On November 28, 2024, representatives of Turkmenistan took part as an observer in the 28th special session of the General Conference of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL), which was held in a videoconference format.
Turkmenistan, which chairs the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia, was invited to the event as a key regional partner. During the session, the Secretary General of OPANAL spoke, and reports were heard from the Agency's Board and representatives of participating countries.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, the main areas of discussion were maintaining the non-nuclear status of Latin America, developing the legal framework for international cooperation and promoting the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, taking into account environmental aspects.
Particular attention was paid to the draft Memorandum of Understanding between the Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia and the OPANAL Agency.
The representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan emphasized the importance of cooperation with regional nuclear-free zones and the efforts of Central Asian countries to unite international initiatives.
Let us remind that Turkmenistan is the initiator of the UN General Assembly resolutions on the Zone of Peace, Trust and Cooperation in Central Asia, adopted in 2022 and 2024.
Participation in the OPANAL session demonstrates Turkmenistan’s active position in strengthening international security and developing multilateral dialogue in the region.