Ashgabat, 18 June 2010 – Members of the United Nations Country Team, represented by UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNHCR and UNODC had an official meeting on 10 June with Ms. Norica Nicolai, Member of the European Parliament and the Rapporteur for the European Parliament on Turkmenistan, who was accompanied by Mr. Radu Liviu Horumba, Ambassador of Romania to Turkmenistan and Mr. Theo Hensels, the Coordinator of Europa House in Turkmenistan.

During the meeting, the Heads of UN Agencies present in the meeting made presentations on their ongoing projects and initiatives and briefed Ms. Nicolai and members of her delegation on the achievements made by the UN Agencies within the frameworks of their relevant programmes of cooperation with the Government of Turkmenistan.

Particular attention was paid to projects implemented with support from and in cooperation with the European Commission, especially in the areas of human rights and border management. Within these two areas, the United Nations and the European Commission developed a solid partnership aimed to support national efforts in Turkmenistan through capacity development and providing access for national authorities to international standards in these areas. Ms. Nicolai appreciated the efforts of the United Nations Country Team and expressed her gratitude for the UN Agencies in sharing their experience in promoting developments in Turkmenistan.

Mr. Lenni Montiel, UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan highlighted the importance of the EU-UN cooperation in advancing the development agenda in Turkmenistan. “Partnership with the European Union is extremely important and contributes to promotion of the values of the UN Charter in Turkmenistan,” said Mr. Montiel.

The meeting provided a good opportunity for the members of the European Parliament to better understand the recent developments and progress in many areas in which UN has worked in the country, including juvenile justice, refugees and statelessness, combating drugs and border control, promotion of human rights and others.