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On Thursday, November 7, Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov met with Assistant UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ruvendrini Menikdiwela, who is in Turkmenistan on a working visit.

The parties discussed Turkmenistan's long-term and successful cooperation with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), noting the country's significant achievements in the field of eradicating statelessness. Turkmenistan, being a party to key international legal instruments of the UN on refugees and stateless persons, has achieved unprecedented success in resolving the problem of statelessness, having granted citizenship to more than 32 thousand refugees and stateless persons.

Particular attention was paid to the prospects for further cooperation within the framework of the Annual Work Plans of the Government of Turkmenistan and the UNHCR Regional Representation for Central Asia.

Turkmenistan's initiative to invite a team of refugee athletes to participate in the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games for the first time was emphasized. It was noted that Turkmenistan is ready to provide the necessary conditions for refugee teams to conduct training and sports camps. This is also in line with the implementation of the provisions of the UN Games resolution initiated by Turkmenistan.

On October 14, 2024, Turkmenistan joined the Global Alliance to End Statelessness, which was announced at the plenary meeting of the Executive Committee of the 75th session of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Program in Geneva. This event was an important step in strengthening international cooperation in addressing the problem of statelessness.

At the end of the meeting, the parties emphasized the importance of coordinating efforts to address the problem of statelessness in the region and beyond. The importance of the upcoming Regional Ministerial Conference on Ending Statelessness, which will take place on 8 November 2024 in Ashgabat, was also highly appreciated and will become an important platform for exchanging experience and strengthening regional cooperation in this important area.

ORIENT

Photo: mfa.gov.tm