President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov warmly welcomed the heads of State and Government, heads of international organizations, politicians, diplomats, parliamentarians, scientists and public figures who arrived in Turkmenistan to celebrate the International Day of Neutrality and the 30th anniversary of the international legal recognition of the country’s permanent neutrality, declaring open an international forum dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust.
Key points from the speech by President of Turkmenistan:
1. The Forum is considered as a pivotal international event designed to establish the values of peace, trust, equality, cooperation, justice and a culture of dialogue in world politics.
2. The adoption by the UN General Assembly, on the initiative of Turkmenistan, of a resolution declaring 2025 the International Year of Peace and Trust is a common win and the result of joint efforts by all UN member states.
3. In September 2025, the Constitutional Law of Turkmenistan “On the Legal Foundations of the Policy of Peace and Trust in Neutral Turkmenistan” was adopted, which established the principles of neutrality, non-use of force, non-interference, peaceful settlement of disputes and the priority of international law.
4. Permanent neutrality, recognized by the United Nations in 1995 and twice confirmed by resolutions (2015 and 2025), has become the foundation of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy, provided an unprecedented level of trust and cooperation with the countries of the world, high rates of internal development and reliability as an international partner.
5. Neutrality is seen not as a static construct, but as a living, creative process. Turkmenistan actively promotes preventive diplomacy and suggests using neutrality as a platform for finding compromises, reconciliation and a balance of interests.
6. A new initiative: the creation, jointly with the United Nations, of a University of Peace and Neutrality for the development of scientific research and education in the field of peacemaking and preventive diplomacy.
7. Turkmenistan’s neutrality is an integral part of genuine sovereignty and independence, based on the unity of the people, historical continuity and centuries—old traditions of peacefulness.
Here is a slightly paraphrased translation of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov’s speech (the original speech in Russian was recorded by the nCa agency at the press center of the International Forum):
Distinguished Heads of State and Government, Dear heads of international organizations, Distinguished heads and members of delegations, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me to warmly welcome you to Turkmenistan and, on behalf of the people of our country, express my gratitude for your participation in the Forum of Peace and Trust, in the celebrations dedicated to the International Day of Neutrality and the 30th anniversary of the international recognition of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality. Heads of State and Government, heads of major and reputable international organizations, prominent politicians, parliamentarians, diplomats, scientists and public figures are present in this Hall.
It is a great honor and privilege for us to see our guests on Turkmen soil, welcome to Turkmenistan.
Dear friends,
The current Forum is considered as a major internationally significant event designed to become a starting point for understanding regional, continental and global processes, affirming the values of peace, cooperation, equality, trust, justice, culture of dialogue and mutual understanding in international politics.
Turkmenistan can rightfully be proud that new humane and far-sighted foundations of the world order, realistic and responsible development strategies are being formed on our land today.
In this context, I would like to emphasize that we highly appreciate and value the level of cooperation we have achieved with partners around the world. I am sure that in these significant days our friendship, mutual understanding and determination to achieve creative goals will find their further confirmation and development. I declare the international forum dedicated to the International Year of Peace and trust, the International Day of Neutrality and the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s neutrality open.
The holding of the current international forum is the result of many years of consistent work by Turkmenistan to establish and consolidate in world politics the principles, values and criteria, which, in our opinion, should form the basis, legal and ideological core of the entire modern system of international relations.
Having declared peace and trust as such a foundation, our country has taken a number of important steps and initiatives that have been well received in the world and have gained the effective support of our partners. The result of this joint work was the adoption, at the suggestion of Turkmenistan, of a special Resolution by the UN General Assembly declaring 2025 the international year of Peace and trust. This is our common achievement, the result of foresight, responsibility, wisdom, and political leadership of all UN member states.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to them, as well as to the head and representatives of international organizations, for their support and contribution to making this important decision.
It should also be said that the conceptual norms of peace and trust are reflected in the national legislation of Turkmenistan.
In September of this year, the Constitutional Law of Turkmenistan “On the legal foundations of the policy of peace and Trust in neutral Turkmenistan” was adopted. Its basic principles are neutrality, firm and unwavering commitment to equality, mutual respect, cooperation, good neighborliness, non-use of force, conflict prevention, resolving any international issues only through peaceful political and diplomatic means and methods, non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, priority of universally recognized norms of international law, respect for human rights and freedoms, and a number of others most important obligations. The adoption of the constitutional law became a milestone event in the development of Turkmenistan’s future activities as a subject of international relations and a testament to the fidelity and immutability of our strategic course to achieve and preserve lasting peace and stability.
