On December 12, 2020, at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, within the framework of the International Conference "The Policy of Neutrality and its Role in Ensuring International Peace, Security and Sustainable Development", a plenary session was held on the topic "Ensuring sustainable development through realization of global potential of energy diplomacy in a modern context."
The event was attended by the Minister of Energy of Turkmenistan Charymyrat Purchekov, Rector of the Institute of International Relations of the MFA Jumamyrat Gurbangeldiyev, Head of OSCE Centre in Ashgabat Natalia Drozd, faculty members and students of the Institute of International Relations of MFA of Turkmenistan, mass media, as well as the representatives of international organizations via videoconferencing.
At the session the speeches of the Minister of Energy of Turkmenistan Charymyrat Purchekov, Secretary-General of the Energy Charter Urban Rusnak, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Francesco La Camera and of other leading experts of international and regional structures were heard.
In his video statement Urban Rusnak underlined that the concept of neutrality is an important notion for the international organizations and countries which makes vast contribution into the resolution of pressing issues of current times and strengthens the standing of the international law. Speaking about the aim of neutrality, that is the reconciliation of countries and provision of security, he underlined that the given status is also important in the attainment of SDGs and stimulation of international economic cooperation. Urban Rusnak highlighted the initiatives of the President of Turkmenistan aimed at the strengthening of global and regional security, as well as the stable economic development of the countries of the region, formation of regional and interregional transport-transit corridors and protection of the environment. These proposals gained wide international recognition and consonant with the principles embedded in the Energy Charter.
In his speech, the representative of the International Energy Agency Keisuke Sadamori noted that the reliable, accessible and stable energy brings not only economic growth, but also helps to attain vast social objectives. Speaking about the work of the Agency in developing the energy policy, Director of Energy Markets and Security of the International Energy Agency underlined the concept of annual publication of the Agency “Review of Global Gas Security.” He also emphasized the important courses in the process of achieving energy security in the world.
In the framework of the plenary session, a constructive exchange of views took place on the ways of attaining energy security, opportunities of applying ecologically clean sources of energy and saving natural resources for future generations.
