Among the most important vectors of the foreign policy strategy of the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, the consolidation of universal peace and security in modern conditions, including in the field of food security, has been identified. Our neutral Homeland in fact confirms its commitment to broad constructive cooperation both at the interstate level and in the format of reputable international organizations.
Attaching special importance to strategic partnership with the UN and its relevant structures, Turkmenistan takes an active part in developing balanced solutions to key issues on the regional and global agenda. The concrete proposals put forward by our country are aimed at the implementation of these tasks, designed to contribute to the optimization and further expansion of multifaceted international cooperation, based on the realities of the time and with a long-term perspective.
This year, at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Turkmenistan will put forward an initiative to hold a major international forum on food security in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Food Program, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund. This was reported to President Serdar Berdimuhamedov at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on July 28.
It should be noted that our state has positive experience in implementing fundamental reforms in agriculture, including comprehensive measures to maximize the potential of the agro-industrial complex, support agricultural producers, ensure food security, produce high-quality food, and improve the standard of living of the population.
In order to create food abundance in the country, special attention is paid to the study and implementation of world best practices, the expansion of international cooperation in this area, as well as fruitful cooperation with the United Nations and its specialized agencies.
In particular, Turkmenistan’s partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is being intensified in such areas as sustainable development of the agro-industrial complex, ensuring food security and environmental protection. The FAO supports the efforts of the Turkmen state to achieve sustainable development goals – from promoting climate-optimized farming methods to strengthening food safety systems.
Recall that in 2015, our country was awarded a special award by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations for achievements in ensuring food security as one of the Development Goals of the third millennium.
The result of our country’s close cooperation with the UN and its specialized agency FAO is also the holding of various events in Turkmenistan aimed at stimulating regional and international partnership in the food sector.
Evidence of this is the draft technical cooperation program on land cadastre jointly developed with this Organization, which will make it possible to make informed decisions and promote sustainable land use methods, ensure equal access to land resources for all interested parties.
Currently, climate change remains one of the major problems in the world when it comes to food security and nutrition. Mitigation and adaptation measures contribute to reducing negative impacts on the food system and ecosystems, while international cooperation is the basis for solving regional and global food and climate issues.
In this context, it should be emphasized that Turkmenistan is one of the countries that calls for immediate and effective measures to overcome the global food crisis, and in this regard holds meetings, conferences, and other events.
The fruitful nature of Turkmenistan’s long-term cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was emphasized at a meeting with the Executive Director of the Program, Inger Andersen, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on January 16 this year via videoconference.
The parties noted the expediency of implementing joint projects in the field of achieving Sustainable Development Goals, discussed the directions and prospects of cooperation in the field of environmental protection, climate change, ecology and rational use of natural resources.
In order to ensure food security in our country, appropriate measures are being carried out within the framework of the National Climate Change Strategy and the National Forest Program. Comprehensive measures are being implemented to adapt agricultural production to climatic factors, optimize its placement, taking into account the needs for industrial products. In the large-scale reforms being implemented, great importance is attached to rational land and water use, the environmental aspect.
Supporting international efforts in this direction, Turkmenistan has consistently taken an initiative position in developing balanced solutions to these tasks with a view to the future. Thus, within the framework of the World Government Summit – 2023, held on February 13-15 in Dubai (UAE), meetings were held between members of the Turkmen delegation with the Minister for Cabinet Affairs of the UAE, the Director General of the World Trade Organization, as well as with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam.
During the negotiations, the need to unite the efforts of States and international organizations in the implementation of the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals on a global scale, in particular, related to climate, was emphasized.
On March 9, within the framework of the international conference “Partnership in the field of food security in the context of climate change”, held in Ashgabat on the initiative of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in a hybrid format and organized by the Government of Turkmenistan jointly with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with the support of the UN Permanent Coordinator’s Office in our country, a meeting of ministers of agriculture of the states was held Central Asia.
The issues of regional and global cooperation in ensuring food security were put on the agenda of the forum. The speakers emphasized the interrelationship of climate change, food systems and socio-economic conditions for the smooth functioning of world agricultural production, the importance of introducing “green” technologies to minimize the negative impact on the environment, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create sustainable transport chains for food delivery.
In general, the conference has become an open platform for discussing issues of regional and global cooperation in such a significant area as ensuring food security.
On March 10-11, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held talks with Vice-President, Chairman of the Organization for Environmental Protection of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ali Salajeg, Deputy Director General of the FAO, Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia Vladimir Rachmanin, who arrived in Ashgabat to participate in the above-mentioned conference.
