National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Hero-Arkadag took part in the International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum

During his visit to the Republic of Austria, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Hero-Arkadag, took part in the International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum.

The Forum was held at the Hofburg Palace. There, the National Leader of the Turkmen people was warmly welcomed by Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Gerd Müller and Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria Beate Meinl-Reisinger.

The Forum agenda included issues related to opportunities for the transition to a green economy, ensuring energy security in the current geopolitical environment, and decarbonization. Hero-Arkadag was given the floor at the Forum.

Warmly greeting the participants, the National Leader of the Turkmen people expressed deep gratitude to Federal President of the Republic of Austria Alexander Van der Bellen, Director General of UNIDO Gerd Müller, and Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of Austria Beate Meinl-Reisinger for the invitation to participate in the International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum.

Hero-Arkadag noted that the highly representative composition of the Forum demonstrates the strong interest of countries around the world in addressing urgent issues on the climate and energy agenda.

Based on extensive previous experience and an objective analysis of current processes, the National Leader of the Turkmen people outlined a number of practical measures proposed by Turkmenistan aimed at improving and stabilizing energy realities and moving toward a meaningful and forward-looking dialogue.

As Hero-Arkadag emphasized, Turkmenistan once again draws attention to its initiative to develop a Global Security Strategy. Its main conceptual principle is the indivisibility and interconnection of various aspects of security, among which energy security is one of the key components.

Hero-Arkadag also noted that Turkmenistan proposes considering the development, under the auspices of the United Nations, of an “Energy Code” that would clearly reflect the rejection of the politicization of relations in this sphere.

The National Leader of the Turkmen people also proposed joining efforts for the practical implementation of Turkmenistan’s initiative to create a universal international legal document of the United Nations aimed at global cooperation in the energy sector based on new principles, including the regulation of production, transit, and consumption of energy resources. Advancing this work, Turkmenistan will submit to the United Nations General Assembly a draft Resolution entitled “The Key Role of Reliable and Stable Energy Connectivity in Ensuring Sustainable Development,” Hero-Arkadag said.

As Hero-Arkadag noted, when Turkmenistan first initiated broad multilateral dialogue on energy security issues nearly two decades ago, it proceeded from the need to make this process systematic and long-term, based on international legal foundations. Time has proven the validity and soundness of these approaches.

 “Beginning the practical development of hydrogen energy in Turkmenistan based on natural gas, we are ready to work in this area across the broadest possible range and with all interested international partners. In this regard, we propose the initiative of creating a Global Programme for the Transition to Hydrogen Energy for a ten-year period,” the National Leader of the Turkmen people said.

 “As for another topic of the current Forum - support for vulnerable regions, in particular landlocked developing countries - Turkmenistan’s position here is absolutely clear and principled. This category of states must be guaranteed equal and fair access to water and, more broadly, to water resources as well as waterways. This principle is a decisive condition not only from a political and legal standpoint, but also from a moral perspective, as a matter of responsibility to present and future generations.”

At the same time, Turkmenistan is working jointly with the United Nations on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

In concluding his speech, the National Leader of the Turkmen people expressed gratitude to the organizers of the International Vienna Forum for creating favorable conditions for work and wished the participants success and fruitful cooperation in the name of realizing the high ideals and values of the United Nations.

Thanking Hero-Arkadag for his substantive speech, the Forum moderator emphasized the great importance of the proposals and initiatives voiced.

At the end of his visit program to the Republic of Austria, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Hero-Arkadag, proceeded to Vienna International Airport, from where he departed for his Homeland.