Berdimuhamedov touched upon the relevant topic in a video message to the participants of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly.
On September 21, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, in a video message to the participants of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, spoke about peace and neutrality, the fight against the pandemic, the implementation of the SDGs, the environmental disaster in the Aral Sea and the situation in Afghanistan. According to him, countries need to overcome existing disagreements in order to overcome the challenges of modern time.
Berdimuhamedov said that the solution to the most acute world problems, in particular problems related to environment, energy, food, poverty, climate change, terrorism, depends on the foresight of the political will of the heads of the UN member states and overcoming differences between countries.
According to him, in the current conditions it is necessary to find a bridge between national interests and global goals.
Pandemic
Touching upon the topic of a pandemic, the President of Turkmenistan stressed that the world community is making insufficient efforts to effectively combat coronavirus infection. He pointed out the need to expand interstate cooperation through scientific diplomacy.
The head of the state also voiced a number of proposals:
— to develop a special WHO program for the study of the coronavirus genome;
— to develop a WHO multilateral mechanism for the control of pneumonia;
— to establish the WHO Methodological Center for the Treatment and Prevention of Acute Infections;
— to establish the Central Asian Regional Center for Epidemiology, Virology and Bacteriology.
Particular attention was paid to the importance of strengthening the resilience of international transport systems in emergency situations within the framework of the UN General Assembly Resolution «Strengthening the links between all modes of transport to ensure stable and reliable international transport for sustainable development during and after the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic», which was adopted on the initiative of Ashgabat at the end of July this year.
Peace and neutrality
Berdimuhamedov called on the world community to resolve international issues by peaceful, political and diplomatic methods only. According to him, neutrality is an effective instrument for peacekeeping. Continuing the topic, he added that Ashgabat will continue to expand its potential in this direction, in particular through the implementation of the provisions of the UN General Assembly Resolution «The Role of Neutrality Policy in Maintaining and Strengthening International Peace, Security and Sustainable Development», which was adopted on December 7 last years on the initiative of Turkmenistan.
The President invited the UN member states to take part in the International Conference «Policy of Peace and Trust — the Basis of International Security, Stability and Development», which will be held in Ashgabat in December this year.
According to Berdimuhamedov, today Central Asia is an integral and important part of modern global geopolitical and geo-economic processes. In this regard, Turkmenistan presented a draft UN General Assembly Resolution «Strengthening regional and international cooperation to ensure peace, stability and sustainable development in the Central Asian Region». The Turkmen leader drew attention to the fact that this document stimulates the implementation of the initiatives of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, which are reflected in the final document of the Consultative meeting of the leaders of the Central Asian countries (the event was held in the Avaza tourist zone on August 6 this year).
Berdimuhamedov also proposed to create a zone of peace, trust and cooperation «Central Asia — Caspian region» to expand multilateral interaction.
Afghanistan
According to the President of Turkmenistan, the situation in Afghanistan is not simple, and the institutions of power and society are extremely fragile. Afghan realities have changed, so the states need to discard all ideological preferences, old grievances, phobias and stereotypes, and first think about the Afghan people, who are tired of wars and dream of a peaceful and calm life, he added.
The head of the state emphasized that cooperation between Ashgabat and Kabul has always been based on the principles of friendship and good-neighborliness, the historical community of the peoples of the countries. He expressed the hope that the new state institutions of the emirate will be able to effectively work for the benefit of the interests of Afghans. Turkmenistan will continue to provide Afghanistan with comprehensive economic support and humanitarian aid, noted the leader of the country.
SDGs
Turkmenistan will continue to promote the issue of ensuring adequate funding in the implementation of Global Programs and Strategies, the main of which is the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Berdimuhamedov marked the need for organizing the next International Conference on Financing for Development in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Aral crisis
The President added that the world community should not forget about the importance of minimizing the consequences of the ecological catastrophe of the Aral Sea. During the session of the UN General Assembly, Turkmenistan, together with partners in the region, intends to seek the creation of a UN Special Program for the Aral Sea Basin.
Migration policy
Berdimuhamedov stressed that Turkmenistan is a permanent member of the executive committee of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and has big experience in resolving difficult humanitarian situations, and that the country will share it with other states.
At the end of his video message, the President said that the leaders of the UN member states are united by common thoughts and hopes, concerns and threats. According to him, Ashgabat is ready to share its experience in various fields to find new approaches to solving the challenges facing the United Nations.
It must be added the priority positions of Turkmenistan at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly also include work with the UNDP center on the resolution of the Security Council of the organization «Women, Peace and Security» and «Youth; peace and security»; holding regular meetings of the Group of Friends of Neutrality; participation in the development of the UN Special Interregional Program for Transport Development; the holding of the International Conference of Transport Ministers of Landlocked Developing Countries in Ashgabat in 2022; creation an international «Road Map» for the development of hydrogen as one of the priority directions in the energy sector, as well as for the introduction of low-carbon energy under the auspices of the UN; UN assistance in global social protection.
