Moscow Hosts Conference on Security Challenges in Central Asia
On November 26 – 27, the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences held an international conference “Security Challenges in Central Asia,” which gathered experts and representatives of Embassies of Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and other countries.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the President of the Russian Council for Foreign Affairs, Igor Ivanov, said: “It probably would not be much of an exaggeration to say that throughout the recorded history of the mankind the Central Asian region has been one of the most difficult regions in the world from the security point of view.” Ivanov also stressed that “the United States and the European Union have their interests in this region. We can state it as a fact that today the Central Asian region is an object and a subject of the global policy in all its major aspects. The way Central Asia develops will determine many things in neighboring regions and beyond.”
Source: ca-news.org
http://ca-news.org/news:1049673/

London Hosts Caspian Corridor Conference
On November 26, London’s Lancaster House hosted the first Caspian Corridor Conference to discuss development of the one of the highest economic growth regions in the world. The conference was organized by CityUK (an independent membership body promoting the UK financial services industry) in association with the International Bank of Azerbaijan (IBA) and Asia House. The Conference featured contributions from leading business and government figures with a close interest in the region, including Baroness Symons, Joint Chair of the Britain Azerbaijan Business Council (BABC) and former Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Dr John Chipman, CEO of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS); Lord Marland, Minister of Business, Innovation and Skills (DBIS); Rufat Aslanli, Chairman of Azerbaijan's State Committee for Securities and Cabinet Member; Lord Howell, Advisor to the Foreign Secretary and former Minister of Energy; Dan Yergin, Pulitzer Prize winning author and energy expert; H.E. Fakhraddin Gurbanov, Azerbaijan's Ambassador to the United Kingdom, among others.

The participants focused on the regional issues and key trade and innovation sectors including energy, infrastructure and banking. The conference took as its starting point the fact that the Caspian Corridor is now one of the fastest expanding economic zones in the world. Sustained GDP growth of 5-7% is projected for the years ahead across the energy Corridor that encompasses oil and gas exporters Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as non-exporters Georgia, the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan.
Source: trend.az
http://en.trend.az/capital/business/2092101.html

President Berdymukhamedov Visits Armenia
President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov made an official visit to Armenia and held talks with his Armenian counterpart, Serzh Sarkisyan. At a press-conference following the talks, Sarkisyan said that the negotiations, held in a positive atmosphere, focused on developing the relationship between Turkmenistan and Armenia and settling the conflict in Nagorno Karabakh.

The leaders of the two countries signed a number of documents, including a joint statement and a number of agreements on cooperation in such areas as air transport, technical assistance, seismic safety, and agriculture. During his visit, Berdymukhamedov also met with the Chairman of the Armenian Parliament, Ovik Abramian, and Prime Minister, Tigran Sarkisyan.
Source: ca-news.org, aa.com.tr, Turkmenistan.ru
http://ca-news.org/news:1050188
http://www.aa.com.tr/ru/news/106137
http://www.turkmenistan.ru/en/articles/16920.html

Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Turkmenistan Meet in Yerevan
Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edvard Nalbandian, and Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan, Raship Meredov, met in Yerevan to discuss cooperation. They stressed that the current visit of President Berdymukhamedov to Armenia is an important step in the relationship between the two countries and it presents a good opportunity to reflect on the past 20 years of cooperation since diplomatic relations were initiated and looking forward to future prospects. They discussed possibilities for increasing cooperation in the legal and contractual sector, developing partnership within international organizations, broadening trade and economy ties, as well as cultural and scientific exchanges.
Source: trend.az
http://www.trend.az/regions/scaucasus/armenia/2093521.html

Iran and Turkmenistan Discuss Energy Cooperation
Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi and Turkmen Vice-President for Oil and Gas Affairs Khoje Muhamed Muhamedov met in Ashgabat to discuss energy cooperation. The talks focused on increasing exports of natural gas from Turkmenistan to Iran and supplying Iranian-made equipment for the Turkmen oil and gas sector. National Iranian Gas Company's Managing Director Javad Owji told Shana news agency that the two sides reached an agreement on transporting Turkmen gas via Iran to Turkey and Armenia. President Berdymukhamedov also met with Rostam Qasemi to discuss cooperation in the oil and gas sector.
Source: trend.az, trend.az
http://en.trend.az/capital/business/2093338.html
http://en.trend.az/capital/energy/2092999.html

Russian President to Visit Turkmenistan
Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Turkmenistan to participate in a regular meeting of the Heads of States Council to be held in Ashgabat on December 5. The agenda of the summit, to be chaired by President Berdymukhamedov, includes multilateral cooperation in trade, economic and monetary spheres, culture, ecology, and security.
Source: trend.az
http://en.trend.az/regions/casia/turkmenistan/2093398.html

Ambassador: Sweden Stands for Long-term Relations with Turkmenistan
The Swedish Government supports the expansion and deepening of positive long-term relations with Turkmenistan, said the Swedish ambassador to Turkmenistan, Ake Peterson. The diplomat handed his credentials to the Chairman of the Turkmen Parliament, Akja Nurberdiyeva, and noted the productivity of the cooperation between the two countries within the European Union and the UN agencies. Trade and economy, cooperation in science and high technology, education and culture, the environment and tourism were identified as priority areas for bilateral cooperation.
Source: trend.az
http://en.trend.az/regions/casia/turkmenistan/2092502.html

Ambassador of Austria Received at Turkmen Foreign Ministry
The Ambassador of Austria, Mr. Wolfgang Banyai, held a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan to discuss issues relating to the implementation of the existing bilateral agreements, as well as to further expansion Turkmen-Austrian dialogue.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru
http://www.turkmenistan.ru/en/articles/16906.html

Turkmenistan – UNICEF: partnership in protecting children's rights
Ashgabat hosted a consultative meeting on the implementation of universal international treaties and conventions on human rights, including on the rights of the child, organized by the UNICEF office in Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. Representatives of the Mejlis (parliament), the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Culture, the Turkmen National Institute of Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan, and other institutions attended the meeting.
Source: Turkmenistan.ru
http://www.turkmenistan.ru/en/articles/16922.html

International Arbitration Seminar for Turkmen Government Officials
On November 26, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) launched a six-day International Commercial Arbitration seminar designed for representatives from various government institutions, ministries, state-owned enterprises, local courts, and academia to update local professionals on mediation and arbitration, the two fundamental methods for alternative dispute resolution. The seminar focused on key international arbitration institutions, their specializations and procedures, and enforcement of arbitration awards. This seminar was arranged in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and took place at the President Hotel from November 26 – December 1, 2012.
Source: US Embassy
http://turkmenistan.usembassy.gov/pr20121128.html

Turkmen Accounting Specialists Study in London
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) assisted the Ministry of Finance of Turkmenistan in arranging a study tour for a group of Turkmen accounting experts to London, UK from November 19–24, 2012, with the goal of further promoting the Turkmen Government’s accounting system reform. The delegation included Ministry of Finance officials responsible for regulating the accounting system of Turkmenistan, as well as the chief accountants of ministries, state organizations and enterprises, and private, small, and medium businesses. USAID provided support in developing the study tour program and facilitating meetings with international accounting bodies, businesses, and organizations.
Source: US Embassy
http://turkmenistan.usembassy.gov/pr20121130.html