Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Feb. 27 / Trend H. Hasanov /
In an interview with Russian journal 'Turkmenistan', newly elected Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said the country's neutrality does not exhaust its political opportunities by its own military security. Rather it becomes an important tool for ensuring the peace processes for whole region.
President Berdimuhamedov has been heading the country since 2007. He was re-elected for a second, five-year period after the presidential elections were held on February 12, 2012.
"I realised the immense responsibility entrusted to the president," he said. "On the one hand there is no place for compromise on the fundamental issues relating to the country. On the other hand and in particular, the matter rests in international relations. It became clear that there are no easy methods for solving the complex issues. Every time, it is necessary to go round the long way to find an acceptable result."
He added that Turkmenistan wants to ensure strategic peace, stability and full adherence to the UN Charter as the main condition for fruitful international contacts.
"We are categorically against the practice of using military force as an instrument of foreign policy and inter-state relations," he said. "We have made a number of initiatives to maintain peace and stability in Central Asia and the Caspian basin at regional and international levels."
President Berdimuhamedov stressed that as a neutral country, Turkmenistan may establish its long-term foreign economic strategy based on clear and coherent principles arising out of the international status.
"We have never politicised economic cooperation," he said. "This fact is appreciated by our partners. This allows developing equal and mutually beneficial relations with different countries and companies."
Turkmenistan has a clearly defined course in international affairs. It has its own position on such important themes of the global agenda, such as the maintenance and strengthening of global peace and security, disarmament, promoting and protecting human rights, ecology, the food problem, avoiding the negative impact of the global financial and economic crisis and the development of science, culture and education.