Today, in the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, women met with the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, head of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) Natalia Gherman, who is completing her mission in Ashgabat.

The event was attended by the Chairwoman of the Mejlis, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers in charge of culture, heads and representatives of ministries and departments, public organizations, universities and the media.

It was noted at the meeting that the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia has been operating in our country since 2007. Over the past years, UNRCCA has accumulated a solid potential, making a significant contribution to the promotion of peace and stability in the region, which was carried out through the use of preventive diplomacy tools, the need for which is very great today. The efforts of the Center are also aimed at developing fruitful cooperation between the states of Central Asia, supporting all their foreign policy initiatives aimed at establishing good neighborly relations.

It was noted that the Women's Dialogue is the first structure in the history of Central Asia, created in December 2020 by representatives of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan, with the support of the UN. The dialogue of women as an informal consultative platform has already shown its effectiveness.

The initiator of the Women's Forum in Ashgabat is the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. In August 2021, at the initiative of the Hero-Arkadag, the Avaza National Tourist Zone hosted the first Dialogue of Women in Central Asia.

In 2022, as part of our country’s chairmanship in the Women’s Dialogue, the Regulations of this Dialogue were prepared and adopted, the International Society of Women Needlewomen was created, and a number of events were held at various levels aimed at ensuring gender equality, developing women’s entrepreneurship, etc. Among them – Dialogue of women from the countries of Central Asia and Russia.

It was emphasized with great gratitude that President Serdar Berdimuhamedov supported and paid special attention to the events successfully carried out by Turkmenistan under the chairmanship of the Dialogue.

Noting the significant contribution of Natalia German to the expansion of the Dialogue of Women in Central Asia, the head of the national parliament congratulated the head of the UN Regional Center on the new position of Executive Director of the Executive Directorate of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee, wishing her further success.

In turn, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, head of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia Natalya Gherman expressed gratitude to President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Hero Arkadag for supporting the activities of the diplomatic mission headed by her for 5 years and creating conditions for a multifaceted partnership.

The most important thing in preventive diplomacy is trust and constructive cooperation. This is important for the entire region, as it reflects the priorities of our partnership for the security and prosperity of Central Asia. In this regard, it was emphasized that the UN sees in our country a reliable and responsible partner, making a significant contribution to strengthening and expanding regional and international cooperation. The active interaction of Turkmenistan with the United Nations and its key structures, including UNRCCA, is expressed in the development of new mutually agreed approaches aimed at implementing the program objectives of the region's development with a view to the future, for its further successful integration into the modern system of world economic relations.

Emphasizing the ever-increasing role of women in addressing important issues on the regional and global agenda, Natalya German noted that today, more than ever, the creative mission of women is in demand, and the activities of the Women's Dialogue of Central Asian States are the best confirmation of this. Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of implementing a policy aimed at achieving gender equality, ensuring the full participation of women in the political, social and economic life of society.

Reaffirming the full support of UN Secretary-General António Guterres in the implementation of national priorities and progressive reforms, the UN Special Representative expressed confidence that, through joint efforts with UN structures, the huge potential of various initiatives will be realized, new frontiers will be reached in promoting the participation and representation of women, increasing their role in countering global threats. Women with a strong political role and economic independence can innovate, lead, adapt and create, emphasized Natalya Gherman, assuring that they will continue to draw on the knowledge and experience of women in the region to continue to change the world for the better.

As noted in the speeches of the meeting participants, the past years have confirmed the importance of the permanently neutral status of Turkmenistan as an effective tool for strengthening regional and global peace and security, ensuring sustainable development, and its compliance with the ideals and goals of the United Nations.

Demonstrating qualitatively new, comprehensive approaches to solving topical issues of our time, our country invariably acts from the standpoint of broad international cooperation in the interests of general well-being and progress. This predetermined the choice of the Turkmen capital as the headquarters of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, unanimously supported by all the states of the region.

It was emphasized that only interested interaction can become the main tool in solving the tasks. At the same time, the importance of the effective use of the infrastructure opportunities available to Turkmenistan for enhancing the activities of various UN structures in Central Asia and adjacent regions was noted. Partnership in these areas is conducted on a systematic, long-term basis and is aimed at concrete results.

As noted, for many years, at the initiative of the Hero-Arkadag, a lot of work has been carried out in Turkmenistan to preserve, enrich and widely popularize the cultural and spiritual heritage of our people in the world, which has made a significant contribution to the treasury of universal values. This direction, which is one of the priorities of the state policy of the Motherland, also acts as an important vector of its foreign policy. At the same time, special attention is paid to the development of constructive cooperation with foreign partners both at the interstate level and in the format of authoritative international structures, including the United Nations.

In this context, the fruitful nature of the dialogue with the United Nations Specialized Agency for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) was noted, as evidenced by many years of successful experience of joint work and long-term plans for the future.

Over the past years, the UNESCO Lists, which include objects of historical and cultural significance on a global scale, have included unique monuments located on the territory of our country, various types of art of the Turkmen people and their literary heritage.

A landmark event was the decision of the national commissions for UNESCO of the TURKSOY member countries to declare 2024, in connection with the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the outstanding poet and philosopher Magtymguly, “the Year of the great poet and thinker of the Turkic world – Magtymguly Fragi”.

