Permanent, positive, unique – Turkmenistan shares its practices of 25 years of neutrality
The phenomenon of neutrality of Turkmenistan, which has been serving as a guarantor of stability in the Central Asian region for 25 years, was discussed today at an International Media Forum. The videoconference has gathered the leading experts in the field of journalism and education from Turkmenistan, the Netherlands, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Georgia and other countries, as well as public figures.
The forum participants spoke about the unique specifics of Turkmen neutrality, which was twice confirmed by resolutions of the UN General Assembly. This status serves as a good basis for the development of friendly and mutually beneficial relations between the states of the region and the world, said Aleksandr Kopnov, Deputy General Director of TASS Information Agency, the oldest news agency in Russia, speaking from the Agency’s Moscow headquarters.
Despite the fact that neutrality in international law is considered as “non-participation in military conflicts”, Turkmenistan does not keep from participating in projects that ensure regional and global economic, energy, environmental security, and acts as an initiator of many of them. No wonder that the course the country heads for is characterized as eastern “open door policy”.
It makes the economic projects of the neutral state to be de-politicized. By its commitment do not join the military blocs and treaties, Turkmenistan builds relations with neighboring countries and geographically more distant partners on the basis of mutual benefit only.
During his speech, Viktor Shadursky, Dean of the Department of International Relations of the Belarus State University, highlighted the opening of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia in Ashgabat as an example of the practical use of neutrality to tackle regional issues.
The Doctor of Historical Sciences said it is logical and correct that the center has its headquarters in the Turkmen capital, Geneva of the region, as the activities of this UN structure are aimed at identifying and eliminating existing and potential threats to peace and security, and promoting partnerships between countries.
Sami Faltas, Doctor of Economic Sciences, independent consultant on democratization and security sector reforms in the Netherlands, also emphasized the “persistence” of neutrality of Turkmenistan and the positive impact of this factor in the long term.
Dr. Neda Berger, President of the Turkmen-Austrian Society, Honorary Advisor to IA MEDIA–TURKMEN, accredited by the Austrian Chancellor’s press service as an ORIENT foreign correspondent, spoke about the impact of neutral status on cultural and humanitarian ties. She underlined that Turkmenistan, as the heart of the Great Silk Road, the center of the route that combined East and West into a heterogeneous and thereby unique cultural space, makes a special contribution to the development of intellectual and creative interaction.
Answering the media regarding the topical issues on secrets of Turkmenistan addressing coronavirus pandemic, experts noted the complexity of the measures taken. Remaining one of the countries with no confirmed COVID-19 case, Turkmenistan nevertheless introduces a number of preventive measures to reduce the number of “weak spots” – improves the protocols of the Ministry of Health, conducts a mass medical examination of the population, sanitizes public places and transport.
At the end of the Media Forum, participants expressed the hope that, despite the convenience of the meeting in the format of videoconference, they would soon be able to have a face-to-face meeting and celebrate a significant date, the 25th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s neutrality.
