Turkmenistan outlines specific measures for implementation of the Declaration on refugee sportsmen

It was informed at the session of the Government on September 22 that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs carries out the work for practical realization of the Declaration on Encouragement of Valuable Contribution of the Olympic Refugee Teams to the Consolidation of Peace and Human Rights adopted by the initiative of the President of Turkmenistan at the 36th session of UN Council on Human Rights in Geneva. 

Turkmen side prepared specific proposals, according to which the subject of registration of the Declaration as an official document of the UN General Assembly would be brought up for review at the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly. Relative work for provision of the participation of refugees in international sport competitions of regional, continental and international level, particularly those held in Asia, is planned together with United Nations High Commissioner Office for Refugees and International Migration Organization. 

Besides, participation of Turkmenistan delegation consisting of the representatives of Foreign Ministry and Migration Service in the work of 68th session of the UNHCR Executive Committee in Geneva on October 2 – 6 is stipulated. . Organization of bilateral meetings of our country delegation with the leaders of the UNHCR and IMO for discussion of the issues related to explanation of the purposes of the Declaration to the world community, attraction of attention to refugees problems and improvement of the awareness of the population on the importance of this topical subject is planned during the forum. 

Organization of relative works for adoption of Special Resolution on Support of the Human Rights by Sports and Implementation of the Olympic Ideal under the session of the UN Council of Human Rights in Geneva is outlined among further measures. At the same time, according to the Provisions followed from the Declaration, structural divisions of the UN in Vienna are proposed to hold number of events for popularization of healthy life style and Olympic movement. 

Organization of briefings, round table sessions and relative meeting under discussion of the importance of this document together with the Council of Human Rights and the OSCE is also initiated. 

The Vice Premier, the Head of the MFA Rashid Meredov informed that it is planned to hold international forum under the sponsorship of UN with participation of the Olympic Refugees Movement in Ashgabat in 2018. 

According to the Final Declaration of the International Congress “Asian Games 20017: International Sport Cooperation for Peace and Progress” held on April 7 of this year, the organization of VII International Conference of the Ministers and Physical Training Education and Sport Personnel is planned to be held in our country under the UNESCO aegis. It will be proposed to adopt Universal Programme for provision of the participation of refugees in international sport competitions by the UN members during the forum.