Turkmenistan is going to meet the 25th Independence and steadily increases pace of development, continues the intensification of the national economy, reaching new horizons of prosperity and well-being. Our country in accordance with the constitutional level indicates that the person is declared as the main value of the society; by right is one of the fastest growing, prosperous and peace-loving nations of the world. Vivid evidence of it is rapid pace of change, followed by a wide-ranging international cooperation, one of the clearest indicators of which is a close and constructive partnership with the United Nations.
International reputation of Turkmenistan is growing steadily and strengthening thanks to the peace-loving course of the leader of the nation, its initiatives and concrete actions in the name of peace, security and progress. Due to successful conduct of cardinal reforms and implementation of national programs aimed at modernization of the economy and transformation of Turkmenistan into industrialized developed countries the active integration into the world economy. Today, it is achieved impressive successes receive recognition of international community. The significant in this context is the active participation of our country in the annual sessions of the UN General Assembly and its management team.
Turkmenistan is being elected to the high post of the Vice-Chair of the 71-th session of the UN General Assembly, considers the upcoming UN High Level Forum as important step towards a consistent consolidation of international efforts to address the key issues of the global agenda, the approval of the UN leading role in the preservation and strengthening of world peace, stability and security, the full realization of the stated agenda of sustainable development up to 2030, the steady implementation by member states of their commitments to ensure sustainable development in the light of the agreements reached at the relevant conferences.
Priority position of our country in the 71st session of the UN General Assembly reflects the inviolability of the basic foundations of its foreign policy, according to which, Turkmenistan will continue to strictly follow the principles of neutrality, non-interference, guided by a strong commitment to a peaceful, political means to resolve conflicts and contradictions.
The reputable role of our country will be acknowledged by its meaningful and initiative activities as a full member of the Executive Board of UNESCO, as well as a number of specialized agencies of the United Nations, such as Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the UN Commission on Economic and Social Council, the Governing Council of the United Nations on Human Settlements Programme, the Commission on Population and Development, the Executives Board for Coordination of the United Nations framework on gender equality and the empowerment of women, the UN Commission for social development, the United Nations Commission on science and technology for development.
As the most important task during the upcoming session is defined the consistent work on implementation of international initiatives of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov on global and regional issues. Priority positions reflect their strategic directions, covering the promotion of peace and security, strengthening the partnership for sustainable development, increasing international cooperation in the transport and energy sectors, to develop and implement effective solutions to the issues of environmental and disaster risk reduction. As especially significant topical issues are highlighted the issues in the field of humanitarian and cultural cooperation.
Peace and security
One of the main components of the global security are the joint action of the United Nations Member States to combat international terrorism. Turkmenistan will continue to contribute to the common efforts to combat the threats of terrorism. In this context, concrete steps are taken to implement the Final Declaration and the Joint Action Plan, adopted in November 2011 in Ashgabat on the basis of International Conference at a high level of Central Asian countries and other states to implement the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia.
The current challenges and threats of International Security and Stability Turkmenistan consider illicit trafficking of drugs and human trafficking. Together with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration will develop concrete projects on cooperation in these areas.
Strictly following the principles of positive neutrality, Turkmenistan will continue to pursue an active policy in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. At the same time, in the limelight will be the establishment of coordinated actions on implementation of the provisions of the Treaty on the Zone Free from Nuclear Weapons in Central Asia.
Turkmenistan sets forth for the strict observance of the universally recognized norms and principles of international law regulating activities of the international community to promote peace and security, offers in the framework of the 71st session of the General Assembly to start extensive consultations with a view to develop common conceptual approaches to the issue of conflict resolution through political and diplomatic tools and methods of the UN coordinating role.
To this effect, Turkmenistan considers appropriate to convene a special session of the UN General Assembly on strengthening the role of international law as the basis for maintaining global peace and security. The Turkmen side expresses its readiness to submit proposals to develop relevant resolutions on the subject of UN General Assembly.
In the framework of the initiative of the head of the state it will be proposed to consider within the framework of the First Committee of the UN General Assembly the opportunity to prepare a draft resolution of the General Assembly on "International Day of Neutrality and Peace."
