Today, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov received Ms.Natalia Gherman, who is completing her mission as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Central Asia, Head of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA).

Expressing gratitude for the opportunity to discuss topical issues and promising vectors of further development of long-term fruitful cooperation in a personal conversation, the diplomat conveyed warm words of greeting to the head of the Turkmen state from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who addressed wishes of peace, prosperity and success to the people of sovereign Turkmenistan on the path of grandiose transformations.

Thanking for the kind words, the President of the country conveyed his best wishes to the head of this authoritative organization, which plays a leading role in the global processes of the modern world.

During the meeting, it was noted with satisfaction that in recent years the activities of the Center for the Promotion of Preventive Diplomacy have been successfully continued, new formats of interaction have been created and work on the implementation of specific programs in the region has been strengthened.

Expressing gratitude to Ms.N.Gherman for her fruitful work and great personal contribution to the development of cooperation between Turkmenistan and the UN, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov also took the opportunity to congratulate her on her appointment as Executive Director of the Executive Directorate of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee and wished her new successes and achievements in this responsible post.

As it was noted, the development of a multifaceted partnership with the United Nations, which is of a strategic nature, has always been one of the key vectors of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy.

Being a country with the status of permanent neutrality, twice recognized by the Member States of the United Nations, Turkmenistan plays an active role in the international arena and has been fruitfully cooperating with the UN and its specialized structures for many years.

Currently, cooperation is carried out in a wide range of areas, including in such important areas as ensuring peace and security, sustainable energy and transport, solving economic, social, humanitarian and environmental issues, and implementing Sustainable Development Goals.

“Preventive diplomacy remains a very relevant and popular tool to assist states in identifying and eliminating potential threats to peace and security,” the head of Turkmenistan noted.

In this context, it was emphasized that a great responsibility is assigned to the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, established in 2007 and located in the capital of our neutral state in accordance with the decision of the UN General Assembly with the support of neighboring countries and members of the Security Council.

Over the past period, the UNRCCA has established itself as an effective platform linking the United Nations system with the countries of Central Asia in finding solutions in response to new challenges.

It was emphasized that Turkmenistan actively supports the work and initiatives of the Regional Center, in particular, in promoting political, diplomatic, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation between the states of the region.

Cooperation is also being carried out in maintaining regional security, including the implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, within the framework of which the fourth phase of the implementation of the joint Action plan on Countering terrorism in Central Asia is currently being implemented.

The head of Turkmenistan also noted with satisfaction that mechanisms of multilateral preventive diplomacy have been created and are successfully functioning. These are the initiative of the “Academy of Preventive Diplomacy” and the Dialogue of Women of Central Asian countries.

Expressing confidence that the Center’s potential will continue to be in demand in such areas as countering modern challenges and threats, ensuring security, stability and sustainable development in the region and adjacent zones, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov reaffirmed the Turkmen side’s continued commitment to active joint work with the UN for the benefit of peace and prosperity throughout the world.

During the interested conversation, the head of state and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General exchanged views on the results of the interaction.

Thanking for the initiative approach of the Turkmen side to the urgent problems of our time and building multi-format cooperation on a long-term, mutually respectful basis, the head of the UNRCCA highlighted that Turkmenistan, which has accumulated solid peacekeeping experience over the years of its sovereign development, acts as a reliable and long-term partner of the UN in the Central Asian region. Turkmenistan has also become the author of many Resolutions on topical issues on the world agenda, including the UN General Assembly Resolution declaring 2023 the “International Year of Dialogue as a Guarantee of Peace”.

Ms.Natalia Gherman once again sincerely thanked for the support provided all these years in the successful work of the diplomatic mission headed by her and the creation of new platforms for cooperation, wishing the Turkmen people happiness and success in implementing all the grandiose plans and tasks outlined in the era of the Revival of a new epoch of a powerful state.

At the end of the meeting, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and the head of the UN Regional Center exchanged mutual good wishes, expressing confidence in the successful continuation and deepening of the traditional partnership for a better future.