OREANDA-NEWS. December 11, 2009. The International Conference on the Neutrality of Foreign Policy of Turkmenistan and Its Role in Ensuring the Development of Good Neighbourly Relations in the Region was conducted in Ashgabat on the eve of the national holiday. The forum was organized by the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Galkynysh National Movement.

The conference devoted to the remarkable date – the 14th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s neutrality brought together the representative audience. The participants represented the national Parliament, the diplomatic missions and representative offices accredited to the country, the pubic organisations – the members of the Galkynysh National Movement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Institute of State and Law under President of Turkmenistan, the Turkmen National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under President of Turkmenistan, teachers and students of the higher educational institutions and journalists.

The welcoming statement of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to participants of the forum was presented. The Turkmen leader said, “Over 18 years of sacred independence Turkmenistan’s foreign policy has been aimed at strengthening peace in the region and on the planet, contributing to the endeavours of the countries and nations to achieve harmonization, guaranteeing sustainable development.” Noting that “today, Turkmen neutrality serves as an essential guarantor of stability in the region, protection of the national interests, an incentive to establish equal relations,” the leader of the Turkmen state reaffirmed Turkmenistan’s commitment to this constructive strategy.

In their reports the participants noted that at a new historical stage Turkmenistan pursued the policy of peace, openness and constructive international cooperation that embodied the status of neutrality secured by the Special Resolution of the United Nations General Assembly. This policy initiated and consistently implemented by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov was ardently supported by the Turkmen people and recognition by the world community.

The participants emphasized that the foreign policy strategy implemented by the Turkmen leader contributed to enhancing the international prestige of Turkmenistan as a universally recognized country-peacemaker. That was vividly illustrated by the opening of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy in Central Asia as an effective instrument for strengthening peace, security and stability in one of the strategic regions of the planet. It was noted that expanding and intensifying partnership with the United Nations and its agencies was a priority of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy. The participants emphasized that Turkmenistan as a full member of the United Nations abided by its international commitments and proved its readiness for fruitful cooperation in various fields in practice.

Today, Turkmenistan demonstrated the qualitatively new approaches to addressing challenges and urgent problems at the regional and global levels. In this regard the agenda of the forum focused on the new positive initiatives put forward by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on the 64th session of the UN General Assembly that had drawn a wide response in the international political and business circles.

The participants were unanimous that independent neutral Turkmenistan could be rightfully proud of making a significant contribution to global efforts to achieve peace and cohesion through mutually advantageous cooperation.