The international youth conference «Friendship of Peoples – a guarantee of a happy future for youth» was held in the conference hall of the Institute of International Relations of the MFA of Turkmenistan.
It was attended by representatives of the UN in Turkmenistan and its structural divisions and agencies, including UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA. Turkmenistan was represented by the Chairman of the Central Council of the Youth Organization of Turkmenistan named after Magtymguly, members of the leadership, teachers and students, including young ambassadors of the SDGs and representatives of university UNESCO Clubs of the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Turkmen State University named after Magtymguly, International University of Humanities and Development, Turkmen National Institute of World Languages named after D. Azady.
During the conference, speeches were made by the UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan Dmitry Shlapachenko, the permanent representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Turkmenistan Narine Sahakyan, the UNICEF representative in Turkmenistan Mohammad Fayazi, the Chairman of the ILO Central Council named after Magtymguly Yazpolat Keriyev, the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs of the IIR of the MFA of Turkmenistan Gulshat Yusupova, Vice-Rector for Scientific Work of IUHD Nurmuhammet Shyhlyyev and other participants.
As noted in the speeches, youth policy is one of the leading areas of interaction between Turkmenistan and the UN, with which solid experience of joint work has been accumulated in recent years. Educational projects are being successfully implemented. Examples include the creation of UNESCO Chairs and UNESCO Clubs in universities of our country, the inclusion of secondary schools in Turkmenistan in the system of UNESCO Associated Schools. In addition, the Youth Organization of Turkmenistan named after Magtymguly became an official member of the UNESCO Global Youth Community.
It was emphasized that Turkmenistan makes a significant contribution to the successful implementation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the UN, which are of critical global importance. Achieving the SDGs implies consolidating the efforts of participating countries in addressing global challenges aimed at ensuring a balance of social, economic and environmental sustainability. Through the SDGs, it is planned to solve a set of problems related to youth. These include the development of quality education, the creation of opportunities and conditions for the realization of scientific and creative potential, and the protection of the rights of young people.
As noted, youth are the driving force in building a happy, prosperous and flourishing future, achieving peace, sustainability and stability throughout the world. Turkmenistan takes special care of the younger generation, creating all conditions for personal growth and self-realization of young people.
In this regard, it is symbolic that 2023 in our country has been proclaimed the year of «Happy Youth with Arkadag Serdar». Great hopes are placed on the talented Turkmen youth, who today actively participate in the life of the country and successfully demonstrate significant successes and achievements in various fields. Young people today also play a big role in the development of multilateral international dialogue on pressing issues of our time. The Strategy for International Cooperation of the Youth of Turkmenistan for 2023–2030, adopted this year, is intended to contribute to strengthening interaction with the youth of other countries.
During the conference, it was emphasized that at the initiative of Turkmenistan, an active supporter of mutually respectful, peaceful, trusting and open dialogue with the countries of the world, in accordance with the Resolution of the UN General Assembly, 2023 was declared the Year of Dialogue as a guarantee of peace. The philosophy «Dialogue is a guarantee of peace», put forward by the National Leader of the Turkmen people Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, is aimed at uniting the efforts of the international community in strengthening the traditions of peaceful and trusting coexistence of the peoples of the planet.
The participants expressed confidence that holding the international youth conference «Friendship of Peoples - a guarantee of a happy future for youth» will contribute to strengthening friendship and mutual respect between countries, understanding the importance of peaceful dialogue in building a common happy and sustainable future, and further active participation of the younger generation in a joint multilateral activities to ensure stability and security on the planet.
We would like to add that a colourful exhibition was organized for the participants of the conference in the foyer of the institute, which broadly reflected the achievements of Turkmen youth, our independent neutral country, as well as the richness of the history and culture of the Turkmen people, the ancient traditions of good neighbourliness, hospitality, the principles of a peaceful and respectful attitude towards the peoples of the world.
