The Federation Council Speaker addressed the event participants with a video message.
Federation Council Speaker and Chairperson of the Council of the Interparliamentary Assembly of Member Nations of the Commonwealth of Independent States Valentina Matvienko sent a video address to the participants of the second meeting of the heads of parliament from the Group of Friends of Neutrality member states. The online event was organised by the Mejlis of Turkmenistan and is dedicated to the theme, Interparliamentary Dialogue: A Key Instrument for Ensuring Peace and Trust at the Global Level.
According to the Federation Council Speaker, this platform is becoming an important format for legislative dialogue on key international issues based on the principles of openness and equality. She thanked the event’s organisers, who this year are widely celebrating the 30th anniversary of the international recognition of neutrality. “Russia has supported Turkmenistan all these years in its commitment to a wise foreign policy that serves the interests of peace and stability.”
Valentina Matvienko noted that on 12 December, Neutrality Day, a large-scale Forum for the International Year of Peace and Trust will be held in Ashgabat and noted that the delegation from the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation will actively participate in its work.
“The choice of a neutral position deserves respect. This is especially relevant today, when the world faces serious challenges and threats. We see persistent attempts by some states to fuel confrontation in various parts of the world and impose their rules on others. All this is being done to slow the process of establishing a more equitable multipolarity,” the Federation Council Speaker said.
Given these circumstances, Valentina Matvienko said, a unified effort is needed, not confrontation or craving for global dominance. “Parliamentary diplomacy plays a special role, as it can ensure joint and equitable development for all interested countries.”
The Federation Council Speaker emphasised that the Interparliamentary Forum of Central Asian Countries and Russia was launched in neutral Turkmenistan. “With the support of the National Leader of the Turkmen People, Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, preparations are underway for its second meeting. Thanks to such effective platforms, parliamentarians from our countries remain in constant contact and have the opportunity to exchange legislative experience and best legislative practices.”
The head of the upper house of the Russian parliament believes it is important that the idea of positive neutrality is currently gaining a special place and is being filled by new unifying international initiatives voiced by President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov during the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, Valentina Matvienko added.
In her opinion, parliaments today bear a special responsibility for maintaining high levels of interaction not only in the political, but also in the economic and humanitarian spheres. “Russia is making significant efforts to expand scientific, technical, educational, and cultural cooperation with the countries from the Group of Friends of Neutrality.”
Speaking about establishing connections between young people from different countries, the Federation Council Speaker proposed the World Youth Festival Forum, which will be held in Krasnoyarsk in 2026, as a platform for such communication. “I look forward to the active participation of representatives from the countries that are members of the Group of Friends of Neutrality.”
Valentina Matvienko expressed confidence that the online meeting of the Group of Friends of Neutrality will contribute to the creation of favourable environment for expanding constructive parliamentary interaction and interstate cooperation in general.
The event was chaired by Speaker of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan Dunyagozel Gulmanova. Speakers included Chairperson of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Natalia Kochanova; Chairperson of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan Idizode Faizali Fuzaishlo; Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Sholban Kara-oola; Deputy Chairperson of the Consultative Council (Shura Council) of the State of Qatar Hamda bint Hassan Al-Sulaiti; Chairman of the Committee on International Relations, Defence, and Security of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Andrei Lukin; and representatives from the UN and UNICEF.
Video addresses were sent by Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Martin Chungong; Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China Zhao Leji; Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan Tanzila Narbayeva; and Deputy Speaker (Chairperson) of the Zhogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic Zhyldyz Sadyrbayeva.