STATEMENT by the Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan to the United Nations Mrs. Aksoltan Ataeva at the quarterly briefing of United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)

(18 September 2024, New York)

Excellencies,

Dear Colleagues,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

At the outset, I would like to thank the Permanent Missions of Slovenia for convening this very important meeting.

We thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan Roza Otunbayeva for her briefing and assessment.

The report of the UN Secretary-General to the UN Security Council on 13 June 2024 clearly indicates that the situation in Afghanistan is complicated and the humanitarian needs continue to be pressing.

While actively engaging in the Doha process, we believe that key solutions should be found by regional players, in particular the Central Asian countries, for whom peace and security in Afghanistan are imperative.

Turkmenistan pays special attention to its relations with Afghanistan, investing in the economic stability of neighboring country, the well-being and unity of the Afghan people.

We consistently provide assistance to fraternal country by building and reconstructing social infrastructure, by sending humanitarian convoys. On September 11, just one week ago, Turkmenistan sent another humanitarian cargo to neighboring country with food and agriculture products, construction materials, diesel fuel and gasoline.

Implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects in Afghanistan, particularly in such vitally important fields as energy and transport, is a priority factor of political stabilization, economic and social revival of this country and its successful engagement in regional and global relations.

In this regard, I would like to bring your attention to a number of grand opening events that took place on 11 September 2024 on the Turkmen-Afghan border. In particular:

• official launch of the construction of Serhetabat-Herat section of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India Gas Pipeline (TAPI) and the fiber-optic communication line along the same route;
• start of construction of “Shatlyk-1” gas compressor station for TAPI pipeline in Turkmenistan’s Mary province;
• opening of the railway bridge along the Serhetabat-Turgundi railroad, as well as commencing the Turgundi-Sanabar section of the railway to Herat and a complex of "dry port" warehouses at the Turgundi railway station in Afghanistan;
• launch of the Nur-ul-Jihad power plant in Herat province within the first phase of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan power transmission project.

All these projects and support activities will create 12 thousand jobs in Afghanistan and generate over 1 billion dollars in annual revenue which will have a positive impact on bilateral and interregional transport and energy connectivity.

These developments are practical projection of Turkmenistan's policy of permanent and positive neutrality aimed at promoting peace, and strengthening regional and global security.

Turkmenistan will continue to intensify economic and social cooperation with Afghanistan, provide humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people, supporting the international efforts in this regard.

The Afghan people deserve its right to live in peace and stability, as nobody else.

Thank you for your attention.