The Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, visited the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat during his visit to Turkmenistan and praised the mission's work, Turkmenportal.com reports.
He noted that the organization's effectiveness is largely determined by its activities on the ground and its interaction with participating States.
The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat has been operating since 1999 and provides assistance to Turkmenistan in a wide range of areas, including strengthening border security, arms control, developing economic and environmental cooperation, and supporting the principles of good governance and human rights.
Ignazio Cassis's visit is part of Switzerland's OSCE Chairmanship and aims to strengthen the organization's engagement with Central Asian countries.
The OSCE Chairman-in-Office's visit to Turkmenistan is significant given the growing international attention to security and stability in Central Asia. The region faces a complex set of challenges, from cross-border threats and the consequences of the situation in Afghanistan to climate change, water resource management, and sustainable economic development.
For Turkmenistan, engagement with the OSCE is one of the tools for supporting a multi-vector foreign policy based on its status of permanent neutrality recognized by the UN General Assembly.
Ashgabat traditionally advocates diplomatic methods for resolving international conflicts and utilizes the platforms of international organizations to advance initiatives in peace, energy security, and regional cooperation.
For the OSCE, its presence in Turkmenistan and other Central Asian countries remains an important element of practical diplomacy. Through its field structures, the organization is able to implement projects adapted to national conditions, strengthen trust between states, and promote the development of regional cooperation mechanisms.
Amid the transformation of the international security system, the role of such dialogue formats is becoming especially relevant.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
August 5, 2026