Statement by the President of Turkmenistan, H.E. Serdar Berdimuhamedov, at the International Forum of Peace and Trust

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Distinguished Heads of State and Government,
Distinguished Heads of International Organizations,
Distinguished Heads and Members of Delegations,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Allow me to warmly welcome you to Turkmenistan and, on behalf of our people, to express gratitude for your participation in the Forum of Peace and Trust and in the festive events dedicated to the International Day of Neutrality and the 30th anniversary of the international recognition of the permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan.

In this hall are present Heads of State and Government, leaders of the most prominent international organizations, eminent politicians, parliamentarians, diplomats, scholars and public figures. It is a great honor and privilege for us to welcome our guests on Turkmen soil. Welcome to Turkmenistan.

Dear friends,

We regard today’s Forum as a major event of international significance, intended to serve as a starting point for reflection on regional, continental and global processes and for affirming in international politics the values of peace, cooperation, equality, trust, justice, a culture of dialogue and mutual understanding.

Turkmenistan can rightly be proud that on our land today new, humane and forward-looking foundations of world order are being shaped, along with realistic and responsible development strategies. In this context, I would like to emphasize that we highly value and cherish the level of cooperation achieved with partners around the world. I am confident that in these significant days our friendship, mutual understanding and determination to achieve constructive goals will be further strengthened.

I declare the International Forum dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust, the International Day of Neutrality and the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s neutrality open.

Distinguished participants,

The holding of this International Forum is the result of Turkmenistan’s many years of consistent work to affirm and consolidate in world politics the principles, values and criteria that, in our view, should form the foundation-the legal and conceptual core-of the modern system of international relations.

By proclaiming peace and trust as such a foundation, our country has undertaken a number of important steps and initiatives that have been met with understanding worldwide and have received effective support from partners. The outcome of this joint work was the adoption, at the initiative of Turkmenistan, of a special United Nations General Assembly resolution proclaiming 2025 the International Year of Peace and Trust. This is our common achievement, a result of the foresight, responsibility and wisdom of the political leadership of all UN Member States. Taking this opportunity, I would like to express sincere appreciation to them, as well as to the leaders and representatives of international organizations, for their support and contribution to this important decision.

It should also be noted that the conceptual norms of peace and trust have been reflected in the national legislation of Turkmenistan. In September of this year, the Constitutional Law of Turkmenistan “On the Legal Foundations of the Policy of Peace and Trust of Neutral Turkmenistan” was adopted. It enshrines, as core principles, neutrality and a firm and unwavering commitment to equality, mutual respect, cooperation, good neighborliness, non-use of force, conflict prevention, settlement of international issues exclusively by peaceful political and diplomatic means and methods, non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, the primacy of universally recognized norms of international law, respect for human rights and freedoms, as well as a number of other fundamental commitments.

The adoption of the Constitutional Law became a milestone in the further development of Turkmenistan as a subject of international relations and a clear testament to the constancy of our strategic course aimed at achieving and safeguarding lasting peace and stability.

I am convinced that, particularly today, amid complex geopolitical circumstances, peace and trust acquire special significance and value. A proper understanding of these concepts, elevating and consolidating them as indisputable postulates of world politics, in itself marks a positive shift in rethinking contemporary realities-a step away from a dangerous drift toward confrontation and toward the construction of constructive, realistic and balanced foundations of a global architecture of security and development.

Turkmenistan proceeds from the view that this can be achieved only together-through the joint efforts of States and international institutions on a common political, philosophical and humanistic basis grounded in the UN Charter and universally recognized norms of international law.

Distinguished participants,

The International Year of Peace and Trust coincides with an important historic anniversary-the 30th anniversary of the international recognition of the permanent neutrality of our country. Having become a political and legal reality, affirmed by decisions of the United Nations General Assembly and the Constitution of Turkmenistan, permanent neutrality determines all our steps on the international stage and the tangible successes and major results achieved by Turkmenistan.

Thanks to neutrality, peacefulness and openness, an unprecedented level of trust, mutual understanding and cooperation has been achieved between Turkmenistan and dozens of States bilaterally and within multilateral frameworks, as well as with key international institutions.

It is precisely neutrality, and its derivative-our “open door” foreign economic policy-which, by ensuring favorable external conditions for internal development, enables Turkmenistan to maintain high rates of economic and social progress, improve the living standards and quality of life of the population, expand dynamic trade and investment ties, and remain an attractive, reliable and promising partner for the implementation of major international projects.

Neutrality also serves as a key factor in Turkmenistan’s strategic dialogue with the United Nations, whose 80th anniversary is marked worldwide this year. I would like to emphasize that the United Nations sees in our country a responsible and effective partner in addressing major global and regional challenges, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and promoting fair and balanced approaches to international cooperation across a broad range of areas. We will expand the scope of cooperation with the UN and seek focused attention and substantive engagement of its specialized agencies in the design and implementation of national, regional and global programmes.

The constructive and positive influence of Turkmenistan’s neutral status on international and regional stability and security is evident, as reflected in the growing support for Turkmenistan’s neutrality within the United Nations. A vivid demonstration of this support was the unanimous adoption by the General Assembly in 1995, 2015 and 2025 of the resolutions entitled “Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan.”

Equally illustrative is the establishment, several years ago at the UN and at the initiative of our country, of the “Group of Friends of Neutrality.” These examples clearly show that neutrality and its basic principles are becoming increasingly significant and relevant in international practice. At the same time, we always stress that neutrality is not a static construct, but a living and creative process that keeps pace with the times and responds to new developments and trends.

In this context, Turkmenistan advances preventive diplomacy as an important component of contemporary international politics. We are convinced that its instruments are particularly in demand under current conditions and can genuinely contribute to preventing conflicts and to timely channeling contradictions and differences into a civilized negotiating track.

We therefore propose to use neutrality as a political and practical platform for developing ways and methods to achieve agreement, compromise and reconciliation. In this sense, neutrality can become a model for bringing interests closer together and balancing them, for respectful and equal dialogue, pragmatic and mutually beneficial partnership, and ultimately, one of the factors contributing to global geopolitical equilibrium.

The experience of Turkmenistan, which through its neutral policy develops and maintains constructive, mutually beneficial and friendly international ties on these principles, demonstrates the strong prospects for neutrality and its application in different parts of the world.

On this basis, drawing on the rich experience of the Community of Nations in peacebuilding and the use of preventive diplomacy tools, and also with a view to developing the applied dimension of neutrality and conducting related research and educational work, Turkmenistan proposes the establishment, in cooperation with the United Nations, of a University of Peace and Neutrality. We hope for support for this initiative and express our readiness for its substantive consideration together with our friends and partners.

Speaking of Turkmenistan’s neutrality, I would like to note another key aspect: our neutrality is the natural result of Turkmenistan’s genuine sovereignty and independence. Pursuing an independent, deliberate and consistent neutral foreign policy, we rely first and foremost on the strong foundations of our statehood, historical continuity, the unity and support of the Turkmen people, and the centuries-old legacy of our ancestors who bequeathed to us to live in peace, harmony and good neighborliness with all peoples and States.

The independence and neutrality of Turkmenistan are inseparable and inconceivable without each other. And, of course, we clearly see and highly value the broad support and understanding of our goals and objectives by the international community, as well as by many friends and like-minded partners around the world.

This support enables Turkmenistan to look to the future with optimism, to confidently plan further joint work, and inspires us to continued constructive participation in advancing peace, trust and harmony among peoples, as well as their progress and well-being.

Once again, dear friends, please accept my sincere words of appreciation for your participation in the Forum and for your contribution to strengthening friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding with Turkmenistan.