The latest issue of Democracy and Law’, a quarterly scholarly journal published by the Institute of State, Law and Democracy, has just come out.It is devoted to the significant date of 2020 25 years of Turkmenistan’s neutrality.
The issue opens with a speech delivered by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov at the International Conference entitled “Policy of Neutrality and Its Role in Ensuring International Peace, Security and Sustainable Development” held on December 12 to mark International Neutrality Day and the anniversary.
As the Turkmen leader highlighted in his speech, “The adoption of the internationally recognized status of permanent neutrality by Turkmenistan on December 12, 1995 represents, without exaggeration, a truly important landmark event in our country’s history”.
The event, as the President of Turkmenistan noted, predetermined the direction and substance of the Turkmen state’s foreign policy, and made a powerful beneficial impact on domestic growth, on the implementation of massive national plans in the economy and social sector, and on the creation and strengthening of democratic institutions.
Turkmen neutrality has its distinctive feature.It received international recognition and was supported and unanimously approved by the UN General Assembly Resolution for the first time in United Nations history.
On December 7, 2020, the 75th session of the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted the Resolution on the Policy of Neutrality and Its Role in Maintaining and Strengthening International Peace, Security, and Sustainable Development, proposed by Turkmenistan.
The important document, co-sponsored by 34 UN member countries, including the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, recognizes the pivotal positive role of the policy of neutrality in tackling urgent global challenges.
Thus, Turkmenistan’s neutrality won international and legal recognition, having become part of world politics and diplomacy.The journal’s separate section features commemorative speeches delivered by representatives of international organizations on the occasion of the anniversary.
Among them are UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan Elena Panova, Acting UNDP Permanent Representative in Turkmenistan Natia Natsvlishvili, UNFPA Country Director for Turkmenistan Giulia Vallese, UNICEF Representative in Turkmenistan Christine Weigand, Head of the OSCE Center in Ashgabat Natalya Drozd, Director of the GIZ Regional Program on Promoting Legal Statehood in Central Asian States and Judge at the Administrative Court of Berlin Jörg Pudelka.
An article headlined “Neutrality of Turkmenistan: A Road to the Country’s Prosperity” points out that the Turkmen model of neutrality has practically ensured its viability and has become one of the powerful factors in enhancing regional stability and security, constructive dialogue and partnership for peace and sustainable development of the countries and nations.
The issue also contains an article titled “Turkmenistan: A Land of Neutrality”, which highlights that the main objective of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s foreign policy is to harmoniously blend national interests with modern-day global priorities.
To further improve the country’s democratic institutions and to effectively fulfill its human rights obligations, Turkmenistan has maintained close and multifaceted cooperation with international organizations while steadily expanding the constructive dialogue to deal with burning issues of today. “Neutrality: Cultural Heritage and Civil Society Development” indicates that political and social stability in Turkmenistan led by the nation’s leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov actively contributes to improving the state and social systems and building a strong civil society.
To this end, the country is closely cooperating with large and authoritative international organizations, first and foremost, the United Nations, the OSCE, and the CIS, among others.The issue also includes articles that offer readers insights into the historical and legal basis of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality.
The articles outline that adopted on the initiative of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the UN General Assembly Resolution declaring 2021 the International Year of Peace and Trust offers yet more proof that Turkmenistan seeks to live in peace with other nations in accordance with the principles of good neighborliness, humanism and mutual understanding.
Published in the Turkmen, English and Russian languages, the latest edition of “Democracy and Law” concludes with the traditional Recent Events’ section, which covers consultative meetings, sessions, seminars, and commemorative events that took place online with the participation of representatives of reputable international organizations and regional agencies.