RECCA VII: Efficient approaches toward integration processes in the region and solution of Afghan range of problems

Ashgabat hosted ministerial session of VII Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA VII).

The conference in Ashgabat brought together dozens of delegations from foreign countries including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Australia, Brazil, Great Britain, Germany, Georgia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Spain, Italy, Kazakhstan, Canada, Qatar, China, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Norway, UAE, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, USA, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Finland, France, Switzerland, Sweden and Japan.

Heads and representatives of large specialized structures of the United Nations Organization like the UN Conference of Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the UN Economic and Social Committee on Asia and Pacific (UESCAP), UNDP, UNESCO, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the UN Regional Centre on Preventive Diplomacy in Central Asia (UNRCCA), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the UN Economic Committee for Europe (UNECE) as well as such competent international and regional organizations like the EU, OSCE, ECO, ICO, SCO, International Labour Organization (ILO), South Asia Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC), TRACEKA, Kuwait Fund of Arabic Economic Development, Conference on Interaction and Confidence-building Measures in Asia (CICA), Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and other.

Largest banking and financial structures including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, International Financial Corporation (IFC), OPEC Fund of Industrial Development (OFID) have delegated their representatives to the Conference.

Heads of diplomatic missions accredited in our country have also been invited the Ashgabat meeting.

Members of the Government, heads and representatives of number of ministries and departments took part in the forum from Turkmen side.

The Forum started with the demonstration of special video about Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA VII).

It was highlighted during official opening ceremony of the forum that Turkmenistan considers the fact of such broad and representative participation of the states and international organizations as the respect and evidence of understanding of the importance and urgency of the issues to be discussed during the meeting that is very important in the context of further consolidation of joint activities for stability and development in Afghanistan.

Our country pays special attention to the relations with neighbouring state supporting the creation of the conditions for its sustainable development, full-scale integration to regional and global processes, establishment of peace and harmony in Afghanistan. Firm confidence of the achievement of political regulation exclusively by peaceful and diplomatic methods are fundamental position of Turkmen side.

Our country closely cooperates with the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy in the Central Asia and the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Turkmenistan steadily supports and directly participates in the efforts of the world community and neighbouring countries in the region for the achievements of set targets.

Realization of large infrastructural projects with afghan participation, particularly in such vitally important directions as energy and transport, is important factor of political stabilization, economic and social revival of this country and its successful integration to regional and global processes.

In this regard, special importance is given to the project of construction of Turkmenistan – Afghanistan – Pakistan – India gas line initiated by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. By initial calculations, besides direct supplies of gas to Afghanistan, TAPI project will allow annual income of 1 billion US dollars to the budget of the country for transit of gas. Besides, the conditions for creation of 12 thousand new work occupancies will appear. At present moment, Turkmenistan makes the construction of its part of energy line. The sides also carry out joint work for solution of technical issues related to construction of the line across the territory of Afghanistan.

The railway from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan is another significant project. The construction of the first part Atamyrat – Ymamnazar – Akina was accomplished last autumn. Today, the sides actively cooperates in extension of the railway on Afghanistan territory. in future, this railroad is planned to be extended to the border with Tajikistan and make it a part of Asian International railway transport corridor.

In the same context, creation of Afghanistan – Turkmenistan – Azerbaijan – Georgia – Turkey seems to be promising. In this regard, it was informed that relative five-sided Agreement is ready to be signed.

Taking into account additional powers, our country is not only ready to increase several times the volumes of electrical energy supply to Afghanistan but also carries out practical work for implementation of new international project for the export of energy Turkemnistan – Uzbekistan – Tajikistan – Afghanistan – Pakistan (TUTAP). Turkmen side has also initiated the project for supply of electricity to Afghanistan and farther via Afghan network to Pakistan. Thus, realization of these projects will transform Afghanistan from the recipient to the transit state and direct participant of regional energy cycle with all positive results followed from this.

