Embassy of Turkmenistan to the Republic of Azerbaijan
By Aymurat Arazov
Turkmenistan celebrates 20th anniversary of neutrality of Turkmenistan. 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.
Turkmenistan's neutrality is a phenomenon which opened a new page in the history of neutrality as an institute of international relations. If previously neutral states was linked to the circumstances and the contradictions of war, the so-called "right to war", and obligations of neutral states in time of peace were not covered by international regulation, the Turkmen model of neutrality comes from the fact that contemporary international law has the right to peace, and a permanently neutral state must adhere to its status, not only in war but also in peacetime. As a new phenomenon in international legal practice Turkmen neutrality suggested the international community to fundamentally change the global development paradigm, becoming the basis of a new concept of cooperation and achievement of world peace.
The unprecedented nature of Turkmenistan's neutrality is in its international legal formalization of approved and supported by the international community, and in practice the implementation of the foreign policy of the country in his characteristic from the start harmonious combination of national and international interests. Having made a historic choice in favor of neutrality, the young state has shown an example of a responsible approach not only to the fate of his 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.
Time has shown loyalty to Turkmenistan with its international obligations, its compliance with the neutral status of the long-term objectives of the Community of Nations, the interests of developing States and peoples of the world in peace and security. Over the years, Turkmenistan has actively contributed to the settlement of regional conflicts, providing a neutral platform for dialogue between the warring parties from different countries. Turkmen President has spoken with major initiatives on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the threat of conflict prevention, transformation of Central Asia and the Caspian region into a zone of peace and mutual cooperation.
The continued commitment to strict adherence to non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the strict compliance in the context of the provisions of the Treaty on the zone free of nuclear weapons in Central Asia, was reaffirmed in the course of the Turkmen-Kyrgyz negotiations in the capital of Turkmenistan when the two leaders expressed their willingness to work together implementation of practical steps in the field of disarmament within the UN and OSCE. The value of the neutral status of Turkmenistan as an effective instrument to strengthen peace and constructive solution of urgent problems of regional and global measurement was stressed during the recent talks between the Prime Minister of the Italian Republic Matteo Renzi and the Turkmen leader in Ashgabat.
Over the years the peacemaking potential of positive neutrality of Turkmenistan is only growing, finding new practical forms of implementation, setting new impulses and formats of constructive international cooperation. Peace, security and development - these are the key priorities and foreign policy of Turkmenistan and the global goals of the international community. And it objectively determines the growing cooperation of Turkmenistan country with the UN and its representation in the key structures of the largest international organization, and therefore political weight and influence in the world affairs. The foreign policy of neutral Turkmenistan not only actively integrate into geopolitical and geo-economic processes, but also serves as a catalyst for them, contributing to the creation of a new architecture of global order.
Turkmenistan's positive, constant and active neutrality today provides a mechanism for a combination of geopolitical interests, an important factor for regional stability and the establishment of a civilized dialogue in a constructive manner. Neutral Turkmenistan has consistently developing fruitful relations on interstate and at the regional and global levels, strengthening effective partnership in the framework of such a reputable regional and international institutions like the United Nations, European Union, Commonwealth of Independent States, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
The upcoming Year of neutrality and peace, which will be marked by a large celebration, more fully discloses the value of the international community and the role of neutrality of Turkmenistan as an important factor of regional security, stability and sustainable development, all-round progress of the country and welfare of the people. This will undoubtedly contribute to the growth of the international authority of Turkmenistan, the 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.