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In the mirror of the global media: The basic doctrine of Turkmenistan - positive neutrality
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In the mirror of the global media: The basic doctrine of Turkmenistan - positive neutrality
Published 22.02.2017
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The recent adoption of the Concept of foreign policy of Turkmenistan for 2017-2023 has caused a great positive response. Reports of domestic and foreign media noted that the document defines the country's foreign policy for the next seven years. As reported by the foreign media, citing official sources, in particular, the State News Agency of Turkmenistan (TDH) and its websites, the concept was approved on February 18th at an enlarged meeting of the Government, which included representatives of the Mejlis, the diplomatic corps and members of the State Security Council. Signing the decree “On approval of the Concept of foreign policy of neutral Turkmenistan in the years 2017-2023”, the Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized that the document defines the priorities for international cooperation of Turkmenistan in the medium term. Excerpts from the speech of the President of Turkmenistan have been covered in paper and electronic publications of many foreign states. “The world today is changing rapidly, there are all sorts of political and economic structures, there are new threats and challenges. Such conditions require to carry out a responsible and deeply thought-out foreign policy, which our country has built on the basis of clearly defined principles and the basic provisions of neutrality, based on the historical experience that the people have absorbed and accumulated over a century, values, traditions and customs, ethical standards,” said publishers from all corners of the planet, quoting the Head of Turkmenistan. Internet newspaper “Turkmenistan.ru” was one of the first to report that the basis of the adopted Concept included keynote addresses of the President on foreign policy issues and international legal instruments. “Gosnovosti” portal (www.rusgosnews.com) specified that at the meeting Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov voiced 17 points outlining the main directions of foreign policy, which will be implemented in 2017-2023. The publication notes that the strategic vector of Turkmenistan's international activities remains in multi-format cooperation with the UN. According to the Turkmen leader, our neutral state will actively participate in addressing critical environmental issues, water resources management, prevention and mitigation of natural and man-made disasters. The initiatives on using the tools of preventive diplomacy and political and diplomatic means to resolve complex situations emerging in the modern world will also be developed. The published comments emphasized that Turkmenistan also intends to expand its relations with the OSCE, the Islamic Cooperation Organization, SCO, the Non-Aligned Movement, etc. Independent experts praised the country's focus on building cooperation in the framework of the presidency of Turkmenistan in the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea in the years 2016-2019, as well as in the Energy Charter Conference. The most important direction of foreign policy of the Turkmen state remains to be the development of relations with our closest neighbors, stated the international press, highlighting the initiatives to deepen cooperation in the energy, transport and communication sectors. Political analysts converge in opinion, that the foreign policy proposals of Turkmenistan endorsed by the international community, and consistent steps on their implementation demonstrate the potential value of the Turkmen model of neutrality. This is evidenced by the experience of the Ashgabat based inter-Tajik and inter-Afghan talks in the 90s of the last century, and the initiative and organization of the first Summit of Heads of Caspian States and the subsequent development of the negotiation process to develop a common legal status of the sea. It was noted that Turkmenistan intends to continue active cooperation on the Caspian Sea on the five-party basis. As stated, in recent years we achieved significant progress in addressing some of the major issues on the Caspian Sea, including an agreement on approaches to its legal status. The Agreement on the protection and rational use of water and biological resources of the Caspian Sea, and the Agreement on the prevention and elimination of emergency situations in the Caspian Sea, which were put forward by Turkmenistan, have also been signed and approved by all the coastal States. Turkmenistan also took the initiative to study the documents on trade-economic and transport cooperation on the Caspian Sea. Numerous Russian printed and electronic media, in particular, tvoygorodpskov.ru website, have focused on the fact that the Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, re-elected by an overwhelming number of voters for a third presidential term on February 12th, has named Russia to be the first among the countries which are strategic partners of Turkmenistan. “Our cooperation with Russia, both on bilateral basis and within international organizations, has proven to be highly effective, and is in the fundamental interests of both countries”, said other Internet resource nevainfo.ru quoting the Turkmen leader. Newstes Portal underlines the intention of the Turkmen side to develop cooperation with Russian regions interested in the Turkmen market. The electronic newspaper “Morning News” (www.morning-news.ru) drew attention to the fact that Turkmenistan, being an associate member of the Commonwealth of Independent States, aims to develop activities in the framework of the CIS, based on the norms of their legal neutral status. According to the Concept, the traditional partners of the country included South Caucasus states, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, where we will expand cooperation in trade, economic, investment, cultural and humanitarian fields. China's Xinhua News Agency (Russian.News.CN) quoted President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noting that our country is united tp China with ties of close friendship and strategic cooperation. “Today, China is the largest foreign trade partner of Turkmenistan. Ties with this country are based on the mutually beneficial and long-term basis”, - said the Head of Turkmenistan, stressing that the eastern vector of foreign policy of our country will include strengthening its relations with other countries in the Asia-Pacific region. As reported in the news feeds of the world news agencies, foreign policy concept of Turkmenistan for 2017-2023 provides for the continuation of a fruitful dialogue with the European countries and the United States of America, in conjunction with which the country is going to fight against new challenges and threats of our time, to cooperate in the field of energy security. Reporters noted that Turkmenistan was able to significantly expand the geography of international partnership to include new and promising directions. Thus, “Finmarket” agency reports that President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on the need for a serious study of the interaction resources with Latin American countries and the African Union. The comments proposed to the foreign reader noted that in view of involvement in the global world economy, Turkmenistan attaches importance to cooperation with the international financial and economic institutions, including the World Bank, IMF, EBRD, Asian Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank and other financial institutions. We also study the prospects for the country's accession to the World Trade Organization. Azerbaijani media, in particular, APA.az, reported that implementation of the concept was delegated to the Turkmen Foreign Ministry, and other agencies should follow its provisions in the development of national strategies and programs, making decisions for international cooperation. CIS Today (SNG.Segodnya) Internet resource expressed confidence that this concept will contribute to strengthening the international authority of the country, and increase interaction with other states and international organizations. As President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has underlined, neutrality is not just a legal status, it is an active position, full-length involvement in international processes through peacekeeping, assistance in the development of effective models of economic cooperation, providing a political platform to address problems existing in the region and beyond in order to achieve long lasting peace, security, creation of favorable conditions for sustainable development and progress. Further evidence of the high prestige of Turkmenistan in the international arena, recognition of its contribution to global peace and global security could be seen in the recent unanimous adoption by UN General Assembly of the Resolution on proclamation of 12th of December as International day of Neutrality.

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