Turkmenistan proposes to host a Preparatory Meeting for the Third Conference of Landlocked Developing Countries in the first half of 2023. Ashgabat is ready to provide the necessary support in holding this event.
The statement came from the foreign minister of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov in his video address at the annual Ministerial Meeting of Foreign Ministers of Landlocked Developing Countries on 22 September in New York.
He briefed on the outcome of the August Ministerial Transport Conference for Landlocked Countries held in Avaza.
As is known, following the results of the forum, the Avaza statement was adopted, which reflected the positions expressed by the ministers, documents and materials of the Conference sessions.
Meredov drew attention to some key elements of this document.
First, it highlights the important role of expanding transport links for the sustainable recovery of countries after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Secondly, there is a need for regular multilateral consultations, capacity-building activities and training on transport, customs, visa and other issues facilitating trade and transport.
Third, the final statement encourages greater cooperation in increasing investments in critical infrastructure projects.
Fourth, the statement emphasizes the fundamental importance of the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade Facilitation, as well as other international and regional conventions, rules and agreements related to trade and transport.
Fifth, the statement stresses the need to assist LLDCs in accelerating the transition to low-carbon energy sources.
Finally, the outcome document calls on landlocked developing countries and their partners to play a very active role in the process of preparing for and attending the Third United Nations Conference on LLDCs in 2024.
“Today we must ensure the implementation of the outcome achieved in Turkmenistan and put all that we contributed to the Awaza Statement in one Road Map document”, Meredov said, stressing Turkmenistan’s commitment to continue close cooperation with the United Nations in fostering the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals by landlocked developing countries.
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On 22 September 2022, as part of a high-level week of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly, an annual meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Land-Locked Developing Countries (LLDC), took place.
The theme of the 21st Ministerial Meeting of the Least Developed Countries was “Accelerating the implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action after the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing the pace of preparations for the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries”.
Opening the meeting, Lemogang Kwape, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Botswana turned to the President of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly of the Csaba Körösi, Deputy Secretary General of the UN Amina Mohammed and the President of ECOSOC and the Secondary Committee of the UN Lachezara Stoeva with a request to support the third UN conference of Land-Locked Developing Countries.
He also expressed gratitude to the Government of Turkmenistan for the convocation of the conference of ministers of the LLDC countries, as a result of which the Avaza Final Statement was adopted.
The Under-Secretary-General of the UN, and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Land-locked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, Rabab Fatima in her speech emphasized the need to speed up the actions of the third UN conference for LLDC, and noted that the conference of the ministers of transport of LLDC, held in Turkmenistan in August of this year, is an example. At the end, she urged all countries to prepare viewing national reports on the implementation of the Vienna program of actions.
The meeting participants discussed the progress achieved by the LLDC countries in the implementation of the Vienna program of actions, the agenda in the field of sustainable development for the period until 2030, as well as preparation for the third UN conference of Land-Locked Developing Countries.
The result of the meeting was a ministerial declaration. ///nCa, 23 September 2022