The State News Agency of Turkmenistan (TDH) has published the text of the Ashgabat Declaration — the final document of the High-Level International Forum on Peace and Trust, which took place in Ashgabat on 12 December 2025.
Forum participants in the Declaration reaffirm their commitment to the goals of the UN Charter and the principles of peace, trust, and multilateral dialogue as the foundations of the international order.
The text emphasizes the key role of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality as a factor in strengthening regional and global stability, and includes a call to enhance preventive diplomacy and mediation.
The Declaration welcomes Turkmenistan’s initiatives, such as the establishment of the University of Peace and Neutrality and the development of a Concept of Global Security based on neutrality, confirming the interconnection between peace and sustainable development.
The document puts forward a series of new initiatives and proposals aimed at strengthening preventive diplomacy, mediation, and the institutionalization of dialogue.
The main proposals related to preventive diplomacy and conflict prevention mechanisms include the use of territories of neutral states for negotiations, the creation of a Chamber of Mediation in the Name of Peace, the strengthening of regional centers for preventive diplomacy, the proclamation of an International Day of Mediation, the development of Guidelines for Compliance with the Principles of Neutrality, a Concept of Global Security based on neutrality, and a Global Code of International Trust.
More than 16 countries participated in the International Forum “Peace and Trust: Unity of Goals for a Sustainable Future,” held in Ashgabat on 12 December 2025, with leaders and high-level delegations. At the level of heads of state and government, representatives included Russia, Türkiye, Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Pakistan, Iraq, São Tomé and Príncipe, Eswatini, and Myanmar. The forum also saw participation from representatives of international organizations, including the UN, OSCE, SCO, ECO and CIS.
Ashgabat Declaration of the International Forum dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust (2025), International Day of Neutrality and the 30th anniversary of permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan (unofficial translation)
We, the participants of the International Forum dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Confidence (2025), the International Day of Neutrality and the 30th anniversary of the permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan, gathered on 12 December 2025 in Ashgabat at the invitation of the Government of Turkmenistan in cooperation with the United Nations, acting pursuant to General Assembly Resolution 78/266 of 21 March 2024, which proclaimed 2025 the “International Year of Peace and Confidence”, and guided by the desire to strengthen multilateral dialogue, mutual understanding and cooperation among States in the interests of peace, security and sustainable development,
Reaffirming our commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, including the sovereign equality of States, respect for territorial integrity, non-interference in internal affairs and the peaceful settlement of disputes, which remain the key principles and the firm foundation of the contemporary international order,
Reaffirming our continued commitment to strengthening multilateralism based on universal respect for international law, and recognizing the central role of the United Nations in promoting a peaceful, stable and prosperous world and in effectively addressing global challenges through inclusive dialogue and joint action,
Recalling United Nations General Assembly Resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015, “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, in which it adopted a comprehensive, far-reaching and people-centred set of universal and transformative Sustainable Development Goals and targets,
Recalling also the relevant provisions of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace, the Pact for the Future and the New Agenda for Peace,
Recalling further United Nations General Assembly Resolutions 50/80 A of 12 December 1995, 69/285 of 3 June 2015 and 79/274 of 21 March 2025 on the “Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan” and reaffirming firm support for the status of permanent neutrality proclaimed and consistently maintained by Turkmenistan, which has become an important factor in strengthening peace, stability and cooperation at the regional and global levels,
Recalling United Nations General Assembly resolutions 71/275 of 2 February 2017 on the proclamation of the International Day of Neutrality and 75/28 of 7 December 2020 on the Role and Significance of the Policy of Neutrality in Maintaining and Strengthening International Peace, Security and Sustainable Development,
Recalling the Ashgabat Outcome Documents of 2015 and 2020 and noting the efforts of the Government of Turkmenistan to institutionalize dialogue on neutrality, preventive diplomacy and peace in accordance with the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations,
Welcoming the results of the High-level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on Regional Zones of Peace, convened by the President of the General Assembly on 7 July 2025 at United Nations Headquarters in New York pursuant to Resolution 79/5 of 24 October 2024, as well as the ongoing efforts to strengthen the Zone of Peace, Trust and Cooperation of Central Asia as a regional embodiment of peace based on neutrality and preventive diplomacy,
