UN
SRSG NATALIA GHERMAN MEETS WITH PRESIDENT OF TURKMENISTAN GURBANGULY BERDIMUHAMEDOV
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan
On 3 March, Natalia Gherman, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Central Asia, Head of the UNRCCA, met with H. E. Mr. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, President of Turkmenistan.
Marking the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s membership in the UN, SRSG Natalia Gherman on behalf of UN Secretary-General António Guterres congratulated the President and the people of Turkmenistan underlining the country’s good partnership with the UN and the distinctive place on the world stage the country earned by promoting regional stability through its permanent neutrality status.
Neutral Turkmenistan has played an important part in increasing the role and authority of the UN in the world. Over the last thirty years Turkmenistan has become a reliable regional partner ensuring peace and offering a platform for dialogue.
The Special Representative expressed high appreciation for active engagement and support which Turkmenistan provides to UNRCCA in addressing challenges related to prevention of violent extremism and countering terrorism, as well as seeking mutually acceptable mechanisms relevant to climate change and transboundary water management.
In response, the President of Turkmenistan stressed that the country actively supports the work and initiatives of the Regional Centre, in particular in promoting political, diplomatic, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation between the states of the region and neighbouring countries.
Turkmenistan cooperates with the political structure of the United Nations in maintaining regional security, including the implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the Women, Peace and Security and Youth, Peace and Security agendas.
SRSG Natalia Gherman expressed confidence that the solid foundation of cooperation between Turkmenistan and the UN, including UNRCCA, laid down over the past years, will continue to contribute to turning Central Asia into a region of stability, sustainable development and prosperity.
On the same day, SRSG Natalia Gherman took part in the international conference “Turkmenistan and the United Nations: Dialogue as a guarantee of peace and development” organised on the occasion of 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s membership in the United Nations. The conference was held with wide participation of UN representatives and Turkmen authorities, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Rashid Meredov. Taking the opportunity, the SRSG congratulated the Ambassadors of all other Central Asian states with the remarkable anniversary of UN membership.
