A Turkmen delegation led by Oguljahan Atabayeva, Vice President for Medical Activities at the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Aid to Children in Need of Guardianship, visited the State of Qatar.

Currently, the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Qatari dialogue is based on bonds of friendship and brotherhood, mutual understanding, and close cooperation. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, cooperation between the two countries has steadily developed in various areas.

Along with other areas of partnership, continued attention is paid to enhancing cultural and humanitarian contacts as an important component of bilateral cooperation.

During the visit, Oguljahan Atabayeva participated in the opening ceremony of the Doha Forum.

The Doha Forum, held under the motto “Diplomacy, Dialogue, Diversity”, is a major international platform for exchanging opinions and developing effective solutions to global problems. Oguljahan Atabayeva, Vice President for Medical Activities at the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Aid to Children in Need of Guardianship, also met with Mrs. Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al-Misnad, Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar.

Warmly welcoming Oguljahan Atabayeva and expressing sincere gratitude for accepting the invitation to participate in the forum, Mrs. Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al-Misnad also expressed confidence that this visit will further strengthen the two countries' humanitarian efforts, particularly for the betterment of children.

Thanking the Qatari side for the invitation to participate in the Doha Forum and for the hospitality extended to the Turkmen delegation, Oguljahan Atabayeva, Vice President for Medical Activities of the Charitable Foundation, expressed confidence that this forum will make a significant contribution to ensuring global peace, sustainable development, and the well-being of humanity through not only consultations but also concrete actions.

Mrs. Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al-Misnad praised the work of the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Aid to Children in Need of Guardianship, particularly its humanitarian initiatives.

During the meeting, Oguljahan Atabayeva emphasized the opportunities for developing cooperation between Turkmenistan and the State of Qatar in the humanitarian sphere, paying particular attention to the health and education of the younger generation.

The Vice President for Medical Activities of the Charitable Foundation also announced the upcoming International Conference “The Role of Women in Modern Society: Developing International Cooperation to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals” to be held on December 10 at the Avaza National Tourist Zone and invited Mrs. Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al-Misnad to participate.

Thanking for the invitation, the Minister of State for International Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar expressed confidence that this conference will play an important role in ensuring the well-being of women and children.

At the end of the meeting, Oguljahan Atabayeva, Vice President for Medical Affairs of the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Aid to Children in Need of Guardianship, and Mrs. Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al-Misnad, Minister of State for International Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, exchanged best wishes.

Then, Oguljahan Atabayeva, Vice President for Medical Activities of the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Aid to Children in Need of Guardianship, met with the Minister of Social Development and Family of the State of Qatar, Mrs. Buthaina bint Ali Al-Jabr Al-Nuaimi.

After warmly welcoming Vice President of the Charitable Foundation Oguljahan Atabayeva, Mrs. Buthaina bint Ali Al-Jabr Al-Nuaimi praised the dynamically developing relations between the State of Qatar and Turkmenistan in the political, diplomatic, economic, cultural, and humanitarian spheres, expressing confidence that the current meeting would facilitate a mutually beneficial exchange of experiences.

Expressing gratitude for the opportunity to meet, Oguljahan Atabayeva emphasized the importance of cooperation between the two friendly countries in various fields, particularly in the humanitarian sphere.

During the meeting, Oguljahan Atabayeva took the opportunity to invite Mrs.Buthaina bint Ali Al-Jabr Al-Nuaimi to participate in the International Conference “The Role of Women in Modern Society: Developing International Cooperation to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals”, which will be held on December 10 at the Avaza National Tourist Zone.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Oguljahan Atabayeva, Vice President for Medical Activities at the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Aid to Children in Need of Guardianship, and Mrs. Buthaina bint Ali Al-Jabr Al-Nuaimi, Minister of Social Development and Family of the State of Qatar, wished each other success in their work.

During their visit, the Turkmen delegation also visited the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha.

