PRESS RELEASE

On February 2, 2017 Resolution titled “International day of neutrality” was adopted at the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly. The resolution declaring 12 December as the International Day of Neutrality, was introduced by Turkmenistan.

The document states that the national policy of neutrality helps to promote peace and security regionally and globally and plays a significant role in developing peaceful, friendly and mutually beneficial relations. According to the resolution, the Assembly also proposes that the Secretary General continue to cooperate closely with the neutral states, with a view to implementing the principles of preventive diplomacy and utilizing them in the mediation activities.

The initiative to establish International Neutrality Day was launched by the President of Turkmenistan H.E. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov at the Ashgabat International Conference devoted to the 20th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality in December 2015.

This year on December 12, International Day of Neutrality will be observed in the UN calendar for the first time, which is also a remarkable event in new history of the world diplomacy.

Furthermore, should be noted that on November 17, 2017, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution ‘Role of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia’ under the Agenda item 65 “Peacebuilding and sustaining peace” of Seventy-second session. The Draft Resolution was proposed by Turkmenistan and received the support of the UN states members, 57 of which acted as co-sponsors. Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia is a unique structure of the UN peace-making activity.

The Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia was established on December 10, 2007. Since then, the Centre has been providing Governments with a platform to discuss the most challenging regional issues including the management of common resources, transnational threats such as terrorism and violent extremism, organized crime, and drug and other forms of trafficking.

Turkmenistan was recognized by the UN as a permanently neutral state since 12 December 1995. 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.

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.

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.