TURKMENISTAN – QATAR: INCREASE OF SCIENTIFIC-EDUCATIONAL COOPERATION
Currently, along with all areas of international cooperation under the wise leadership of the President of Turkmenistan, relations in the field of science and education are being effectively developed. Working visit of the Turkmen delegation headed by the Minister of Education of Turkmenistan B. Orazdurdyeva to the State of Qatar, and the meetings held during it testify to the importance of international scientific-educational relations in the Turkmen-Qatar cooperation.
On February 25, 2024, a meeting was held between the members of the delegation of Turkmenistan and the Minister of Education and Higher Education of the State of Qatar, Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi. In the course of the meeting, proposals related to raising effective and active cooperation in the field of science and education to new levels were presented and some issues were discussed. At the end of the high-level meeting, the Turkmen delegation presented a Turkmen carpet as a souvenir.
After the meeting, the Turkmen delegation was introduced to the «Qatar National Museum» located in Doha. Museum exhibits in chronological order, ranging from the natural history of the Persian Gulf and the desert to the cultural artifacts of the Bedouin people, the tribal wars that led to the creation of the state of Qatar, and the history of oil and gas discoveries. The museum, equipped with audio-visual displays, made a great impression on the visitors.
The Turkmen delegation also visited the «Museum of Islamic Art» in Doha. Manuscripts, textile and ceramic art values typical of Islamic culture take a prominent place here. The museum is considered the largest collection of Islamic artifacts from Spain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Turkiye, India and Central Asia.
As it is known, studying international practice is very important not only in the development of science and education, but also in the achievement of high results in all fields. The purpose of this visit is to strengthen bilateral relations with the higher educational institutions and state organizations of the friendly countries as well as to implement joint projects.
On February 26, 2024, within the framework of the Turkmen delegation's business visit to the State of Qatar was held a meeting between the Rector of the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan J. Gurbangeldiyev and the Director of the Institute of Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, Mr. Abdulaziz bin Muhammed al-Horr. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to the State of Qatar Myratgeldi Seyitmammedov also participated in this meeting.
During the meeting, Rector of the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, J.Gurbangeldiyev, introduced the Qatari side to the Turkmen National School of Diplomacy, talked extensively about the Turkmen-Qatar relations and gave several examples, and discussed in detail all areas of cooperation between our countries. In this regard, Rector J. Gurbangeldiyev said that in order to study the diplomacy of the Arab world and the Arabic language more deeply between the two higher education institutions, to establish library cooperation, made recommendations such as organizing professional improvement exchange trips and teaching-methodical classes, scientific seminars for students, holding «round table» conferences between educational specialists of the Qatari side and professors of the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. Special attention was paid to the work of the Specialized Training Center called «Diplomatic Protocol», recently opened at the National School of Turkmen Diplomacy. In this regard, specialists from the Qatari side were offered to conduct theoretical classes and online trainings at this specialized training center. Being an important condition of international experience, it will increase the scientific-research and intellectual capabilities of highly professional diplomatic staff that can represent the interests of their country in the world.
Emphasizing that the Rector strongly believes that the meeting will be an important event in the development of Turkmen-Qatar scientific-educational relations and the expansion of cooperation in training high-level specialists, and will become a model of the development of cooperation between the two countries, on the purpose of implementation of the above-mentioned proposals and further activate the cooperation between the two higher education institutions, he presented the project of the «Roadmap» on cooperation prepared by the Turkmen side. The Qatari side listened to the proposals and showed great interest in them, and finally approved all the proposals and the «Roadmap» project.
At the same time, a presentation ceremony was organized for the delegation headed by the Minister of Education of Turkmenistan B.Orazdurdyeva with the Qatar Science and Technology secondary school located in the «Education Campus». Within the framework of the introduction ceremony, the Turkmen delegation met with Mrs. Abir Al Khalifa, the head of the Pre-Higher Education and Academic Affairs Department of «Education Campus». After the meeting, meetings were organized with the leadership of the universities located in the «Education Campus». A meeting of the Turkmen delegation with the head of the National Library of Qatar, Hamad Al Kawar, was also held which situated in the campus. At the meetings of the Turkmen delegation with the authorities of the universities located in the «Education Campus», bilateral proposals were thoroughly explored. In particular, the proposals presented by the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan are of great importance in opening new horizons of cooperation. Particular attention was paid to the issues of establishing cooperation between the famous Georgetown University and the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. In this regard, organize a 6-month exchange program for students of higher educational institutions, organize a short-term study visit of professors and students of the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan to Georgetown University, organize the participation of students of the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan in the UN model, conducted by Georgetown University, with the participation of students of the institute, as well as a number of other important proposals were made with the regard to the educational system. In order to further intensify cooperation on the above-mentioned proposals, among the main initiatives, views were expressed regarding the implementation of relevant work on the draft Memorandum of Understanding between the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and Georgetown University.
In the afternoon, the Turkmen delegation visited the national pavilion of Turkmenistan «Expo – 2023, Doha» in the frames of the international exhibition «Green Nature for the Sake of the Environment». In general, all activities carried out during the business visit mark new steps in the development of Turkmen-Qatar cooperation and determine important and effective directions of relations. The working visit of the Turkmen delegation to the State of Qatar will continue until February 28.
Maya ATAJANOVA,
Lecturer of the Institute of International Relations
of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.