OSCE and Turkmenistan mark 30 years of co-operation

ASHGABAT, 8 July 2022 – A conference marking 30 years since Turkmenistan signed the Helsinki Final Act, and began its co-operation with the OSCE, took place in Ashgabat yesterday. The conference was organized by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, in close co-operation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.

Opening the conference, Deputy Chairperson of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov, stated: “As a participating State, Turkmenistan  is committed to fruitful co-operation with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in strengthening security in the OSCE region." 

The Foreign Minister emphasized that Turkmenistan's priorities in co-operation with the OSCE include the creation of efficient mechanisms of prevention and neutralization of international conflicts, countering political and religious extremism, transnational threats, drug trafficking and cross border crime, as well as the development of a modern model of international co-operation in economic, energy and environmental spheres.

In her video message, OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid stressed: “This is a good opportunity to mark a true milestone in the co-operation between the OSCE and Turkmenistan and to look to the future.”

She also commended Turkmenistan’s efforts and contribution to peace and security in the OSCE area by strengthening regional co-operation and promoting economic connectivity across the Caspian Sea.

John MacGregor, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, added: “OSCE co-operation with Turkmenistan has come a long way in three decades, and we see great prospects for continuing and strengthening our important dialogue for the benefit of Turkmenistan and the whole OSCE region.”

Addressing the session on co-operation in the area of human dimension, Lara Scarpitta, OSCE Senior Advisor on Gender Issues, stressed the importance of OSCE commitments to promoting gender equality.

The conference brought together representatives of the Centre's key partner institutions and organizations in the country, including ministries, law enforcement agencies, educational institutions and civil society organizations.

Many high-level officials and leading experts also participated, including Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to the Republic of Austria and the Head of the Delegation of Turkmenistan to the OSCE, the Ombudsperson of Turkmenistan, the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy, representatives of the Defence Ministry, the State Border Service, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, as well as representatives of the Institute of State, Law and Democracy, institutions of higher education and Keyik Okara public organization.

The participants highlighted the achievements of the OSCE and Turkmenistan partnership across all three dimensions of security. On 8 July 1992, Turkmenistan signed the Helsinki Final Act, the OSCE’s landmark document, and became a participating State of the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE), which was transformed into the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) three years later.

Established in 1999, the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat is currently assisting Turkmenistan in fulfilling its OSCE commitments across three dimensions of security. 

The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, in co-operation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, will organize sporting events in the coming week to commemorate this occasion.