Cooperation between the United Nations and Turkmenistan, as well as regional developments in Central Asia, took center stage during a meeting between UN Secretary-General António Guterres and President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. The discussions highlighted Turkmenistan's role in fostering regional stability and collaboration.
In Ashgabat, Secretary-General @antonioguterres met Serdar Berdimuhamedov, President of Turkmenistan. The discussed cooperation between the @UN and Turkmenistan, & regional developments in Central Asia.
— UN Spokesperson (@UN_Spokesperson) July 6, 2024
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Secretary-General Guterres expressed his appreciation for Turkmenistan hosting the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia and praised the country's generosity in granting citizenship to stateless individuals. He also thanked President Berdimuhamedov for providing a new building for the UN Country Team.
Addressing journalists later, Guterres stated, “Turkmenistan is playing a very important role in international relations,” particularly through its cooperation with the UN.
He commended Turkmenistan’s policy of neutrality, noting its importance in the current global climate.
The Secretary-General was on an official visit to Central Asia, covering Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. This marks his first visit to the region in seven years, a period marked by global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, rising geopolitical tensions, and an intensifying climate crisis.
Guterres noted the encouraging improvement in relations between Central Asian countries and the deepening regional cooperation in response to these challenges, emphasizing Turkmenistan's pivotal role in these efforts. Despite progress, the region faces significant development obstacles, including water shortages, land degradation, natural hazards, and inadequate connectivity.
“The solutions are interlinked and can be found through dialogue and cooperation, and Turkmenistan plays a central role in that cooperation,” he said.
The establishment of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy underscores the Organization’s commitment to Central Asia, Guterres added. With the engagement of all five Central Asian countries, the Centre will continue to provide a platform for collaborative solutions, particularly in implementing the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia and managing natural resources for the benefit of all.
Guterres also addressed the impacts of the intensifying climate crisis on Turkmenistan and the broader region. He called for more climate action and significant cuts in emissions to maintain global heating within 1.5 degrees Celsius.
He recognized Turkmenistan’s progress toward several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and mentioned the UN Country Team’s ongoing efforts with the government to identify and address gaps and risks.
“Sustainable, inclusive development can be enormously enhanced by respect for the full spectrum of human rights – economic, social, political, cultural, and civic,” he added.
The Secretary-General encouraged Turkmenistan to continue engaging with UN human rights mechanisms and to consider their recommendations.
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