NEWS & EVENTS


Turkmenistan celebrated 17th anniversary of independence




Turkmenistan celebrated Independence Day on 27 October 2008. Festivities were held on this occasion in Ashgabat, which were attended by Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

By tradition, a flower laying ceremony was held at Independence Monument. The head of state laid flowers to the memorial, which is located in the scenic park in the south of Ashgabat.

A military parade followed by a civilian part started at 10 am in the main square of Ashgabat. The parade was broadcasted live on the national TV. All branches of the Armed Forces of Turkmenistan took part in the military parade, including cadets who demonstrated excellent performance in theoretical, combatant and military training in the military college, military academy and police academy. The contemporary military hardware of the national army was also demonstrated during the parade. These were columns of motor-rifle units and armored troops carriers, artillery units, mechanized rocket artillery, and anti-missile units. The parade participants and guests also saw Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters, SU-25 and MiG-29 attack planes that flew past over the square. Turkmen President, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Army General Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov attended the festive parade.

Constitutional Amendments




The extraordinary XXI session of Khalk Maslakhaty (People’s council) of Turkmenistan was held on September 26, 2008 in Ashgabat. During this session some amendments are including in the Constitution of Turkmenistan.

The Khalk Maslakhaty (People’s Council), the supreme representative body of power in the country, has ceased to exist. The Council’s main functions were transferred to the President, Mejlis, Cabinet of Ministers and Supreme Court of Turkmenistan.

The numbers of members of the parliament were increased from 65 to 125 with the aim of increasing the people's representation in the high legislative body. The election in this regard is expected to be held in December 2008.

British company confirms gas reserves in Turkmenistan's east




British Gaffney Cline & Associates (GCA), globally renowned consultancy company, has completed its assignment on the audit of gas reserves at South Yoloten-Osman (SYO) and Yashlar fields located in the Amudarya river basin in the eastern part of Turkmenistan.

The British company's estimates of the South Yoloten-Osman deposits are as under: a low estimate is 4 trillion cu. m.; an optimum one - 6 trillion cu. m., and a high one - 14 trillion cu. m. Officials of the company has confirmed that Comparing the South Yoloten-Osman (SYO) gas field reserves with those of Dovletabad, Turkmenistan's largest deposit until recently, the amount of SYO gas is five times as great as those of Dovletabad, which can be rated as fifth or fourth in the world.

The audit of gas reserves by an independent international expert is important in terms of guarantees gas reserves for gas pipelines, both under construction and proposed by Turkmenistan, which would carry Turkmen natural gas to the world markets. Given the confirmation gas reserves, it is now clear that whatever the results of further verifications, there is more than sufficient gas to fulfill Turkmenistan's current contract commitments. The said company has also audited the reserves at the adjoining Yashlar field. According to its report, the Yashlar holds: low estimate - 0.25 trillion cu. m.; optimum estimate - 0.675 trillion cu. m.; and high estimate - 1.5 trillion cu. m.