On December 11-12, in the heart of Ashgabat, as Turkmenistan celebrated three decades of permanent neutrality, the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia converged to reaffirm friendship, discuss regional peace, economic projects, and cultural collaboration, while highlighting historic agreements, strategic initiatives, and the shared vision of a peaceful, prosperous future.

Armenia

On December 11, during his working visit to Turkmenistan, Vahagn Khachaturyan, the President of the Republic of Armenia, held a private meeting with Serdar Berdimuhamedov, the President of Turkmenistan. Khachaturyan congratulated Berdimuhamedov on the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality and wished development, progress, peace, and prosperity to the Turkmen people. Berdimuhamedov expressed gratitude for accepting the invitation and participating in the event, emphasizing that high-level visits serve as an important stimulus for strengthening cooperation between the two countries. During their meeting, both leaders discussed further steps to advance cooperation in political, economic, educational-cultural, and other fields, also addressing the value of joint efforts to preserve historical and cultural heritage. The conversation touched upon expanding cooperation in the energy and communications spheres and highlighted infrastructure development as an important direction. Both sides reaffirmed readiness to deepen bilateral cooperation and maintain active collaboration on international platforms.

On December 12, Khachaturyan took part in the event and delivered a speech at the plenary session titled "Peace and Trust: Unity Goals for a Sustainable Future". He began his remarks by stating that it was an honour to address a forum dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust, the International Day of Neutrality, and the anniversary of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality. He expressed gratitude to the President and Government of Turkmenistan for hosting the event and for their leadership in promoting peace, trust, and neutrality within the UN framework. He stated that the title of the plenary session reflected what the world needed most, noting that conflicts, divisions, human rights violations, and global insecurity challenged the international order. He emphasized the importance of reaffirming commitment to multilateralism based on the UN Charter. Khachaturyan underscored that the General Assembly’s decision to declare 2025 the International Year of Peace and Trust created momentum for promoting peaceful dispute settlement and good-neighbourly relations. He noted that Turkmenistan’s 30-year-long UN-recognized permanent neutrality had proven essential for regional stability, adding that Armenia supported Turkmenistan’s peace-oriented initiatives. He stated that peace required continuous work to strengthen dialogue, justice, human rights, and dignity, stressing the necessity of building trust among states and peoples. Guided by the UN Charter and international law, Armenia remained committed to peace in the South Caucasus, he emphasized.

Khachaturyan recalled that on August 8, during a trilateral meeting in Washington D.C., the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan initialed a peace agreement, and on the same day the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the United States signed a Joint Declaration enabling the opening of regional transport communications. He highlighted the significance of the "Crossroads of Peace" initiative and the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project, noting that these efforts would stimulate economic growth, dialogue, and people-to-people contacts, thereby contributing to trust and stability. Calling the development historic, he stated that these steps opened a new chapter of peace, prosperity, and economic cooperation in the South Caucasus and expressed hope for continued support from international partners. Khachaturyan concluded by calling for renewed commitment "to advance peace and trust through dialogue, mutual understanding and cooperation".

Azerbaijan

On December 11, Ali Asadov, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan, who was on a working visit to Ashgabat, met with Serdar Berdimuhamedov, the President of Turkmenistan. Asadov conveyed the greetings of Ilham Aliyev, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and his congratulations on the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality. Berdimuhamedov expressed gratitude for the greetings and asked Asadov to relay his best wishes to Aliyev. Their meeting emphasized the high level of political dialogue between the two states and addressed prospects for bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

On the same day, Ali Asadov met with Irakli Kobakhidze, the Prime Minister of Georgia, within the framework of his working visit to Turkmenistan. Asadov conveyed Aliyev’s greetings to Kobakhidze, who expressed gratitude and asked that his own greetings be delivered to the Azerbaijani President. The parties expressed satisfaction with the dynamic development of the Azerbaijan-Georgia strategic partnership in trade-economic, transport-transit, investment, oil-gas, green energy, humanitarian, and other areas. Special attention was paid to ongoing issues of mutually beneficial cooperation. The growing trade and economic cooperation and projects of regional importance that Georgia and Azerbaijan are jointly implementing were emphasized. The parties discussed the importance of the development of the Middle Corridor and the prospects for deepening partnership in this direction, as well as strengthening regional cooperation in the field of energy security. The Prime Minister of Georgia once again confirmed Georgia’s readiness to contribute to ensuring lasting peace and stability in the region through dialogue.

