His Excellency Ban Ki-moon President of the Assembly and Chair of the Council of the Global Green Growth Institute Eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations

It is a great pleasure to express my warmest congratulations on the 26th anniversary of the Neutrality of Turkmenistan.

December 12th is an important date for the Turkmen people, as it is a significant landmark in the history of Turkmenistan, and neutrality plays a central role in foreign policy. Allow me to briefly mention that the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring the year 2021 as the “International Year of Peace and Trust”.

I understand that this conference is focused on this 2019 UN resolution. As former UN Secretary-General, I strongly support and welcome Turkmenistan’s continued intentions and efforts to promote peace and trust among nations on the basis of political dialogue, mutual understanding, and cooperation.

Turkmenistan has proved to be a reliable partner of the UN for the goal of preserving and maintaining political stability and cooperation. The 2007 establishment in Ashgabat—with the support of all countries in the region—of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) is a clear indication of this.

I would also like to take a moment to again express my gratitude to the President for awarding me with the Jubilee Medal of “25 Years of Neutrality of Turkmenistan”. I am very proud that I could contribute—even if only a little—to the development of Turkmenistan as a peaceful and stable country. Very recently, I was informed that Turkmenistan has also taken steps to officially join the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), and I am thankful to President Berdimuhamedov for signing the decree of Turkmenistan to join GGGI.

GGGI is an inter-governmental organization with 41 Member countries that supports its Members transition to green growth—an inclusive and sustainable economic growth—and, as the President of the Assembly and Chair of the Council, I look forward to welcoming Turkmenistan as GGGI’s newest Member soon.

 Again, I extend my warmest congratulations on the 26th anniversary of the Neutrality of Turkmenistan, along with my best wishes for good health and success for this conference and the upcoming New Year.