Welcoming Address of the Ambassador of the European Union to Turkmenistan on the Occasion of Europe Day 2025

Distinguished guests, dear friends, hoş geldiňiz! It is a true pleasure to welcome you all this evening as we gather to celebrate Europe Day. Today, under somewhat unexpected Turkmen skies, we celebrate the visionary spirit of Robert Schuman, whose declaration 75 years ago laid the very foundation for the European Union we know today. His vision was not merely about rebuilding from the ashes of war; it was a profound roadmap for lasting peace, shared prosperity, and deep integration. Schuman and his counterparts understood that peace and European unity are inseparable, requiring not just a ceasefire or a cold peace, but a genuine and comprehensive peace underpinned by shared prosperity and a commitment to working together. Today, that very vision of peace faces its gravest challenge in a generation. As we celebrate the remarkable achievements of European integration and the enduring pursuit of unity, we cannot ignore the stark reality that peace on our continent is once again under threat. The brutal and illegal war of aggression waged by Russia against Ukraine has brought conflict back to our European continent. This aggression is a stark violation of the rules-based international order that the European Union strives to uphold. We stand firmly with Ukraine in its fight for sovereignty and territorial integrity. We are unwavering in our support until Ukraine achieves a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace – the very kind of peace we have striven to build within the...