CENTRAL COMMISSION FOR HOLDING ELECTIONS AND REFERENDUMS IN TURKMENISTAN
During in the era of Revival of the new epoch of the powerful state under the wise leadership of our esteemed President, our country’s authority on the international arena increasingly strengthened. Every year of our stable and peaceful Motherland is filled with great achievements, lofty peaks and significant dates, inscribed in golden letters in our new history. Certainly, one of the significant dates celebrated with great enthusiasm in our democratic country – International Neutrality Day.
International Neutrality Day included in the official United Nations calendar at the initiative of our peace-loving country. In this year of International peace and trust, it is especially significant for our country that the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations coincides with significant 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s permanent Neutrality. This year, which marks this glorious date, unanimous adoption for the third time of the Resolution “Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan” at the 61st meeting of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, in the year of the celebration of the 30th anniversary of Turkmen Neutrality, further glorified our foreign policy, based on good traditions and significance of this significant date.
The words of our Hero Arkadag: “Turkmenistan’s Neutrality – is an asset not only for the Turkmen people, but for all humanity. Neutrality – is a doctrine that proclaims to the world our activities, promoting peace and cooperation, calling upon nations to embrace friendship, brotherhood and unity. It imbues our courageous people, who are building for the great future of our Fatherland with strength and energy for new achievements”, – reflect the universal significance of the value that has become our national pride.
Neutrality – is a primordial tradition of the Turkmen people and this doctrine, ingrained in our consciousness for centuries, has always been a part of our nation. The Constitution of Turkmenistan attaches special importance to the legal status of our country’s Neutrality. Article 2 of our Basic law states: “Turkmenistan has status of permanent Neutrality, recognized by the international community and enshrined in law”. Based on international experience, Turkmenistan – is the only state to have enshrined the legal status of permanent Neutrality in its Basic Law.
In his historic speech at the plenary session of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, our esteemed President denoted the principle of Neutrality and peacefulness as a strategic direction for global diplomacy, emphasizing its importance in ensuring world peace and prosperous life for mankind. The Head of State’s initiative to include a special item on “Neutrality for Peace and Security” on the agenda of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly also dictated by this obvious fact.
These days, Turkmen people are approaching the glorious 30th anniversary of our Neutrality with great faith in our happy and bright future in their hearts, light on their faces and boundless inspiration. The legal status of permanent Neutrality, which has significantly strengthened our state’s authority on the international arena – a continuation of the noble humanistic principles of our ancestors, based on peace and democratic norms passed down from century to century and wonderful fruit of the political stability achieved during the years of Independence. Independent, permanently Neutral Turkmenistan – is doing extensive work to promote the principles of peace throughout the world, putting forward initiatives and proposals within international organizations for the benefit of humanity.
Since the first days of Independence, our sovereign state has followed the principles of Neutrality, equality and good-neighborliness inherited from our ancestors in international relations. The past historical period has clearly demonstrated that policy of Neutrality is fully consistent with our national interests and goals of the United Nations. The opening and effective operation of the United Nations Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia in our capital Ashgabat, thanks to the far-sighted initiatives of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Hero Arkadag – is a proud truth that reveals the essence and content of our country’s chosen policy of Neutrality.
Permanent Neutrality has profound meaning. Neutrality – means peace and country’s further economic and political development, expanded international cooperation and more confident establishment of good-neighborly relations. The past historical period has clearly demonstrated the correctness of the path of Neutrality chosen by our country, its full compliance with true interests of the Turkmen people, long-term goals and plans for the state’s political and economic development and goals of equal and mutually beneficial international cooperation. The geography of Turkmenistan’s international relations are expanding with new countries and regions actively joining them. In general, Turkmen model of Neutrality, at its core, strengthens the culture of trust and cooperation at the international level. It embodies principles beneficial to the entire world, such as peaceful living, non-interference and mutual respect.
On December 12, International Year of Peace and Trust, we will widely celebrate the 30th anniversary of our permanent Neutrality. Our happy, united people annually celebrate this date with great enthusiasm, rallied around our esteemed President. Currently, our beloved Motherland is actively preparing for an international forum, large-scale cultural events and celebrations dedicated to the 30th anniversary of our permanent Neutrality and International Year of Peace and Trust. In this regard, beautiful appearance of our pearl capital – Ashgabat – will also receive a new transformation. During the celebration of this glorious anniversary, the eyes of the entire world will be focused on the Turkmen land, achievements of our powerful state. This proud truth will further glorify the noble principles of the Turkmen statehood at the international level.
We wish our Hero Arkadag and our Arkadagly Hero Serdar, who are leading the Turkmen people to a bright future, health, longevity and success in their great deeds!
Hekimberdi Ovezov,
secretary-referent of the Central commission for holding elections and referendums in Turkmenistan.