A ceremony of signing the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) for the period of 2010-2015 was held in Ashgabat on August 16. The UNDAF defines the priorities for cooperation between the Government of Turkmenistan and the UN agencies accredited in Turkmenistan for the coming years.

A distinctive feature of the new medium-term program is its focus on issues of peace, stability and security, Vice Premier, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov said during the ceremony,.

According to him, much attention will be given to the development and implementation of projects aimed at combating drug trafficking, organized crime, terrorism and other challenges of our time. "Unlike the previous UNDAF, the current one is designed not for five but six years. It covers a wide range of areas, including strategic ones such as education, health, environment and social sphere," Rashid Meredov emphasized.

As UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan Richard Young noted, this program is essentially a "clear and coordinated plan of action developed in the context of experience and priorities of the long-term partnership," and its main focus is to "achieve sustainable development of Turkmenistan in accordance with national interests and priorities of state development."