Meeting Held in New York Between the Chairman of the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan and the Director General of the International Organization for Migration

On 8 May 2026, on the sidelines of the Second International Migration Review Forum at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, a meeting was held between the Chairman of the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan, Amanmuhammet Sazakow, and the Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Amy Pope.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the current state and prospects of cooperation between Turkmenistan and the International Organization for Migration, as well as topical issues on the international migration agenda, including humanitarian aspects of migration processes, improvement of migration management mechanisms, and the further development of cooperation within the UN system.

Director General Amy Pope highly appreciated the consistent humanitarian policy of Turkmenistan implemented under the leadership of the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov on the basis of the principles of humanism, international solidarity and good-neighborliness established by the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

Particular attention was paid to Turkmenistan’s prompt and coordinated efforts in providing humanitarian assistance to foreign citizens and populations forced to relocate due to the crisis situation in the Middle East. The critical importance of the round-the-clock humanitarian corridor provided by Turkmenistan, ensuring the uninterrupted transit and return of foreign citizens to their respective countries, was especially emphasized.

The Head of IOM underlined the significance of Turkmenistan’s active humanitarian efforts in the current situation, as well as its support for the activities of UN structures, including the International Organization for Migration, in responding to contemporary crisis situations.

During the conversation, the parties also highlighted the high level of cooperation between Turkmenistan and the UN system in the field of migration and related areas. In this regard, representatives of IOM particularly noted the successful organization of the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3), held in August 2025 in the National Tourist Zone “Avaza”. High praise was given to the organization of the Forum and to the outcome documents adopted there, which are of great importance for further expanding international cooperation and promoting sustainable development.

The Turkmen side reaffirmed its readiness to further strengthen partnership with the International Organization for Migration, expand joint programmes and develop practical cooperation in the fields of migration, humanitarian response and sustainable development.

The meeting was held in a constructive and friendly atmosphere.