Today neutrality is in demand as a political and legal category in the context of joining efforts to achieve the SDGs, combating global challenges. The contribution of neutral Turkmenistan to the provision of global peace and prosperity is significant. Vadim Shagiahmedov, an expert on Central Asia, in an interview to the online media CentralAsia.news, spoke about the history of the formation of the well-known foreign policy of Turkmenistan. He also commended the efforts of Ashgabat in the formation of a just world order.
Permanent Neutrality Resolution
On December 12, 1995, at a session of the UN General Assembly, 185 states of the world unanimously supported a special Resolution on the permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan. It was a huge triumph of the peaceful foreign policy of Turkmenistan. This glorious date occupies an important place in modern history. It was a decisive step of global significance in the international relations of our country.
The Resolution was readopted on June 3, 2015 and that confirmed the high world authority of Turkmenistan. In February 2017, on the initiative of Turkmenistan, a Resolution on declaring December 12 an International Day of Neutrality was adopted at the UN General Assembly.
Part of national identity
Neutrality Day for Turkmenistan has become, in fact, the second most important national holiday after Independence Day. For our country, neutral status has become a part of the national self-identification in the world community. Tolerance, friendliness, commitment to the principles of good neighborliness — all these qualities have always been a part of the Turkmens. The neutral status has wide support in the national public consciousness, and it makes the state much more understandable for the outside world.
The institutions for the development of democracy and the observance of human rights are continuously developing in modern Turkmenistan in full accordance with the obligations assumed by the country.
Impact on the economy
Another important result of the implementation of the policy of neutrality was the possibility of the most successful fulfillment of the tasks of national economic development.
Neutrality, from an economic and legal perspective, has become a tool for attracting foreign investment in the development of the most important economic projects for the development of the subsoil of the Turkmen land, bringing our energy resources to world markets.
Non-interventionism
Turkmenistan, as a full member of the world community, in its foreign policy, is committed to the principles of permanent positive neutrality, non-interference in the internal affairs of other states. It is not included into the military alliances and blocks, into interstate alliances. The country maintains peaceful and friendly relations with the states of the region and the world.
Cooperation with the UN
Neutrality of Turkmenistan has great prospects in cooperation with the UN in the context of United Nations peacekeeping efforts in the Central Asian region.
Important events
26 years of neutrality of Turkmenistan were full of significant events. Turkmenistan entered the category of states whose positive peacekeeping potential is demanded by the Community of Nations to solve acute problems of our time.
Back in 1995, many people asked themselves what permanent Turkmen neutrality actually meant for the international community. It is a very important tool in ensuring favorable foreign policy conditions for achieving national priorities and goals of the country, building and developing modern Turkmenistan, solving economic, social and cultural problems.
The opening of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia in Ashgabat in 2007 was a new milestone in the fruitfully developing cooperation between Turkmenistan and the UN. The work of this Center contributes to the establishment of stability and the strengthening of effective relationships in Central Asia.
Ensuring global security
The invariable principle of Turkmenistan is the promotion of the resolution of controversial issues and contradictions in international affairs by diplomatic means, the establishment of a just and constructive world order. It deserves special recognition and respect in the era of globalization. The position of Turkmenistan in the context of collective efforts to ensure global security and sustainable development was most accurately formulated by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov: «Variety of interests is a unity of goals!»
The geographical and geopolitical position of Turkmenistan, its role as a neutral peace-loving state make the country a mediator between East and West. Today Turkmenistan holds a multilateral dialogue on political, humanitarian and economic cooperation, the fight against terrorism, and also develops cooperation within the UN, OSCE, SCO and OIC.
International forums are also educationally important. Their materials will be included in textbooks; they will be carefully studied by our students: future diplomats, economists, lawyers, journalists.
International Year of Peace and Trust
At the 106th plenary meeting of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, on the initiative of the President of Turkmenistan, the Resolution «2021: International Year of Peace and Trust» once again demonstrated to the whole planet the efforts of Turkmenistan in establishing peace and friendship. The practical implementation of this idea gave a new impetus to international cooperation in order to develop specific measures to reduce tension, peaceful, politico-diplomatic settlement of disputes and contradictions, overcome the crisis of trust and mutual understanding, and consolidate peace on the planet.
The neutrality of Turkmenistan is the reality of today and our future. It creates new opportunities for the development of broad international partnership in all areas.