Then, Oguljahan Atabayeva, Vice President for Medical Activities at the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Aid to Children in Need of Guardianship, participated in the thematic session “Child Protection in the New Era: Developing Inclusive Humanitarian Measures” at the Doha Forum.

In her speech, Oguljahan Atabayeva, expressing gratitude for the invitation to participate in the forum, the hospitality extended, and the excellent conditions created for productive work, noted the crucial importance of the issue under discussion today for all humanity.

“We live for our children; we create and build for a better life for future generations. Our people and our state show special care for children. As the Turkmen proverb goes: ‘Honey is sweet, but a child is sweeter than honey.’ When we say, ‘Children are our future,’ we mean another proverb: ‘A child is precious, but more precious is his upbringing.’” These wonderful examples of folk art testify to the interconnectedness of caring for children and a responsible approach to rising the younger generation. “Thus, caring for children and the traditions of their upbringing are an integral part of the ancient and rich heritage of our ancestors and the cultural identity of our people,” said the Foundation’s Vice President for Medical Activities. In this regard, it was noted that our country places great importance on preserving and improving national family values and the patriotic, spiritual, and moral education of youth.

Therefore, the comprehensive education of children and youth is based primarily on history, traditions, the experience of our ancestors, and centuries-old moral principles. Providing inclusive humanitarian aid is one of the pressing challenges of our time. As is well known, this entails creating living conditions for those in needs and with disabilities, ensuring their equal access to resources and opportunities.

Turkmenistan’s state policy in this area is aimed at ensuring the availability and adaptability of services. The government is working to create equal opportunities through access to state and public resources, including education, economic support, and legal protection. Our government places special emphasis on the harmonious development of the younger generation and modernizing children’s rights legislation in line with modern requirements.

As noted, the Foundation actively collaborates with similar structures, as well as with reputable international organizations, including the UN Children’s Fund. This facilitates the promotion of the humanistic principles of the Turkmen people worldwide.

Over the four years since its establishment, the Foundation has provided assistance and support to children affected by natural disasters in various countries. In Turkmenistan, many children in need have received treatment with the Foundation’s funds. This demonstrates that the noble traditions that the Turkmen people have cultivated throughout their history and which serve as an example for all are being worthy of continuation in the modern era. Concluding her speech, the Foundation’s Vice President noted that Turkmenistan, as a neutral state, implements national programs in accordance with its international obligations.

Oguljahan Atabayeva’s speech was listened to with great attention.

Then the session continued in a question-and-answer form.

In response to the moderator’s question about which child-related issues are strategic for Turkmenistan, Oguljahan Atabayeva, Vice President for Medical Activities at the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Aid to Children in Need of Guardianship, responded:

“All the areas outlined in my speech are of strategic importance for Turkmenistan. I would also like to emphasize that we prioritize maternal and child protection and care for the younger generation. Their programmatic vision aligns with Turkmenistan’s priorities. These priorities are not only the main focus of national policy but are also essential for shaping our identity.

In this regard, it is important to emphasize our strong views, the core of which is related to the use of the state's material and intellectual resources to support the physical and spiritual development of the younger generation. To achieve this goal, Turkmenistan is pursuing broad international cooperation, working closely with specialized UN agencies and other international institutions, as well as with countries around the world at the bilateral and regional levels. I believe that such programmatic events allow us to pool our efforts, share experiences, and create conditions for political and diplomatic support for addressing issues related to children and the effective use of resources,” replied Oguljahan Atabaeva.

Then the moderator asked her to elaborate on the activities of the Charitable Foundation and the main purpose of its creation.

“Our Foundation was established on March 29, 2021, at the initiative of the National Leader of the Turkmen People, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Hero-Arkadag. The Foundation’s goals are aligned with national spiritual and moral values and the philosophy of humanism, as well as the rich spiritual heritage of the Turkmen people.

This year, we celebrated the Foundation’s fourth anniversary, and a high-level international conference was held to mark the occasion. The results of the forum demonstrated that the Foundation’s work has received support not only at the national level but also from the entire international community.

