UN and Turkmenistan – cooperation for peace and development

“This year, our country, together with the entire international community, will widely celebrate the 25th anniversary of the international recognition of the neutrality of Turkmenistan. This is a really important date, a significant event in the independent history of the Turkmen state, a milestone in its foreign policy”, the Turkmen leader emphasized. He also noted that  it is the time to take stock, to evaluate the current development of Turkmenistan as a neutral state.

The Head of State appreciated the expanding partnership of Turkmenistan with UN Agencies, funds and programmes. The UN system was represented by the UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan, Heads of UNICEF, WHO, UNDP, Regional Representatives of UNFPA, UNHCR, OHCHR, UNESCO, FAO and UNIDO.

“This year becomes special for Turkmenistan and the United Nations. While Turkmenistan will celebrate the 25th anniversary of its permanent neutrality, the UN will celebrate 75 years since it was established”, noted Ms. Elena Panova, UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan.

She also elaborated on the achieved milestones in the cooperation of UN and Turkmenistan and outlined the priorities for the current year which are as follows:

- to support the mobilization of funding to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals;

-  to assist Turkmenistan in improving the provision of statistical reporting on the Sustainable Development Goals;

- the preparation of a new Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework between Turkmenistan and the UN for 2021-2025.

In the end of the meeting, in the presence of the President of Turkmenistan, the UN Agencies and  their national partners signed the Annual Work Plans including the Joint Action Plan on the coordination of activities in the area of Disaster Risk Reduction.

The Forum continued its work at the premises of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the sessions on Inclusive Economic Growth and Environmental Cooperation, Cooperation in the humanitarian sphere taking into account human rights and interests, Cooperation in the social sphere for inclusive health, education and social protection.