THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF TURKMENISTAN TOOK PART IN THE OSCE MINISTERIAL COUNCIL

On December 3, 2020, the 27th meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) began in the format of a videoconference, in the capital of the Republic of Albania, Tirana.

The Turkmen delegation was headed by the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan R. Meredov.

The agenda of the meeting is very busy. On the first day of the meeting, the addresses of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office and the President of the Organization's Parliamentary Assembly were heard. The report of the OSCE Secretariat was also presented to the attention of the participants. This was followed by plenary sessions, during which the heads of delegations, heads of the foreign affairs agencies of the OSCE participating States and the partner countries for cooperation made statements.

The parties assessed the current level of cooperation in political, economic, environmental and humanitarian directions in the OSCE area. Special attention was paid to security issues, protection of human rights and freedoms, and the fight against the global pandemic. The need to strengthen the work of the OSCE through closer coordination and cooperation, improved strategic planning and openness to reform was emphasized.

Speaking at the meeting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan reaffirmed Turkmenistan's commitment to multifaceted cooperation with the OSCE. The participants were presented with specific proposals to improve cooperation on the OSCE platform, in particular, in the field of social, economic, environmental and energy security.

"Our country will continue to make every effort to establish the principles of international law, the ideals of humanism, justice, tolerance, mutual respect as factors that determine modern relations between states," R. Meredov said.