Ashgabat and the UN Lay Foundation for the University of Peace and Neutrality
Ashgabat, January 12 | ORIENT. Today, Foreign Ministry of Turkmenistan hosted a meeting between Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov and Kakha Imnadze, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the UNRCCA. The main topic of the dialogue was the practical implementation of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov's initiative to establish the University of Peace and Neutrality, the Foreign Ministry's press service reported.
The initiative to create this unique university was first announced by the head of state just a month ago, on December 12, 2025, at the anniversary forum in honor of the 30th anniversary of the country's neutrality. This project has already been recognized as an official document of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly.
The fact that the Ashgabat Declaration, which formalized the establishment of the university, received the support of the international community underscores the relevance of "educational diplomacy" in the context of contemporary global turbulence.
During the meeting, the parties emphasized that UNRCCA remains a key platform for advancing programs uniting all five Central Asian countries. In 2026, Ashgabat and the UN's partnership will focus on implementing the objectives set out in the 2025 UN General Assembly resolutions on Turkmenistan and launching new projects involving all Central Asian states.
The establishment of the University of Peace and Neutrality is a strategic move by Ashgabat. Turkmenistan is shifting from providing a platform for negotiations to systematically training personnel capable of conducting these negotiations. In partnership with the UN Center for Preventive Diplomacy, this university has the potential to become a key intellectual training ground for future peacekeepers not only in Central Asia but throughout the world.
