Ashgabat Hosts International Forum on Peace, Trust, and Turkmenistan’s 30th Anniversary of Permanent Neutrality

Ashgabat, The Gulf Observer: Turkmenistan hosted an International Forum in Ashgabat on 12 December, marking the International Year of Peace and Trust, the International Day of Neutrality, and the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality. The event brought together high-level delegations from around the world, including representatives of international and regional organizations.

The day began with the heads of delegations paying tribute at the Monument of Neutrality, followed by their arrival at the Turkmenistan Congress Center for a joint official photograph session.

The forum was officially opened by President Serdar Berdimuhamedow, who also chaired the plenary session titled “Peace and Trust: Unity of Purpose for a Sustainable Future.” In his opening remarks, President Berdimuhamedow welcomed participants and expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Turkmen people for their contribution to the Forum and the commemorative events of Turkmenistan’s 30 years of recognized permanent neutrality.

President Berdimuhamedow emphasized that the Forum represents a major international platform for reflecting on regional, continental, and global processes, promoting the values of peace, cooperation, equality, trust, justice, dialogue, and mutual understanding in international politics. He highlighted Turkmenistan’s long-term efforts to institutionalize these principles in global affairs and noted the adoption of the country’s Constitutional Law on the Legal Foundations of the Policy of Peace and Trust in September 2025.

The President stressed that Turkmenistan’s neutrality has become a cornerstone of its foreign policy, contributing to regional and international stability. He proposed the creation of a University of Peace and Neutrality in collaboration with the United Nations, aimed at advancing applied research and education in peacebuilding and diplomacy.

The forum featured speeches by a number of distinguished leaders and dignitaries:

• President Vladimir Putin of Russia congratulated Turkmenistan on its 30-year anniversary of permanent neutrality and expressed support for the Ashgabat Declaration prepared by the host country.
• President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey praised Turkmenistan’s economic and diplomatic achievements and reaffirmed the close ties between the two nations.
• President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran highlighted the importance of the Group of Friends of Neutrality established at the UN and stressed the role of equality, dialogue, and international law in achieving peace and development.
• President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan and President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan emphasized Turkmenistan’s positive role in regional cooperation and peace promotion.
• President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan noted Turkmenistan’s constructive diplomacy and the importance of coordinated international measures to address climate and development challenges.
• President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan praised Turkmenistan’s initiatives in preventive diplomacy and sustainable development and endorsed the proposed University of Peace and Neutrality.
• President Vaagn Khachaturyan of Armenia, President Abdul Latif Rashid of Iraq, President Carlos Manuel Vila Nova of São Tomé and Príncipe, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of Georgia, Prime Minister Ali Asadov of Azerbaijan, Prime Minister Russell Dlamini of Eswatini, and Prime Minister Nyo So of Myanmar also delivered remarks, highlighting the importance of Turkmenistan’s neutrality, peacebuilding initiatives, and regional cooperation.

Following the plenary session, National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, presided over further discussions. He emphasized the strategic significance of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality, highlighting its role in preventive diplomacy, peacekeeping, and fostering mutual understanding among nations. The Leader called for the development of a “Roadmap for Cooperation” under the framework of peace and trust, emphasizing the role of the UN, inter-parliamentary channels, youth and women’s diplomacy, and constructive media engagement in promoting dialogue and stability.

The forum concluded with statements by Tatiana Valovaya, UN Under-Secretary-General and Director-General of the UN Office in Geneva, who commended Turkmenistan’s initiatives and reaffirmed the importance of neutrality, dialogue, and trust in global peacebuilding efforts.

The International Forum in Ashgabat underscored Turkmenistan’s commitment to advancing the principles of peace, trust, and positive neutrality as vital instruments for sustainable development, international cooperation, and global stability.