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Ashgabat, 31 January 2013 – Turkmenistan and the UN Agencies held their first Strategic Advisory Board (SAB) meeting in order to prioritize areas where the government of Turkmenistan will increase its cost sharing arrangements for joint programmes. These new arrangements will be taken into account while formulating the draft state budgets of Turkmenistan.  The meeting was held following the signing of a decree on the 18th January by H.E. Mr. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, President of Turkmenistan, endorsing the composition of the board. 

The meeting took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and was chaired by the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Rashid Meredov. Others in attendance were: the Minister for Economy and Development, the Minister for Finance and representatives of the UN agencies in the country, including the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration and the World Bank.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Meredov reaffirmed Turkmenistan's commitment to the strategic partnership with the United Nations agencies and the country's willingness to increase financing of new joint programmes in a number of areas including economic, social, governance and humanitarian spheres. Such cooperation also envisages the involvement of the private sector and other non - state actors.

The UN Resident Coordinator Jacinta Barrins stressed the importance of national ownership and talked about the multidimensional aspects of development issues which require integrated, complex responses. "The UN stands ready to work with Turkmenistan to jointly address these complexities," she said.

The Board agreed to convene at least four times a year. In the meantime, the day-to-day work will be carried out by a Working Group, consisting of experts and senior officials from the national organizations and representatives of the UN agencies in Turkmenistan. The working group will meet regularly to discuss the new project proposals, including the financial modalities and make recommendations to the Board for their consideration and approval. The first Working Group meeting will take place next Wednesday, the 6th February 2013.