Turkmenistan is confident that firm, subjected political and diplomatic, financial and economic support of these projects by the world community is direct support of Afghanistan in its desire to enter new levels of the development. The future of the country mainly depend on the level and volume of international participation in these projects.

Expansion and diversification of trade and economic cooperation is considerable contribution to successful recovery of Afghanistan. For these purposes, it is not only large but also medium and small business of the states of the region and other countries that has to enter afghan market more actively, to develop transboundary trade, establish different forms of joint cooperation in such fields as manufacturing of industrial goods, agriculture, service sphere and in other directions.

It was mentioned that our country supported Afghanistan for the years building medical and educational facilities on its territory, supplying electricity on beneficial terms, delivering humanitarian aid and assisting in training of local personnel. Such systematic assistance will be continued.

Undoubtedly, specific measures for support of Afghanistan will demonstrate total intent to solve set objectives and confidence in the result to the world. Joining of the efforts based on good will and mutual trust, support by the world community represented by the United Nations and other large competent international and regional structures is necessary condition for steadfast development of this country.

On behalf of Afghan side, the participants have been greeted by the Second Vice-President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Sarvar Daneesh, who, having noted his delight of the opportunity to participate in RECCA VII, expressed the gratitude to the President and the Government of Turkmenistan for cordial welcome and high organizational level of the forum in Ashgabat.

Taking the opportunity, the Second Vice-President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan addressed the gratitude to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for his special attention paid to interstate cooperation, having expressed the confidence in future improvement of this traditional relation based on invariable good will of the sides.

On behalf of the people, President and the Government of Afghanistan, Mr Sarvar Daneesh expressed the gratitude to all delegations for the participation in RECCA VII, having noted that this is an evidence of everyone’s desire to give greater efficiency to constructive partnership by involving all existing potential.

Such impressive composition of the participant of Ashgabat forum is a bright evidence of considerable activation of the activity in this format. Continuing the subject, the Second Vice-President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan stated the achievement of promising progress from the point of view of the fulfilment of priority projects in the region after VI Conference of RECCA in September 2015.

The Agreement on establishment of new international transport corridor Lapis Lazuli prepared to be signed was named as excellent result of joint efforts in the region. Realization of this important document will support the formation of reliable transport and transit network in Eurasian space.

Projects of construction of TAPI gas line, supply of energy, creation of necessary infrastructure for railroad transport, which are visual examples of productive regional cooperation, where considerable improvement is observed, are of the greatest significance. The project of digital Silk Road aimed at recovery of this historical route in new format is another achievement in promotion of cooperation in the region.

It was highlighted that from its side, Afghanistan is willing to take an active part in the achievements of common goals and serve as a link and centre of regional integration for Central and South Asia and Middle East countries. Coordinated approach and support based on total accountability are the guarantee of efficient economic cooperation and integration in regional and interregional scale.

In this context, the consolidation of security and stability in the region was highlighted as important factor what directly related to general economic development and improvement of prosperity of the nations.

After, the floor was given to Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Salahuddin Rabbani, who highlighted in his speech the importance of RECCA platform for effective consolidation of joint efforts and formation of working mechanisms for development of beneficial economic cooperation. In this context, it was mentioned that Afghanistan pays special importance to the relations with Turkmenistan.

The Head of the Foreign Ministry expressed sincere gratitude to Turkmen side for considerable input and active position in the matters of social and economic recovery and peaceful regulation of the situation in Afghanistan, its integration to the system of regional and international economy relations, support of RECCA and Heart of Asia processes.

It was mentioned that current meeting gives an opportunity to discuss priority objectives and to define specific measures for intensification of regional economic integration, in which Afghanistan expresses keen interest.

Continuing the subject, the Head of the Foreign Ministry of Afghanistan focused the attention at the importance of intensive development of transport infrastructure and expansion of trade by the attraction of the investments and realization of relative agreed strategy.

Having highlighted that universal economic success would also bring long-term dividends for regional stability and international peace, Mr Salahuddin Rabbani again expressed the gratitude to Turkmenistan for excellent organization of the Conference and to all the participants for fruitful work and considerable input to the solution of topical issues of RECCA agenda.

