President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov had a telephone conversation with UN Secretary-General, António Guterres.
Cordially greeting each other, the Turkmen leader and the head of the largest international organization expressed satisfaction with the opportunity to discuss the priority areas of traditional interaction between our country and the UN, as well as exchange views on the most important issues on the international agenda.
At the same time, the role of the neutral status of the Turkmen state as a significant factor in regional security and stability, an effective mechanism for establishing multifaceted cooperation in solving critical tasks of our time, and strengthening friendly, good-neighborly relations between countries and peoples was emphasized.
It was stated that Turkmen neutrality in fact had confirmed its compliance with the long-term goals of the world community and the basic principles of the UN Charter.
As emphasized, the United Nations highly appreciated the contribution of our country to the development of constructive international partnership in various fields, fully supported the creative initiatives put forward by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, as evidenced by a number of Resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly.
President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized that Turkmenistan appreciated the attention paid by the UN Secretary General to the development of cooperation with our country. “This year is a jubilee year for all of us.
The UN will mark its 75th anniversary and Turkmenistan will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Resolution “On the Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan” by the UN General Assembly”, said the President of Turkmenistan, expressing confidence that these significant dates would be celebrated.
The exchange of views on the status and prospects of bilateral cooperation, including the one carried out through specialized UN structures, with which we have gained solid experience in implementing joint programmes and projects took place during the conversation. In this context, the theme of the coronavirus pandemic that has given rise to concern worldwide was raised.
According to the Turkmen leader, today people all around the world has faced a new, extremely serious challenge that has embraced vast geographical spaces on the planet and changed the everyday life of many states and peoples.
In this regard, more than ever, the role of the United Nations as the only universal international structure capable of consolidating the efforts of the entire world community in the fight against the threat is of particular importance.
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized that the UN efforts to maintain stability in the world during this difficult period created an atmosphere of solidarity and served as the basis for coordinated actions of all states.
Under the current conditions, the UN Secretary-General’s appeal for a ceasefire in conflicts around the world to focus on the shared struggle to overcome the virus has gained particular relevance.
Turkmenistan, as the state, the neutral status of which is recognized by the United Nations, fully supports this initiative, considering it in a broad context as a call for cohesion between countries, consolidation of their efforts in the fight against the challenges and threats of our time.
In this regard, preventive diplomacy, which today stands as one of the main methods for resolving internationally significant issues, plays an important role.The huge arsenal of political and diplomatic means that the UN uses in the implementation of preventive diplomacy provides a solid basis for resolving complex international problems, preventing conflicts, and eradicating the causes that give rise to them.
Speaking about this, President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov assured that Turkmenistan, as the country that hosts the headquarters of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, would continue to actively support the activities of the UNRCCA and contribute in every possible way to the implementation of important regional projects and programmes.
In this regard, the President of Turkmenistan briefly dwelt on the experience of Turkmenistan in joint work with the countries of the region and other neighboring states in combating the spread of infectious diseases at present. In particular, for example, coordinated actions are taken together with Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan to ensure effective sanitary-quarantine measures at the state borders.
In this difficult period, the countries of the region provide each other with mutual humanitarian support.Thus, Turkmenistan sent humanitarian aid to neighboring Iran, continues to carry out active work on the implementation of economic and social projects in Afghanistan.
Together with the Uzbek and Kazakh neighbors, a number of measures have been taken to create favorable conditions for the citizens of our states in the neighbouring countries.
Understanding the importance of preventive measures, as well as other actions to respond coronavirus, our country conducts this work on a systematic basis. In this context, the head of state expressed gratitude to the UN Secretary General for his initiative to develop the National Plans to prepare and respond to coronavirus infection.
The Government of Turkmenistan, together with the United Nations Resident Coordinator in our country and UN country agencies, finalizes the National Plan, which will be considered in the very near future.
The President of Turkmenistan expressed belief along with the fight against the pandemic, new forms and methods of work that would allow all states of the world to maintain normal operation of both national financial and economic systems and the global economy should be found.
It is necessary to ensure the high level of consolidation in the international community, to develop and introduce new models of interaction between countries, regions and continents.
According to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, in this process, the United Nations should play a key, coordinating role. Turkmenistan is ready to provide its experience and opportunities for solving the problems on restoring the global economy under the auspices of the UN.
Understanding that transport is one of the most important elements of world economic relations, our country that initiated three resolutions of the UN General Assembly on this issue, has suggested to consider the possibility of creating new international legal mechanisms aimed at ensuring the stable functioning of international transport and transit corridors in emergency situations.
In this regard, the Turkmen leader proposed to initiate a wide multilateral dialogue on transport issues with the participation of all United Nations Member States, specialized international structures, world financial institutions and other interested parties.
The main result of such a dialogue could be a Resolution or another document of the UN General Assembly on transport communications under recessional conditions.
“Today, the successful implementation of all the tasks set is impossible without expanding international relations, and the United Nations plays a special role in this area”, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said.
Expressing belief that during this difficult period we will be able to overcome difficulties with dignity and honor and further strengthen traditional cooperation, the President of Turkmenistan emphasized that Turkmenistan would support the UN activities, and reaffirmed the willingness of our country to further strengthen relations with the UN.
The intention of the parties to build up partnership, distinguished by growing dynamics, purposefulness and specificity was underlined.
Thanking the Turkmen leader for providing all possible support to ensure cooperation with the UN and its specialized structures, Mr. António Guterres emphasized that Turkmenistan had proved itself as an exceptionally reliable and responsible partner of the United Nations.
At the end of the telephone conversation, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and UN Secretary General António Guterres wished each other health and success, and expressed confidence in the further dynamic development of constructive bilateral cooperation, built on a long-term, systematic basis and in the interests of global peace, prosperity and progress.
The telephone conversation took place on the initiative of the UN Secretary General.