During the meetings, such topics as food and environmental safety, rational use of natural resources were discussed. The parties noted the need to consolidate actions in the field of digital land cadastre, water issues, in combating desertification and sandstorms.
On March 20, in Vienna, at the headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a meeting was held with the Director General of the Agency, M. Grossi, at which issues of cooperation in the field of health and food security were discussed.
Today, the countries of the region and the world have an important task – to make the agro-industrial complex more productive and able to adapt to external influences and emerging new conditions and challenges. In this context, it should be emphasized that climate change is making its own adjustments to traditional farming practices and requires immediate action. Turkmenistan, being one of the leaders of regional climate negotiations, consistently supports the development of cooperation in this direction.
The importance of food security is also recognized in the Paris Climate Agreement. This is confirmed by the fact that many countries rely primarily on the agro-industrial complex in their plans to adapt to climate change and mitigate its consequences. In this aspect, the application of sustainable agricultural practices to achieve food security is also a priority for the Central Asian States.
The UN, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the British Embassy, annually holds a Youth Conference, within the framework of which an appeal is made to high-ranking delegates of the Conference of the Parties on the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
The scientific and practical conference “Achievements in the field of environmental protection and international cooperation in this field in the year under the motto “Happy youth with Arkadag Serdar”, held in June, was attended, including by the digital system, by heads and specialists of domestic environmental protection structures and industry departments, the scientific community, universities and public associations of the country, as well as reputable international and regional organizations – The United Nations Development Program, the United Nations Environment Program, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia, the German Society for International Cooperation, etc.
During the forum, FAO expressed its intention to provide technical assistance to Turkmenistan through such initiatives as “Improving the pasture monitoring system using satellite images and geographic information systems”, “Monitoring and assessment of fish stocks”, etc.
In addition, an integral part of the large-scale plans implemented in the agricultural sector is the rational use of water resources through the introduction of advanced water-saving technologies and the latest scientific achievements into production.
Taking an active position in solving urgent problems of our time, our country stands for deepening and expanding fruitful partnership, in particular, in the UN format, with the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, other reputable organizations and structures.
This is evidenced by the Fifth Central Asian Expert Forum “Topical aspects of regional cooperation on climate change, water use, food security and information and communication technologies in the Central Asian region” held in Ashgabat in 2022.
As it was emphasized in the speeches, the constructive initiatives put forward by Turkmenistan at various high-level forums receive broad support from the international community. In particular, these are proposals to open a Regional center for technologies related to climate change in Central Asia in Ashgabat, to develop a UN Water Strategy, a UN special Program for the Aral Sea basin and to separate the Aral issues into a separate UN activity, to preserve the ecological well-being of the Caspian Sea, etc.
Following the results of the 79th session of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), held on May 15-19 this year in Bangkok (Kingdom of Thailand), a resolution initiated by Turkmenistan concerning the issue of creating a Special UN Program for the Aral Sea Basin was unanimously adopted. All this is evidence of the growing international authority of our independent, neutral Motherland, recognition of its positive role in addressing pressing issues on the global agenda.
In June of this year, a regular meeting of the Board of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea was held in Dushanbe (Republic of Tajikistan), as well as an international conference “Central Asia: towards a sustainable future through a strong regional institution”, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of IFAS. The forums were attended by delegations of Turkmenistan, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan, members of the Executive Committee of IFAS, representatives of the structural divisions of the Fund.
The meeting discussed issues related to the implementation of the projects of the Action Program to Assist the countries of the Aral Sea Basin (PBAM-4), with the holding of events dedicated to the 30th anniversary of IFAS, as well as the results of the work of the Working Group on Improving the organizational structure and Legal Framework of IFAS. Following the meeting, a number of documents were signed.
It should be noted that the legislative and legal framework regulating this sphere has been formed and is being systematically improved in our country, a lot of work is being done to preserve biological diversity and natural landscapes, create new forest and park zones, promote the “green economy” and environmental diplomacy.
Great importance is attached to improving the ecological culture of society. The implementation of a large–scale landscaping program launched in Turkmenistan is a concrete contribution to the global cause of combating the negative effects of climate change.
Thus, thanks to the initiatives of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, important steps are being taken in the country to strengthen food security and reduce dependence on imports of demanded products, the horizons of international cooperation are expanding, and our own experience in this direction is multiplying.
A source: https://e-cis.info/news/567/111376/
