Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, April 25 / Trend G. Hasanov /
Turkmenistan's georgraphic location allows comparing with several biggest and fastgrowing markets. Sufficient hydrocarbon reserves ensure its huge potential in production and export, OSCE press-release said with reference to OSCE Secreatary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut's speech deliverd in Ashgabat.
OSCE head participated in two day international energy top level conference compeleting its work on April 24.
"Demand for energy for a long-term period in any case will increase in accordance with growing demand of global economy. It deals with the matter that energy resources being very important now are situated in regions far from the centers of great demand for energy." So, development and production of energy resources, their transportation and distribution require great expenditures for a long-term period, OSCE head said. Forecasts indicate at doubling of inter-regional trade by net energy resources by 2030.
Growing demand and intensifying trade will be accompanied by increase of risks and consequneces of possible violations, such as destruction of supplies network caused by natural disasters, technical problems or malevolent acts, including severe terror attacks, he said. Ecological consequences of these events must be seriously thought over.
Use of UN General Asssembly resolution's words in this context "promotion to the international cooperation while determining ways of reliable transportation of energy resources on the international markets" requires several political approaches from both state and non state participants. Brichambaut stressed the following among these approaches: necessity in making strategic choice of ways ensuring predictability for state and private investors who can allocate significant resources for a long term irrespective of current state of markets. It will require solid and stabile obligations based on trust, relations between all involved participants at all stages of circle - production - transportation - distribution. It can be difficult to negotiate with states, private sector and individual participants but necessity in honesty is always urgent.
The second approach is necessity in justice between appropriate participants at each of these stages. Importance of firm terms of contracts acting withnin operating markets regulated by law is very significant. The international organizations have the best state for rendering consultations on possible efforts of legal and regulative organizations at the national and international levels.
The third approach is improvemnt of effectiveness of energy resources and conservation, prevention and removal of pollution and other ecological problems must be considered as integral parts of this structure. He reminded that OSCE organized the second preparatory conference to its 16-th Economic and ecologiacl forum held in March 2008. Special attention was stressed to marine cooperation and environmental protection in the Caspian Sea. OSCE organized the workshop Removal of oil flood: status of regional cooperation in the Caspian Sea and exchange of modern practice from OSCE region" in Turkmenbashi in March.
Brichambaut stressed that this top-level conference is important action towards development of stronger international regulation for global energy resources supplies upon certain legal norms and mechanisms. Specification of appropriate legal norms can strengthen processes to harmonize consumers' interests and energy suppliers, transit nations and transnational companies, he said.
"Establishing common legal framework for international cooperation, transit and consumption of energy resources can become goal of strategic importance in a long-term period," he said. By attracting these tools from the rich box of tools designed by international community and energy industry, one can meet various demands, new approaches can be shaped in line with goals set by the UN General Assembly resolution adopted upon Ashgabat's initiative in Dec. 2008.
OSCE says some major energy consumers, major energy producers and many countries are very important transit countries. The variety of roles and experience makes the issue of energy security vulnerable for all members of the organization. In future, the fulfillment of commitments set by the OSCE will contribute to stability and security in the region with possesses huge potential. "Transparency and international law are vital guarantees."
The UN General Assembly resolution admits importance of the Central Asia as a center of transport and communication and region's role along with other centers "who produce energy and transport it to international markets."
Brichambaut said the Central Asia increases its importance within the OSCE. Significance of the Central Asia, efforts made by the Central Asian authorities and society were recognized by 56 OSCE member states. The organization's Ashgabat office marked 10th anniversary. The OSCE office was opened at the same time with OSCE missions in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
"We are experiencing hard times. Global economic and financial crisis have also affected energy sector. International cooperation is crucial to ensure sustainable development and prosperity. More transparency and predictability in the energy sector is an integral part of a general view."
In 2003, 56 member states signed "OSCE Strategic Document on Economic and Ecological Dimension" which sets issue of energy security as key element of the OSCE intentions in this dimension.
The member states also adopted document titled "Dialogue on Security and Energy Sources in OSCE" in Brussels in 2006 to support principles and tasks coordinated in G8 meeting in St. Petersburg in 2006 to authorize the OSCE to contribute to dialogue on security and energy sources.
The Permanent Council and OSCE Secretariat are authorized to increase awareness on Action Plan on climate change, pure energy sources and sustainable development and Action Plan on global security of energy sources adopted by G8 in 2005.
"I would like to congratulate Turkmenistan on unanimous adoption of the resolution at the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly," he said.
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