On April 27, one of the oldest and most prestigious educational institutions in Europe, the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium), hosted a Peace Conference dedicated to finding ways to strengthen stability and mutual understanding in the modern world. The key participant and speaker of the event was Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to Brussels Sapar Palvanov.

The event, jointly organized by the Embassy of Turkmenistan, the active student association of the university "KULTUR" and the EUROVIA company, attracted a wide audience. The conference was attended by representatives of academic circles, youth organizations, the media, the diplomatic corps, the Belgian parliament, as well as representatives of the mayor's office. Such a diverse composition of participants emphasized the high and multifaceted interest in the topics raised.

In his speech, the Ambassador of Turkmenistan addressed the fundamental topic of our time – peace – and the role of neutrality as an unshakable foundation of international cooperation and sustainable development. He deeply revealed the understanding of peace, emphasizing that it is not just the absence of war, but an active way of thinking, lifestyle and a conscious daily choice in favor of unity and mutual understanding between peoples. “Peace is a daily construction, choice after choice, it is a willingness to believe in the power of humanity united by common values,” the diplomat said, setting the tone for the entire discussion.

The Ambassador covered in detail the unique path of Turkmenistan, which, after gaining independence in 1991, chose a strategy of positive permanent neutrality. He recalled the international recognition of this status by the UN General Assembly, emphasizing that Turkmenistan builds its foreign policy on the principles of active neutrality: the country, as a matter of principle, does not join military blocs and consistently advocates peaceful dialogue, dispute resolution by political and diplomatic means and broad mutually beneficial cooperation in the international arena.

The diplomat gave specific and vivid examples of how the policy of neutrality in practice contributes to strengthening regional and global security. He mentioned Turkmenistan's constructive role in facilitating peace talks in Tajikistan in the 1990s, as well as the country's active participation in projects to economically rebuild Afghanistan through the development of vital energy and transport corridors, such as the large-scale TAPI gas pipeline project. In the context of modern global challenges, Turkmenistan demonstrates a balanced approach, providing the necessary humanitarian assistance to countries and regions in need, while maintaining smooth diplomatic relations with all parties to the conflicts.

A special place in the Ambassador's speech was occupied by Turkmenistan's peacekeeping initiatives at the global level, put forward at the United Nations. In particular, a detailed account was given of Turkmenistan's proposal to proclaim 2025 the International Year of Peace and Trust, which received broad support from UN member states. The Ambassador announced that a major high-level international forum will be held in Ashgabat in December 2025, which is intended to become an important platform for the practical promotion of preventive diplomacy ideas, strengthening trust and developing constructive dialogue at the global level.

To better acquaint the conference participants with the rich cultural and historical heritage of Turkmenistan, as well as its modern achievements, two videos were shown. The first showed the centuries-old history and modernity of Turkmenistan, its contribution to the development of the Great Silk Road and cultural wealth. The second video was dedicated to the legendary Akhal-Teke horses - the national pride and cultural symbol of the Turkmen people. The Ambassador also noted that these days Turkmenistan widely celebrated the National Day of the Akhal-Teke Horse, emphasizing the connection between cultural values and the country's peace-loving policy.

At the end of the main part of the speech, the Ambassador held an interactive quiz among the participants, asking questions on the key points of his presentation. The most attentive and erudite listeners were awarded memorable national gifts from Turkmenistan, which aroused keen interest and a positive response from the audience.

The warm and friendly atmosphere of the event in Leuven was complemented by traditional Turkmen treats: all guests were offered aromatic Turkmen pilaf and national snacks, which became a pleasant conclusion to the formal part and contributed to warmer informal communication between the participants.

The conference brought together representatives from a wide range of fields – from students and researchers to representatives of reputable think tanks and international media outlets such as Diplomatic World, EU Reporter, Bruxelles Korner and Kazinform, as well as Belgian parliamentarians and experienced diplomats. Their active participation and genuine interest became a vivid confirmation of the exceptional relevance of the topics of peace, trust and cooperation raised by Turkmenistan in the modern world, as well as the high demand for the experience of neutral Turkmenistan as an active peacemaker.

KU Leuven is rightly proud of its rich history as one of the leading European academic venues, which for many years has provided a platform for important speeches and discussions by outstanding world leaders and figures on key issues on the global agenda. Among those who have spoken at the university over the years have been such iconic figures as Pope Francis, King Philippe of the Belgians, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the eminent British writer and actor Sir Stephen Fry.

The holding of the Peace Conference with the participation of the Ambassador of Turkmenistan in Belgium at this authoritative venue and the deep interest shown by the participants underscore the relevance and international relevance of Turkmenistan's peacekeeping policy, its experience of neutrality as an effective tool for building peace, as well as the readiness of a prestigious European university to promote a broad dialogue on these vital issues.

The conference held in Leuven clearly demonstrated that the desire for peace, trust and mutual understanding is a universal value that unites representatives of various professions, cultures and social circles on all continents. Concluding the solemn event, the Ambassador of Turkmenistan addressed the participants with an important appeal, which became its leitmotif: "Choose peace. Live in peace. Become a bridge between peoples." These words sounded like an inspiring final chord aimed at further joint efforts to build a safer and more harmonious world.

ORIENT