THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE DEDICATED TO THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF PERMANENT NEUTRALITY OF TURKMENISTAN WAS CROWNED WITH SUCCESS.

• Position: Conference news

On December 12, 2020, that is on the International Day of Neutrality Turkmenistan hosted the International Conference "Policy of Neutrality and its importance in ensuring international peace, security and sustainable development." This meeting was convened in honor of the 25th anniversary of permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan.

The President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov initiated the organization of the Conference and participated to the solemn session of the event. The Conference was attended by the leadership of Mejlis, Deputy Chairmen of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, heads of the ministries and departments of the country, chiefs of the diplomatic missions and representations of international organizations in Turkmenistan, rectors of the higher educational institutions of Turkmenistan, heads and representatives of local mass media, as well as the accredited foreign press.

The opening speech was made by the President of Turkmenistan. The head of state thanked the participants for participation and underlined the vital role of international cooperation with countries and international organizations for the sake of peace, stability and sustainable development in the region and beyond. He explained that neutrality does not prescribe staying from the world affairs. On the contrary neutrality calls for unification and peaceful collaboration, while respecting each other's sovereignty, rights, interests and views. The participants heard the video statements of the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, OIC Secretary General Dr. Yousef Bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen, Chairman of the Executive Committee - CIS Executive Secretary Sergei Lebedev, SCO Secretary General Vladimir Norov, and UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay.

In his speech, Mr.Antonio Guterres stressed the active and positive role of Turkmenistan in promoting peaceful, friendly, mutually beneficial relations between the countries of the Central Asia and beyond. Dr. Yousef Bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen underlined the importance of the efforts of Turkmenistan in resolving international issues through peaceful dialogue. In his speech, Mr. Sergei Lebedev emphasized that the adoption of the UN General Assembly Resolution on permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan by unanimous support of the Member States serves as a proof recognition of peaceful foreign policy of Turkmenistan.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's Secretary General Vladimir Norov underlined in his speech that the status of permanent Neutrality fortifies the reputation of Turkmenistan on the world arena as a country that strives to promote mutually beneficial cooperation between all the states and nations. In her speech, UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay stressed the importance of neutrality in resolving the global issues through peaceful means and culture of peace. The Conference was also enriched with the speeches of the UN Secretary General's Special Representative for Central Asia, the Head of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia Natalya Gherman, the Head of the OSCE Center in...