Oriented on making people closer

Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Belgium Sapar Palvanov delivered a lecture to students at the Free University of Brussels (ULB), highlighting the key principles of the country's foreign policy based on neutrality, as well as Turkmenistan's initiatives aimed at strengthening global peace and trust.

In his speech, the Ambassador noted that Turkmenistan is the only country in the world which status of permanent neutrality was officially recognized by the UN General Assembly in 1995. This principle has become the basis of the country's international activities, allowing Turkmenistan to act as a mediator in resolving regional and global conflicts, as well as to promote the development of constructive dialogue between countries.

One of the key areas of Turkmenistan's foreign policy is preventive diplomacy, a striking example of which was the creation of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) on the initiative of Ashgabat in 2007.

The Ambassador also drew attention to the importance of 2025, which, on the initiative of Turkmenistan, was declared the International Year of Peace and Trust by the UN General Assembly. As part of this initiative, the country plans to organize an international conference dedicated to peaceful coexistence, diplomacy and confidence-building between states.

Particular attention during the lecture was paid to the role of Turkmenistan as a key transit hub at the intersection of Europe and Asia. The Ambassador emphasized that the country is actively developing transport infrastructure, including the International Sea Port in Turkmenbashi, which makes Turkmenistan an important link in the Eurasian transport network and contributes to the strengthening of trade ties between the regions.

After the main part of the speech, an open discussion took place, during which the question was asked: "What should European students know about Turkmenistan?"

In his response, the Ambassador emphasized that Turkmenistan is a country with a unique geopolitical position, bordering both Central Asia and the Middle East through Iran. Turkmenistan remains one of the most stable, peaceful and secure countries in the region. This is the result of a balanced policy, economic self-sufficiency and commitment to neutrality.

Sapar Palvanov noted the active role of Turkmenistan in maintaining regional stability, its contribution to humanitarian initiatives and participation in major infrastructure projects. One of the striking examples is the construction of the TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) gas pipeline, which is designed not only to provide energy resources to the entire region, but also to promote the economic integration of Afghanistan, creating jobs and stimulating the development of a peaceful economy.

In addition, the Ambassador spoke about the cultural traditions of Turkmenistan, such as collective carpet weaving and joint baking of bread in clay ovens called tamdyrs. These customs demonstrate the deep commitment of the Turkmen people to the values ​​of cohesion, mutual assistance and respect for heritage. As the diplomat emphasized, the principles of peace and trust that Turkmenistan promotes at the international level have strong roots in the national culture.

The speech aroused wide interest among students studying international relations and diplomatic sciences.

ORIENT

Photo: courtesy of the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Belgium