Oriented on making people closer

On January 14, a telephone conversation took place between National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, thanking for the opportunity to discuss priority areas of cooperation during the telephone conversation, shared pleasant memories of the meeting with the UN Secretary-General in Ashgabat last summer, which was very fruitful and constructive. Taking the opportunity, the National Leader of the Turkmen people conveyed words of greetings and respect on behalf of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

Expressing gratitude for the kind words and addressing warm greetings and best wishes to the head of Turkmenistan, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the Organization's special attention to interaction with our neutral state, which advocates for strengthening peace in the regional and global dimensions. The UN Secretary-General also highly appreciated the policy pursued by Turkmenistan and its initiatives for universal peace, prosperity and sustainable development.

As the National Leader of the Turkmen people noted, this year the International Year of Peace and Trust is being launched at the UN headquarters, and Turkmenistan regards this event as a conceptually important stage in the history of the UN, which celebrates the 80th anniversary of its establishment in 2025.

In this regard, Hero-Arkadag emphasized the special symbolism of 2025 in the context of a significant event, namely the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan gaining the status of permanent neutrality, twice recognized by the Community of Nations. The Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty also confirmed that strategic cooperation with the United Nations is a priority of the foreign policy of our neutral Motherland.

During the telephone conversation, Hero-Arkadag informed the UN Secretary General about Turkmenistan's plans to be implemented in partnership with the Organization in 2025.

As noted, the Concept of Turkmenistan's activities and priorities within the framework of the International Year of Peace and Trust was developed. The document reflects our country's positions on the main issues of the modern global agenda, as well as on the consolidation of efforts of states based on mutual trust, joint dialogue and responsibility.

2025 can and should become a year of change, Hero-Arkadag said, expressing hope for UN support for Turkmenistan's goals outlined in the Concept.

At the same time, the Concept itself, as emphasized, is largely based on the content of the "Summit of the Future", convened on the initiative of the UN in September last year, and therefore Turkmenistan considers it as a special contribution to the implementation of its final document - the "Pact for the Future".

Noting the importance of the Concept, aimed at consolidating efforts to address pressing issues on the global agenda, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres fully approved it.

Speaking about the main areas of the upcoming work, the National Leader of the Turkmen people emphasized the issue of security. In this regard, Turkmenistan's initiative to develop a Global Security Strategy under the auspices of the UN was noted. Among the main areas of the Strategy is the active use of preventive diplomacy as a tool for preventing and neutralizing conflict situations. Hero-Arkadag emphasized the importance of using the potential of neutrality to support the efforts of the United Nations to establish peace, as well as to restore the culture of trusting dialogue in the context of ensuring global security.

Expressing confidence that the implementation of these proposals will reduce political tensions on the world stage, the National Leader of the Turkmen people confirmed Turkmenistan's unwavering commitment to intensifying dialogue on regional security issues in the International Year of Peace and Trust.

-In essence, we are talking about the situation in Central Asia. Here, we intend to rely on the resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly adopted on the initiative of Turkmenistan - "Zone of Peace, Trust and Cooperation in Central Asia" and "Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia," Hero-Arkadag said.

-The level of security and the situation with it in Central Asia are largely determined by a constructive solution to a wide range of issues on the modern regional agenda. One of them is water issues. The position of our state on this issue was clearly voiced at the "One Water" summit, which took place in Riyadh on December 3 last year. At the same time, it was stated that the consideration of a whole range of issues related to water should be based on the following fundamental norms, namely, compliance with international law, taking into account the interests of the states of the region and the involvement of international structures, primarily the UN.

Their violation creates a threat and a colossal environmental, socio-economic and humanitarian risk for the countries of the region.

Speaking about the situation in Afghanistan, Hero-Arkadag noted that Turkmenistan, as a neutral state, supports efforts to achieve peace and civil accord, restore economic infrastructure and resolve social issues in this country.

As noted, Turkmenistan's policy in this matter is well thought out, it correlates with the actions of the new authorities of Afghanistan and objective realities. Dialogue with the Government of the neighboring country is maintained taking into account the positions of the United Nations and internationally recognized current approaches. At the same time, with the participation of the Afghan side, large economic projects are being implemented in our country.

