"This year, our country, together with the entire international community, will widely celebrate the 25th anniversary of international recognition of the status of neutrality of Turkmenistan. This is a really important date, a significant event in the independent history of the Turkmen state, a milestone in our foreign policy." - declared H. E. Mr. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the President of Turkmenistan at the International Conference "Turkmenistan and International Organizations: Cooperation for Peace and Development" on 14 January 2020 in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
"Turkmenistan was and remains an active participant in international efforts to combat modern challenges and threats and emphasized the firm position of our country in countering terrorism, combating drug trafficking, and human trafficking." - highlighted H. E. Mr. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Honorable President of Turkmenistan.
Ms. Natalia Gherman, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Head of Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, Ms. Elena Panova, UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan, Ms. Natalya Drozd, Head of the OSCE Center in Ashgabat, Mr. Lubomir Frebort, Charge d'Affaires of the EU Delegation to Turkmenistan, Ms. Ashita Mittal, UNODC Regional Representative for Central Asia, Mr. Cvetan Cvetkovski, Officer-in-Charge of UNESCO Tehran Cluster Office, and Ms. Yasuko Oda, the Director of UNHCR Regional Office addressed the Conference participants.
"Today, more than ever, the principles of neutrality are central to peace, security and stability on the planet" - highlighted Ms. Ashita Mittal, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Representative for Central Asia,
Ms. Ashita Mittal commended the initiative of the head of Turkmenistan, H. E. Mr. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, to enhance collaboration between Turkmenistan and UNODC through the Plan of Practical Measures ("Road map") on Further Development of Cooperation of Turkmenistan with the UNODC, 2019-2021. UNODC remains fully committed to support Turkmenistan in its efforts to address the complex security challenges and address threats to international peace, security and sustainable development, Ms. Mittal noted.
Turkmenistan and UNODC established strong partnerships to implement strategic initiatives on countering transnational organized crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, extremism and terrorism, as well as, strengthening the international container control system, etc.
UNODC supports Turkmenistan in strengthening international peace and stability through the development of a healthy and stable society, the prevention of crime, promoting the rule of law and equal access to justice for all. UNODC remains ready to continue supporting these strategies and promote a culture of legality, including through educational and sporting events, in order to help young people overcome challenges and provide support for their development so that the younger generation can make a positive contribution to society.
Turkmenistan ratified the main international conventions and treaties related to the mandate of UNODC in the field of drugs, crime and terrorism. Moreover, on 6 December 2019, Turkmenistan adopted the National Strategy of Turkmenistan on the Prevention of Violent Extremism and Countering Terrorism for 2020-2024 and the National Action Plan for 2020-2022 on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, which determined that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is one of the key partners of the state.
Considering that in May 2019, Turkmenistan was elected to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs for the period 2020-2023, UNODC will continue supporting the Government of Turkmenistan in their efforts to counter the drugs issues in the country and the region.
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