Sustainable Development Partnership
Practical application of the Agenda for sustainable development till 2030 will be aimed at Turkmenistan's efforts on its implementation in the national programs. The successful implementation of sustainable development is impossible without wide range of partnerships between governments, private sector and civil society built on common principles, values and goals established at global, regional and local levels.
In this context, Turkmenistan considers to be useful to use such forms of multilateral cooperation, as holding regular international conferences, forums, meetings, acting as a political platform for discussion and coordination of positions on topical issues. As the implementation input of sustainable development goals, Turkmenistan is ready to provide its political space for such meetings under the patronage and with the active participation of the United Nations.
The UN General Assembly resolution of 25 September 2015 titled "Transforming Our World: The Sustainability Agenda for the period up to 2030" says that an important factor for sustainable development is sport. In particular, the resolution stated: "We recognize the growing contribution of sport in the matters of development and peace, as it promotes the establishment of the principles of tolerance and respect and promote the empowerment of women and youth, individuals and communities, as well as the achievement of goals in the field of public health, education and social integration."
Today, sport is one of the main cohesive factors of mutual understanding and cooperation between peoples and states. To hold the V Asian Indoor Games and Martial Arts in Ashgabat in September 2017 is intended to participate a dozen of states of Asian continent and the countries of Oceania, called to become Turkmenistan’s main contribution in this process.
Taking into account the existing UN traditional practices, Turkmenistan offers on the eve of the V Asian Games to conduct series of the high-level forums at the UN area aimed at raising global awareness of the upcoming Games, its sports and universal significance. We invite all UN member states to actively participate in these events.
The cooperation development in transport sphere
Turkmenistan will contribute to the acceleration of the processes of establishment of various regional and inter-regional transport and transit corridors, which will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the growth of economic activity in the world.
Turkmenistan, having been an active participant of establishment of an integrated multimodal system of transport-transit infrastructure in the vectors East-West and North-South, considers the opportunity to interface various concepts of traffic flows on the Eurasian continent on the basis of mutual benefit, taking into account the interests of all participants in such projects. Our country is ready to conduct substantive negotiations to participate in various formats, including the venues of international and regional economic organizations.
An important step in the development of coordinated approaches to establishment of transport and transit corridors, as well as in the light of the implementation of the UN General Assembly resolutions on "The role of transport and transit corridors in ensuring international cooperation for sustainable development" on 19 December 2014 and "Towards a comprehensive cooperation between all modes of transport in order to facilitate the creation of sustainable multi-modal transit corridor" on December 22, 2015 will become holding the Global conference on Sustainable Transport in Ashgabat, 26-27 November 2016. We invite the United Nations member states and international organizations to take an active part in the work of this forum.
Turkmenistan expresses confidence that the consistent implementation of initiatives to promote international cooperation in the field of transport will allow developing new legal and institutional framework for the expansion of the international transport system linking Asia with Europe. The Turkmen side urges in the framework of Conference to discuss the basics of the UN Special Programme for the development of transit and transport opportunities on the Eurasian continent.
The cooperation development in energy sphere
Reliability and safety of international energy flows, legal security of supply routes have become critical today. It is becoming increasingly apparent of necessity to develop generally acceptable universal approaches to this problem, aimed at regulating the relationship between suppliers, transit countries and consumers of energy resources.
Shaping its position on this issue, Turkmenistan comes from the firm conviction that international transit of energy resources should be made on an equal and equitable basis to be economically and commercially sound. In this context, Turkmenistan expresses readiness for close cooperation with the partners on the basis of clearly defined principles. Turkmenistan as the Chair of the Energy Charter in 2017 will consistently defend it, firstly is the principle of freedom of transit, as fully consistent with the approach to this problem.
Turkmenistan during the 71th session of the UN General Assembly will continue to actively contribute to the work of a new international legal mechanism of the international experts’ group on the development, call to ensure compliance with the generally accepted rules of conduct in the global energy space. We call for our partners from the United Nations.
Aimed at contributing to the implementation of sustainable development goals on access to affordable, reliable modern energy sources, as well as contributing to the steady, inclusive and sustained economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all, Turkmenistan will continue to take concrete measures to practical application of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project.
Turkmenistan expressed confidence that sustainable energy is an essential factor in strengthening the security and reliability of the global economy, protecting ecosystems and achieving equity in international affairs.
