AWAZA, Turkmenistan

On 7 August 2025, SRSG for Central Asia and Head of UNRCCA Mr. Kaha Imnadze participated in a high-level side event titled “International Year of Peace and Trust: The Momentum to Implement SDG 16.” The event was held in the margins of the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) in Awaza, Turkmenistan.

The event was co-hosted by Turkmenistan and UNRCCA, in cooperation with UNDP and IAEA and focused on the importance of peace, trust, and inclusive governance in advancing Sustainable Development Goal 16, promoting peaceful, just, and inclusive societies, ensuring access to justice, and strengthening effective, accountable institutions.

The discussion brought together senior representatives of the countries, regional experts, and international organizations. It focused on the political risks that undermine development in landlocked developing countries, including border instability, disruptions to transit systems, and a lack of institutional trust, while also highlighting the potential of preventive diplomacy to mitigate these challenges. The discussions also touched upon water diplomacy and connectivity that aligns with the UNRCCA mandate.

In his statement, SRSG Imnadze stressed that peace and trust are essential foundations for sustainable development and regional integration. “The path to prosperity for landlocked countries lies in resilient political mechanisms, inclusive governance, and good neighborly relations,” he noted, reaffirming UNRCCA’s continued support to Central Asian states in strengthening regional dialogue, trust, and cooperation.

The event underscored the relevance of the Awaza Programme of Action, particularly its priority areas on trade, regional integration, and means of implementation. Participants emphasized that political stability, mutual trust, and diplomacy rooted in multilateral cooperation are key to advancing connectivity, attracting investment, and fostering sustainable economic growth.