A Turkmen delegation, led by Chairman of the State Migration Service Amanmuhammet Sazakov, met with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi on October 16, 2024, to formally present Turkmenistan's note of accession to the Global Statelessness Alliance, established under the UNHCR.
According to the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Switzerland, Grandi praised Turkmenistan’s decision, emphasizing its crucial role in global initiatives aimed at addressing one of the most pressing humanitarian challenges of our time. He expressed his gratitude to the country’s leadership and presented a letter of appreciation addressed to the President of Turkmenistan. Grandi also noted that Turkmenistan's example could inspire other nations to take similar actions.
Sazakov extended an invitation to Grandi and his team to attend a regional conference on statelessness, scheduled for November 8, 2024, in Ashgabat. The event will serve as a platform for exchanging experiences and developing strategies to eradicate statelessness.
During the meeting, both sides discussed key areas of cooperation to resolve statelessness issues. Sazakov highlighted the substantial work done under the leadership of the President of Turkmenistan, including the granting of citizenship to over 1,000 stateless individuals in September 2024, marking a significant milestone in the UN's #IBelong campaign. Turkmenistan was one of the first countries to achieve the program's goals, reaffirming its commitment to humanitarian obligations.
On the sidelines of the 75th session of the UNHCR Executive Committee, the Turkmen delegation also met with Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Ruven Menikdiwela, who acknowledged Turkmenistan’s progress in the humanitarian field and confirmed participation in the upcoming regional conference, calling it a vital forum for strengthening regional cooperation.
