ISLAMABAD: 27 Jan 2025 – Report : Tazeen Akhtar / Pictures : Raja Ghulam Farid
Turkmenistan as the torch bearer of Neutrality, peace and trust in the comity of nations of the whole world, is celebrating the Year of Peace and Trust 2025 in collaboration with UN and the world community. This initiative is no doubt badly needed because the world is facing serious challenges due to rising and ongoing conflicts, intensification of global and regional contradictions and the emergence of disputes in different regions.
This is second time that Turkmenistan is celebrating the year with this universal theme. Earlier Turkmenistan celebrated 2021 as the Year of Peace and Trust.
Ambassador H.E Atadjan Movlamov held a press briefing in this regard at the Embassy on 27 Jan 2025. He shed light on the background of Turkmenistan’s inititative as resolutions moved at UNGA and on the contributions of his country, the National Leader of Turkmen People, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President Serdor in promotion of peace and harmony in the world.
The special symbolism of 2025 as the Year of Peace and Trust can be seen as it coincides with the 30th anniversary of permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations.
Turkmenistan expects consolidation of efforts of states on the basis of mutual trust, joint dialogue and responsibility.Turkmenistan awaits the support of neutral and non-aligned countries, as well as all States that share the principles of non-interference and non-participation in conflicts, in uniting their capacities, experience and expertise to create conditions for a transition to peaceful, political and diplomatic methods of resolving existing and potential conflicts.
H.E Movlamov explained that the UN General Assembly, at the initiative of Turkmenistan, declared 2025 the International Year of Peace and Trust, which will also coincide with the 30th anniversary of the celebration of the Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan.
The resolution “International Year of Peace and Trust, 2025” was considered on March 21, 2024 during the 63rd plenary meeting of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly.
Ambassador shared that the resolution was co-sponsored by 86 countries including Pakistan. He expressed gratitude to Pakistan for support at UNGA. The UNGa adopted the Resolution unanimously that indicates international recognition of Turkmenistan’s contribution to a stable and peaceful world.
The resolution aimed at mobilizing the efforts of the international community to strengthen peace and trust between states through political dialogue based on the widespread use of preventive diplomacy mechanisms.
It was underlined that the resolution is a continuation of long-term activities laid down in 2019 through the adoption of the General Assembly resolution on the International Year of Peace and Trust, 2021, initiated by Turkmenistan, as well as subsequent decisions to conduct campaigns to strengthen interstate trust at the global level every five years.
The resolution aimed at mobilizing the efforts of the international community to strengthen peace and trust between states through political dialogue based on the widespread use of preventive diplomacy mechanisms.
As far as Turkmenistan’s Neutrality is concerned, Ambassador shared to the pleasant welcome from the media persons that the idea of Neutrality was first launched in Pakistan when the then President Saparmurat Niyazov visited Pakistan to attend ECO summit in 1995. President Niyazov expressed his vision about Neutrality that was appreciated by all participating leaders of the member states.
December 12 is celebrated as Turkmenistan’s Neutrality Day. Later in 2017, for the importance of the theme and its necessity in the world United Nations passed a resolution in which December 12 was declared as International Neutrality Day. Turkmenistan moved a resolution at the United Nations in 2019 to declare 2021 as the year of peace and trust. The resolution was adopted with a majority vote.
H.E Atadjan Movlamov said that the Year of Peace and Trust means to mobilize international efforts to promote peace and trust among nations on the basis of political dialogue, mutual understanding and cooperation in order to build sustainable peace, solidarity and harmony.
He said, Turkmenistan intends to promote green diplomacy, assure food security, prevention from diseases, capacity building of youth through science, technology, creativity and sports.
Regarding President Asif Ali Zardari’s visit to Turkmenistan and invitation to the National Leader and the President of Turkmenistan to visit Pakistan, Ambassador responded to the questions that both sides are working upon the visit but the time frame or any specific date is not yet final.
To another question about flights between the two countries , Ambassador replied that concerned authorities can see the possibilities. He add that Turkmenistan can be a route for Pakistanis traveling to Europe. He said Turkmen visa is issued on the invitation from our country.
