On March 21, the UN General Assembly adopted by consensus a resolution on the "Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan." It was co-authored by 67 states. The resolution, in particular, recommends using the territories of neutral countries for peace talks. The document also notes Turkmenistan's proposal to establish a Chamber of Mediation for Peace under the auspices of the UN, the UN News website reports.

Introducing the resolution, Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan to the UN Aksoltan Atayeva emphasized that the status of permanent neutrality is the core of Turkmenistan's foreign policy, the basis for implementing the country's balanced peacekeeping doctrine in the international arena.

The Permanent Representative noted that Turkmenistan, relying on the comprehensive support of its neutral course from the international community since the adoption of the first resolution by the UN General Assembly on the permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan on December 12, 1995, has consistently demonstrated its effectiveness as a key instrument for the implementation of preventive diplomacy at the regional and global levels.

Atayeva particularly emphasized that neutrality is deeply rooted in both the country's foreign and domestic policies, enshrined in the Constitutional Law of Turkmenistan on Permanent Neutrality and based on the historical heritage and traditions of the Turkmen people, which place peace, dialogue and mutual respect at the heart of state building.

According to the Permanent Representative, the country's leadership maintains the continuity of the neutral course, promoting peacekeeping initiatives and strengthening Turkmenistan's non-aligned status.

Atayeva paid special attention to the active and practical nature of Turkmenistan's neutral policy, within the framework of which, in particular, such key institutions and forms of maintaining and strengthening peace and security in the region as the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia in Ashgabat and the Zone of Peace and Confidence in Central Asia were created.

On the initiative of Turkmenistan, in 2017 the UN General Assembly proclaimed December 12 as the International Day of Neutrality, the Group of Friends of Neutrality was created at the UN, and this year a global campaign is being held as part of the International Year of Peace and Trust.

ORIENT