Parliamentary delegation of Turkmenistan to take part in 137th Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union

The delegation of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan headed by Chairperson of the Parliament A. Nurberdiyeva takes part in the 137th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in St. Petersburg on October 14-16. The main theme of the forum is "Promoting cultural pluralism and peace through inter-faith and inter-ethnic dialogue". This largest international parliamentarian event is of particular significance for our country that implements crucial processes to improve the legislative basis in compliance with the generally recognized norms of law. 

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov considers the key role of the national parliament in the development of civil society institutions, the multiparty system, the protection of democratic values, the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of people, increasing their social, socio-economic activity and legal culture. In particular, along with the improvement of the Basic Law, the institution of the Ombudsman, an authorized representative for human rights, was established in the country. 

The Turkmen leader attaches great importance to the supreme legislative body in ensuring reforms aimed at the accelerated development of the sovereign Fatherland, further raising of the social and living standards of the people. For example, the Law of Turkmenistan "On Free Economic Zones" that was adopted just a few days ago will give a new impetus to the development of the national economy, will promote increasing the investment attractiveness and successful integration of our country into the world economic system. 

The consolidation and expansion of the inter-parliamentary ties contribute to the intensification of the political and diplomatic activities of Turkmenistan in the world arena and international structures. The main task of parliamentarians in the field of foreign policy is to support and popularize the initiatives put forward by our neutral state to address global issues. 

The increase of the number of inter-parliamentary friendship groups established by the Mejlis of Turkmenistan with parliaments of different countries, the consistent development of established mutually beneficial relations with the specialized agencies of the United Nations and other international structures illustrates the effective use of parliamentary diplomacy. 

That is vividly proved by Turkmenistan's cooperation in the format of the Commonwealth of Independent States, which was confirmed by the recent participation of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in the Sochi meeting of the Council of CIS Heads of State. Speaking at the summit, the Turkmen leader underlined that given its neutral status and being an associated member of the CIS, the Turkmen state is firmly committed to the further partnership within the framework of the Commonwealth, to the participation in mutually beneficial political, trade-economic, cultural and humanitarian ties. 

The September visit of the Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matvienko to Ashgabat testifies to the steadily developing Turkmen-Russian parliamentary relations. Even earlier, in May 2017, during the meeting with the head of the parliament's committee on legislation Serdar Berdimuhamedov in the framework of the VIII Nevsky Ecological Congress, Valentina Matvienko expressed the interest of Russia in Turkmenistan to become a full-fledged participant in the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly. 

The meetings at the level of the committees within the working groups "should take a special place in the system of co-ordination of the parliamentarians' cooperation," Valentina Matvienko said, noting that the Agreement on Cooperation between the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the Mejlis of Turkmenistan signed at the end of the year of 2015 contributed to this. 

Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko also invited the delegation of Turkmenistan to participate in the 137th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. 

The participation of the Mejlis delegation in the Nevsky Ecological Congress, and in the International Economic Summit "Russia-Islamic World" in Kazan, demonstartes the active and versatile activities of the Turkmen parliament. 

Our parliamentarians represented Turkmenistan as a country presiding in the Interstate Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) at the Nevsky Ecological Forum. In this context, they took part in the 'round-table' meeting on "Modern problems and the possible future of the Aral Sea". Asserting the environmental diplomacy as one of the key priorities of Turkmenistan's foreign policy, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focuses on the importance of humanization and environmentalization of the system of international relations, prioritizing the value of human life, its worthy conditions. 

The roposals for improving legislation aimed at further developing environmental education, strengthening interregional and cross-border cooperation in the Commonwealth of Independent States, promoting environmentally oriented technologies, ensuring a healthy living environment and the quality of life were put forward in the framework of the business part of the Nevsky Forum programme 

In 2016, the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly became the 11th associate member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). Some other partners of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly have the same status in the IPU: the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Latin American Parliament, the Central American Parliament and the European Parliament. 

According to Valentina Matvienko, "the 137th Assembly of the IPU will significantly contribute to the development of the global inter-parliamentary dialogue". 

The Inter-Parliamentary Union is the oldest international parliamentary organization. It was founded in 1889 and brings together parliamentarians from 173 countries and 11 inter-parliamentary organizations. Throughout its history, the IPU promotes the development of parliamentarism, respect for human rights, as well as the establishment of interethnic peace and the preservation of international security. This is one of the most authoritative parliamentary organizations in the world. 

The Assembly promises to become the largest in the history of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in terms of the composition of the participants. One of its central events will be the adoption of the resolution "Sharing our diversity: The 20th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Democracy". The programme includes thematic sessions and meetings: the Forum of Women Parliamentarians and the Forum of Young Parliamentarians of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. The IPU standing committees: the Steering Committee of the Assembly, the Committee on Democracy and Human Rights, the Committee on United Nations Affairs, the Committee on Sustainable Development, Finance and Trade, the Committee on Peace and International Security will hold meetings. 

Meetings of six geopolitical groups of the Inter-Parliamentary Union - the African, Arab, Asian-Pacific, Eurasian, Latin American and the Twelve plus groups (countries of Western and Central Europe, Canada, some other states) will be organized. The new chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Union will be elected during the forum in St. Petersburg. 

The events of the 137th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union will be held at three venues: in the Expoforum Exhibition and Convention Center, the Tauride Palace and the Parliamentary Center. /The State News Agency of Turkmenistan/