Turkmenistan proposes to establish the United Nations Regional Centre for Disarmament in Asia. This issue was also raised during the talks between President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon. Addressing the press conference, the Turkmen leader said that particular attention had been paid to the approaches to settling the situation in Afghanistan. The State News Agency of Turkmenistan reports that the stand of Turkmenistan based on the conviction that the whole range of Afghanistan related issued must be resolved only through peaceful, political and diplomatic means. Emphasis was placed on the importance of cooperative efforts to address such an urgent issue as non-proliferation and strengthening of disarmament processes, as well as the discussion of measures for enhancing the relevant international legal framework. In this context, the President noted that the implementation of the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia was of particular importance. Our country stands ready to actively cooperate with the UN Office of Disarmament Affairs in implementing a number of initiatives in this field. In this regard, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that Turkmenistan was putting forward the initiative to establish the UN Regional Centre for Disarmament in Asia.

Addressing the press conference, the Secretary-General of the United Nations focused on the fruitful work carried out by the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia in Ashgabat. Ban Ki-moon thanked President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for providing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and Nepal, as well as active support for Afghan refugees. The distinguished guest emphasized the important work being undertaken under the leadership of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to grant Turkmenistan citizenship to stateless persons.