of new laws and regulatory legal acts developed in accordance with the priorities of President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov’s policy and approve the comprehensive program on modernizing the country’s legislative-legal base. Attended by the government members, heads of the relevant ministries and departments, representatives of mass media, parliamentarians, the session started from consideration and approval of the draft Resolution of Mejlis of Turkmenistan “On empowering the Mejlis Deputies of Turkmenistan elected in certain constituencies”. Then, consideration was given to the drafts of: the Law of Turkmenistan “On the State Budget of Turkmenistan for 2017”; and the Resolution of Mejlis of Turkmenistan “On execution of the State Budget of Turkmenistan for 2015”. Touching upon the basic principles and approaches to drafting the country’s State Budget for 2017, the speakers focused attention on the specific features of the process of forming the budgetary revenues and on making up the anticipated indicators of the economic, cultural and social development. Like in previous years, the State Budget for 2017 is primarily aimed at maintaining the sustainable growth rates of the national economy, implementing large investment projects, introducing the innovative technologies and latest achievements of science and technology in every sphere of the economy, ensuring high efficiency of government expenditures, and on the whole – at providing quality-of-life improvements to the Turkmen citizens. In general, the State Budget revenues for 2017 will amount to 103,571.6 million manats, and expenditures – 104,871.6 million manats. The revenues of the budget will mainly be formed at the expense of such fundamental production sectors, as oil and gas, chemical, power generating, construction, etc. The upward advancement trends will also include the agri-industrial complex, transport and communications, textile and food industries. A significant part of the State Budget expenses will be directed to the social sector, notably to the education, healthcare, culture, sports, state social security system, housing-communal services infrastructure. Considerable investments are planned for realization of large-scale national projects and programs, including the development and beautification of the “Avaza” National Tourist Zone, implementation of urban development program in the country’s capital and velayats, construction of the important social- and cultural-purpose, industrial and transport-communication infrastructure objects. The Law “On the State Budget of Turkmenistan for 2017” was unanimously adopted by the country’s Mejlis Deputies. The parliamentarians were also all in favor of the Resolution of Mejlis of Turkmenistan “On execution of the State Budget of Turkmenistan for 2015”. Then, another draft Law of Turkmenistan - “On Ombudsman”, was submitted for consideration of Mejlis. The within-said Law defines the rights, responsibilities, major trends and guarantees for Ombudsman’s action, as well as his authorities. Discussing the draft Law of Turkmenistan “On rendering psychiatric support”, the deputies has emphasized that the Law is aimed at determining the legal and organizational principles of the state regulation in the field of rendering the psychiatric support and providing herewith the citizens’ rights. Focusing on the draft Law of Turkmenistan “On the amateur and folk arts of Turkmenistan”, the parliamentarians placed special emphasis on the fact that 2016 was announced in the country as the Year of Honoring the Heritage, Transformation of the Fatherland. Speaking of the importance of furthering the work in that sphere, the deputies’ main attention was focused on the new Law, which defines the legal, economic and organizational fundamentals of the revival, preservation, development and support of the amateur and folk arts. The revised version of the Law of Turkmenistan “On food safety” provoked an interested exchange of opinions. The document covers a wide range of issues related to ensuring the country’s food independence; it envisions development and accomplishment of economic, organizational-legal and other measures, aimed at preventing food crises, satisfying the people’s needs in the basic food products in accordance with rational food standards. Among the documents submitted to Mejlis for approval was also a revised version of the Law of Turkmenistan “On Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan”, which defines the legal principles, rights and obligations, assignment, dismissal and recall procedures of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan. Consideration was also given to the following draft Laws of Turkmenistan: “On introduction of amendments and additions to the Code of Administration of Turkmenistan”; “On introduction of amendments to the Criminal Code of Turkmenistan”; “On introduction of amendments to the Correctional Code of Turkmenistan”, “On introduction of amendments and additions to some legislative acts of Turkmenistan”; “On introduction of amendments to the Family Code of Turkmenistan”; “On introduction of amendments and additions to the Law of Turkmenistan” “On the diplomatic service” ,and others. By results of the meeting, Mejlis deputies unanimously approved and adopted the new Laws.