On July 19, 2018, within the framework of the ongoing visit of the Turkmen delegation to New York at UN Headquarters, Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan S. Berdimuhamedov had a meeting with the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
A. Guterres noted close and constructive cooperation of Turkmenistan with the UN in different directions. He stressed the role of Turkmenistan in security issues, refugees, migration, and Turkmenistan’s support of the Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia. He also noted Turkmenistan's active participation this year in the work of the Political Forum on Sustainable Development.
S. Berdimuhamedov thanked the Secretary General for the meeting and conveyed the greetings on behalf of the President of Turkmenistan and the words of gratitude to the Secretary-General for his contribution to strengthening Turkmenistan's cooperation with the UN. The Deputy Minister stressed the visit of A. Guterres to Turkmenistan in 2017, within the framework of which he took part in the High-level Dialogue on the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. He said that Turkmenistan, together with the countries of Central Asia with the support of UN agencies, has begun the development of the third phase of the implementation of the Joint Action Plan to Combat Terrorism.
S. Berdimuhamedov said that the delegation of Turkmenistan on July 18 spoke at the general debate of the Ministerial segment of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. At the same time, the head of the delegation noted that the implementation of Agenda 2030 is one of the priorities for Turkmenistan. In particular, it was stressed that Turkmenistan, with the support of UN agencies, was one of the first states to begin adapting the SDGs to its national plans.
In turn, A. Guterres noted the successful activities of Turkmenistan in the implementation of the SDG, the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy at the regional and national levels, and the expansion of cooperation with the countries of the region on many issues relevant to the world community.
In the afternoon, members of the delegation of Turkmenistan met with the Administrator of the United Nations Development Program Akim Steiner.
A. Steiner warmly welcomed the delegates, stressed the productive cooperation of Turkmenistan with UNDP for many years. He noted the constructive cooperation of Turkmenistan and UNDP on a wide range of international agenda, especially for the implementation of the goals of sustainable development.
The Turkmen delegation noted the importance of cooperation with UNDP within the framework of the signed partnership programs, in particular, in the successful implementation of joint projects.
It was noted that Turkmenistan plans to present the National Voluntary Review on the Sustainable Development Goals during the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in 2019. A. Steiner, for his part, stressed that the United Nations Development Program is ready to fully support Turkmenistan in the preparation of this report.
In addition, the invitation to take part in high-level events within the framework of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea was renewed once again to A. Steiner.
