Ashgabat and the UN Are Launching a Master's Program as Part of the Establishment of the University of Peace and Neutrality.
29.05.2026 | 21:15 |During his working visit to the United States, Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov met with UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo. During the in-depth conversation, the parties discussed a wide range of issues related to expanding the strategic partnership between Turkmenistan and the UN.
It was particularly emphasized that Turkmenistan, strictly adhering to its international status of permanent neutrality, consistently advocates for the promotion of the principles of preventive diplomacy, the peaceful resolution of all disputes, and the rule of international law in strict accordance with the UN Charter.
During the talks, the diplomats devoted special attention to current aspects of regional security, maintaining stability, and promoting effective mechanisms for trust-based resolution.
In this context, the Turkmen side expressed its appreciation for the long-standing work of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) in Ashgabat and reaffirmed its commitment to further comprehensive support of its mandate. The parties discussed in detail the possibility of expanding the Centre's mandate and key areas of activity to enhance the effectiveness of regional cooperation and build confidence.

A separate topic of discussion was the initiative to develop a Global Security Strategy, put forward by the President of Turkmenistan to establish a sustainable international architecture.
Furthermore, Rosemary DiCarlo was briefed in detail on the practical steps to establish the University of Peace and Neutrality. The first stage of this megaproject was the establishment of the Department of Peace and Neutrality at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. Initially, it is planned to launch a specialized master's program within this department, as well as develop direct cooperation with the specialized UN University of Peace.
At the end of the meeting, the parties noted the importance of joint efforts to ensure stability through the implementation of major infrastructure projects, specifically noting the high significance of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline under construction as a powerful factor in regional peace and energy security.