Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan, May 19 | ORIENT. A significant event dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust and the 30th Anniversary of Turkmenistan’s Permanent Neutrality was held in Mazar-i-Sharif today. Key regional and international representatives gathered at the roundtable organized by the Consulate General of Turkmenistan.

The meeting was attended by head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Roza Otunbayeva, head of the UNAMA office in the northern provinces Rubin Edward Kulpin, and head of the UN Women office in Balkh province Sagipa Dzhusaeva. The heads of the consular offices of Russia, Uzbekistan, and the branch of the Kazakh Embassy in Mazar-i-Sharif also joined the dialogue. A representative of ORIENT took part in the roundtable.

The participants of the round table discussed current issues on the international and regional agenda, exchanged opinions on modern geopolitical processes. The growing importance of peaceful dialogue and multilateral cooperation in the context of modern challenges was particularly noted.

The participants' attention was focused on Turkmenistan's initiative to declare 2025 the International Year of Peace and Trust by the UN General Assembly. It was emphasized that this event symbolically coincides with the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's neutrality and the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. This is a clear recognition of Turkmenistan's foreign policy, successfully implemented by President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, aimed at ensuring global peace and sustainable development.

The relevance of the upcoming forum in Ashgabat as a platform for promoting the principles of open dialogue and trust, as well as other events in honor of the 30th anniversary of neutrality within the framework of the Year of Peace and Trust, was separately noted.

Head of the UN Mission Roza Otunbayeva highly appreciated Turkmenistan's initiatives aimed at strengthening peace, expressing interest in further developing cooperation with UN structures. The UN Special Representative noted that as part of efforts to establish peace in Afghanistan and overcome crises, Turkmenistan and other Central Asian states are conducting a targeted dialogue with the current government of Afghanistan on a wide range of issues - from politics to economics and humanitarian sphere, as well as in the context of implementing regional projects.

Roza Otunbayeva also emphasized the importance of the influence of Central Asian states on the current government of Afghanistan in terms of more active participation of Afghan women in the public life of the country.

At the end of the round table, the participants unanimously emphasized that the status of positive and permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan not only meets the national interests of the country, but is also an effective tool for peacekeeping, strengthening security and stability in both the regional and global dimensions.

The meeting in Mazar-i-Sharif became an important platform for confirming this role and finding ways for further constructive interaction in the region.

Бекдурды АМАНСАРЫЕВ