STATEMENT by H.E. Mr. Rashid Meredov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, on behalf of the Group of Friends of Neutrality at the UN Security Council High-Level Open Debate

(New York, 26 May 2026)

 

Mr. President,

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of Friends of Neutrality for Peace, Security and Sustainable Development.

At the outset, we express our appreciation to the Chinese Presidency of the Security Council for convening this timely High-Level Open Debate on “Upholding the Purposes and Principles of the United Nations Charter and Strengthening the UN-Centered International System.”

We also thank the Secretary-General of the United Nations for his briefing.

Mr. President,

While eight decades have passed since the establishment of the United Nations, the relevance of the Charter of the United Nations and its founding principles has become even more profound and indispensable in addressing today’s global challenges.

At a time of growing geopolitical tensions, proliferation of armed conflicts, increasing mistrust and pronounced fragmentation, the world increasingly requires dialogue instead of confrontation, diplomacy instead of coercion and cooperation instead of division.

In this regard, the Group of Friends of Neutrality believes that the principles of neutrality, , meaningful commitment to dialogue and confidence-building can make an important contribution to maintaining and strengthening international peace and security. With this background, I would like to make the following four points:

First, the Group reaffirms the central role of the United Nations and the continued validity of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations as the foundation of international relations.

We underline that sovereign equality of States, non-interference in internal affairs, refraining from the threat or use of force and the peaceful settlement of disputes must remain universally respected principles.

The Group stresses that selective approaches to international law and double standards undermine trust among nations and weaken the effectiveness of multilateral institutions.

Second, the Group emphasizes the growing importance of diplomacy, mediation and dialogue in addressing modern challenges.

In this regard, we welcome the adoption by the General Assembly, on 20 May 2026, of the resolution entitled “The role and importance of a policy of neutrality in maintaining and strengthening international peace, security and sustainable development.”

The resolution recognizes that neutrality can embody responsibility rather than indifference and can serve as an important instrument for conflict prevention, mediation, confidence-building and peaceful engagement among States.

We particularly underline the resolution’s call for closer cooperation between the Secretary-General and neutral States in implementing the principles of preventive diplomacy and mediation.

The Group believes that the peaceful settlement of disputes must remain the primary and preferred approach in international relations. In this context, we welcome the unanimous adoption, last year, of Security Council resolution 2788 and support the resolution’s call for the peaceful settlement of disputes.

We also support the effective use of the territories of neutral States for hosting peace talks, dialogue platforms and mediation processes.

The Group of Friends of Neutrality calls for the practical use of the experience of neutral States by establishing international frameworks to share best practices in conflict prevention, sustainable development, and interregional cooperation
 
by implementing joint projects and programmes in relevant fields under the coordination of the United Nations. We believe that Neutral States can serve better as an important bridge for strengthening regional and global security by offering their territories and resources for peace negotiations, international seminars, and expert-level discussions aimed at conflict prevention and trust-building.

Third, the Group underscores that peace and security cannot be separated from sustainable development and mutually beneficial cooperation.

We emphasize the importance of strengthening regional and interregional connectivity, sustainable transport and economic cooperation as instruments for stability, resilience and trust-building among nations.

The Group also stresses the importance of intercultural and inter-civilizational dialogue, mutual respect and the promotion of a culture of peace as essential foundations for strengthening multilateralism and preventing conflicts.

Fourth, the Group supports continued efforts aimed at strengthening the effectiveness and credibility of the United Nations and enhancing the role of multilateral diplomacy.

We believe that reform and adaptation of the United Nations system should preserve the Organization’s universal character, as well as its intergovernmental nature, and reinforce its ability to respond effectively to contemporary global challenges.

In this regard, we underline the importance of inclusive dialogue and consensus-building among Member States.

Mr. President,

The Group of Friends of Neutrality reiterates its conviction that neutrality, grounded in the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, can serve as an effective instrument for promoting peace, trust, dialogue and constructive international cooperation.

The Group remains committed to supporting international efforts aimed at conflict prevention, mediation and the strengthening of peaceful relations among States under the central coordinating role of the United Nations.

In conclusion, we call upon all Member States to recommit themselves to multilateralism, mutual respect and diplomacy in order to build a more peaceful, stable and cooperative international order.

Thank you.