New York (TDI): United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), during the 61st plenary meeting of its 79th session, has adopted the Resolution “Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan.”
The resolution was adopted on March 21st by consensus of all members under Agenda item 61 “Peacebuilding and Peacekeeping.”
The resolution was introduced by the Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan to the United Nations Aksoltan Atayeva.
This was the second Resolution of on Turkmenistan’s Permanent Neutrality; the first was adopted thirty years ago on December 12, 1995.
It was Turkmenistan who lobbied for International Day of Neutrality in 2017 – which is now observed every year on December 12. Likewise, the country played a lead role in the establishment of the Group
of Friends of Neutrality on the UN platform.
Introducing the Resolution, Aksoltan Atayeva emphasized that the status of permanent neutrality is the basis of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy and the foundation for implementation of the country’s balanced peacekeeping doctrine in the international arena.
Read More: Three Decades of Turkmenistan’s Positive Neutrality Highlighted in Islamabad
He also noted that neutrality is embedded both in the domestic and foreign policy of the country, as well as enshrined in the Constitutional Law of Turkmenistan on Permanent Neutrality and is based on the historical heritage and traditions of Turkmen people, that put peace, dialogue and mutual respect in the essence of state building.
The Resolution particularly recommends that the territories of neutral countries should be used for peaceful talks.
The practical implementation of Turkmenistan’s neutral policy is reflected in such key institutions and forms of maintaining and strengthening peace and security in the region as the United Nations Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia in Ashgabat and Zone of Peace, Trust and Cooperation of Central Asia.
The ongoing year has been designated as the International Year of Peace and Trust, and landmark events are being held within this framework. The adoption of Resolution on Turkmenistan’s neutrality also compliments the spirit of this year.
Nuzhat Rana is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
