On 5 June 2026, the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan hosted the scientific and practical conference “Environmental Well-being and International Cooperation in the Year of ‘Independent Neutral Turkmenistan – Homeland of Purposeful Winged Horses’”, dedicated to World Environment Day.
Before the official part of the event, participants got acquainted with an exhibition showcasing the nature of Turkmenistan.
Official Opening
The conference was opened by the Minister of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, Ovezgeldi Goshjanov, who served as the moderator of the event. The conference began with the reading of the address of the Esteemed President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, to the environmental protection workers of independent and permanently Neutral Turkmenistan.
Presentations by National Speakers
During the conference, representatives of national institutions and organizations delivered presentations.
Chinar Rustemova, Secretary of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), spoke about the main areas of cooperation between Turkmenistan and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in the field of environmental protection.
Serdar Gayipov, Chairman of the Committee of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan on Environmental Protection, Nature Management and the Agro-Industrial Complex, delivered a presentation on “Consistent Improvement of Environmental Protection Legislation in the Country”.
Akmammet Akmammedov, Chairman of the Central Council of the Agrarian Party of Turkmenistan, spoke about the role of public associations in promoting the environmental policy of the Esteemed President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov.
International Cooperation and CAREC Participation
The floor was then given to representatives of international and regional organizations.
On behalf of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC), Executive Director Batyr Mammedov addressed the conference via video message. The event was also attended by Mergen Kepbanov, Director of the CAREC Project Office in Turkmenistan, and Orazgul Isgenderova, Assistant of the CAREC Project Office in Turkmenistan.
On the occasion of World Environment Day, Mergen Kepbanov noted:
“World Environment Day reminds us that protecting nature and ensuring sustainable development are shared responsibilities of governments, international organizations, and every individual. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all partners and colleagues on this important day and wish them continued success in implementing environmental initiatives aimed at preserving our environment for future generations.”
The conference also featured speeches by:
Dmitry Shlapachenko — United Nations Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan;
Narine Saakyan — Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Turkmenistan;
Nabil Gangi — Deputy Regional Coordinator of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for Europe and Central Asia (via video message);
Jalpa Ratna — Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Turkmenistan;
William Leaf — Head of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Centre in Ashgabat;
Beata Pęksa — Ambassador of the European Union to Turkmenistan;
Sergey Makarov — Manager of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) regional project “Climate Risk Management in Central Asia”.
Following the official part of the conference, participants continued their discussions in thematic working sessions, focusing on practical measures for climate change adaptation, the introduction of green technologies, and strengthening transboundary environmental cooperation.
The conference once again highlighted Turkmenistan’s commitment to environmental protection, sustainable development, and international cooperation in addressing environmental challenges.
Additional Information:
Mergen Kepbanov, Director of the CAREC Project Office in Turkmenistan,