I am convinced that today, in difficult geopolitical circumstances, peace and trust are becoming particularly important and valuable. An adequate assessment of these concepts, their establishment and consolidation as indisputable postulates of world politics in itself marks a noticeable positive shift in understanding the modern system, a step away from the dangerous confrontational trend towards building constructive, realistic, balanced foundations of the global architecture of security and development.
Turkmenistan proceeds from the fact that this can be achieved only together, by combining the efforts of states and international institutions on a common political and philosophical humanistic basis based on the UN Charter and recognized international legal norms.
Dear participants,
The International Year of Peace and Trust coincides with the most important historical anniversary – the 30th anniversary of the international recognition of the permanent neutrality of our country.
Having become a political and legal reality, as enshrined in the decision of the UN General Assembly and the Constitution of Turkmenistan, permanent neutrality determines all our steps in the international arena, the visible successes and the large-scale results that Turkmenistan has achieved.
Due to neutrality, peacefulness and openness, an unprecedented level of trust, mutual understanding and cooperation between Turkmenistan and dozens of nations has been achieved today at the bilateral level and within the framework of multilateral associations with key international institutions.
Neutrality, its derivative – foreign economic policy of open doors, providing favorable external conditions for internal development, – allows Turkmenistan to consistently achieve high rates of economic and social development, improve the standard and quality of life of the population, conduct dynamic trade and investment cooperation, and be an attractive, reliable and promising partner for the development of major international projects.
Neutrality is a key factor in Turkmenistan’s strategic dialogue with the United Nations.
I would like to emphasize that the United Nations sees our country as a responsible and effective partner in solving major global and regional problems, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and adopting fair and balanced approaches to international cooperation in a wide range of areas. We will expand the scope of cooperation with the United Nations, strive for concentrated attention and substantive involvement of its specialized structures in the formation and implementation of national, regional and global programs.
It is obvious that the neutral status of the Turkmen state has a positive and constructive impact on ensuring international and regional stability and security, which is confirmed by the growing support for Turkmen neutrality in the United Nations.
A vivid demonstration of this fact was the unanimous adoption by the UN General Assembly in 1995, 2015 and 2025 of resolutions on the Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan.
The creation of a Group of Friends of Neutrality within the walls of the United Nations a few years ago on the initiative of our country is also indicative. These examples eloquently show that neutrality, its basic principles, are becoming more and more significant and relevant practices of international communication. At the same time, we always emphasize that neutrality is not a fixed construction, but a lively creative process that keeps up with the times, responding to new changes and trends.
In this context, Turkmenistan puts forward preventive diplomacy as an important component of modern international policy. We are convinced that its tools are particularly in demand in the current conditions, capable of really contributing to conflict prevention, timely transfer of contradictions and differences into a civilized negotiation channel, therefore we propose using neutrality as a political and practical platform on which it is possible today to develop ways and methods of reaching agreement, compromise and reconciliation.
In this sense, neutrality can become a reference model for rapprochement and balance of interests, respectful and equal dialogue, pragmatic and mutually beneficial partnership, and ultimately one of the factors for achieving global geopolitical balance.
The example of Turkmenistan, which, thanks to its neutral policy, develops and maintains constructive, mutually beneficial, friendly, international relations based on these foundations. I think this shows great prospects for neutrality and its application in various parts of the world.
In this context, based on the rich experience of the nation’s Community in the field of peacemaking, using a wide range of political and diplomatic means and methods of preventive diplomacy, as well as in order to develop the applied nature of neutrality and carry out research and educational activities in this area, Turkmenistan proposes the establishment of a university of peace and neutrality in cooperation with the United Nations. We support this initiative and express our readiness for its substantive consideration with our friends and partners.
Speaking about Turkmen neutrality, I would like to mention one more feature in particular: our neutrality is a natural result of Turkmenistan’s genuine sovereignty and independence. Pursuing an independent, meaningful and consistent neutral foreign policy, we rely primarily on the solid foundations of our statehood, historical continuity, unity and support of the Turkmen people, and the centuries-old experience of our ancestors, who bequeathed to us to live in peace, harmony and good neighborliness with all peoples and states.
The independence and neutrality of Turkmenistan, these concepts are inseparable and inconceivable without each other. And of course, we clearly see and highly appreciate the broad support and understanding of our goals and objectives from the international community, numerous friends and like-minded people around the world. This support helps Turkmenistan to look forward to the future with optimism, confidently make plans for further joint work, and inspire us to constantly actively participate constructively in achieving peace, trust and harmony between nations, their progress and well-being.
Once again, dear friends, please accept my most sincere, heartfelt words of appreciation for your participation in the forum, for your contribution to strengthening friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding with Turkmenistan. Thank you for your attention. ///nCa, 12 December 2025