Another vector of cooperation is cooperation with the UN Children's Fund. According to the agreements between the State Committee for Television, Radio Broadcasting and Cinematography and UNICEF, numerous interesting programs have been prepared aimed at the early development of the child and preparing him for school. The next Work Plan was signed for 2023 as well.

During the meeting, its participants emphasized that consistent work is being carried out aimed at revealing the initiative and organizational abilities of women, raising children, protecting the health of mother and child, strengthening the institution of the family and establishing the principles of an active lifestyle in society.

Agitation and educational events are systematically organized to increase the ancient art of carpet weaving, hand embroidery, and the manufacture of national costumes created by our grandmothers and mothers and which has survived to this day. Continuing centuries-old traditions, today our craftswomen create delightful original patterns and ornaments that serve as decoration elements for clothes, household items, and decorative paintings. This popular type of applied art is one of the unique “visiting cards” of Turkmenistan.

Along with this, activities are carried out to educate the younger generation on the basis of noble moral values that love the Motherland. It is extremely important to instill in the young generation reverence for the national heritage, love for work and comprehension of knowledge - President Serdar Berdimuhamedov calls for this, aiming the young at increasing the glorious traditions of our people.

At the end of the meeting, it was emphasized that Turkmenistan would continue to provide maximum assistance to the work of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, fully contribute to strengthening its role and authority.

The participants expressed their special gratitude to the President of Turkmenistan and the National Leader of the Turkmen people, the Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty for supporting and promoting the work of women and their initiatives, increasing social security, as well as promoting the Dialogue as a tool of mutual understanding at the international and regional levels.

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At the end of the meeting, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Central Asia, head of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) Natalia German briefly described the results of the Center's five-year activities:

– Today I say goodbye to hospitable Turkmenistan. The meeting with the respected Arkadag ended. Yesterday I also met with the esteemed President of Turkmenistan. These meetings complete the 5-year period of my work as Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Central Asia, head of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia.

These were years of fruitful work, development of new initiatives, strengthening of existing formats of regional cooperation. But, of course, it was a great time that my team from the Regional Center and I spent working with our Turkmen partners.

Hospitable Ashgabat has been hosting the Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia for 15 years now. During this time, we felt great support, first of all from the respected Arkadag, who was the leader of the country when I began my work in this post, the respected Mr. President, who always supported all the initiatives and ideas of the Regional Center with great attention. And, of course, I am very pleased to state today that over the years of its independence, neutral Turkmenistan has become a reliable partner of the UN.

Turkmenistan uses very skillfully and very actively the platforms provided by the UN for the development of its international initiatives. During the years of independence, Turkmenistan has been the author

20 Resolutions that were successfully and unanimously adopted by the world community, the UN General Assembly.

Of course, I would like to highlight those ideas and initiatives that contribute to the strengthening of international peace and security. Today, with respected Arkadag, we talked about his idea of declaring 2021 the International Year of Peace and Trust. 2023, at the initiative of Turkmenistan, has been declared the International Year of Dialogue as a Guarantee of Peace. In fact, these two international initiatives are a reflection of the philosophy of peacefulness, a non-confrontational approach to dispute resolution. Naturally, they echo the concept of preventive diplomacy, because neutrality and preventive diplomacy are inseparable concepts.

Today, I thanked respected Arkadag for the fact that it was this philosophy - the culture of peace that formed the basis of so many processes and initiatives that are being carried out not only in Turkmenistan and the Central Asian region, but throughout the world.

Of course, it is important to note the initiative that we developed together with Arkadag and the chairman of the Mejlis - this is the idea of creating a Dialogue of Women in Central Asia. Having been born in December 2020, the Dialogue has been very successful for the third year now.

Let me also express my gratitude to the distinguished Arkadag, who, during the Consultative Meeting of Heads of State in Avaza, invited representatives of the Women's Dialogue. Thus, two important forums were held in Avaza in 2021, including the Dialogue of Women in Central Asia. This is becoming a good tradition, and already now other leaders of the countries of the region, during the organization of summits, invite women - representatives of all Central Asian states to make their worthy contribution, share their proposals and initiatives.

I would also like to note that Turkmenistan, within the framework of the policy of positive neutrality, continues to put forward very constructive initiatives. As I have already said in the field of peace and security, but I would also like to note a number of proposals in the field of energy security. We also worked very actively in this direction with the leadership, with the Government of Turkmenistan. These initiatives were supported by the Central Asian states and found their response in the world community. I would also like to highlight the initiatives and proposals that were aimed at developing transport and trade interconnectedness and increasing trade between all the Central Asian states and countries that border our region. In recent years, Central Asia has acquired its own special identity, events and processes are developing in the region that bring the fraternal peoples of the Central Asian states even closer. Thanks to this atmosphere, absolutely all issues on the current agenda can be resolved. And, of course, various challenges and threats to national and regional stability and security can be reflected.

Being in Turkmenistan for 5 years, my team and I really felt great support. I am leaving hospitable Turkmenistan in just a few days, and, of course, I am overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude to the people of Turkmenistan, Arkadag and the President of the country, my colleagues from the Foreign Ministry, with whom I worked very closely.

With great joy I will return to Turkmenistan, to this hospitable country. And in conclusion, I would like to wish the leadership of Turkmenistan, all the hospitable Turkmen people a peaceful sky over their heads, well-being, happiness and prosperity.