Russia values the neutral status of Turkmenistan and the Turkmenistan's policy based on it. Russian Deputy Permanent Representative to the OSCE Alexander Volgarev made the statement at the international forum "The Role of Neutral States in Strengthening Security, Stability and Dialogue within the OSCE."
"Willingness to defend the foreign policy course through the prism of the interests of one's state without prejudice to relations with other states requires courage and strategic multidimensionality these days. The policy of Turkmenistan, which proclaimed the status of permanent neutrality almost 30 years ago, enshrined in a special resolution of the UN General Assembly adopted on December 12, 1995, and at the same time sought to develop peaceful, friendly and mutually beneficial relations with all countries, is a vivid example of success.
Ashgabat stood, without exaggeration, at the origins of the modern neutrality at the turn of the century. <...> Russia values this approach and respects political traditions and cultural and civilizational diversity of its partners as important elements of the formation of a more fair multipolar world," he said.
Volgarev called the concept of the "Turkmen-style" neutrality more adapted to the realities of the 21st century. "Because the Western model of neutrality, the Western European model, such as the Finnish, Swedish, Austrian, Swiss model, has not withstood the test of modern geopolitical realities and, in fact, failed. Now we can't talk about any neutrality, when Sweden and Finland joined NATO, while the Austrians, of course, as members of the EU, have joined all sanctions of the European Union, the Swiss joined all the EU sanctions and even went further - they encroached on the sacred, the Swiss banking system," he said.
At the same time, according to the deputy envoy, the model of Turkmenistan's neutrality is now put to the test. "Turkmenistan stood at the origins of the definition of the modern neutrality at the turn of the century. The Turkmen model is based primarily on respect for the interests of the Turkmen people: not to be friends against anyone, not to create alliances against anyone, but to be friends with everyone in the interests of their own people, their country, its economic development interests, human development interests, so that everyone would like to cooperate with this country," he concluded.
On December 12, 1995, a special resolution on the permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan was adopted at the UN General Assembly with the unanimous support of 185 states. The re-adoption of this resolution took place on June 3, 2015, at the 69th session of the General Assembly with the unanimous support of 193 states.
The international forum "The Role of Neutral States in Strengthening Security, Stability and Dialogue within the OSCE" is taking place in Ashgabat on Tuesday. The event is held jointly with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. It is attended by members of the parliaments of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and other countries, as well as representatives of international organizations.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Kerri-Jo Stewart/Creative Commons 2.0
Based on materials from TASS