Good morning, everyone. It's really great to be here today for this important workshop during which we will discuss and learn about how we can better work together to address and prevent the security threats posed by extremism, including violent extremism.

I would like to sincerely thank the Turkmen authorities for hosting us, as well as our partners – UNDP, the Government of Japan and Hedayah – for their hard work in preparing this three-day training. And of course, I would like to thank you all – representatives of various institutions and civil society of Turkmenistan for attending this event.

The STRIVE II - Strengthening Resilience to Violent Extremism program, which is run by Hedayah helps countries become stronger against violent extremism by improving how different agencies work together and by using methods that respect human rights. It operates around the world, helping governments, community groups, and local people build resilience against radicalization by promoting good governance, tackling the reasons why extremism starts, and encouraging cooperation between countries. 

This workshop is especially important as we all know that we can't solve these complex issues alone. We need to work together – different agencies, different people – to come up with good and lasting solutions. As we will discuss this week, moving from just being in the same room to truly owning these solutions together – through cooperation, coordination, and working closely – is key to making effective plans that last.

During the workshop, we will be looking at real tools and ways to make our cooperation stronger. Things like the SWOT analysis – where we look at our Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats – help us see what we're already doing well and where we can improve how we work together and how to make sure our plans fit the local situation.

Central Asia is in a unique and important place in the world, especially from the point of global security. At the same time, the region is exposed to a number of threats and risks, including those stemming from extremism. That is why working together, understanding the risks together, and having good, inclusive ways of governing, can make the region stronger and more stable.

I would like to underline one important point from the perspective of the European Union - the need to keep a clear line in our work. While we all want to stop violent extremism, we must always remember to protect people's human rights, their freedom to speak, believe, and gather peacefully. Our efforts to prevent violent extremism should never stop people from expressing their opinions in a legitimate way. It’s really important that we always tell the difference between people who are just expressing their opinions and those who are actually a threat to public safety. In fact, when our plans are based on respecting basic rights, they are not only more believable but also more effective in the long run.

Trust, talking to each other, and including everyone are the foundations for any long-term answer. That's why the STRIVE II program puts a lot of focus on working with local people, using evidence to make good policies, and building skills in a way that helps – not hurts – the community. 

This year, 2025, is the International Year of Peace and Trust, and programs like STRIVE II show how we can build that trust and work towards peace together by addressing the root causes of conflict and extremism in a way that respects everyone's rights. 

Ladies and gentlemen, our time together this week is more than just learning new skills. It is about showing how important it is for different ministries, sectors, and countries to work together. Let's use this chance to talk more deeply, to share good ideas, and to strengthen the connections that will support our work for many years to come.

Thank you for your hard work, and I'm looking forward to our continued cooperation through STRIVE II and beyond.

6 May 2025