Cooperation in the field of environmental issues and disaster risk reduction
An integral part of international efforts to achieve the goals of sustainable development is to resolve the problems associated with global climate change, which has a significant impact on the life of humanity and international economic processes.
Turkmenistan will continue implementing practical measures by initiated earlier the concrete proposals in this area aimed at enhancing regional and international cooperation and the establishment of systemic mechanisms of cooperation, including -proposals to establish under the auspices and with the active participation of the UN specialized structures -Regional Center for technologies related climate change, for which the Turkmen side is ready to provide the necessary infrastructure.
Taking constructive and balanced steps and actively contributing to the resolving global problems, and taking into account the future chairmanship of Turkmenistan in the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, which is an important platform for the implementation of projects and programs aimed at environmental rehabilitation and the solution of socio-economic and water issues not only the Aral Sea region, but also the entire region. We will continue to promote the initiative of President of Turkmenistan on Water diplomacy within existing international mechanisms in the Central Asian region.
Based on the international initiatives of President of Turkmenistan, having announced at the III World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Turkmenistan will make an effort to establish a set of measures aimed at the prevention and elimination of consequences of emergency situations caused by natural disasters. The Turkmen side expresses its readiness in this context to work with all stakeholders to establish a regional early warning system for natural disasters in Central Asia and the Caspian region.
Humanitarian issues
Turkmenistan having reaffirmed its commitment to inviolability compliance with the fundamental Conventions and other multilateral UN international acts in the field of human rights and freedoms, expresses its readiness to active participation in the implementation of practical steps in the humanitarian field. In this regard, Turkmenistan within the framework of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly will focus its efforts in cooperation with the specialized agencies of the United Nations in implementation of national and regional programs and action plans to ensure the rights and freedoms of person adopted on the basis of international legal instruments of the United Nations. A special place in this activity will be devoted to protecting the most vulnerable groups: refugees, migrants and stateless persons.
Thus, the above mentioned priority positions, as well as consistent implementation proposed at various international forums, initiatives, and proposals will be a key in the development of approaches of Turkmenistan to cooperation with all member states, organizations, bodies, institutions, UN agencies and institutions in the course of the 71th session of the General Assembly.
Turkmenistan welcomes the close international cooperation in resolving urgent problems of our time, expresses its firm willingness to work together in the name of the consolidation of high ideals of peace and justice, the goals and challenges facing the United Nations.
International reputation of Turkmenistan is growing steadily and strengthening thanks to the peace-loving course of the leader of the nation, its initiatives and concrete actions in the name of peace, security and progress. Due to successful conduct of cardinal reforms and implementation of national programs aimed at modernization of the economy and transformation of Turkmenistan into industrialized developed countries the active integration into the world economy. Today, it is achieved impressive successes receive recognition of international community. The significant in this context is the active participation of our country in the annual sessions of the UN General Assembly and its management team.
Turkmenistan is being elected to the high post of the Vice-Chair of the 71-th session of the UN General Assembly, considers the upcoming UN High Level Forum as important step towards a consistent consolidation of international efforts to address the key issues of the global agenda, the approval of the UN leading role in the preservation and strengthening of world peace, stability and security, the full realization of the stated agenda of sustainable development up to 2030, the steady implementation by member states of their commitments to ensure sustainable development in the light of the agreements reached at the relevant conferences.
Priority position of our country in the 71st session of the UN General Assembly reflects the inviolability of the basic foundations of its foreign policy, according to which, Turkmenistan will continue to strictly follow the principles of neutrality, non-interference, guided by a strong commitment to a peaceful, political means to resolve conflicts and contradictions.
The reputable role of our country will be acknowledged by its meaningful and initiative activities as a full member of the Executive Board of UNESCO, as well as a number of specialized agencies of the United Nations, such as Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the UN Commission on Economic and Social Council, the Governing Council of the United Nations on Human Settlements Programme, the Commission on Population and Development, the Executives Board for Coordination of the United Nations framework on gender equality and the empowerment of women, the UN Commission for social development, the United Nations Commission on science and technology for development.
As the most important task during the upcoming session is defined the consistent work on implementation of international initiatives of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov on global and regional issues. Priority positions reflect their strategic directions, covering the promotion of peace and security, strengthening the partnership for sustainable development, increasing international cooperation in the transport and energy sectors, to develop and implement effective solutions to the issues of environmental and disaster risk reduction. As especially significant topical issues are highlighted the issues in the field of humanitarian and cultural cooperation.