Welcoming also the establishment and continuation of the work of the Group of Friends of Neutrality for Peace, Security and Sustainable Development, an informal group established at the initiative of Turkmenistan in August 2020 and operating on the basis of the Final Declaration of the first Ministerial Meeting of the Group as a mechanism for maintaining a broad multilateral dialogue on the practical application of the principles of neutrality in the prevention of conflicts, the elimination of their root causes and consequences of conflicts, the resolution of humanitarian problems and the promotion of neutrality in international relations,
Recognizing the increasing interdependence between peace, security and sustainable development and emphasizing that trust, mutual respect, understanding and neutrality are essential elements of the international order,
Recalling that 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality, which has become an example of a constructive and peaceful foreign policy that contributes to strengthening trust and cooperation between peoples,
I. Strengthening peace, trust and dialogue
1. We reaffirm that peace, trust and dialogue remain the essential pillars of international relations and the foundation of a just, inclusive and secure world order, recognizing that these principles constitute the moral and political basis for cooperation among peoples and states, and that without trust and dialogue there can be no sustainable peace, security and development;
2. We emphasize that in an increasingly complex and interdependent world, the culture of peace and trust must be strengthened through sustained political will, open communication and genuine multilateral dialogue, as reflected in the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and in this regard we welcome the activities of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations;
3. We recall in this regard General Assembly resolutions 76/299 of 28 July 2022 and 78/266 of 21 March 2024, in which the Assembly decided to observe the International Years of Peace and Trust every five years with the aim of maintaining a constant focus on promoting the ideals of peace and trust, and welcome the designation of 2030 as the next International Year of Peace and Trust in order to continue to consolidate efforts to prevent conflicts, promote dialogue and strengthen mutual understanding among peoples;
4. We welcome the General Assembly resolution proclaiming 16 May as the International Day of Living Together in Peace, which aims to mobilize the efforts of the international community to promote peace, tolerance, inclusiveness, mutual understanding and solidarity, as well as to express a commitment to living and acting together in unity without renouncing differences and diversity;
5. We call upon all Member States, entities of the United Nations system, regional and subregional organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and individuals, to continue to actively promote the International Years of Peace and Trust by organizing educational, cultural and political initiatives that strengthen mutual respect, tolerance and cooperation among peoples and contribute to the creation of an atmosphere of trust and understanding in all areas of international cooperation;
6. We recognize that the national policy of neutrality, consistently pursued by a number of States, serves as an important instrument for preventing conflicts, strengthening relations based on trust and mutual respect, and creating favorable conditions for strengthening stability and promoting constructive dialogue at the regional and global levels;
7. We also recognize the leadership of Turkmenistan, which, through a policy of permanent neutrality, consistently promotes a systemic approach to international relations based on dialogue, peace and trust, initiating and implementing global campaigns within the framework of the International Year of Dialogue as a Guarantee of Peace, 2023, and the International Years of Peace and Trust, which serve as a practical model for confidence-building measures;
8. We affirm that this multidimensional approach, based on the policy of neutrality and guided by the principle of equal and indivisible security, contributes not only to political stability but also to social, economic, environmental and humanitarian sustainability, thereby strengthening the global culture of peace;
II. Strengthening preventive diplomacy and mediation
9. We emphasize the importance of preventive diplomacy as one of the key instruments for preventing conflicts and maintaining international peace, which should be applied in strict accordance with the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations;
10. We recall the unanimous adoption by the UN Security Council of Resolution 2788, which urges the effective use of the mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes provided for in Article 33 of the Charter of the United Nations, including mediation;
11. We encourage the effective use of the territories of neutral States for peace negotiations and conflict resolution processes, including the establishment of specialized mediation platforms, and note with appreciation the proposal of Turkmenistan to establish on its territory a Mediation Chamber for Peace under the auspices of the United Nations, which requires consideration by Member States and the UN system, as noted in General Assembly Resolution 79/274;
12. We welcome the mandate of the General Assembly to the Secretary-General of the United Nations to develop, within existing resources, in consultation with States Members of the United Nations and other relevant parties, Guidelines on the Respect and Implementation of the Principles of Neutrality for Peace and Security, paying particular attention to summarizing the accumulated experience and key principles for the effective use of neutrality in international relations;
