The principle of neutrality: definition of the foreign policy course of Turkmenistan, which is guided by the UNgoals

2020 – is a significant year in the political and diplomatic history of independent Turkmenistan.

25 years ago, on December 12, 1995, the General Assembly of the United Nations at the 50th anniversary session unanimously adopted Resolution 50/80 „On the permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan” – an unprecedented document that affirmed our country a unique international legal status.

President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov: „Neutrality of Turkmenistan – is a reality of today and our future in which new fine opportunities open for development of broad international partnership of Turkmenistan in all areas”.

The recognition by the world community of the status of permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan has firmly determined the political, economic and humanitarian fundamentals for the implementation of national interests and consistently put forward initiatives of Turkmenistan on the world stage.

The status of permanent positive neutrality has become a model for implementing a constructive foreign policy of Turkmenistan, which is built on the principles of peacefulness, good neighborliness and friendship, non-interference in the affairs of other states, non-participation in international military organizations and treaties, and equal mutually beneficial cooperation with all interested foreign partners.

The permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan is the foundation of its domestic and foreign policy. This is consolidated in the Supreme Law – the Constitution of Turkmenistan.

Today, Turkmenistan, being a reliable and effective ally of the UN in achieving its goals, takes an active part in preserving and promoting the principles of peace and security, stable and sustainable development in the regional context. Our country comes up with initiatives to elaborate effective measures for economic cooperation and implement large regional projects, as well as to strengthen cultural and humanitarian relations between the countries of the Central Asian region.

Herewith, a special role is assigned to the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, which was established in Ashgabat in 2007. This Center testifies to the recognition by the Community of Nations of the peacekeeping potential and the significant role of the Turkmen state in ensuring regional security and stability, in the peaceful development of regional and international relations in general. Another evidence that today the Center plays a huge role in strengthening the climate of trust and mutual understanding in the region, strengthening stability and effective interconnections in its space was also the adoption on November 17, 2017 by the UN General Assembly of the Resolution “The Role of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia” submitted by Turkmenistan. 57 states were co-authors of the resolution.

On June 3, 2015, at the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly, 193 UN member states unanimously adopted another Resolution of the same name, which was co-sponsored by 47 countries. The adoption of this multilateral document, reflecting the positive experience of neutrality accumulated over 20 years, once again confirmed the universal recognition of the peace-loving foreign policy pursued by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov aimed at ensuring global security and sustainable development.

With the support of the head of state in recent years, Turkmenistan has joined international conventions and treaties on priority areas of foreign policy, including energy, transport, climate change, environmental protection and the use of water resources, and others.

Recognition of the efforts and role of Turkmenistan in strengthening international peace and security, friendly and mutually beneficial relations between countries, as well as reaffirming the importance of neutrality in world politics, was the Resolution on proclaiming December 12 as International Day of Neutrality, adopted on February 2, 2017 at the 71st session of the UNGeneral Assembly, at the initiative of Turkmenistan, voiced by the President of Turkmenistan at the High-Level International Conference, held in Ashgabat on December 12, 2015.

The commonality of the principles of the foreign policy of Turkmenistan, which attaches importance to preventive diplomacy, with the goals and principles of the UN, is reflected in the Resolution of the UN General Assembly on proclaiming 2021 as the International Year of Peace and Trust, adopted on September 12, 2019, by the initiative of Turkmenistan.

As the President of Turkmenistan notes, this initiative is very relevant against the background of current trends in international politics, when, despite the efforts of the world community, the situation in a number of regions of the world continues to be difficult, there is an expansion of conflict zones and, at the same time, a decrease in the general level of trust and mutual understanding in views on ways and prospects of global development.

In order to take concrete practical steps to implement the international initiatives of the President of Turkmenistan aimed at enhancing international interaction on issues of peaceful, political and diplomatic settlement of disputes, preventing conflicts, overcoming crises of trust and mutual understanding, strengthening global peace, during the 74th session of the UN General Assembly, Turkmenistan came up with a number of initiatives, including initiatives to develop a Code of Rules for the effective application of the principles of neutrality in the settlement of international issues, the creation of a Group of Friends of Neutrality in the interests of peace and security, as well as a proposal to hold in December 2020 in Ashgabat a high-level International Conference on the Policy of Neutrality and its importance in ensuring international peace, security and sustainable development ”.

 

Realizing its neutral status, which is a fundamental element of foreign policy, Turkmenistan is actively involved in global processes, making its significant contribution to the international dialogue on achieving sustainable development goals.

Thus, by putting forward relevant initiatives that receive broad support from the international community, Turkmenistan reaffirms its commitment to use its neutrality status to facilitate global efforts to ensure peace and security.

 

“Close, multidimensional cooperation with the United Nations remains a strategic priority of Turkmenistan. For us the UN – is the most representative international structure. We also consider it as the bearing support of all modern system of global interaction, the guarantor of preservation and peacekeeping and balance of interests on the world arena, stability of the existing architecture of security”, President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.