These words, spoken by National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov during a telephone conversation with UN Secretary-General António Guterres on January 14, reflect the hopes of all mankind for positive changes in world politics and economics aimed at overcoming the trust deficit in international and interstate relations and strengthening multilateral cooperation in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

The conversation emphasized the special symbolism of 2025 as the International Year of Peace and Trust, marked by such significant dates as the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's permanent neutrality and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. There is a deep connection between these dates: Turkmenistan's neutrality has been twice recognized by the Community of Nations, and this fact itself underlines the global significance of neutrality as a factor in ensuring peace and development.

And three decades of Turkmen neutrality confirm the words spoken in a conversation with António Guterres that neutral Turkmenistan was, remains and will be a reliable partner, adherent and supporter of the United Nations in the regional and global dimensions.

As the initiator of the adoption by the UN General Assembly of the Resolution "2025 - International Year of Peace and Trust", Turkmenistan has developed the Concept of Turkmenistan's Activities and Priorities within the Year, in which the approaches and views set out serve as a common political platform for the implementation of specific measures and activities proposed by the country. The Concept emphasizes the importance of using the potential of neutrality to support the efforts of the United Nations to establish peace and restore the culture of trusting dialogue and is aimed at promoting preventive diplomacy as a tool for preventing and neutralizing conflict situations.

When developing this Concept, consultations were held with the structural divisions of the UN. It is largely based on the content of the "Future Summit", convened on the initiative of the UN in September last year, and Turkmenistan considers it as a special contribution to the implementation of its final document - the "Pact for the Future".

During the telephone conversation, the National Leader of the Turkmen People informed the UN Secretary-General about its key provisions and plans of Turkmenistan, scheduled for implementation in partnership with the Organization in 2025. The concept was approved by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who noted its importance for consolidating efforts to address pressing issues on the global agenda.

The UN Secretary-General also highly appreciated the overall policy pursued by Turkmenistan and its initiatives for universal peace, prosperity and sustainable development, confirming support for activities based on the principles of neutrality and peacefulness. In this regard, it was stated that the UN structural divisions will take an active part in international events to be organized by Turkmenistan. In turn, National Leader of the Turkmen People Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed his intention to install the flag of the United Nations along with the State Flag at the upcoming international meetings and events in Turkmenistan as a manifestation of the unity of positions and goals of neutral Turkmenistan and the UN.

The key event in the planned 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 will be the International Forum, which is scheduled to be held on December 12 this year in Ashgabat at the level of heads of state and heads of international structures. The National Leader of the Turkmen people invited the UN Secretary General to take part in the upcoming Summit.

In 2025, it is also planned to hold thematic conferences and dialogues, including within the framework of the UN Security Council and General Assembly, the Non-Aligned Movement, the UN Peacebuilding Commission and other international platforms. Regular meetings of the Group of Friends of Neutrality for the sake of peace, security and sustainable development and a conference on neutrality at the UN headquarters will be held.

In a telephone conversation with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the main areas of upcoming joint work related to strengthening regional and global security, solving environmental and water problems, and interaction with Afghanistan were touched upon. Based on the UN General Assembly resolutions 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", Turkmenistan confirms its unwavering commitment to intensifying dialogue on regional security issues in the International Year of Peace and Trust.

Since Turkmenistan, as a Caspian state, is also concerned about the security situation in the Caspian region, a proposal was voiced to consider the possibility of creating two peacekeeping centers in the country. It was noted that 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. Based on the proposals of the Turkmen side to grant neutral states the status of priority partners in the peacekeeping efforts of the United Nations, readiness for active interaction with the relevant UN structures was declared.

One of the priority areas of joint work in the International Year of Peace and Trust is related to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. And here, Turkmenistan's initiatives to develop a Global Framework for the Transition to a Circular Economy, compile a Global Atlas of Sustainable Transport Connectivity, and create an Alliance for Cooperation in the Field of Global Energy Security and Sustainable Development are of great importance.

In the International Year of Peace and Trust, Turkmenistan proposes to intensify a comprehensive strategy of cooperation to promote the Sustainable Development Goals. As emphasized in the Concept of Activities and Priorities of Turkmenistan within the International Year of Peace and Trust, their achievement is possible only by ensuring conditions for the full participation of all states in the main processes of the modern world order, the formation of new approaches to the economy of the future, and the creation of viable and long-term models of geo-economics.

Confirming during the conversation with the UN Secretary General the readiness of Turkmenistan, together with its partners, to continue measures to address significant economic, social, humanitarian, environmental and climate challenges, the National Leader of the Turkmen people expressed confidence in the assistance of the Turkmenistan-UN Strategic Advisory Council, created on the initiative of our country.

ORIENT