Turkmenistan considers the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly as an important step in sustained consolidation of international efforts aimed at solving the crucial issues of global agenda, reaffirming the leading role of the UN in safeguarding and strengthening global peace, stability and security, fully implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and steady fulfilling the obligations by the Member-States in ensuring sustainable development in accordance with the agreements reached as major conferences.
In its activities during the 71st session of the UN GA, Turkmenistan will be guided by the strict adherence to the principles of neutrality, non-interference, steadfast commitment to the use of peaceful and political means of solution of conflicts and discrepancies.
The direction of Turkmenistan’s actions in relevant areas will be determined by its membership in the UNESCO Executive Council as well as other UN specialised bodies including the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner’s Programme, Commission on Economic Development, UN-Habitat Governing Council, UN Commission on Population and Development, Executive Board of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, UN Commission for Social Development, UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development.
Throughout the forthcoming session our country will further continue its efforts to implement international initiatives of the President of Turkmenistan related to the issues of global and regional concern.
Peace and security
A joint effort of UN Member states to combat international terrorism is one of the major components of international activities aimed at ensuring safety.
Turkmenistan will further continue making its contribution to the joint international efforts in countering the threat of terrorism.
In this context, results-oriented practical steps will be taken towards the implementation of Final Declaration and the Joint Plan of Action adopted in November of 2011 in Ashgabat as a result of High-level International Conference of Central Asian and other states with the view to implementing of the United Nations Global Counter Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia.
Turkmenistan believes that the illicit drug traffic and human trafficking are the immediate challenges and threats to international security and stability. Specific cooperation projects will be elaborated in this sphere jointly with the UNODC, UNHCR and IMO.
In firmly keeping with the principles of neutrality Turkmenistan will further pursue an effective policy with respect to the disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. We look forward to joint coordinated efforts of the UN member-states aimed at the earliest possible implementation of the provisions of the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia.
Advocating a strict adherence to the universally recognized norms and principles of international law that regulate the activities of the world community in strengthening of international peace and security, Turkmenistan proposes to initiate wide consultations within the framework of the 71st session of the General Assembly with the view to elaborating a single conceptual approach to resolving conflict situations by political and diplomatic means and methods with the UN playing a coordinating role.
We believe it is advisable to convene a UN GA special meeting on strengthening the role of international law as a basis for maintenance of international peace and security. We stand ready to present our proposals regarding a resolution of the UN GA on this subject.
Being firmly convinced that the principles of neutrality and peace form the basis of contemporary peace-building and in this connection aimed at giving a fresh international impetus to their development we suggest that at its meetings the First Committee of the UN General Assembly should consider the possibility of drafting a General Assembly Resolution dedicated to «International Day of Neutrality and Peace». We encourage all UN Member States to take a most active part in promoting the initiative.
Partnership for sustainable development
With the view of practical realization of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Turkmenistan will focus on the implementation of the Agenda within the framework of its national programmes. Successful implementation of Sustainable development goals will not be possible without establishing inclusive global, regional and local partnership relations amongst governments, private sector and civil society built on common principles, values and goals.
In this context Turkmenistan believes that it would be worthwhile to use such forms of multilateral cooperation as standing international conferences, forums, meetings which would serve as political platforms to discuss and coordinate positions on urgent international issues. As regards its contribution to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, Turkmenistan reaffirms its readiness to propose its political space for holding meetings of this kind under the aegis and the active participation of the UN.
The United Nations General Assembly Resolution «Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development» of 25 September 2015 notes that sport is an important enabler of sustainable development. This is also specifically mentioned in this resolution: «We recognize the growing contribution of sport to the realization of development and peace in its promotion of tolerance and respect and the contributions it makes to the empowerment of women and of young people, individuals and communities as well as to health, education and social inclusion objectives»
Today sport is one of powerful unifying factors of mutual understanding and cooperation among peoples and nations. Hosting the V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in September of 2017 in Ashgabat, which will bring together dozens of countries of the Asia-Pacific region, should serve as an important contribution of Turkmenistan into this process.
Taking into account the UN traditional practice, on the threshold of the V Asian Games, Turkmenistan suggest holding a number of high-level events to promote worldwide awareness of the forthcoming Games, of their sporty and global importance. We invite all UN Member States to take an active part in these activities.
Development of transport cooperation
Turkmenistan intends to facilitate accelerated formation of diverse regional and interregional transit transport corridors which would undoubtedly have a positive impact on the stimulation of the global economic activity.
