SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF TURKMENISTAN SERDAR BERDIMUHAMEDOV AT THE EXTENDED SESSION OF THE CABINET OF MINISTERS

Dear meeting participants!

In a few days we will celebrate a big holiday - the International Day of Neutrality of our independent state. I heartily congratulate all of you and through you all the citizens of the country on the Day of Neutrality of Turkmenistan! I wish all of you and your native people good health, a prosperous and happy life, great success!

Dear compatriots!

Last year, Turkmenistan came up with the initiative “Dialogue is a guarantee of peace” and started working to promote this initiative in the United Nations.

On December 6 this year, at the 45th plenary meeting of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly, the initiative put forward by Turkmenistan received support, as a result of which the Resolution “2023 is the International Year of Dialogue as a Guarantee of Peace” was unanimously adopted.

I heartily congratulate you and your native people on this huge and important success of our country in the international arena!

Dear members of the Cabinet of Ministers!

Dear Ambassadors and Consuls!

As you know, on July 8 this year, the "Concept of the Foreign Policy Course of Neutral Turkmenistan for 2022-2028" was approved. This programmatic foreign policy document defines the priority areas of foreign policy and international activities of our state for the next seven years, it also outlines the tasks and approaches to their implementation.

Recently, fundamental changes have taken place in the system of international relations. We are witnessing the manifestation of complex political situations in different parts and regions of the world, including those near the borders of our country.

At the same time, situations related to the coronavirus pandemic are gradually stabilizing, which for three years has created difficult conditions and had a negative impact on economic relations in the world. Now new opportunities are opening up for the restoration and development of these ties.

These factors require a more thoughtful approach to strengthening the positions and authority of our state in the world, promoting the political, economic and cultural interests of our country. And this means that we, guided by the new Concept of the foreign policy of neutral Turkmenistan, must properly promote the international interests of our country.

Dear friends!

In international relations, we are guided by the basic principles underlying the national strategy based on the policy of neutrality and "open doors". They consist in protecting the long-term interests of the country, ensuring its closer integration into the world community, in helping to resolve important global issues, maintaining stability and security.

In this regard, our country, coming up with the most important international initiatives that contribute to ensuring peace, security and sustainable development at the national, regional and global levels, makes great efforts for their practical implementation.

The foreign policy of Turkmenistan is carried out in two directions, namely on a bilateral and multilateral basis, as well as in the format of international organizations.

Based on this, it is necessary to work on the further development of political, diplomatic, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation with countries in various regions of the world.

In its foreign policy activities, Turkmenistan considers the development and expansion of cooperation with international organizations a priority.

Our country provides constant assistance in the implementation of decisions and agreements adopted by those international organizations of which it is a member, and also takes appropriate steps to implement long-term programs and plans adopted jointly with international organizations at the national level.

As for cooperation with international organizations, first of all we should mention the United Nations, with which Turkmenistan has been fruitfully cooperating for 30 years.

In its relations with the Community of Nations, our country always puts forward such strategically important areas as increasing the use of political and diplomatic tools, expanding the role of preventive diplomacy, energy security, the development of international transport corridors, ecology and environmental protection, as well as the humanitarian sphere. These topical international issues on the world agenda are key in Turkmenistan's cooperation with the United Nations.

For many years, our independent state has been elected to the specialized institutions and structures of international organizations. In this area, our country has accumulated a lot of positive experience.