Peace and security
One of the main components of the global security are the joint action of the United Nations Member States to combat international terrorism. Turkmenistan will continue to contribute to the common efforts to combat the threats of terrorism. In this context, concrete steps are taken to implement the Final Declaration and the Joint Action Plan, adopted in November 2011 in Ashgabat on the basis of International Conference at a high level of Central Asian countries and other states to implement the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia.
The current challenges and threats of International Security and Stability Turkmenistan consider illicit trafficking of drugs and human trafficking. Together with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration will develop concrete projects on cooperation in these areas.
Strictly following the principles of positive neutrality, Turkmenistan will continue to pursue an active policy in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. At the same time, in the limelight will be the establishment of coordinated actions on implementation of the provisions of the Treaty on the Zone Free from Nuclear Weapons in Central Asia.
Turkmenistan sets forth for the strict observance of the universally recognized norms and principles of international law regulating activities of the international community to promote peace and security, offers in the framework of the 71st session of the General Assembly to start extensive consultations with a view to develop common conceptual approaches to the issue of conflict resolution through political and diplomatic tools and methods of the UN coordinating role.
To this effect, Turkmenistan considers appropriate to convene a special session of the UN General Assembly on strengthening the role of international law as the basis for maintaining global peace and security. The Turkmen side expresses its readiness to submit proposals to develop relevant resolutions on the subject of UN General Assembly.
In the framework of the initiative of the head of the state it will be proposed to consider within the framework of the First Committee of the UN General Assembly the opportunity to prepare a draft resolution of the General Assembly on "International Day of Neutrality and Peace."
Sustainable Development Partnership
Practical application of the Agenda for sustainable development till 2030 will be aimed at Turkmenistan's efforts on its implementation in the national programs. The successful implementation of sustainable development is impossible without wide range of partnerships between governments, private sector and civil society built on common principles, values and goals established at global, regional and local levels.
In this context, Turkmenistan considers to be useful to use such forms of multilateral cooperation, as holding regular international conferences, forums, meetings, acting as a political platform for discussion and coordination of positions on topical issues. As the implementation input of sustainable development goals, Turkmenistan is ready to provide its political space for such meetings under the patronage and with the active participation of the United Nations.
The UN General Assembly resolution of 25 September 2015 titled "Transforming Our World: The Sustainability Agenda for the period up to 2030" says that an important factor for sustainable development is sport. In particular, the resolution stated: "We recognize the growing contribution of sport in the matters of development and peace, as it promotes the establishment of the principles of tolerance and respect and promote the empowerment of women and youth, individuals and communities, as well as the achievement of goals in the field of public health, education and social integration."
Today, sport is one of the main cohesive factors of mutual understanding and cooperation between peoples and states. To hold the V Asian Indoor Games and Martial Arts in Ashgabat in September 2017 is intended to participate a dozen of states of Asian continent and the countries of Oceania, called to become Turkmenistan’s main contribution in this process.
Taking into account the existing UN traditional practices, Turkmenistan offers on the eve of the V Asian Games to conduct series of the high-level forums at the UN area aimed at raising global awareness of the upcoming Games, its sports and universal significance. We invite all UN member states to actively participate in these events.
The cooperation development in transport sphere
Turkmenistan will contribute to the acceleration of the processes of establishment of various regional and inter-regional transport and transit corridors, which will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the growth of economic activity in the world.
Turkmenistan, having been an active participant of establishment of an integrated multimodal system of transport-transit infrastructure in the vectors East-West and North-South, considers the opportunity to interface various concepts of traffic flows on the Eurasian continent on the basis of mutual benefit, taking into account the interests of all participants in such projects. Our country is ready to conduct substantive negotiations to participate in various formats, including the venues of international and regional economic organizations.
An important step in the development of coordinated approaches to establishment of transport and transit corridors, as well as in the light of the implementation of the UN General Assembly resolutions on "The role of transport and transit corridors in ensuring international cooperation for sustainable development" on 19 December 2014 and "Towards a comprehensive cooperation between all modes of transport in order to facilitate the creation of sustainable multi-modal transit corridor" on December 22, 2015 will become holding the Global conference on Sustainable Transport in Ashgabat, 26-27 November 2016. We invite the United Nations member states and international organizations to take an active part in the work of this forum.
