SESSION ENTITLED «CONTRIBUTION OF STATES AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO GLOBAL PEACE BUILDING PROCESSES» WAS HELD IN THE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY FOR THE HUMANITIES AND DEVELOPMENT OF TURKMENISTAN

On December 12, 2020, the plenary session on the topic “Contribution of States and International Organizations to Global Peace building Processes» was held in the International University for the Humanities and Development in Turkmenistan, within the framework of the International Conference “Policy of Neutrality and its Role in Ensuring International Peace, Security and Sustainable Development.”

The event was attended by the Vice-Speaker of the Parliament of Turkmenistan Kasymguly Babayev, Rector of the International University for Humanities and Development Esen Aydogdyev,   Ambassador, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Central Asia, Head of the United Nations Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) Natalia Gherman, representatives of the ministries and departments of the country and the mass media.  

The video statements of the Director General of the United Nations Office in Vienna, Executive Director of the UN office for Drug and Crime (UNODC) Ghada Fathi Waly, Director-General of Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Fernando Arias, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) Lassina Zerbo, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Deborah Lyons, UN Women Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia Alia El-Yassir, Director of Decent Work Technical Support Team and the International Labour Organization Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia Olga Koulaeva were heard.

During her speech, Ms. Ghada Fathi Waly underlined the importance of the partnership of UNODC with the Neutral Turkmenistan in the process of preventing transnational organized crime, drug trafficking, corruption and terrorism, and other threats of current times. She spoke about the joint work with Turkmenistan on implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.  Also the practical steps of implementing the joint “roadmap” were highlighted. 

Congratulating the President of Turkmenistan and the Turkmen nation with the 25th anniversary of permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan, Lassina Zerbo specifically underlined the importance of the UN General Assembly Resolution “On permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan” which has become a big step on the way to attaining peace, security and sustainable development in the region and beyond it.  He underlined that Turkmenistan being one of the first countries that signed and ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, demonstrated its commitment to the principles of positive Neutrality. Also Lassina Zerbo expressed confidence in that Turkmen Neutrality will for sure contribute to the achievements of the SDGs.   

The speakers of the session reiterated the growing role of Turkmen Neutrality aimed at the strengthening of the culture of peace and the development processes.