Today, at the initiative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Secretary-General of this authoritative international organization, Antonio Guterres, had a telephone conversation.
Welcoming each other warmly, the Turkmen leader and the head of the largest international organization expressed satisfaction with the opportunity to discuss the priorities of the traditional interaction between our country and the UN, which has the character of a strategic partnership, as well as to exchange views on the most important issues on the international agenda.
The head of state stressed that Turkmenistan highly appreciates the attention paid by the UN Secretary-General to the development of cooperation with our country. This year is an anniversary for all of us. It is marked by the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and at the same time the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the UN General Assembly Resolution "on the permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan", the President said, expressing confidence that these significant dates will be worthily marked.
During the conversation, the sides exchanged views on the current state and prospects of bilateral cooperation, including through specialized UN structures, with which they have accumulated solid experience in implementing joint programs and projects. In this context, the topic of the coronavirus pandemic, which is of concern worldwide, was raised.
As the Turkmen leader noted, today humanity is faced with a new, extremely serious challenge that covers vast geographical areas on the planet and changes the habitual life of many States and peoples. In this regard, the role of The United Nations as the only universal international structure capable of consolidating the efforts of the entire world community in the fight against the emerging threat is in demand more than ever before.
In continuation of the topic, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stressed that the UN's efforts to maintain stability in the world during this difficult period create an atmosphere of solidarity and serve as the basis for coordinated actions by all States.
In the current context, the call for a global truce in response to the coronavirus pandemic, which the Secretary-General addressed to the peoples of the world on 23 March this year, is particularly relevant. Turkmenistan, as a state whose neutral status is recognized by the United Nations, fully supports this initiative, considering it in a broad context as a call for unity between countries, uniting their efforts in the fight against the challenges and threats of our time.
In this aspect, a significant role is assigned to preventive diplomacy, which today is one of the main methods of solving internationally important issues. The huge Arsenal of political and diplomatic means that the UN possesses in implementing preventive diplomacy serves as a solid basis for resolving complex international problems, preventing conflicts, and eradicating their causes.
Speaking about this, head of state Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov assured that Turkmenistan, as the country where the headquarters of the UN Regional center for preventive diplomacy for Central Asia is located, will continue to actively support the activities of the RCPDCA, and in every possible way contribute to the implementation of important regional projects and programs by the Center.
In this regard, the head of state briefly highlighted the experience of Turkmenistan in working together with the countries of the region and other neighboring States in countering the spread of infectious diseases at the present time. In particular, for example, coordinated actions are being carried out together with Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan to ensure effective sanitary and quarantine measures at the common borders.
During this difficult period, the countries of the region provide mutual humanitarian support to each other. For example, Turkmenistan has sent humanitarian aid to neighboring Iran and continues to actively work on implementing economic and social projects in Afghanistan. Together with the Uzbek and Kazakh neighbors, a number of measures have been implemented to create favorable conditions for the citizens of our States to stay in each other's territories, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted.
Our country is aware of the importance of preventive measures and other actions aimed at combating coronavirus, and is conducting this work on a systematic basis. In this context, the head of state expressed deep gratitude to the UN Secretary-General for the initiative he put forward on March 30 to develop National plans for preparedness and response to coronavirus infection.
The government of Turkmenistan, together with the Permanent coordinator of The United Nations in our country and UN country agencies, is finalizing the preparation of such a National plan, which will be considered in the very near future.
The President of Turkmenistan expressed the conviction that the fight against the pandemic should be accompanied by the search for new forms and methods of work that allow all States of the world to maintain normal operations of both national financial and economic systems and the global economy as a whole. To do this, it is necessary to ensure a high level of consolidation in the international community, develop and implement new models of interaction between countries, regions and continents.
The United Nations should play a key coordinating role in this process, head of state Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov continued. Turkmenistan is ready to provide its experience and capabilities to solve the tasks of restoring the world economy under the auspices of the UN.
Realizing that one of the most important elements of world economic relations is transport, our country, being the initiator of three resolutions of the UN General Assembly on this issue, proposes to consider the possibility of creating new international legal mechanisms aimed at ensuring the stable functioning of international transport and transit corridors in emergency situations.
In this regard, the Turkmen leader spoke about the expediency of opening a broad multilateral dialogue on transport issues within the UN with the participation of all member States of the United Nations, specialized international structures, world financial institutions and other interested parties. The main outcome of such a dialogue could be a Resolution or other document of the UN General Assembly on transport communications in crisis conditions.
Today, successful implementation of all tasks is impossible without expanding international relations, and the United Nations has a special role to play here, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said.
Expressing the conviction that in this difficult period we will be able to overcome difficulties together with dignity and honor and further strengthen traditional cooperation, the head of state expressed Turkmenistan's firm support for the activities of The United Nations and our country's readiness to further strengthen relations with the UN.
During the conversation, the parties confirmed their constant intention to build up an effective partnership, which has been characterized by increasing dynamics, focus and specificity in recent years
A clear proof of this is the framework program for cooperation in the field of sustainable development between Turkmenistan and The United Nations for 2021-2025, which was presented and signed in March in Ashgabat. At the same time, we noted our country's success in achieving the goals of sustainable development, as well as the importance of its active peacekeeping activities and participation in regional and global processes.
Thanking the Turkmen leader for his full support in matters of cooperation with the UN and its specialized agencies, Mr. Guterres stressed that Turkmenistan has established itself as an exceptionally reliable and responsible partner of the United Nations.
At the end of the telephone conversation, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres exchanged wishes for health and success and expressed confidence in the further dynamic development of constructive bilateral cooperation, which is built on a long-term, systematic basis and meets the interests of universal peace, prosperity and progress, the state news Agency of Turkmenistan reports.
