BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 2
By Amina Nazarli - Trend:
NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Program remains open to supporting activities proposed by researchers from Turkmenistan, a NATO official told Trend.
The organization’s representative said that in the field of scientific cooperation, Turkmenistan has been involved in the SPS Program since 1993, and has participated in SPS projects primarily on internet connectivity and environmental security.
“Turkmenistan benefited from the SPS flagship multi-year project “Virtual Silk Highway”, which expanded internet connectivity at academic institutions and universities across the Caucasus and Central Asia. In the early 2000s, this project also contributed to the improvement of Turkmenistan’s National Research and Educational Network (NREN) through the provision of networking equipment and information technology to universities and academic institutions,” said the NATO official.
Moreover, the SPS Program collaborated with Turkmenistan in an environmental security project.
“As Turkmenistan had identified environmental security as a priority area for cooperation, the SPS Program collaborated with Turkmenistan on a project dedicated to the safe handling of radioactive waste, which was a by-product from iodine and bromine production facilities near the Caspian Sea. This project included the implementation of a radiochemical laboratory in Ashgabat, the installation and operation of equipment for protection against radiation and the training of Turkmen personnel,” added the Alliance representative.
In the words of a NATO official, there are no ongoing activities supported by SPS involving Turkmenistan currently.
Throughout the years, NATO and Turkmenistan have cooperated on such issues as border control and security, science and environmental issues, and civil preparedness, according to the organization’s representative.