After, the floor was given to the participants of the meeting who also mentioned in their speeches the significance of Ashgabat forum in consolidation of RECCA as an open ground for constructive cooperation and for joining of the efforts for further intensification of beneficial partnership what directly related to the provision of sustainable development in the region and the world.

Particularly, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to our country Mr Sun Weidong noted years-old important input of Turkmenistan to the provision of peace, stability and development of friendly neighbouring state as well as in promotion of regional cooperation in general. 

Signing of the Agreement on transit and transport cooperation (the Agreement of Lapis Lazuli route) between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan Republic, Gorgia, Turkish Republic and Turkmenistan was held during the forum. Realization of this document is to enhance economic integration of the region and to increase the volumes of trade considerably.

Summing up the conference, the participants highlighted the importance of the subjects reviewed under the agenda of Ashgabat meeting, having spoken about the necessity of continuation of fruitful dialog in RECCA format that gives concrete positive results.

The willingness of the sides to further consolidation and intensification of beneficial partnership in regional and interregional scale was specifically expressed in the Final document – the Declaration adopted by the outcomes of VII Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan. 

The outcomes of RECCA VII forum were presented at the press conference, during which Turkmen side expressed sincere gratitude to all countries for active participation in the work of Ashgabat meeting and to the representatives of mass media for its professional coverage.

It was mentioned that interested meeting and events aimed for result were held for two days of the Conference and the directions of further consolidation of the efforts for comprehensive support of economic development of Afghanistan, recovery of its social sphere, efficient integration to regional and international infrastructural projects were defined.

The forum demonstrated the responsibility and constructive approach of all participants, their firm commitment to continuation of the work, filling it with specific content. It gives the reason to look into the future with an optimism, to consider soundly the perspectives of cooperation and to build realistic plans and projects, which are to give an irreversible character to the process of the recovery of Afghanistan, achievement of peace, harmony and prosperity in fraternal country.

Current session convincingly demonstrated that RECCA is an actual international format meeting the time requirements and able to adequately evaluate and react on specific challenges and objectives, which our region and Afghanistan as its integral part are facing.

Special attention at the Conference was paid to the realization of transport and energy projects with the participation of Afghanistan. It was highlighted that five-sided agreement on establishment of international transport corridor Afghanistan – Turkmenistan – Azerbaijan – Georgia – Turkey Lapis Lazuli, opening new opportunities for increase of the volumes of cargo traffic, was signed during the forum. At the same time, this transport corridor will support the consolidation of the cooperation in wide geopolitical space including the regions of Central and South Asia, Caspian, Black and Mediterranean basins.

It was also noted that the subject of activation and diversification of regional trade and economic relations with the participation of Afghanistan, support off small and medium business took deserving place in the agenda of the Conference.

On behalf of the Government of his country, Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Salahuddin Rabbani expressed the gratitude to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and people of Turkmenistan for cordial welcome in beautiful Ashgabat.

It was highlighted that Afghanistan is very proud of the relations with Turkmenistan - good neighbour and reliable partner, which it intends to expand. At the same time, it was noted that Turkmen side always supports the initiatives of Afghanistan including RECCA and the Heart of Asia process.

Having informed about unanimous support and adoption of the final Declaration of the forum, Mr Salahuddin Rabbani noted rich content of the agenda and efficiency of the Conference.

In this context, it was highlighted that Afghanistan highly appreciates the support rendered by Turkmenistan to economic initiatives of Afghan side.

The signing of the Agreement on Lapis Lazuli transport corridor is undoubtedly important event of Ashgabat meeting. Speaking of this, Mr Salahuddin Rabbani noted that this route will not only allow connecting Afghanistan with Europe and other friendly states but also would bring our country closer, having created the opportunity for further growth of trade, transit and investments.

The Foreign Minister of Afghanistan also stated with delight the fact that invariable support to realization of priority objectives of RECCA process was expressed on behalf of partner states and international organizations.