On the 26th of January 2021, a meeting via videoconferencing was held between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov and the UN Undersecretary-General, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu.
During the meeting, the parties highly characterized cooperation between Turkmenistan and the United Nations on a wide range. Special emphasis was made on putting together efforts for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
In this regard, the preparedness of Turkmenistan to strengthen cooperation with the given Office of the UN was voiced which aims to unfold the economic potential of the Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), chiefly through the development of transport interconnectivity. It was stated that Turkmenistan supports the implementation of the “Vienna Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries for the Decade 2014-2024”.
The head of MFA noted that realizing the importance of transport interconnectivity which contributes to regional and global economic integration, the leadership of Turkmenistan has on several occasions become the initiator of a number of UN General Assembly Resolutions in the area of sustainable transport. The Global Conference on Sustainable Transport held in Ashgabat in November 2016 was a success. All of these facilitate the establishment of reliable transport-transit corridors and stable transboundary trade between the countries.
The parties agreed on the need to enhance the mechanisms of attaining sustainable interconnectivity, which is particularly important for the LLDCs. Based on this notion, Turkmenistan has put forward the initiative on the provision of stable international transport, particularly in the period of emergencies.
In this context, the efforts of Turkmenistan in the process of developing transport and transit communication between the countries of Europe and Asia were highlighted. Numerous transport, infrastructural and energy projects of regional significance are the reflection of active work carried out by Turkmenistan under the leadership of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. The importance of the Lapis-Lazuli corridor, construction of the gas pipeline TAPI, power and fiber-optic communication lines on Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan route, building of the railway lines from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan was emphasized.
Foreign Minister R.Meredov expressed gratitude to the UN Undersecretary-General Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu for efficient cooperation. In this regard, the fruitfulness of the High-level Regional Dialogue on the issues of sustainable transport organized in September of last year by the Government of Turkmenistan jointly with the UN and its structural agencies was underlined. It was stated that Turkmenistan is preparing to hold a Ministerial Conference on Transport for Landlocked Developing Countries in the current year. For this, the country is encouraging international organizations and financial institutions to cooperate closely.
