The 71st session of the UN General Assembly declares December 12 as International Neutrality Day

On February 2, 2017, the Resolution on declaration of December 12 as International Neutrality Day was unanimously adopted during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly. This fact became another bright sample of high authority of our Motherland in the world arena and general recognition of its considerable input into provision of regional and global peace, security and sustainable development. 

During the session of the cabinet of Ministers on February 7, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov made special mention in his congratulation speech to the compatriots on this occasion that new Resolution reflects crucial essence of peace-making creative experience of our country gained by our country for more than two decades. For all these years, Turkmenistan proved itself as efficient mechanism of establishment of successful cooperation, consolidation of true friendly, good neighbourhood relations between the states and people. 

The President of Turkmenistan expressed sincere gratitude to the states supported the Resolution and acted as a co-sponsor as well as to other members of the United Nations. 

Addressing the compatriots, the Head of the State expressed the confidence that Turkmenistan would continue steadily pursuing the policy aimed at development of friendship and beneficial international cooperation, which meet common interests - both national and the world’s community, as well as to the goals of global peace and progress. 

The initiative of establishment of this occasion was uttered by Head of the State Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov during high-level International Conference in Turkmen capital on December 12, 2015, on the day when our country celebrated the 20th anniversary of permanent neutral status. The participants of the forum in Ashgabat including numerous high-rank guests, unanimously supported this proposal which later was reflected in summary report of the Conference. 

The time has shown that initiative of Turkmenistan on adoption of neutral status, which was supported by the UN, was right and prescient decision aimed at perspective. For the past years, peace-loving foreign policy course demonstrated its correspondence with not only national interest but with long-term objective of the world community, criteria of constructive, balanced approach to provision of universal stability and security, consolidation of principles of the UN Charter as a foundation of interstate relations. 

Unanimous adoption of new Resolution, which reflects the support of neutral status of our country and recognition of its important role in the region and the world, by the UN General Assembly in 2015 is visual evidence of the correctness of the choice made by Turkmenistan. 

Peace-loving and non-interference into internal affairs of other states, respect of their sovereignty, nonparticipation in international military treaties and organizations, equal beneficial cooperation are the main provisions of the policy of neutrality, which is steadily led by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. 

Today, neutral status of our country reveals itself as a factor positively effecting stabilization of the situations in the region and the world, positive influence on stimulation of fruitful cooperation of the states and international organizations during solution of actual political, economic, humanitarian and environmental issues. It is also aimed at support of successful realization of the UN goals, close multidimensional partnership with which is strategic priority of Turkmenistan. 

Having proven itself as responsible long-term partner of the UN and as committed to fulfilment of undertaken obligations, our state takes an active part on joint international efforts for consolidation of peace, security and cooperation in the Central Asia. Neutral Turkmenistan has great experience in this sphere what is indicated by the talks on political solution of Tajik and Afghan conflicts in the middle of the 90s of the last century held under the UN aegis. 

Today, this experience is also required in the region and President of neutral Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov declares on the willingness to act as reliable partner of the UN in such important subjects as peaceful regulation of the situation in Afghanistan, support of regional disarmament processes, balanced solution of water and energy issues, provision of environmental prosperity, counteract of the contemporary challenges and threats. 

Important role in realization of these objectives is given to the UN Regional Centre of Preventative Diplomacy for the Central Asia opened in Turkmen capital in December 2017. 

Large potential of legal status of neutrality as efficient tool for not only consolidation of universal peace and security but for development of broad international cooperation in different spheres like trade and economic, energy, transport and communication, humanitatian and cultural, is obvious today. 

Having colossal reserves of hydrocarbon resources and steadily implementing energy strategy based on the principles of complex modernization and diversification, our country together with foreign partners successfully implemented number of large gas export projects recently. 

Another important energy project, the construction of TAPI gas main, summoned to be actual contribution into formation of global structure of energy security meeting modern requirements and to give an effective impulse to economic development of the region, to promote consolidation of peace, stability and solution of urgent social issues, entered practical realization phase. 

At present time, Turkmenistan initiatives of establishment of international transit and transport corridors gains special currency of sustainable development of the states and the regions. In current conditions, the presence of diversified multi modal infrastructure acts as integral factor of stimulation of positive processes in global scale and our country makes considerable input into solution of the issues in this field. 

The neutrality gives great opportunity to Turkmenistan to establish its long-prospect foreign policy strategy resting upon clear and accurate principles followed from its international legal status.