ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan

On 6 December 2018 SRSG Natalia Gherman participated in the International Conference “Importance of the Great Silk Road: Present and Future Development” convened by the Government of Turkmenistan, with the support of UNESCO.

This event gathered Ministers, High-level Representatives and experts from the Silk Road countries and the broader region and was focused on the significance of the Great Silk Road for peace and sustainable development.

Inaugurating the Conference, SRSG Natalia Gherman recalled the relevant resolutions of the UN General Assembly reaffirming that sustainable development cannot be realized without peace and security and that tolerance and intercultural dialogue can contribute to conflict prevention and

reconciliation. SRSG Natalia Gherman also noted that the development of connectivity among the Silk Road countries will be always supported by the United Nations. She underlined the undisputable links between increasing intra-regional cooperation and the Silk Road initiatives creating opportunities for people-to-people contacts and raising awareness around the world of this important history. SRSG pledged UNRCCA’s continuing support for building trust among the countries of the region in order to revitalize the ancient Silk Road heritage in the 21^st century.

The full text of SRSG’s statement is available at: <link>