Center of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. UN chief: Turkmenistan’s neutrality is a key factor for peace UN
During an official visit to Turkmenistan, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met with the country’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. The UN head expressed gratitude to Turkmenistan for hosting the Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia in Ashgabat and highly appreciated the policy of neutrality pursued by Turkmenistan.
“Turkmenistan plays a very important role in international relations, in particular, in interaction with the United Nations. In these turbulent times, I highly appreciate Turkmenistan’s policy of neutrality,” Guterres told reporters in Ashgabat.
He congratulated Turkmenistan on its successful initiatives – from the General Assembly’s declaration of 2025 as the International Year of Peace and Trust to its leadership in the field of sustainable transport. The UN chief also thanked the country for its contribution to helping the people of Afghanistan.
According to Guterres, Central Asia still faces many obstacles to development – water shortages, land degradation, natural disasters and communication restrictions. “Solutions to these problems are interconnected and can be found through dialogue and cooperation, and Turkmenistan plays an important role in this process,” added the Secretary General.
Preventive diplomacy
The UN chief noted that the creation of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia in Ashgabat demonstrates the UN’s commitment to the interests of the region.
“With the participation of all five countries of Central Asia, the Regional Center will be continue to serve as a forum for uniting efforts and developing common solutions, especially regarding the implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia and the management of natural resources for the benefit of the entire population,” he noted.
Development and Human Rights
According to the Secretary General, Turkmenistan has made important progress in achieving a number of sustainable development goals.
He called on Turkmenistan to continue to engage with UN human rights mechanisms. The UN Country Team is ready to support the government in implementing the recommendations it accepted following the Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council, the Secretary-General added, noting the need to ensure the protection of the rights of all groups and minorities in the country.
“I want to wish the people of Turkmenistan great success so that more and more people of Turkmenistan can benefit from the benefits that progress and development promise,” Guterres concluded his speech to the press. – I wish that Turkmenistan remained a key factor of peace and a key factor of neutrality in the modern international community.”
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