Oriented on making people closer

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov paid a working visit to New York to participate in a high-level plenary meeting dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the United Nations.

Participation in the event, held at UN Headquarters, underscores Turkmenistan's commitment to the principles of its foreign policy—positive neutrality and international cooperation. The meeting addressed issues of strengthening peace, security, and sustainable development.

The visit also coincides with two important events in 2025: the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's permanent neutrality and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UN, highlighting the historic relationship between the country and the Organization. As part of this long-standing cooperation, a number of key resolutions aimed at strengthening peace and trust at the global and regional levels have been adopted on the initiative of Turkmenistan.

On Monday, September 22, the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations was celebrated in the General Assembly Hall in New York. The event began with a musical performance by the youth choir Sing for Hope, the Metropolitan Opera Chorus, and pianist David Watkins, conducted by Tilman Michael. However, as General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock stated in her address, "today is not a day of celebration," but "a moment to remember the lessons of history and find the courage to choose the path of hope again."

UN Secretary-General António Guterres also spoke, calling for a commemoration of the Organization's first staff, many of whom bore the "visible scars of war." "They saw the worst of what humanity is capable of – the horrors of death camps, the brutality of battle, cities razed to the ground. And that is why they chose to serve the cause of peace," he continued. And contrary to the misconception that the desire for peace is naive, “they knew that peace is the boldest, the most practical, the most necessary desire of all.”

2021 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa focused her speech on the challenges of human rights and information in the digital age. She recalled that 80 years ago, the UN Charter was born as a promise to prevent a repeat of tragedies after "fascism manipulated information, destroyed truth, and dehumanized entire peoples to justify genocide and world war."

According to her, humanity is currently experiencing an "information Armageddon," where lies spread faster than facts, and algorithms are designed to evoke "outrage instead of empathy" and fuel "fear, anger, and hatred, overwhelming us with a toxic flood of information." Research shows that false information spreads six times faster than facts, and with the development of generative AI, the situation is only worsening, Ressa warned.

She presented three solutions: ending the impunity of digital giants and introducing international standards to protect the information environment; create an alternative infrastructure of trust based on independent journalism; and invest in comprehensive initiatives, including strengthening democratic institutions and supporting the efforts of women, who play a key role in peacebuilding.

ORIENT

Photo: un.org