Thank you, Mister President.
The United States congratulates Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan on this resolution declaring Central Asia a zone of peace, trust, and cooperation.
The intent to establish the region as a zone of peace creates a foundation for greater cooperation among your governments that can reinforce the interconnected pillars of a peaceful and prosperous society: sustainable development, peace and security, human rights, and the rule of law. Your commitment to the principles of preventive diplomacy will not only help strengthen the security of the States within the region but is also vital to maintaining international peace and security.
We are disappointed that some delegations fought vigorously against the inclusion of language in this resolution reaffirming the mutually reinforcing relationship between human rights and the rule of law in peacebuilding and sustaining peace. The concept that regions and countries must respect human rights for all, and adhere to the rule of law in order to flourish, is enshrined in the very preamble of the UN Charter: it is our responsibility as a General Assembly to continuously reaffirm our commitments to these principles.
Nevertheless, we thank Turkmenistan for its tireless pursuit of consensus among the members of this body on the various elements of the text of this resolution. We appreciate Turkmenistan’s extensive consultation with Member States on the text and applaud its efforts.
We are delighted by the resolution’s acknowledgement of the critical role women play in the promotion of peace, security, and sustainable development. Let us not forget that women should always actively participate in policy leadership, development, and implementation. Their involvement in the peaceful settlement of disputes, conflict prevention and resolution, and at all levels of decision making will ensure that we will be able to more quickly and comprehensively address the challenges that we all face.
Thank you, Mister President.
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