13. We emphasize the important role of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, located in Ashgabat, in accordance with its mandate in promoting dialogue and cooperation for peace and stability in the region and beyond, and encourage the establishment and strengthening of similar mechanisms in other regions;
14. We note the experience of the United Nations in peacekeeping, based on the extensive use of political and diplomatic means and methods of preventive diplomacy, and in order to develop the applied nature of neutrality, to carry out research and educational activities in this regard, and taking into account the Resolution of the United Nations General Assembly “University for Peace”, we welcome the proposal of Turkmenistan to establish, in cooperation with the United Nations, a University of Peace and Neutrality;
III. Promotion of the Concept of Global Security Based on Neutrality
15. We welcome Turkmenistan’s efforts to develop a Concept of Global Security Based on Neutrality, aimed at developing a modern understanding of collective peace based on trust, respect for sovereignty, neutrality and non-interference, designed to complement the evolving global security architecture with practical mechanisms that eliminate differences and prioritize peaceful coexistence over confrontation;
16. We invite the Member States of the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and other regional and international organizations to welcome the ongoing efforts to develop and promote the Concept of Global Security based on Neutrality under the auspices of the United Nations as a basis for achieving consensus and strengthening multilateral cooperation, guided by the principles and purposes enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations;
17. Recognize that neutrality in its permanent and active form embodies not indifference but responsibility – a principled commitment to the prevention of conflicts through impartiality, good offices, mediation and confidence-building, while maintaining constructive engagement with all parties in the interests of international peace and security;
IV. Synergy of Peace, Trust and Sustainable Development
18. Reaffirm that sustainable development is impossible without peace and security, and that peace and security will be threatened without sustainable development, as emphasized in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;
19. We emphasize that neutrality has a profound humanitarian dimension based on universal principles, including the principles of humanity, impartiality and non-discrimination, and that neutral States play an important role in facilitating the provision of humanitarian assistance in situations of conflict, emergency situations and natural disasters;
20. Encourage initiatives that promote the equal participation and full inclusion of women, as well as the meaningful participation of young people, in all efforts to maintain and promote peace and security;
21. We welcome the initiatives to proclaim an International Day of Multilingual Diplomacy and an International Day of Mediation as tools and frameworks for strengthening peace and mutual understanding among peoples;
22. Recognize the potential of digital technologies and artificial intelligence to promote peace, dialogue and sustainable development, while strongly emphasizing the need to ensure their ethical use in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations;
V. Maintaining cooperation in the future
23. We welcome the initiative of Turkmenistan to explore the possibility of developing a Global Code of International Trust as an additional tool for promoting equality, mutual respect, trust and shared responsibility based on the principles of the Charter of the United Nations;
24. We reaffirm the importance of regularly holding international and regional forums dedicated to issues of neutrality, peace and trust, in accordance with the commitments set out in the Ashgabat Final Documents of 2015 and 2020;
25. We call upon the Member States of the United Nations to strengthen the mechanisms of multilateral cooperation as a basis for global peace and express our support for the proposal of Turkmenistan to proclaim 2028 as the Year of International Law, which will reflect collective efforts to strengthen the universality and supremacy of the norms and principles of international law enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations;
26. We express our deep gratitude to the people and Government of Turkmenistan for hosting the International Forum dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust (2025), the International Day of Neutrality and the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality, and for their consistent contribution to strengthening global peace, stability and cooperation through the consistent implementation of the principles of permanent neutrality;
27. We confirm our readiness to continue cooperation within the framework of the United Nations, regional organizations and bilateral mechanisms to ensure the practical implementation of the ideas and proposals developed during the Forum;
28. We call upon all Member States, United Nations bodies and relevant partners to continue to strengthen the spirit of dialogue, trust and partnership, thereby ensuring that peace and trust remain the enduring legacy of the United Nations and the defining priorities of international cooperation in the 21st century.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, December 12, 2025. ///nCa, 17 December 2025