Today, the President of Turkmenistan, Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty of Milli Gengesh Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov met with members of the Halk Maslakhaty of the first convocation, deputies of the Mejlis in the building of the Office of the Halk Maslakhaty.
During the meeting, the priority tasks facing the parliamentarians at the next stage of the development of the independent Turkmen state were identified and discussed.
In the morning, the leader of the nation arrived at the Office of the Halk Maslakhaty of Milli Gengesh.
After greeting the meeting participants, the head of state goes to a specially designated place.
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov recalled that this year is marked by an important date in the history of our independent state the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of Turkmenistan, as well as the establishment of the State Flag.
Taking into account the fundamental principles and norms of the Constitution, hundreds of laws, codes, and resolutions have been adopted.Guided by the goals of the development of our society, the requirements of the modern era, advanced world experience, constitutional, socio-economic, socio-political transformations have been carried out.
A multiparty electoral system has been created, the transition to a bicameral parliamentary system has been carried out, the nation’s leader stated.
Speaking about the successfully developing cooperation with international structures and, first of all, the UN, the nation’s leader noted the election of Turkmenistan to the Executive Board of the UN Structure on Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women, to the Vice-Chairmen of the Economic Commission for Europe of this organization, to the membership of the Executive Board of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, as well as the Intergovernmental Council of the International Hydrological Program of UNESCO and a number of other international structures.
In this regard, the leader of the nation recalled that in 2020 amendments and additions were made to the Basic Law of the country, the legal basis for the bicameral parliamentary system was created, elections of members of the Halk Maslakhaty of Milli Gengesh of Turkmenistan were successfully held in accordance with the new provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Code of the state.
This historic event was a new step in the development of the representative and legislative bodies of our country, promoted the achievement of a new level of activity carried out by the legislative bodies of our state, further improving the quality of laws and regulations adopted, the head of state noted.
Touching upon the international and inter-parliamentary activities of the Halk Maslakhaty and the Mejlis of Milli Gengesh of Turkmenistan, the head of state pointed out the need to purposefully continue work on strengthening and developing relations with parliaments of foreign states, international organizations, including with the structural units of the United Nations.
In 2022, it is necessary to hold the planned international events at a high organizational level, the head of Turkmenistan continued, noting among them the organization by Milli Gengesh together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Interparliamentary Forum of Central Asian countries and the Russian Federation scheduled for May, as well as the holding of a Women’s Dialogue within the framework of this forum.
In this regard, the head of state recalled that the Dialogue of Women of Central Asian countries is being held under the chairmanship of Turkmenistan this year.
In honor of the upcoming glorious date the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of Turkmenistan and the establishment of the State Flag, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov ordered to provide measures to clarify and widely promote the content of the country’s Basic Law, the norms and principles set out therein, the activities carried out in Turkmenistan to protect human rights and freedoms.
The head of state instructed the Halk Maslakhaty and the Mejlis of Milli Gengesh to hold these events together with the ministries and departments of the country, khyakimliks, political parties, public associations.
In this regard, the nation’s leader also noted the need to plan international conferences, exhibitions, forums, competitions, creative meetings in honor of these dates at the international and state level.
During his speech, the country’s President set tasks to maintain regular contacts with voters, to conduct constant work on studying letters, appeals and proposals of citizens, to hold meetings and public receptions with them, to be interested in everyday life, people’s needs.
Also, to continue work on clarifying the norms of laws, the goals of the state’s domestic and foreign policy.
Continuing his speech, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on the issues of improving national legislation in the military field in accordance with the peaceful military doctrine of Turkmenistan and the modern transformations carried out in this direction.
In particular, the need to make appropriate amendments and additions to the Laws of Turkmenistan “On military duty and military service”, “On defense”, “On the State border of Turkmenistan” was highlighted.
Noting that a mandatory component of the reliable development of a democratic society in modern conditions is the issues of law enforcement and legality, the President of the country instructed to continue work on improving the norms and principles of the Criminal Code, pay special attention to the fight against cybercrime, as well as crimes committed using Internet resources, and laws on information protection.
