‘Positive neutrality’ promoting peace

Turkmenistan’s policy of neutrality and long experience in peace efforts in the region have helped it promote stability and positivity in a volatile part of the world.

This was stated by Turkmenistan’s Ambassador Atadjan Movlamov on Wednesday during an online session on ‘Turkmenistan’s neutrality instrumental to socioeconomic prosperity and regional connectivity’. The session had been jointly organised by the Centre for Global and Strategic Studies (CGSS), and the Turkmenistan Embassy.

Movlamov stated that his country practices the ‘Positive Neutrality’ model wherein they have been purposefully pursuing a sovereign, neutral, but at the same time active and constructive foreign policy.

For the past 25 years, he said, Turkmenistan’s neutrality policy has developed into an actual mechanism for establishing fruitful cooperation to solve current objectives, strengthening friendly relations between neighbouring states and nations.

“Our country has considerable peace-making experience, which is indicated by the talks for the political solution of the Tajikistan and Afghanistan conflicts in Ashgabat under the aegis of UN in the mid-1990s,” the envoy said. The opening of the UN Regional Centre of Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia in Ashgabat in 2007, was a testament to its neutrality.

“Turkmenistan takes an active part in international efforts for strengthening of peace, security and cooperation in Central Asia,” he said.

Professor Dr Shabbir Ahmed, the director of the Area Study Centre for Russia, China, and Central Asia at the University of Peshawar, stated that Turkmenistan’s decision to adopt a policy of ‘positive neutrality’ had positively impacted its security and economy.

“Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan is a reflection of its commitment to regional and global peace,” he said, adding that being neutral, Turkmenistan has also played an active role in mediating on regional conflicts.

Regional Geopolitical Analyst Dr Mehmoodul Hassan Khan stated that neutrality and its foundations have enabled Turkmenistan to consistently follow its true spirits, traditions, customs and heritage.

“Turkmenistan is the first and only country to have obtained a legal status of neutrality, which is the basis of this country’s foreign policy,” he said, adding that its neutrality is an important factor of regional security.

Earlier, CGSS President Major-General (retired) Khalid Amir Jaffery, stated that Pakistan and Turkmenistan enjoy cordial relations. Moreover, he said that Turkmenistan is a very significant stop on the Silk Route and with the fourth-largest reserves of natural gas, the TAPI project is a blessing for the energy-starved region.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 6^th, 2020.