The activities of the Charitable Foundation are based on such unshakable principles as humanity, support, and unity. At the same time, universal human values, the ideas of peace, compassion, and justice are our priorities and a firm position.

The Foundation’s activities are aimed at implementing specific programs and projects to support children and create the necessary conditions to protect their rights and interests. This includes medical care, access to quality education, healthy nutrition, environmental well-being, and many other areas. This is a complex task. The Charitable Foundation is actively working to achieve this goal and participates in the implementation of state policy in this area,” noted Oguljahan Atabayeva.

During her visit, Oguljahan Atabayeva, Vice President for Medical Activities at the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Aid to Children in Need of Guardianship, also met with the Minister of Education and Higher Education of the State of Qatar, Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohammed Al-Khater.

Warmly welcoming the Turkmen guest, Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohammed Al-Khater noted that she was honored to meet with Oguljahan Atabayeva to discuss issues of great importance to the future of our peoples – the well-being of children and the role of education in their development.

Expressing gratitude for the opportunity to meet and the hospitality extended, the Vice President of the Foundation stated that Turkmenistan and the State of Qatar maintain fruitful cooperation in all areas of mutual interest, including education.

It was noted that Turkmenistan places special emphasis on the development of education at all levels. Digital and information and communication technologies are being actively introduced into this area. Educational institutions in Turkmenistan are fully supplied with modern multimedia and other necessary equipment.

In this regard, Oguljahan Atabayeva emphasized that the Foundation is open to sharing experiences and other effective initiatives to ensure the well-being of children. She took this opportunity to invite the Qatari side to participate in the International Conference “The Role of Women in Modern Society: Developing International Cooperation to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals”, which will be held on December 10 at the Avaza National Tourist Zone.

Thanking for the invitation, Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohammed Al-Khater praised the Foundation’s humanitarian work and expressed confidence that today’s meeting will mark the beginning of a long-term and effective partnership aimed at ensuring a bright future for children.

At the end of the meeting, Oguljahan Atabayeva, Vice President for Medical Activities at the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Aid to Children in Need of Guardianship, and Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohammed Al-Khater, Minister of Education and Higher Education of the State of Qatar, exchanged best wishes.

Then Oguljahan Atabayeva, Vice President for Medical Activities at the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in Need of Guardianship, met with Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, President of the Qatar Foundation for Science, Education, and Community Development.

Warmly welcoming Oguljahan Atabayeva, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser noted that Qatar highly values its friendly and fraternal relations with Turkmenistan and expressed confidence that the Turkmen delegation’s current visit would be an important step in their development.

Oguljahan Atabayeva, Vice President of the Charitable Foundation, expressed her sincere gratitude for the hospitality and the opportunity to meet.

The Foundation places great importance on international humanitarian work. The Foundation has provided humanitarian aid to children in Russia, Turkiye, Afghanistan, Palestine, Tajikistan, and other countries. This year, the Foundation’s international activities are reaching a new level, focusing on the benefit of children around the world.

Oguljahan Atabayeva praised the Qatar Foundation’s educational projects, noting that education and science are the foundation of social development and that the Foundation is therefore open to proposals and initiatives in this area. She took the opportunity to invite the State of Qatar to the International Conference “The Role of Women in Modern Society: Developing International Cooperation to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals”, which will be held on December 10 at the Avaza National Tourist Zone.

Expressing gratitude for the invitation, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, President of the Qatar Foundation for Science, Education, and Community Development, emphasized that ensuring gender equality is one of the key characteristics of a sustainable and developing society.

At the end of the meeting, Oguljahan Atabayeva and Sheikha Moza bint Nasser expressed their readiness to continue the fruitful dialogue for the benefit of children and exchanged best wishes.

During the visit, the Turkmen delegation also visited the Sidra Medical Center in Qatar.

Thus, the visit of the Turkmen delegation to the State of Qatar became an important milestone in Turkmen-Qatari relations, opening new horizons for the development of humanitarian cooperation between the two countries.