Oriented on making people closer

Avaza, August 5 | ORIENT. Speaking at a press conference in Avaza, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres thanked President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and the people of Turkmenistan for the warm welcome, noting that hosting the UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries is a testament to the country's commitment to international cooperation.

"It is always a pleasure to be in Turkmenistan," the Secretary-General said at the very beginning of the meeting with journalists, noting that he has been visiting our country for almost two decades.

Guterres singled out Turkmenistan’s “unique global achievement” in addressing statelessness, calling it “an exemplary process” and an act of generosity that he “will never forget.” “During my visits here as High Commissioner for Refugees, I was deeply impressed by Turkmenistan’s solution to one of the most intractable problems in the world today: statelessness,” Guterres said.

He also stressed that this Conference reflects a new era of cooperation emerging in Central Asia, “based on mutual trust, shared priorities and growing regional solidarity.”

A Call for Justice, Not Mercy

The Secretary-General noted that the 32 landlocked countries (LLDCs), with a population of about 600 million, are “locked in” not only inland but also out of reach of global finance and technology. They face high transport costs, limited market access and mounting debt burdens.

Guterres stressed that these countries are not asking for mercy, but for justice, equal access and investment. The Avaza Action Program is a plan for the next decade to help them build resilient economies and inclusive societies.

He highlighted four areas for urgent action: unlocking economic potential, including investing in education, digital skills and artificial intelligence technologies; connecting to the world through trade corridors; tackling the climate crisis; and reforming the global financial system.

Answering a question from a Euronews representative, who wanted to know what message Guterres would like to convey to the world community on interaction with landlocked countries, the Secretary-General emphasized that the problems of these countries can be solved. He drew a line between developed and developing LLDCs, noting that the former have free access to ports and free movement of goods.

His key message: the world community must create conditions for developing LLDCs by reforming the financial architecture, providing debt relief and increasing the capacity of international financial institutions. He cited the example of Portugal and Spain, trade ties of which have increased many times over since the removal of barriers.

During the briefing, Guterres announced plans to establish a High Group on Freedom of Transit to implement the decisions taken at the Conference.

“We count on the support of all Member States in this process, so that no country is left behind simply because it is landlocked,” the Secretary-General said. “This is not just a question of development – it is a question of dignity and justice.”

Photo: orient.tm