The year 2015 marks the 20th anniversary of the recognition by the international community of the legal status of permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan in accordance with the United Nations General Assembly Resolution. For the first time in the history of the United Nations General Assembly, the adoption of the Special Resolution on 12 December 1995, entitled "On the Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan" became a recognition of the peaceful foreign policy of this country and an approval of the authoritative role of Turkmenistan as a state that can make a worthy contribution to the peaceful development of international relations and ensuring universal security and steady progress.
Turkmen neutrality model assumes that contemporary international law is the law of peace, and that constantly, a neutral state must adhere to its status not only in wartime, but also in peacetime. As a new phenomenon in international legal practice, Turkmen neutrality has become the basis of a new concept of cooperation and achievement of world peace.
The unprecedented nature of Turkmenistan's neutrality is both in its international legal approved and supported by the international community, and in practice of implementation of the foreign policy of the country and in a harmonious combination of national and international interests, adjacent to its characteristic from having made a historical choice in favor of neutrality, the young state has shown an example of a responsible approach not only to the fate of its people, who were provided with favorable external conditions for development, but also to peace and security by creating a zone of stability and constructive cooperation in the troubled Central Asian region.
The international legal status of permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan is enshrined in its current Constitution and the special resolution 50/80 of the General Assembly of 12 December 1995 "A Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan", and is supported by a number of documents of international organizations and bilateral agreements, statements, declarations, as well as communiqués signed with other countries.
Thus, Article 6 of the Constitution states: "In its foreign policy, as a full subject of the international community, Turkmenistan pursues principles of permanent neutrality, non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, non-use of force and non-participation in military blocs and alliances, and promotion of peaceful, friendly and mutually beneficial relations with the countries of the region and countries around the world.
And UN General Assembly resolution, entitled "A Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan" says that the UN General Assembly "1. Recognizes and supports the of permanent neutrality, declared by Turkmenistan; 2. Calls upon States Members of the United Nations to respect and support this status of Turkmenistan and also to respect its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity".
Time has shown loyalty of Turkmenistan to its international obligations, compliance of its neutral status with long-term goals of the Community of Nations, the interests of development of countries and peoples of the world in peace and security. During these years, Turkmenistan has actively contributed to the settlement of regional conflicts and providing a neutral platform for dialogue between the warring parties from different countries. On several occasions, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has spoken about major initiatives on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, prevention of threat of conflict, as well as transformation of Central Asia and the Caspian region into a zone of peace and mutual cooperation.
Over the years, peacekeeping potential of the positive neutrality of Turkmenistan is only growing, finding new forms of practical implementation, setting new impulses and formats to the constructive international cooperation. Peace, security and development - these are the key priorities of the foreign policy of Turkmenistan and the global goals of the international
community. And it objectively determines the growing cooperation between Turkmenistan and the UN and its representation in the key structures of the largest international organization, and therefore means a political weight and influence in world affairs. The foreign policy of neutral Turkmenistan not only allows to actively integrating into geopolitical and geo-economic processes, but also serves as a catalyst for them, contributing to the creation of a new architecture of the world order.
Turkmenistan's neutrality is positive on quality, constant over time, a fundamental matter of fact and active at work. Today, it serves as a mechanism for combining geopolitical interests, an important factor for providing a regional stability and establishment of a civilized dialogue in a constructive manner. This was evidenced by international initiatives of the country on protecting and strengthening world peace and security, cooperation in the energy sector and the transport sector, humanitarian affairs and human rights, ecology and environmental protection, which were put forward at the 69th session of the UN General Assembly. These, in particular, are the ideas on founding a sub regional UN Disarmament Centre in Asia and conducting a Forum for Security and Peace in Central Asia.
Today, neutral Turkmenistan consistently promotes a fruitful relationship on the interstate, regional and global levels by strengthening effective partnership in the framework of
such prestigious regional and international organizations as the United Nations, the European Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Non-Aligned Movement,and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
Year of neutrality and peace in Turkmenistan is large celebration for all Turkmen nation. This huge celebration is fully disclose to the international community the value and the role of Turkmen neutrality as an important factor for providing a regional security, stability and sustainable development, all-round progress of the country and welfare of the people. In addition, this will undoubtedly contribute to the growth of the international authority of Turkmenistan and implementation of the strategy aimed at turning the country into one of the centers of political power, economic stability and cultural attraction in Asia and around the world.
In this meaningful year for Turkmenistan has adopted one more historical document. That was according to the UN News Centre, on June 3, 2015, 193 states at the 69th session of the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution titled as "Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan". 47 states became the co-authors of the document.
The document, welcomed the government's decision to declare the 2015 as the Year of Neutrality and Peace as well as to host the international conference on topic "The policy of neutrality: international cooperation for peace, security and development" in December, 2015.
In the adopted resolution, the General Assembly reiterated its support for the status of permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan and called on the States - members of the United Nations to respect and support this status as well as to respect the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Turkmenistan.
Resolution says that status of permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan contributes to the strengthening of peace and security in the region. The active and positive role which Turkmenistan plays in the development of peaceful, friendly and mutually beneficial relations with the countries of the region and other countries of the world was noted in the resolution.
A.Sahedov