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2015

TURKMENISTAN

The Year of Neutrality

and Peace The President of Turkmenist1I?

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov

n October 2014, a Resolu- wartime circumstances, while the paradigm. It has become the basis
tion by the Turkmenistan obligations of neutral states in for a new concept of cooperation
Council of Elders declared times of peace were not covered by and achieving world peace.
J 2015 to be "The Year of Neu- international legal regulations. The
trality and Peace". This year also Turkmen neutrality model assumes The unprecedented nature of Turk-
marks the twentieth anniversary of that contemporary international menistan's neutrality is evident both
the recognition by the internatio- law is the rule of peace and that by its registration as an internatio-
nal community of Turkmenistan's a neutral state must adhere to its nal legal instrument, approved and
permanent neutrality in accordance status not only in wartime, but also supported by the international com-
with Special Resolution 50/80 of in peacetime. As a new phenome- munity, and in the exercise of that
the United Nations General Assem- non in international legal practice, country's foreign policy. It repre-
bly, 12 December 1995, entitled "The Turkmenistan's neutrality sug- sents the harmonious combination of
Permanent Neutrality of Turkme- gested that the international com- national and international interests.
nistan". munity should fundamentally Having made a historical choice in
change the global development favour of neutrality, the young
For the first time in the history of
the United Nations the adoption of
this Special Resolution recognized
the peaceful foreign policy of Turk-
menistan, at the same time as ap-
proving Turkmenistan's authorita-
tive role as a state making a worthy
contribution to the peaceful devel-
opment of international relations,
while ensuring universal security
and continued development.

Turkmenistan's resolution opened
a new page in the history of
neutrality as an instrument in
international relations. The
earlier neutrality of countries,
such as Switzerland, was linked to

8 International