Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Feb.14
By Huseyn Hasanov- Trend:
A report on measures taken to strengthen state border security was heard at a meeting of Turkmenistan's State Security Council in Ashgabat, a message from the Turkmen government said on Feb.13.
The meeting was held under the leadership of the country's President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
Chief of Turkmenistan's State Border Service Murad Yslamov reported on the measures taken for the implementation of the orders issued by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief for strengthening state border security and improving the service and living conditions of border guards.
The president said that Turkmenistan has always been and remains committed to the centuries-old tradition of friendship, peace and good neighbourliness which determines the favourable climate throughout the region.
The country's military doctrine is based on the policy of permanent neutrality and defence sufficiency. Turkmenistan is not included in any military-political bloc.
Under the auspices of the UN, Ashgabat repeatedly became a place for holding peace negotiations between conflicting parties in the region. The headquarters of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia is located in Turkmenistan's capital.
In one of his addresses to Turkmenistan's leadership, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that the declaration on permanent the neutrality of Turkmenistan has been recognised and supported by the UN General Assembly and became a valuable contribution to the peace and security issue of Central Asia.
Afghanistan which Turkmenistan shares a long border, remains a zone of tension in the region. Ashgabat expressed its readiness to offer its political space for holding an Inter-Afghan peace dialogue.
A large scale project envisaging the construction of a gas pipeline to India and Pakistan for the supply of Turkmen gas is related to Afghanistan's territory. Observers believe that its implementation could contribute to the reconstruction of Afghanistan, since it will create jobs and provide the country with a guaranteed income for transit.
Turkmenistan has land border with Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and is a neighbour of Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia and Kazakhstan through the Caspian Sea.
Translated by L.Z.
Edited by S.M.