These include the construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, power transmission lines across Afghanistan to Pakistan, as well as the construction of a railway from Turkmenistan along the Afghan route.

In addition, Turkmenistan has been providing humanitarian aid to the population of Afghanistan for many years, building social facilities at its own expense, Hero-Arkadag said, noting that such support will undoubtedly be provided in the future.

The UN Secretary General emphasized the great importance of the proposals and initiatives aimed at strengthening peace, sustainable development and prosperity in the world and in the region, outlined by Hero-Arkadag during a telephone conversation, and supported them.

As for regional security, it should be taken into account that Turkmenistan is also a Caspian state, the National Leader of the Turkmen people said.

For this reason, we are concerned about the security situation in the Caspian region. Hero-Arkadag noted that last year our country came up with the initiative to hold a Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Caspian States in Turkmenistan. In this regard, based on the proposals of the Turkmen side to grant neutral states the status of priority partners in UN peacekeeping efforts, a readiness for active interaction with the relevant structures of the Organization was declared.

To this end, it is possible to consider the possibility of creating two peacekeeping centers on the territory of Turkmenistan. Of course, targeted measures will be implemented taking into account the neutral status of Turkmenistan, which directly provides for the practical application of the norms of neutrality to maintain international peace and security, including to prevent conflicts, Hero-Arkadag said.

One of the priority areas of joint work in the International Year of Peace and Trust is the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Speaking about this, the Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty confirmed Turkmenistan's readiness to intensify national and international actions to fulfill the objectives of the UN Agenda 2030.

In this regard, it was expressed confidence that our country's initiatives to develop a Global Framework for the Transition to a Circular Economy, to compile a Global Atlas of Sustainable Transport Connectivity, and to create an Alliance for Cooperation in the Field of Global Energy Security and Sustainable Development will help to effectively achieve the SDGs.

Having confirmed Turkmenistan's readiness to continue measures to address significant economic, social, humanitarian, environmental and climate challenges together with its partners, Hero-Arkadag expressed confidence in the assistance in this matter of the Turkmenistan-UN Strategic Advisory Council, created on the initiative of our country.

Based on the positive achievements in the implementation of the National Action Plan to Eliminate Statelessness in Turkmenistan for 2019-2024, it is proposed to apply our country's experience in working with stateless persons and refugees in Central Asia in international practice.

-This year, we are faced with the task of implementing a large-scale program of events dedicated to the implementation of the UN General Assembly Resolution "2025 - International Year of Peace and Trust" and the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's neutrality. The international forum will be the main one of the upcoming events. It is planned to hold it on December 12 this year in Ashgabat at the level of heads of state and heads of international structures, - Hero-Arkadag said. In this regard, the National Leader of the Turkmen people invited the UN Secretary General to take part in the upcoming Summit.

-UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the importance of declaring 2025 in our country as the "International Year of Peace and Trust", which is marked by the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's neutrality and the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations. In this regard, it was noted that the UN structural divisions will take an active part in international events to be organized by Turkmenistan.

Having once again confirmed the readiness for close cooperation with the UN, the National Leader of the Turkmen people emphasized that neutral Turkmenistan has been, remains and will be a reliable partner, adherent and supporter of the United Nations in the regional and global dimensions.

-At the upcoming international meetings and events in Turkmenistan, along with the State Flag, we want to install the flag of the United Nations as a clear evidence of our position. This will be an expression of pride for us, a manifestation of the unity of positions and goals of neutral Turkmenistan and the UN, - Hero-Arkadag said.

-The UN Secretary-General noted the current relevance of all initiatives put forward by Turkmenistan in the international arena, and once again confirmed support for activities in this direction, implemented on the basis of the principles of neutrality and peacefulness.

At the end of the telephone conversation, National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres expressed confidence in the further expansion of strategic cooperation in the interests of peace and sustainable development in the region and on the planet, and also exchanged best wishes.

The telephone conversation took place on the initiative of the UN Secretary-General.

Photo: tdh.gov.tm