Turkmenistan, UNODC Discuss Strengthening Cooperation Against Modern Threats

Ashgabat, The Gulf Observer: On September 10, 2025, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan M. Byashimova held a meeting with Oliver Stolpe, the UNODC Regional Representative for Central Asia, Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan.

The talks covered a broad range of cooperation issues in countering contemporary challenges and threats, with particular attention given to the joint implementation of the UNODC Program for Central Asia for 2022–2025, which has been extended until June 2027.

Special focus was placed on cybersecurity, with both sides underscoring the importance of the upcoming UN Convention on Cybercrime, scheduled to be signed on October 25–26 this year in Vietnam.

The Turkmen side reiterated its commitment to deepening cooperation with UNODC in key areas, including cybersecurity, combating synthetic drugs, and countering human trafficking. In this regard, the adoption of Turkmenistan’s National Action Plan for 2025–2029 to combat human trafficking was highlighted as a significant step.

The meeting also reviewed organizational aspects of upcoming joint events planned for this year.

Concluding the talks, both sides reaffirmed their mutual interest in further strengthening their partnership and stressed the importance of coordinated efforts to effectively respond to modern challenges and threats.