The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited UNRCCA in Ashgabat during his official visit to Turkmenistan. The Secretary-General welcomed the commitment of the Government of Turkmenistan to preventive diplomacy and expressed appreciation for the support provided by the Turkmen side to UNRCCA and its programmatic initiatives. During the meeting with UNRCCA staff the Secretary-General expressed his support and individual staff members’ efforts, and underlined the need to continue advancing preventive diplomacy and building capacities in the region. In his farewell speech, he wished the Center and the UNRCCA staff success in pursuing their cause for peace, security and development in Central Asia.