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Mr. Shlapachenko noted the active position of Turkmenistan in the international arena, the constructive participation of the country in resolving issues of global and regional nature through active cooperation with the United Nations and its structures. During the meeting, prospects for deepening the strategic partnership between Turkmenistan and the United Nations were discussed, especially in realization of the Sustainable Development Goals and implementation of the national development priorities, such as economic diversification, social protection, promotion and protecting human rights and addressing climate change impacts. Mr. Shlapachenko expressed the gratitude to H.E. Mr. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, President of Turkmenistan, for the active support of the global initiatives proposed by the UN Secretary-General in the area of sustainable development and in the interests of human rights, including calls for the development of national responses to the coronavirus pandemic, taking decisive measures to prevent further climate change, Decade of Action, etc. Following the official ceremony of handing over of credentials signed by the UN Secretary-General and the meeting with H.E. the President of Turkmenistan, Mr. Dmitry Shlapachenko addressed the media: “I am honoured to meet with H.E. Mr. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and to take up my duties as the UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan. Let me confirm that I will make every effort to further strengthen strategic cooperation between the UN development system and Turkmenistan in all priority areas for the sustainable development of the country, for the prosperity of Turkmenistan and the well-being of the people of Turkmenistan”, noted Mr. Dmitry Shlapachenko. Biographical note: Mr. Shlapachenko brings more than 25 years of experience in diplomacy, international cooperation, political and socio-economic affairs, development coordination, peacebuilding, and strategic planning to the position. At the United Nations, he was most recently Team Leader for the Horn of Africa and the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) at Headquarters in New York with the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and the Department of Peace Operations (DPO). He also held leadership positions in Iraq, Kosovo, New York, Somalia, Tajikistan, and Vienna. He holds a bachelor and a master’s degree in international journalism as well as a doctorate in international relations from the University of Kyiv, Ukraine, a master’s degree in political science from the Central European University in Budapest, Hungary, and a master’s degree in international relations from the London School of Economics in the UK. He also completed a fellowship in international journalism and public policy at Duke University in North Carolina, USA.