ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan

On 5 October 2018 SRSG Natalia Gherman took part in a briefing, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan in Ashgabat, which was dedicated to results of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The event was attended by state officials, representatives of the diplomatic community in Ashgabat and national and foreign mass media accredited in Turkmenistan.  At the beginning of the meeting, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, H.E. Mr. Rashid Meredov, presented information on the participation of the Turkmen delegation, lead by H.E. the President of Turkmenistan, Mr. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, at the United Nations General Assembly held in New York.

In her remarks, SRSG Gherman recalled that the General Assembly was held under the slogan “Making the UN relevant to all people: Global leadership and shared responsibilities for peaceful, equitable and sustainable societies” in which the UN Secretary-General António Guterres stressed the importance of the United Nations Organization’s ongoing reforms to make it more efficient and responsive to the vital interests of all peoples.  He also emphasized a need for commitment to a rules-based order, with the United Nations at its centre and with the different institutions and treaties that bring the Charter to life.

SRSG Gherman noted that key priorities, presented by Turkmenistan at the opening of the 73^rd session of the United Nations General Assembly are closely aligned with the United Nations top priorities and constitute key directions of UNRCCA activities. She welcomed these valuable and timely initiatives aimed not only at consolidating cooperation and addressing critical issues both of the regional and global agenda but adoption of the central role of the United Nations in the areas of peace, security and sustainable development in the region and globally.

Furthermore, SRSG Gherman referred to the words of UN Secretary-General who stressed that the world was suffering from a bad case of “Trust Deficit Disorder”.  In that framework, the initiative of the President of Turkmenistan to proclaim 2019 as the year of Peace and Trust resonates with United Nations activities, as a whole, and UNRCCA, in particular, aimed at reducing tensions and at peaceful settlement of disputes through preventive diplomacy and well-considered solutions.

SRSG Gherman pointed out that issues related to counter terrorism were identified as a priority in all statements of the delegations from Central Asia during United Nations General Assembly. She underlined that this issue remains key to ensuring long-term stability in the region and globally.

In the course of the briefing, she highlighted UNRCCA’s ongoing and forthcoming preventive activities in other areas, such as transboundary water management, climate change, melting glaciers, Aral Sea situation and close cooperation with IFAS. SRSG Gherman noted that many of these topics were also highlighted in the statements of the delegations from Central Asia in New York. She reiterated that the Centre always supported initiatives of the Central Asian states on water and energy as well as environmental sphere, realized on the basis of international law, taking into account the equitable interests of the countries of the region.

Efforts of the Central Asian states to extend the relations of partnership with Afghanistan were specifically mentioned. In this regard, Head of UNRCCA underlined crucial role of Turkmenistan in implementation of major infrastructural and transportation projects aimed at connecting Afghanistan to the regional cooperation frameworks with Central Asia.

SRSG Gherman focused on the issue of gender equality, which is at the top of the agenda of the UN Secretary-General, as well as remaining one of the priority challenges existing in many societies around the world. She also spoke about UNRCCA’s ongoing strategic dialogue activities, where youth and women’s involvement in preventive diplomacy and conflict prevention are regularly addressed.

Finally, SRSG Natalia Gherman expressed appreciation to the Government for its productive collaboration with the United Nations Organization, and UNRCCA in particular, and reiterated the readiness of UNRCCA to support the important regional initiatives and endeavors of Turkmenistan, as well as the other states of Central Asia, on consolidating regional peace and security through enhanced cooperation and building trust.