Opening Statement of the UN Resident Coordinator in the Kyrgyz Republic, Ms. Antje Grawe, on the occasion of the International Conference on “Peace and Trust: Diplomacy of Cooperation in Action”

Excellencies, Distinguished members of the diplomatic Corps, colleagues, participants and friends,

It is my great honor to co-host this conference, together with the Ambassador of Turkmenistan, dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust. Let me warmly thank the Turkmen Ambassador and the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic for bringing us together around the theme “Peace and Trust: Diplomacy of Cooperation in Action.”

This theme greatly resonates with the vision that lies at the very heart of the United Nations: peace, dialogue and international cooperation. And it is a vision that is more important than ever.

As you all know, last week, the United Nations General Assembly marked the UN’s 80th anniversary. It took place in difficult times for global peace and security, under the theme “Better Together: 80 Years and More for Peace, Development and Human Rights.”

As the Secretary-General reminded us, “everything needs to be done to rebuild trust in international cooperation. As we mark the UN’s 80th year, we must recommit to the Charter’s obligations”— (…) ”peace rooted in international Law”, human rights and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

Dear Colleagues,

We are indeed living through a period of deep mistrust and divisions that are becoming more and more entrenched. In today’s world, facing unprecedented challenges, the call for peace and trust has never been more urgent and, hence, today’s conference is topical and timely.

It is therefore even more encouraging that here in Central Asia, we can find real reasons for hope.

In 2024, the General Assembly adopted a series of landmark resolutions that strengthen regional progress towards sustaining peace. Upon Turkmen initiative, Member States proclaimed 2025 as the International Year of Peace and Trust (in Resolution 78/266). Earlier, another Resolution (76/299) reaffirmed the proclamation of Central Asia as a Zone of Peace, Trust and Cooperation. Other resolutions—on the United Nations Games and on the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia—signal a renewed commitment in the region to dialogue, disarmament, and peaceful coexistence.

Allow me to commend the five Central Asian states for their remarkable progress in translating this commitment into tangible progress. In Kyrgyzstan, the 2022 agreement with Uzbekistan and the conclusion of negotiations with Tajikistan earlier this year stand out as historic milestones. I recently visited the stele erected at the junction of the three countries’ borders—a tangible symbol of peace. These achievements demonstrate the power of dialogue, political will, and courage. At a time when global headlines are dominated by war and rivalry, Central Asia’s example shines as a beacon of hope.

The task before us is to sustain and deepen these gains so that peace truly delivers for communities. Peace is not only the absence of armed conflict—it is also about justice, inclusion, cohesion, and sustainable development. Borderlands should become spaces of cooperation, where every community can thrive and trust in its future.

The International Year of Peace and Trust is therefore a call to action: to invest in prevention, strengthen dialogue and mediation, and empower youth and civil society as drivers of cooperation.

Let me now turn briefly to the role of the United Nations.

Through our Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, we facilitate dialogue and confidence-building across borders. In Kyrgyzstan, our UN Country Team works with government, civil society, and development partners to strengthen social cohesion, inclusive governance, and human rights.

Our efforts are guided by the New Agenda for Peace and the Pact for the Future, adopted at last year’s Summit of the Future. Implementation is now under way, focusing on prevention,

trust-building, resilience, and sustainable development—making sure that global commitments translate into action at the community level.

In Kyrgyzstan, we support civic initiatives that empower young people to lead dialogue across divides, foster innovation for peace, and strengthen resilience in border regions. We help create civic spaces where communities can speak, listen, and build trust. And we work to ensure that climate risks, economic pressures, and social tensions do not erode the progress already achieved.

Excellencies, colleagues and friends,

The General Assembly’s resolutions remind us that the ideals of peace and trust are universal, but their realization always begins locally. By demonstrating the power of dialogue and cooperation, Central Asia can inspire other regions of the world, also showing the world what can be achieved when political will, dialogue, and a commitment to peace guide the way forward.

Thank you.