Turkmenistan expresses confidence that the consistent implementation of initiatives to promote international cooperation in the field of transport will allow developing new legal and institutional framework for the expansion of the international transport system linking Asia with Europe. The Turkmen side urges in the framework of Conference to discuss the basics of the UN Special Programme for the development of transit and transport opportunities on the Eurasian continent.
The cooperation development in energy sphere
Reliability and safety of international energy flows, legal security of supply routes have become critical today. It is becoming increasingly apparent of necessity to develop generally acceptable universal approaches to this problem, aimed at regulating the relationship between suppliers, transit countries and consumers of energy resources.
Shaping its position on this issue, Turkmenistan comes from the firm conviction that international transit of energy resources should be made on an equal and equitable basis to be economically and commercially sound. In this context, Turkmenistan expresses readiness for close cooperation with the partners on the basis of clearly defined principles. Turkmenistan as the Chair of the Energy Charter in 2017 will consistently defend it, firstly is the principle of freedom of transit, as fully consistent with the approach to this problem.
Turkmenistan during the 71th session of the UN General Assembly will continue to actively contribute to the work of a new international legal mechanism of the international experts’ group on the development, call to ensure compliance with the generally accepted rules of conduct in the global energy space. We call for our partners from the United Nations.
Aimed at contributing to the implementation of sustainable development goals on access to affordable, reliable modern energy sources, as well as contributing to the steady, inclusive and sustained economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all, Turkmenistan will continue to take concrete measures to practical application of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project.
Turkmenistan expressed confidence that sustainable energy is an essential factor in strengthening the security and reliability of the global economy, protecting ecosystems and achieving equity in international affairs.
Cooperation in the field of environmental issues and disaster risk reduction
An integral part of international efforts to achieve the goals of sustainable development is to resolve the problems associated with global climate change, which has a significant impact on the life of humanity and international economic processes.
Turkmenistan will continue implementing practical measures by initiated earlier the concrete proposals in this area aimed at enhancing regional and international cooperation and the establishment of systemic mechanisms of cooperation, including -proposals to establish under the auspices and with the active participation of the UN specialized structures -Regional Center for technologies related climate change, for which the Turkmen side is ready to provide the necessary infrastructure.
Taking constructive and balanced steps and actively contributing to the resolving global problems, and taking into account the future chairmanship of Turkmenistan in the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, which is an important platform for the implementation of projects and programs aimed at environmental rehabilitation and the solution of socio-economic and water issues not only the Aral Sea region, but also the entire region. We will continue to promote the initiative of President of Turkmenistan on Water diplomacy within existing international mechanisms in the Central Asian region.
Based on the international initiatives of President of Turkmenistan, having announced at the III World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Turkmenistan will make an effort to establish a set of measures aimed at the prevention and elimination of consequences of emergency situations caused by natural disasters. The Turkmen side expresses its readiness in this context to work with all stakeholders to establish a regional early warning system for natural disasters in Central Asia and the Caspian region.
Humanitarian issues
Turkmenistan having reaffirmed its commitment to inviolability compliance with the fundamental Conventions and other multilateral UN international acts in the field of human rights and freedoms, expresses its readiness to active participation in the implementation of practical steps in the humanitarian field. In this regard, Turkmenistan within the framework of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly will focus its efforts in cooperation with the specialized agencies of the United Nations in implementation of national and regional programs and action plans to ensure the rights and freedoms of person adopted on the basis of international legal instruments of the United Nations. A special place in this activity will be devoted to protecting the most vulnerable groups: refugees, migrants and stateless persons.
Thus, the above mentioned priority positions, as well as consistent implementation proposed at various international forums, initiatives, and proposals will be a key in the development of approaches of Turkmenistan to cooperation with all member states, organizations, bodies, institutions, UN agencies and institutions in the course of the 71th session of the General Assembly.
Turkmenistan welcomes the close international cooperation in resolving urgent problems of our time, expresses its firm willingness to work together in the name of the consolidation of high ideals of peace and justice, the goals and challenges facing the United Nations.