The head of Turkmenistan drew the attention of the audience to the fact that the transformation of our country into an important transport and logistics center of the region and the planet opens up opportunities for further development of industrial processing of raw mineral deposits.
Thus, the development of industry is one of the most important directions of our economy, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said, setting tasks for the legislative body in order to stimulate economic, entrepreneurial and investment activity, improve such legislative acts as the Merchant Shipping Code, Customs and Tax Codes, laws regulating investment activities, and other documents.
Benefits and additional assistance at the expense of state and public funds are directed to support young and large families, children who have lost their parents, veterans and people who have lost their health in the protection of state and public interests.
Therefore, it is necessary to analyze legislative acts and systematically improve the existing norms envisaging the provision of benefits and support to these groups of people, the President of Turkmenistan said.
The head of state paid attention to the issues of legislative support for the healthcare system of our country, which is also undergoing large-scale transformations.As the leader of the nation noted, we have outlined in the new edition of the Saglyk State Program the measures to be implemented in this system in the future.
In this direction, we are actively cooperating with the UN, the World Health Organization, especially on the prevention of various diseases, timely detection, treatment, and protection of the nation’s gene pool.
We have already adopted laws and regulations in this area and are successfully implementing them.
Since the first days of the detection of the COVID-19 pandemic in the world, systematic work has been carried out jointly with the United Nations, its specialized agencies, the WHO Regional Office for Europe, as well as international structures and states to ensure the prevention of the coronavirus infection spread and readiness to confront it.
Within the framework of scientific and medical diplomacy with WHO and its Regional Office for Europe, Turkmenistan provided its proposals for the preparation of a special program for the study of the coronavirus genome, the creation of a regional method for countering lung inflammation diseases, and the creation of Acute Infectious Disease Treatment and Prevention Center within WHO.
Taking into account the natural and exogenous features of the Central Asian region, initiatives have been put forward to create the Central Asian Center for Virology and Bacteriology.
Touching upon the improvement of labor legislation, the leader of the nation noted that these issues are of great importance in achieving a high level of development of the state, since in the course of work a person creates material and spiritual wealth, having a positive impact on the development of society.
In order to ensure and implement the right of every citizen to work, legal support of labor activity, it is necessary to improve legislation so that it keeps pace with the times, the President of Turkmenistan underlined.
Further, the head of state focused on issues of youth policy, noting that the state takes great care of young people, the younger generation, paying attention to their education, harmonious development, expanding horizons, identifying talents, patriotic education.
The state policy implemented in these areas includes socio-economic, political, cultural, organizational and legal measures aimed at self-affirmation of youth in society, education of a generation with a broad outlook, possessing high culture and organizational abilities.
The Mejlis deputies, the Halk Maslakhaty members, being among the youth, should work to improve their legal culture and responsible attitude to the future of our glorious Motherland. If required, it is necessary to constantly improve legislation in this direction, the country’s President said.
Then the leader of the nation focused on the state policy on the development of physical culture and sports, the training of national athletes at the highest level, the introduction of healthy lifestyle norms into society.
Along with the material and technical equipment of this system, we are strengthening its regulatory framework, the head of state continued.For this purpose, the Law of Turkmenistan “On Physical Culture and Sports” was adopted in 2020, and the Program of Support and Development of Physical Culture and Sports in Turkmenistan for 2021-2025 and an Action Plan for its implementation were approved.
As a result of this activity, our neutral Homeland has turned into a center for world-class sporting events, and our athletes achieve great success at international competitions, the leader of the nation said, setting specific tasks for legislators.
Specifically: together with public associations, consistently conduct explanatory work among the population, especially among young people, about the benefits of physical education and sports, the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
Referring to the ongoing program activities aimed at introducing the digital system and new innovative technologies into all sectors of the country's economy, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted the measures taken to create a legal basis for the work being carried out in this direction, increasing the range of digital services, improving their quality and safety.
