On December 12, Ashgabat hosted the Turkmenistan Peace and Confidence Building Forum, a festive event dedicated to the International Day of Neutrality and the 30th anniversary of the international recognition of Turkmenistan's permanent neutrality. The President of Turkmenistan made a speech at the high-level forum and put forward important initiatives. According to TDH, the President's speech, in particular, stated:

"Dear Heads of State and Government!

Dear leaders of international organizations!

Dear Heads and members of delegations!

Ladies and gentlemen!

On behalf of the people of our country, I would like to warmly congratulate you on your participation in the Forum on Peace and Confidence-Building in Turkmenistan, the International Day of Neutrality and the festive events dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the international recognition of Turkmenistan's permanent neutrality. This forum is attended by Heads of State and Government, heads of large and prestigious international organizations, prominent politicians, parliamentarians, diplomats, scientists, and public figures. It is a great honor and privilege for us to see our guests on Turkmen soil. Welcome to Turkmenistan!

Dear friends!

This forum is considered an event of major international significance. It is considered a starting point for reflection on regional, global and global affairs, for the recognition of the principles of peace, cooperation, equality, trust, justice, a culture of dialogue and mutual understanding in international politics. Turkmenistan can rightfully be proud that today in our land new, humane and far-sighted foundations of the world order, a real and responsible strategy for development are being created. In this regard, I would like to emphasize that we highly appreciate the achieved level of relations with our partners around the world and cherish it. I am confident that on these glorious days our friendship, mutual understanding, and our desire to achieve creative goals will be further confirmed. I declare open 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.

Dear forum participants!

The holding of the current international forum is the result of Turkmenistan's long-term consistent work to recognize and strengthen norms, values, and standards in world politics. In our opinion, they should form the legal and worldview basis of the entire modern system of international relations. Declaring peace and trust as such a basis, our country has taken a number of important steps and put forward initiatives. They were received with understanding in the world and supported by our partners.

The adoption of the Resolution of the United Nations General Assembly on declaring 2025 the “Year of International Peace and Confidence” at the initiative of Turkmenistan was the result of joint work. This is our common success. It is the result of the foresight, responsibility, and wisdom of the political leaders of all member states of the United Nations. Taking this opportunity, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to them, as well as to the heads and representatives of international organizations, for their support for this important decision and their contribution to its adoption.

It should be noted that the conceptual norms of peace and confidence have been 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 Confidence of Neutral Turkmenistan” was adopted. This Law establishes as fundamental norms the principles of neutrality, equality, mutual respect, cooperation, good neighborliness, non-use of force, prevention of conflicts, resolution of any international issues only by peaceful, political and diplomatic means and methods, non-interference in the internal affairs of other states, priority of generally recognized norms of international law, respect for human rights and freedoms, and firm adherence to a number of other very important obligations. The adoption of the Constitutional Law became a milestone in the further development of Turkmenistan as a subject of international relations. It became evidence of the correctness and firmness of our strategic direction, based on achieving and preserving strong peace and stability.

I believe that peace and trust are of particular importance in the current era of complex geopolitical situations. Giving these concepts a fair assessment, consolidating them as indisputable norms of world politics is an effective step forward in thinking about the structure of our time. It is a step towards establishing effective, real, harmonious foundations of a global structure of security and development from a dangerous confrontation. Turkmenistan is guided by the view that this result can be achieved only by joining forces of states and international institutions, on a common political, worldview, humanitarian basis, based on the UN Charter and recognized norms of international law.

Dear forum participants!

The Year of International Peace and Confidence coincides with a very important historical anniversary - the 30th anniversary of the international recognition of the permanent Neutrality of our country. Permanent Neutrality, a political and legal status enshrined in the resolutions of the UN General Assembly and the Constitution of Turkmenistan, determines all our steps in the international arena, the achievements and great results of Turkmenistan. Thanks to neutrality, peace and openness, Turkmenistan has today reached an unprecedented level of trust, mutual understanding and cooperation with dozens of countries and major international institutions within the framework of bilateral and multilateral structures.

Neutrality and its resulting "Open Door" foreign economic policy provide favorable external conditions for domestic development, allowing Turkmenistan to achieve high rates of economic and social development. It creates conditions for improving the level and quality of life of the population, conducting dynamic trade and investment cooperation, and becoming an attractive, reliable and promising partner for the implementation of major international projects.

Neutrality serves as the main condition for Turkmenistan’s strategic dialogue with the United Nations, whose 80th anniversary is being celebrated this year. I would like to emphasize that the UN considers our country to be a responsible and effective partner in solving important global regional problems, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and developing fair and harmonious approaches to international cooperation in a wider range of areas. We will expand the areas of cooperation with the United Nations, focusing on the creation and implementation of national, regional and global programs, and involving specialized agencies in them. The effective, creative impact of the legal status of Neutrality of the Turkmen state on ensuring international and regional stability and security is clearly visible. This is reflected in the growing support for Turkmen Neutrality in the United Nations. The unanimous adoption of the Resolutions of the General Assembly in 1995, 2015 and 2025 entitled “Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan” was a clear manifestation of this. The creation of the Group of Friends of Neutrality within the UN several years ago at the initiative of our country is an example of this. These examples testify to the fact that neutrality and its fundamental norms are becoming increasingly significant and important in the practice of international relations.

Therefore, we always emphasize that Neutrality is not an immutable structure, but a living, creative state that keeps pace with the times and responds to new changes and trends. In this regard, Turkmenistan promotes preventive diplomacy as an important part of modern international policy. We believe that in the current conditions it is a special need, capable of preventing conflicts, helping to direct disagreements and disagreements to peaceful negotiations in a timely manner. Accordingly, we propose to use Neutrality as a political and practical platform. On this basis, it is possible to develop ways and methods for achieving agreement, understanding, and reconciliation at this time. In this regard, I believe that Neutrality can become a model of convergence and harmony of interests, respectful, equal dialogue, pragmatic, mutually beneficial cooperation, and ultimately, one of the conditions for achieving global geopolitical balance. I think that the experience of Turkmenistan, which develops mutually beneficial, friendly international relations through its policy of Neutrality, shows that Neutrality has great potential and can be used in different parts of the world.

Based on the rich experience of the United Nations, which widely uses political and diplomatic means and methods of preventive diplomacy in the field of peacebuilding, as well as with the aim of developing the practical nature of Neutrality, carrying out scientific research and educational work, Turkmenistan proposes to establish a University of Peace and Neutrality in partnership with the UN. We hope that this initiative will find support and express our readiness to consider this issue in detail with our friends and partners.

Speaking about Turkmen Neutrality, I would like to emphasize one more of its features. Our Neutrality is a legitimate consequence of the true sovereignty and Independence of Turkmenistan. Pursuing an independent, balanced, consistent Neutral foreign policy, we rely, first of all, on the solid foundations of our statehood, our historical continuity, the unity and support of the Turkmen people, and the centuries-old experience of our ancestors, who bequeathed to live in peace, harmony, and good neighborliness with all peoples and states.

The concepts of “Independence of Turkmenistan” and “Neutrality” are inextricably linked, they are one whole. Of course, we clearly see that our goals and objectives are widely supported and understood by the international community, our many friends and like-minded people around the world, and we highly appreciate this. This support helps Turkmenistan to look to its future with optimism, to confidently formulate a plan for further joint work. It inspires us to achieve peace, trust and harmony among nations, to participate consistently, actively and effectively in their development and well-being.

Dear friends, please accept my sincere gratitude once again for your participation in the forum and your contribution to strengthening friendship, cooperation, and mutual understanding with Turkmenistan!