On December 12, an international forum dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust (2025), International Neutrality Day, and the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality opened in Ashgabat, and Ali Asadov participated in the plenary session. Speaking at the meeting, Asadov emphasized that Azerbaijan respected Turkmenistan’s UN-recognized policy of permanent neutrality. He stated that Azerbaijan had always supported Turkmenistan’s neutrality-related resolutions at the UN and had co-authored the resolution "International Year of Peace and Confidence – 2025". He noted that Azerbaijan highly appreciated Turkmenistan’s initiative to establish the University of Neutrality under the UN and expressed readiness to contribute to its work. Asadov stated that Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan were active members of the Non-Aligned Movement, the second-largest international organization after the UN, and that both countries demonstrated commitment to its principles of dialogue and solidarity.

Discussing Azerbaijani-Turkmen relations, he emphasized their traditional friendly and fraternal character based on deep historical, spiritual, and cultural ties. He stated that interstate relations had developed dynamically in recent years. He noted that recent mutual visits and meetings between the leaders of the two countries had opened a new page in bilateral relations and elevated ties to a new strategic level. The importance of Ilham Aliyev’s working visit to Turkmenistan in August was highlighted, along with the high-level meeting held between Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan, which served as a platform to expand regional cooperation. He also emphasized the significance of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s visit to Azerbaijan in July and his trip to Fuzuli and Shusha, and expressed gratitude for Turkmenistan’s initiative to build a mosque in Fuzuli, the foundation of which was laid during the 12th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Gabala. Asadov also addressed Azerbaijan’s cooperation with Central Asian states, emphasizing the importance of Azerbaijan’s admission as a full participant in the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia.

Georgia

On December 11, Irakli Kobakhidze, the Prime Minister of Georgia, met with Serdar Berdimuhamedov, the President of Turkmenistan. The Georgian government administration stated that the parties discussed the political and economic relations between the two countries. Their discussions focused on political and economic relations, deepening cooperation in transit and logistics, and attracting additional Central Asian cargo to Georgian seaports via the Middle Corridor. The Prime Minister expressed Georgia’s readiness to facilitate the transportation of Turkmen gas through Georgian territory. Kobakhidze also thanked the President of Turkmenistan for his support for Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as the policy of non-recognition of occupied territories. He extended an invitation to Berdimuhamedov to visit Georgia. The sides expressed their readiness to further deepen cooperation in bilateral and multilateral formats. After the meeting, Kobakhidze wrote on X that he had "held a productive meeting with H.E. Serdar Berdimuhamedov, President of Turkmenistan," stating that the discussion focused on strengthening partnership and enhancing cooperation for regional peace and stability.

On December 12, Kobakhidze addressed the forum session titled "Peace and Trust: The Unity of All for a Sustainable Future". He emphasized that amid global crises, the principles of peace and trust "were not just ideals, but the most essential tools for ensuring global stability and sustainable development". Referring to Russia’s ongoing occupation of separatist Abkhazia and separatist South Ossetia, he stated that Georgia viewed peace as "an existential priority". Kobakhidze stated that Georgia, with its positive economic momentum, saw itself as an active facilitator of regional cooperation, building "physical and diplomatic bridges" across the region. He identified the Middle Corridor linking Asia and Europe as a cornerstone of Georgia’s regional vision, describing it as "more than a transport route" and "a durable foundation of trust". He noted Georgia’s intention to serve as a neutral platform for dialogue in the South Caucasus and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to turning the International Year of Peace and Trust into "concrete and lasting progress". Kobakhidze was present in the hall during the address of Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, who also spoke at the session.

On December 12, Irakli Kobakhidze also met with Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the President of Kazakhstan. Their discussions focused on political and economic ties and successful cooperation across various fields. Kobakhidze stated that the close relationship had "tremendous potential" that should be fully realized. Tokayev described Georgia as an important partner with strong prospects, particularly in transport and logistics, which he said played a driving role for other sectors. Following the meeting, Kobakhidze wrote on X: "Pleased to meet with H.E. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan. We discussed our bilateral agenda and explored opportunities to deepen cooperation in the economy, security, and other shared areas of interest".