As noted, in recent years, the Concept of the Development of the Digital Economy in Turkmenistan for 2019-2025, the State Program for the Development of the Digital Economy in Turkmenistan for 2021-2025 has been approved, as well as laws related to cybersecurity, electronic documentation, electronic document management and digital services have been adopted.
The world is not standing still, the digital system is developing every day, which dictates the need for further improvement of the legislative framework of this system, the leader of the nation summarized.
Then President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on the issues of legislative support for the development of national culture, which is the spiritual wealth of the people. Turkmenistan pays special attention to the preservation, enrichment, popularization of the national cultural heritage in the world, bringing it to future generations, the development of cultural diplomacy as an important direction of state policy.
In continuation of this topic, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that currently activities are being carried out to include Ashgabat in the UNESCO Network of Creative Cities in the Design category, as well as to include in the World Heritage List the art of growing Turkmen Alabaies, Turkmen felt milling, blacksmithing, Turkmen hound dog taza and the art of game birds, the Turkmen national competition Goresh.
Nominations are being developed for inclusion in the prestigious UNESCO List of glorious dates, in particular, the 300th anniversary of the birth of Magtymguly Pyragy.Work is underway to open UNESCO departments in higher educational institutions of our country, to include a number of secondary schools in the International Network of UNESCO Associated Schools.
Turning to the issues of legislative support of the domestic agro-industrial complex, the head of state emphasized the importance of the work already done in this direction.In particular, the development and adoption of a number of laws regulating public relations in the agro-industrial complex by the Milli Gengesh of Turkmenistan together with ministries and relevant industry departments last year, declared as “Turkmenistan is the Homeland of Peace and Trust”.
In this regard, the leader of the nation emphasized the need, based on the tasks set for the effective use of all the possibilities of the agro-industrial complex and the transformation of agriculture into a profitable branch of the economy, to work on improving the legislative framework in this direction.
It is necessary to improve the powers of the Gengesh as local self-government bodies, to bring the legal status of government bodies into line with international practice.In this regard, taking into account the accumulated experience, it is necessary to regularly make appropriate amendments and additions to the Laws of Turkmenistan “On local representative bodies of state power”, “On local executive authorities”, the leader of the nation said.
In order to ensure the best interests of children, create conditions for their free and equal development, expand opportunities for the realization of children’s rights, as well as based on generally recognized norms of international law, world practice, measures should be taken to improve the activities of commissions of khyakimliks, etraps and cities for minors, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said.
In this regard, the need was noted to instruct the Ministry of Adalat to coordinate the preparation of regulatory legal acts with the participation of relevant authorities.
Continuing his speech, the head of state highlighted that a distinctive feature of the character and mentality of Turkmens is the provision of assistance and support to those in need.
These primordial noble traditions, based on the spiritual code, oblige our people to surround with special care and attention children left without parental care.And our ancestors steadfastly adhered to them.
Numerous confirmations of this can be found in historical chronicles and national literature.So, for example, Togrul beg adopted Alp Arslan, and Gerogly beg adopted Ovez.Our great poet-thinker Magtymguly Pyragy has these lines:
“If you meet an orphan,
be polite and warm.
If you can, offer
Both bread and salt,
If someone is in grief,
give a kind word.
It is more essential to support
A person in a time of need”
As the head of state emphasized, the efforts made to ensure a prosperous and happy life for children are dictated first of all by our greatest responsibility for the fate, a worthy and bright future of our native Motherland.
In order to provide social support to the younger generation in need of guardianship of children, to help restore their health, to create favorable conditions for a happy life and the formation of high human qualities in them, we have established a Charitable Foundation.
Under the patronage of the Foundation, the leader of the nation continued, a Children’s health and rehabilitation center will function in the new modern administrative center of the Ahal velayat, which will combine a kindergarten for 150 places, a hospital for 120 places and a wellness center.