2023 year - “International Year of Dialogue as a Guarantee of Peace”
Dialogue can be defined as an active process allowing for the development and recognition of individuals’ voices (Kohl, 1984). Deriving from the Greek word dialogos in which dia means “through” or “across” and logos means “meaning” (Bohm, 1996), dialogue refers to both a quality of relationship arising, however briefly, between two or more people, and a way of thinking about human affairs highlighting their dialogic qualities (Cissna & Anderson, 1998). Based on this definition, dialogue in education refers to any processes (e.g. speaking, writing, and body language) allowing for creating and sharing meaning. In a dialogic perspective on communication, meaning emerges from the encounter between self and other; hence, it necessitates “a conception of self as continually emerging in and through the relationship with other rather than one anchored in individualism” (Cissna & Anderson, 1998, p. 65). Hence, the dialogic perspective on education essentially calls for a quality of the teacher as continually emerging rather than complet.
It is a great pride for the Turkmen people to receive the message about the approval of their proposal for the motto of the year 2023, which was declared the “International Year of Dialogue as a Guarantee of Peace” in accordance with resolution 77/32 of the United Nations General Assembly by the initiative of Turkmenistan. Before the draft resolution “International Year of Dialogue as a Guarantee of Peace, 2023” was presented, Turkmenistan held extensive consultations with UN member countries, took into account constructive opinions and proposals. The resolution was co-sponsored by 68 member countries of the Organization. This motto “International Year of Dialogue as a Guarantee of Peace” impulses once more Turkmenistan to strengthen national unity, solidarity, as well as improve interstate relations by peacefully means. In this regard, the resolution also aims to support international efforts to reduce conflicts and create favorable conditions for the negotiation path.
On receiving this significant message, many activities dedicated to this announcement were held in our country with great enthusiasm. One example can be given connecting with this event. On January 27, 2023, an official ceremony was held at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan dedicated to the announcement of 2023 as the “International Year of Dialogue as a Guarantee of Peace”. The event was held in a hybrid format under the conduction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.
The event was attended by representatives of the main bodies of the UN and its specialized agencies and UN member states, international and regional organizations as well as teachers and students of the higher educational institutions of Turkmenistan.
A number of speeches were made considering the important events. In their speeches, distinguished diplomats thanked the Government of Turkmenistan for its consistent work to promote a culture of peace throughout the world, emphasizing that this International Year has a steady and wonderful cornerstone: Dialogue for Peace, based on our common belief of peace as well as productive views in spirit of goodwill and sincere interaction can contribute to mutual understanding of the world community.
Firstly, let’s define what is peace and dialogue?
Peace dialogue is defined as a dialogue practice of mutual accommodation applied in different dialogue procedures to achieve social transformation. It should be noted that dialogue promotes peace and it is a communication tool that allows people and states to understand each other’s viewpoints without damaging both viewpoints. In addition, dialogue is the path to peace and has the ability to resolve conflicts through dialogue, not by force. Undoubtedly, dialogue as a tool for peace building and conflict management, as well as the development of dialogue and facilitation skills, contributes to a better understanding of the key principles of dialogue and conflict management.
Proposing to the UN to declare 2023 the international year of “Dialogue as a guarantee of peace”, Turkmenistan considered the topic of trust as one of the most important for improving interstate relations. The resolution is also aimed at supporting international efforts to de-escalate conflicts and create favorable conditions for their transfer to the negotiating channel.
As we, the citizens of a peaceful country, we confidently emphasize that Turkmenistan consistently expands its diplomatic missions, interested international partnership, as well as steadily implementing the policy of peace, good neighborliness and productive international cooperation, taking an active part in the development of balanced decisions to urgent problems of the world community on the diplomatic path. And to date, the most effective is the dialogue by diplomatic means holding direct negotiations. This new motto “Dialogue as a Guarantee of Peace” provides the best opportunity through diplomatic peaceful means to reduce the level of any conflict in the world and has an impact on the improvement and strengthening of world peace.
It is a well-known fact that our national development is becoming a model development at the international level in the coordination of the domestic and foreign policies of the President, which are based on the principle of permanent neutrality.
The motto reflects the feelings of endless pride, love and respect of the Turkmen people for their National Leader and Esteemed President as well as confidence in the future happy day of the Motherland.
We can proudly say that the motto is considered to have a semantic meaning for all spheres of the development of the beloved country.
Chemen BAYRIEVA,
Senior teacher of the Department of World Languages
of the Institute of International Relations
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan