INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE "POLICY OF NEUTRALITY AND PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: EXPERIENCE OF TURKMENISTAN AND ITS IMPORTANCE" HELD AT THE IMO MFA OF TURKMENISTAN

On December 11, 2017, the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan hosted a conference on "Policy of Neutrality and Preventive Diplomacy in International Relations: Experience of Turkmenistan and its Importance" and an exhibition dedicated to the celebration of the International Day of Neutrality.

The conference was attended by the deputies of the Mejlis, heads of ministries and departments, diplomats of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, heads and representatives of the embassies and international organizations working in Turkmenistan, heads of diplomatic missions of Turkmenistan abroad, teachers and students of higher educational institutions, representatives of public organizations and mass media.

Rector of the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan addressed the conference participants with a welcoming speech. Then Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan R. Meredov read the congratulatory message of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov addressed to the conference participants.

As noted in the reports, the neutral status of Turkmenistan has become a phenomenon of international diplomacy, given the fact that our country was declared the first neutral state in modern history recognized by the entire international community. In her speech, the Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan to the United Nations, A. Ataeva, noted that on February 2, 2017, during the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, a resolution of the UN General Assembly that proclaimed December 12 the International Day of Neutrality was adopted. The adoption of this resolution testifies to the high prestige of neutral Turkmenistan on the world stage and the universal recognition of its contribution to global peace, security and sustainable development.

During the conference presentations were also made by the Special representative of the UN Secretary General, Head of UNRCCA N.Herman, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan A. Kamilov, rector of the International University for the Humanities and Development E. Aydogdyev, UN Resident Coordinator, UNDP Resident representative in Turkmenistan E.Panova, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) O. Algaerova, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat N. Drozd, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania D. Nicolaescu, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation A.Pankin, and the ambassadors of the People's Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Malaysia in Turkmenistan.

Speakers at the conference, noting the relevance of the international initiatives of the President of Turkmenistan, emphasized that the most important factors for the success of Turkmenistan's domestic and foreign policy were the openness of the country, readiness for broad partnership, receptivity to positive world experience and an active peacekeeping position in solving regional and global problems. All these are the principles of Turkmen neutrality, which has become an effective mechanism for protecting national interests and diversifying Turkmenistan's international cooperation.

According to the speakers, the neutrality of the Turkmen state is considered today as the most important factor for ensuring sustainable development on a regional and global scale. The legal status of the neutrality of our country was highly appreciated as an important tool for establishing interstate dialogue, an effective mechanism for developing relations of mutual understanding and good-neighborliness.

At the end of the conference the participants adopted an Address to the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. In the Address, the participants of the conference expressed sincere gratitude to the President of Turkmenistan for his tireless work in ensuring peace in the interests of all mankind through the development, stability and implementation of the principles of humanism, as well as the wishes of new outstanding successes in his multifaceted activities aimed at the well-being and prosperity of Turkmenistan.