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Ashgabat Declaration of the Energy Charter Conference is Adopted

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The 28th session of the Energy Charter Conference held under the chairing of Turkmenistan in this international organization continued its work in the capital.

At present session held under the ministerial part of the 28th session, the initial outcomes of the chairing of Turkmenistan in 2017 Energy Charter Conference were summed up. It was noted that our country, having taken the lead in the work of this international organization, concentrated the efforts in practical implementation of international initiatives of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in the provision of global energy security as an integral part factor of general sustainable development.

The development of new models of cooperation is one of the main objectives of the work carried out in this direction. In this aspect, the forum of International Energy Charter “Toward Multilateral Framework Agreement on Transit of Energy Resources” held in Ashgabat in May of this year with the participation of the ministers, high officials and representatives of international organizations, energy companies and scientific research institutions was an important step.

The meeting allowed defining the circle of specific issues and problems related to international supplies of energy carriers and possible alternative solutions reflecting the needs of the Energy Charter members. International media forum organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan was timed to this event. The Final Document of Ashgabat Forum was published in the UN official languages as the official document of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly.

The sessions of the Energy Charter Target Group on regional energy cooperation in Central and South Asia held in Hong Kong and Ashgabat, working meetings and sessions held by the Energy Charter Secretariat in Brussels where such subjects as the protection and encouragement of foreign investments to the energy, transit of energy resources, energy efficiency and many other were discussed, are among other events.

It was also mentioned that during Turkmenistan chairing of the Energy Charter Conference, geographic scale of International Energy Charter signed by other seven states – Nigeria, Kenia, Burkina Faso, Mali, United Arab Emirates, Panama and Gambia , has been considerably expanded.

The reports of International Energy Charter Secretary General Urban Rusnak, OSCE Secretary General Tomas Greminger, Vice Prime-Minister, Foreign Minister of Georgia Mikhael Janelidze, State Secretary of the Ministry of Energy of Romania Julian-Robert Tudorace and other foreign participants of the forum highlighted in details such subjects brought up by Turkmen side as mobilization of the investments for sustainable energy of the future, modernization of the Energy Charter Treaty, diversification of the sources of energy resources and routes of the supply to international energy markets.

The speakers said that the consolidation of the positions of global economy directly depends on the sustainability of the world energy sphere. The presence of wide access to cheap, reliable and modern sources of energy is very important for steadfast development of all countries and prosperity of their nations. The efforts of international community according to the UN Development Agenda until 2030 are directed to the achievement of this goal of the third millennium.

At present, the Energy Charter Treaty is the only multilateral agreement, which is aimed at the solution of complicated political, economic and legal problems related to the transit of energy carriers. The Provisions of the Treaty encompass five main directions: protection and stimulation of foreign investments to energy sphere, free trade of materials, products and equipment related to energy sphere, freedom of energy transit along the pipelines and networks, reduction of unfavourable impact of energy cycle to the environment and increase of energy efficiency, mechanism of disputes resolution between the states or between the investor and the state.

Meanwhile, the Energy Charter Treaty that was elaborated around 25 years ago does not meet the requirements of the present and much less the future. Following this, back in 2015, more than 70 states as well as the European Union and other organizations have signed International Energy Charter at the Ministerial Conference in Hague. This document is political declaration regulating general principles and main directions of international cooperation in energy sphere. Urban Rusnak, the Energy Charter Secretary General said that political consultations held these days in Ashgabat gave start to the second phase of the modernization of the Treaty.

In this context, the members of the meeting mad special mention of the participation of Turkmenistan in solution of topical issues of the modernity. Diversification of transport infrastructure, which is able to provide the supply of energy resources to international markets via ramified optional pipeline system, is strategic priority of the provision of energy security for our country. This entails comprehensive development of cooperation between energy supplying countries, their transporters and consumers as well as with other interested parties and international organizations including the UN and Energy Charter.

At present, integrated approach to the solution of energy security is required for its global provision. In this regard, Head of the State Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov proposed to establish specialized agency – the UN Energy Council as well as the UN Expert Group on Energy Security. According to Turkmenistan opinion, current situation in this sector of the world economy dictates the necessity of the elaboration and adoption of relative UN Convention.

According to Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Tomas Greminger, Turkmenistan plays the key role today in the solution of the objectives of sustainable provision of energy resources to the states of the region and by this in the consolidation of their energy security. Neutral status of our country contributes to the promotion of political dialog and consolidation of peace and stability.

Located in the centre of the largest transport corridors between Europe and Asia, Turkmenistan initiated several large international and regional projects, which are to bring economic and trade cooperation between Central Asia countries and neighbouring regions to new level. Today, it enters the number of the main suppliers of natural gas to the world markets, particularly to the People’s Republic of China.

In this context, the project of the construction of Turkmenistan – Afghanistan – Pakistan – India gas line acquires special significance. The construction of TAPI gas line and involvement of new regions and markets to the world energy system will give additional impulse to industrial production in the region and the world and will serve to the development of trade and the growth of investments as well as will support the creation of new occupancies. In its turn, it will make positive effect of stabilization of political situation.

Great perspectives, which are opened by the construction of Trans-Caspian gas line, were highlighted in number of reports. The energy line that would be able to supply the gas from Central Asia to Europe can be connected to East – West gas line, which combined gas deposits of Turkmenistan in integrated system as well as with the energy infrastructure of Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Discussion of the issues of the transfer of Energy Charter members to green economy taking into account international obligations on mitigation of the consequences of the climate change and achievements of the Goals of Sustainable Development, realization of the projects in the use of renewable sources of energy, improvement of energy efficiency and other were the important subjects of the session.

Summing up the reports, Secretary General of the Energy Charter Urban Rusnak highlighted fruitful character of the discussions under the forum.

Summing up the outcomes of the 28th session of the Energy Charter Conference, the participants adopted Ashgabat Declaration of International Energy Charter as strategic middle-term document, where the outcomes of the chairing of Turkmenistan in this organization were highly appreciated and expressed the gratitude to President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for the hospitality and high-level organization of important meeting.

The press conference with participation of the Secretary General of International Energy Charter, representatives of Turkmenistan as well as Japan, which chaired the Conference in 2016 and Romania that would take over this mission in 2018, took place after the session.

Cultural programme stipulating the visit to National Turkmen Carpet Museum, the State Museum of the State Cultural Centre and International Equestrian Centre is planned for the participants of the forum on November 30.

On the same day, the meetings of the leaders of Foreign Ministry of Turkmenistan with Vice-premier of the Government, Foreign Ministry of Georgia Makhael Janelidze and Deputy Foreign Minister of Japan on Parliament Affairs Horii Manabu took place in the fields of the forum.

During the talks, the sides exchanged the opinions on different aspects of interstate relations including on cooperation of foreign departments, activation of trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian relations and further development of cooperation in energy sphere.