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Summit of Heads of Government to be held on 300th Anniversary of Pyragy

In 2024, Turkmenistan will host a summit of heads of government and an international conference of Ministers of Culture in honor of the 300th anniversary of the birth of Magtymguly Pyragy, the great Turkmen poet and thinker. The initiative was announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rashid Meredov, TDH reports. The summit is scheduled to be held in October, whilst the ministerial conference will take place in May. In addition, Turkmenistan plans to organize various events, such as scientific conferences, contests, literary evenings, film screenings and theatrical productions, as well as creative weeks in countries around the world. President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov instructed the head of the Foreign Ministry to ensure a highly organized roster of international events designed to increase the international renown of the poet.

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UN General Assembly Adopts Resolutions Initiated by Turkmenistan

On December 19th, 2023, the UN General Assembly adopted two resolutions initiated by Turkmenistan: “Strengthening connections between all modes of transport to achieve sustainable development goals,” and “The key role of reliable and stable energy connectivity in ensuring sustainable development." The resolution on transport was co-sponsored by 47 states, and the resolution on energy connectivity by 38 countries, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry stated. The document on cooperation in the transport sector proclaims 2026-2035 as the Decade of Sustainable Transport. The authors of the resolution invited the UN Secretary-General to continue international dialogue in this area and consider convening the Third UN Global Conference on Sustainable Transport. According to the document, the main events within the framework of the World Sustainable Transport Day in November 2024 will take place in Turkmenistan. The document on energy connectivity, meanwhile, provides for the consolidation of efforts by the international community to overcome the energy crisis facing the world, and calls for efforts to ensure the reliability and stability of cross-border supplies of energy resources. According to this document, it was proposed that the forum, “Sustainable Energy for All,” aimed at achieving Sustainable Development Goals to ensure access to reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all, be held in Turkmenistan in 2026.

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Conference in Ashgabat Discusses Creating First National Park

Participants in the “Rustamov Readings” conference discussed the possibility of creating the first National Park in Turkmenistan, to be named after Magtymguly Fragi. The meeting, which brought together famous scientists and practitioners in the field of ecology and conservation, was held at the Academic Council of the National Institute of Deserts, Flora and Fauna. The idea for the park arose in connection with the project, “Strengthening the efficiency of management of the system of specially protected natural areas of Turkmenistan,” carried out with financial support from the Global Environment Facility and UNDP. At the meeting, scientific reports were presented and speeches made and discussed, Turkmenistan: Golden Age reported.

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Mass Die-Out of Seals on the Turkmen Coast of the Caspian Sea

Another mass die-out of seals from an unknown disease has occurred on the Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea, Radio Azatlyk has reported. In recent days, experts have found dozens of dead seals, whilst the Turkmen authorities have ordered the military to shoot animals swimming to the shore. But oceanographers are dissatisfied with the actions of the authorities. "The state believes that seals are not needed,” said an expert who wishes to remain anonymous. “If these animals are killed, as they do with stray dogs and cats, they will soon disappear. Instead of shooting and destroying seals, the state should increase the number of specialists studying these animals and increase efforts to save them." Caspian seals are considered endemic to the Caspian Sea and are listed in the Red Book of Turkmenistan, as well as in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. According to oceanologists, the death of Caspian seals in the winter and spring season every year has become a trend. It is still impossible to say exactly what the cause of the mass die-outs is, since no information has been released about the studies conducted. But Turkmen oceanologists attribute the main cause of the deaths to be the violation of the ecology of the Caspian Sea, emissions from oil and gas enterprises, regular naval exercises, and an increase in factories in coastal areas. In August of this year, Turkmen Foreign Minister, Rashid Meredov expressed his concerns about the deteriorating ecology of the Caspian Sea, including the mass death of seals in 1997, 2000, 2021 and 2022. However, no concrete steps have been taken to remedy the issue.

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Turkmenistan and Russia Discuss Cooperation

On December 4th in Moscow, the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov met with Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Alexey Overchuk. The main topic of the talks was preparations for the upcoming 13th meeting of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Russian Commission on Economic Cooperation, which will be held in Ashgabat early next year. It was emphasized that the upcoming meeting will be an important stage in the development of mutually beneficial trade and economic partnership between the two countries. Both sides noted that today, Turkmenistan and Russia are searching for new forms and areas of cooperation that meet modern realities, the needs and mutual potential of the two countries. In this context, the importance of improving the legal framework of bilateral economic and commercial relations was stated. The parties also discussed cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian sphere. In this regard, Overchuk noted the agreements reached on the construction of a new joint Turkmen-Russian secondary school named after Pushkin in Ashgabat, the new Russian Drama Theater, and the creation of a Turkmen-Russian university in Ashgabat.

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Police in Turkmenistan Apprehend Former RFE/RL Correspondent

The police in Koneurgench, northern Turkmenistan, have apprehended Hudaiberdy Allashov, a former correspondent for RFE/RL, on undisclosed charges. Family members informed RFE/RL that Allashov was taken into custody on December 1st following a summons from the police. They allege that during this encounter, he was subjected to physical abuse and electric shocks. His current location and the rationale behind his arrest remain unknown. Allashov's association with RFE/RL dates back to a brief three-month stint in 2016. However, his tenure ended abruptly when he and his mother were arrested on accusations of using chewing tobacco, an offense deemed unlawful in the tightly-governed former Soviet nation. Both Allashov and his mother, Kurbantach Arazmedova, refuted these charges at the time. Their initial arrest drew international attention, leading to their release in mid-February 2017, albeit with a court conviction for possession of chewing tobacco, each receiving a three-year suspended prison sentence. Following his release, Allashov chose to cease his work with RFE/RL, expressing concerns for his safety. Nevertheless, in October 2019, he was detained once again, enduring hours of questioning allegedly accompanied by physical assault. The situation took a toll on his mother, who fell ill and passed away in the hospital two days later. In a separate incident in May 2022, Allashov and his wife, Ejesh Arazgylyjeva, were allegedly subjected to violent treatment by an official in Koneurgench, resulting in Arazgylyjeva's hospitalization and necessitating medical attention for Allashov himself. Turkmenistan's government maintains a tight grip over media outlets, including newspapers, radio, television, and online platforms.