Official Name: Republic of Turkmenistan
Short Name: Turkmenistan
Capital: Ashgabat.
Area: 488,100 sq. km
Population: 4.52 million
Anthem:
Religions: Sunni Muslim 89 per cent, Eastern Orthodox 9 per cent, Others 2 per cent.
Languages: Turkmen, Russian, Uzbek.

Turkmenistan was annexed by Russia between 1865 and 1885. It became a Soviet republic in 1925. It declared independence from the former Soviet Union on 27 October 1991. Since then it has consistently maintained a position of neutrality in its relations to other countries in the region and beyond. It was the only country in the region to maintain relations with the Taliban of Afghanistan.

Independence: October 27, 1991 (from former Soviet Union).
Government Type: Presidential type of Government and a Bicameral Parliament. One party rule.
Head of state and Head of government: President
Government Head Name: Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

In Turkmenistan, the President is both the chief of the state and head of the government. Till his death in 2006, President Saparmurat Niyazov had dominated the country's political scene. Niyazov had been declared President for life on 28 December 1999 by the Assembly (Majlis). Following his death on 21 December 2006, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov was chosen President. The Council of Ministers and its Deputy Chairman is appointed by the President.

Turkmenistan has been facing the threat of militant Islamist groups suspected of links with the Taliban. The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), a militant group based in Afghanistan, has undertaken acts of violence in Turkmenistan.

Turkmenistan is party to the long standing dispute over the division of the Caspian Sea into national territories. Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan are the other states claiming coastal rights over the oil rich Caspian basin.

The 1992 Turkmen constitution provides for universal conscription of males for service in the national armed forces. The period of regular service is eighteen months for army recruits and one year for those with higher education. Turkmenistan has an Army, Air Force and Border Guards. A Naval force for patrolling the Caspian Sea is also planned though Turkmenistan has some imported patrol boats currently stationed in the coastal areas. Turkmen officers are trained in military educational establishments of the Russian Federation's Ministry of Defence. Limited training is provided in the military faculty established at Turkmenistan State University. Turkmenistan has sent about 300 of its officers to training schools in Turkey, but it declined an offer from Pakistan's general staff to provide officer training in Pakistani war colleges. The Border Guard Command consisting of nearly 5, 000 personnel was established in 1992 as a replacement of the Soviet era Central Asian Border Troops. The border guards patrol the 1,750 km long mountainous Afghan and Iranian frontiers which is rated as the most sensitive zone. It is jointly commanded by Turkmenistan and Russia. The entire strength of Turkmen defence forces is around 16, 000. The annual defence expenditure is around $ 90 million.

Economy of Turkmenistantan
GDP (purchasing power parity)	$42.84 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)	$15.18 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)	$8,500 (2006 est.)
Inflation rate	11% (2006 est.)
Investment	28.8% of GDP (2006 est.)
Public finances
Debt - external	$2.4 billion to $5 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid	$16 million from the US (2001)

Turkmenistan is a desert country with nomadic cattle raising, intensive agriculture in irrigated oases, and huge gas and oil resources. Nearly 50 per cent of total irrigated land is devoted to cotton cultivation making Turkmenistan the 10th largest producer of cotton in the world. Turkmenistan possesses the world's 5th largest reserves of natural gas. It has substantial oil reserves as well. At $1, 380, Turkmenistan's per capita is better when compared to other states in the region. But there is widespread poverty within the country. The economy has not experienced much disruption as in the neighbouring countries. The main reason for this is that Turkmenistan benefited from the rise in oil and gas prices along with a rise in hard currency earnings. With a strong ex-communist regime in power and a tribally based social structure, Turkmenistan has taken a cautious approach to economic reform, hoping to use gas and cotton sales to sustain its economy. Privatisation goals remain limited. Turkmenistan is keen on opening new gas export channels through Iran and Turkey to Europe, but these will take many years to realize. Another pipeline for exporting gas to India and Pakistan through Afghanistan is under consideration.

Turkmenistan Information Centre The website provides daily news and links to other sites on Turkmenistan.
The Times of Central Asia Access to this website is by subscription and it provides extensive coverage of all Central Asian states.