Okabe told reporters that the secretary-general has informed the UN Security Council of his intention to appoint Miroslav Jenca of Slovakia as his Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, which is based in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

The center was established by the UN last year to help the countries of Central Asia respond more proactively to cross-border challenges and threats before they become costlier and more difficult to control.

According to the Department of Political Affairs, the center is tasked with assisting Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan "in building capacities to peacefully prevent conflict, in facilitating dialogue, and in catalyzing international support behind projects and initiatives."

It is expected to work closely with existing UN agencies and programs already operating in Central Asia, and with regional groups such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Jenca, currently the Director of the Office of Slovakia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, recently served as head of mission for the OSCE center in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. He has also served in an array of other diplomatic posts for his country.