Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan Reflects Country’s Strong Commitment to International Peace, Security, Secretary-General Says in Message

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message to the conference on the twenty-first anniversary of the neutrality of Turkmenistan, in Ashgabat today:

Your Excellency, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, President of Turkmenistan, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

I am delighted to send greetings to this gathering.  You meet just after my recent visit to Turkmenistan for the Global Sustainable Transport Conference.

Congratulations on celebrating Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality, which reflects the country’s strong commitment to international peace and security.

Turkmenistan and the United Nations have had a productive partnership over the past 25 years.  I am especially grateful to Turkmenistan for hosting the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, which I also visited last month.  The Centre continues fostering regional cooperation to tackle terrorism, drug trafficking, climate change and other common challenges.

I also deeply appreciate Turkmenistan’s generous contribution of an impressive UN House in Ashgabat.  We will support the Government in realizing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which rightly calls for respect for human rights, accountable institutions and space for civil society.

I congratulate you, Mr. President, the Government and people of Turkmenistan on this special occasion and wish you all the best in the years to come.