Opening ceremony of International Year of Peace and Trust, which was declared by relative Resolution of the United Nations General Assembly adopted at the initiative of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, has been held in Turkmen capital on January 29.
Foreign diplomats, heads of competent international organizations accredited in our country took part in the ceremony, which was held in the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The participants included Acting Permanent Representative of the UN to Turkmenistan, the UNICEF Representative in our country Christine Weigand, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Central Asia, head of the UN Regional Center of Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia Natalya Gherman, head of the OSCE Center in Ashgabat, Ambassador Natalya Drozd.
Deputies of the Mejlis, directors of universities of the country, representatives of national and foreign mass media have also taken part in the ceremony.
Speeches of big UN structures, other competent regional and international organizations have been demonstrated at the forum by video conference connection.
Opening the ceremony, Acting Permanent UN Coordinator to Turkmenistan, UNICEF Representative Christine Weigand has noted the importance of International Year of Peace and Trust for support of peace, stability and understanding between the nations, which is a guarantee of sustainable development.
Speaking on behalf of Turkmen side, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan R. Meredov has extended gratitude to the participants of the ceremony for support of the initiative on opening of International Year of Peace and Trust, which is an important political event that is started officially on this day.
There are deep political logic and symbolism in the fact that International Year of Peace and Trust has been forestalled by the 25th anniversary of the status of permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan, which was an important world event of the last year.
Heads of big international organizations, high-rank representatives of various states, prominent politicians, scientists, leaders of business circles have taken part in the forum dedicated to anniversary date.
This is quite logical.Such basic principles of neutrality as commitment to peace, good neighborliness, cooperation and understanding, political and diplomatic methods of solution of problems, non-acceptance of military power as a tool i interstate relations, respect of international law and the UN Chapter become more consonant with the interests and desire of the world community receiving growing support and recognition of the world community.
It is not occasionally that new date International Neutrality Day, which is observed on December 12, has appeared in global political calendar several years ago at the initiative of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
Support of neutrality is clearly reflected in number of resolutions of the UN General Assembly and documents dedicated to the phenomenon of this status as well as in Resolutions on strengthening of regional stability and cooperation in Central Asia and promotion of role of preventive diplomacy initiated by our country.
The potential of neutrality as one of important and recognized tools in support of peace, stability and security is on high demand today. Turkmenistan will put all efforts, having involved its peace-making potential and practice for fulfillment of objectives set under the goals and objectives of International Year of Peace and Trust.
It was highlighted that all need to focus and concentrate on number of important directions in coming period.
First, this is strengthening of international law, assertion of the leading role of the UN in support of universal peace and security, improvement of its role as the only organization with universal mandate and legitimacy.
Second, this is preservation of strategic stability and support of its integral part the disarmament processes and prevention of the spread of massive destruction weapons.
Third, this is uncompromising combating against international terroris, transboundary organized crime. In this case, realization of the UN Global Counter-terrorism Strategy is a decisive factor.
Support and strengthening of preventive diplomacy as an important tool for prevention of disputes and conflicts, provision of energy, transport, water and food security, solution of problems of refugees and migrants are among other priority directions.
Undoubtedly, consolidation of international efforts for combating virus pandemic and elimination of its consequences is a current objective of this year.
Certainly, these and other important points of global agenda can be executed at one fundamental conditions presence of goodwill, mutual trust, responsibility and vision.
The initiative of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on announcement of 2021 as International Year of Peace and Trust has been dictated by the desire to assert these concepts, to turn them into determining factor of the world politics.
The year has started and there is a confidence that joint activity under its framework would be efficient, would give visual results for the interests of prosperity, progress and development around the world. The roadmap of the year, which is developed by joint efforts and remaining open for any suggestions and initiatives, would be successfully implemented.
In the end, the congratulations on current remarkable events and wishes of successful work have been extended on behalf of Turkmenistan to the UN and its state members, numerous friends and partners of our country around the world.
In her speech, Head of the United Nations Regional Center of Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia Natalya Gherman has cordially congratulated President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and all participants of the ceremony on current remarkable event.
Extending full support to the initiatives of Turkmen leader, Mrs. Gherman has highlighted the importance of International Year of Peace and Trust, which is aimed at strengthening of solidarity for peace and prosperity of entire world community.
Continuing the forum, the video messages of Chairman of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly Volkan Bozkir, Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan under the UN A.Atayeva, Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organization Hadi Soleimanpour, Chairman of the Executive Committee the CIS Executive Secretary Sergey Lebedev, Chairman of the UNESCO General Conference Altay Jengizer, General Director of the UN Department in Geneva Tatyan Valova, Assistant Director General, Africa Department, UNESCO Firmin Edouard Matoko, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization Lassina Zerbo have been listened.
The floor has also been given to other foreign participants of the Ceremony including to representatives of various states under the UN.
Sincere gratitude for the opportunity to participate in current remarkable event has been expressed in the speeches and active position of neutral Turkmenistan in consolidation of joint efforts in strengthening of universal peace, security and stability, development of balanced solutions of vital problems of the present has been highlighted.
High assessment of the input of neutral Turkmenistan to peaceful social and economic restoration of Afghanistan has been given in the speech of Head of the OSCE Center in Ashgabat, Ambassador Natalya Drozd.
Recent events on occasion of opening of number of facilities, which connected Turkmenistan and Afghanistan, are visual evidence of this.Opportunities of joint events under International Year of Peace and Trust have been reviewed, interested exchange of visions on development of cooperation between the countries including the expansion of activity on the platforms of regional and international organizations has been held during the ceremony.
The roadmap of International Year of Peace and Trust has been adopted by the outcomes of the forum.