As an active participant in the creation of an integrated multimodal system of transport and transit infrastructure of East-West and North-South Turkmenistan believes it is possible and feasible to combine different concepts of transport flows in the Eurasian continent on the basis of mutual benefit and due consideration of the interests of all project participants. Turkmenistan stands ready to hold substantive negotiations in different formats on its participation in these prospects including their discussion at international and regional economic organizations.
The convening of a Global Conference on Sustainable Transport in Ashgabat on 26-27 November 2016 will become a tremendous leap forward in elaborating a comprehensive approach to the creation of transport and transit corridors in line with the provisions of UN GA Resolutions «Role of transport and transit corridors in ensuring international cooperation for sustainable development» of 19 December 2016 and «Towards comprehensive cooperation among all modes of transport for promoting sustainable multimodal transit corridors» of 22 December 2015. We invite all UN Member States and International Organisations to actively participate in this forum and make their contribution to its work.
We are fully convinced that successive implementation of initiatives on fostering international cooperation in the transport sphere will help in developing new legal and institutional framework for the expansion of international transport system connecting Asia and Europe. Within the framework of the conference we call upon all concerned parties to discuss the basic elements of UN Special Programme for Transport Development which would guarantee the expansion of transport and transit opportunities in Eurasian continent.
Energy Cooperation Development
Today reliability and safety of international energy flows and legal security of supply routes are of crucial importance. The necessity of elaboration of generally acceptable universal approaches to this issue aimed at regulating relations among
energy-producing, transit and consuming states is becoming increasingly obvious.
When forming its position on this issue Turkmenistan proceeds from its firm conviction that international transit of energy resources must be on an equitable and fair basis that is economically reasonable and commercially practical.
In this context, we are prepared to very closely interact with our partners based on a set of well-defined principles, in particular, the principle of freedom of transit which is entirely in line with the approach of Turkmenistan to this problem.
We will consistently advocate them in 2017 in the capacity of the Chairman of Energy Charter.
We will continue providing the most active assistance to facilitation of the work of an international expert group on new international legal framework called to promote implementation of universally accepted code of conduct at global energy space. We also call on our partners at the UN to do the same.
Intended to contribute to the implementation of Sustainable development goals related to the promotion of access to affordable, reliable, stable and modern energy sources as well as promoting a steady, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, to guarantee full and productive employment and decent work for all, Turkmenistan will further continue undertaking concrete actions on practical implementation of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project.
Turkmenistan expresses its confidence that the sustainable energy is an indispensable part of strengthening security and sustainability of global economy, protecting ecosystems and achieving justice in international affairs.
Cooperation in addressing environmental
and disaster risk reduction issues
Since climate change has a significant impact on global economic processes urgent solution of climate problems is becoming an integral part of international efforts to achieve the Sustainable development goals.
Recently our country has launched a number of initiatives in this sphere aimed at enhancing regional and international interaction and establishing system-wide mechanisms of cooperation.
Among them is the proposal on creation of a specialized structure under the aegis and active involvement of the UN – the Regional Climate Change Technology Centre. Our country stands ready to provide the required infrastructure for its proper functioning.
Taking constructive and well-considered steps and actively contributing to the efforts aimed at addressing the global challenges of our time and in view of Turkmenistan’s future chairmanship of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, which has become an important platform for realization of projects and programmes aimed at improving the environment and addressing socio-economic and water issues of not only the Aral Sea Region but also of the entire region, we will further advance the water diplomacy initiatives of the President of Turkmenistan taking into account the international mechanisms available in the Central Asian region.
Based on international initiatives of the President of Turkmenistan presented at the III UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Turkmenistan will undertake efforts to establish a set of measures to warn and eliminate the consequences of emergency situations caused by natural disasters.
In this context we look forward to working with all the parties concerned with a view to establishing a regional early-warning system on natural disasters in Central Asia and Caspian Region.
Humanitarian issues
Reaffirming our commitment to with fundamental conventions and other multilateral international UN instruments on human rights and freedoms, we reaffirm our commitment to active involvement in practical steps in humanitarian sphere.
In this connection, during the 71st session of the General Assembly we will concentrate our efforts on working with the UN specialized bodies to implement our national and regional Programmes and Action plans on human rights and freedoms that are specified in the United Nations international legal instruments.
In this endeavor we will place special emphasis on the protection of the most vulnerable categories of people such as refugees, migrants and stateless persons.
Concluding provisions
Present priorities and consistent implementation of initiatives and proposals put forward at different international forums will serve as the decisive criterion in developing our country’s approach to cooperation with all UN member states as well as the UN bodies, agencies and institutions during 71st session of the General Assembly.
Turkmenistan welcomes close international cooperation in addressing urgent problems of modern day and expresses its firm readiness to undertake joint activities in the interests of lofty ideals of peace and justice and achievement of the UN’s goals and objectives.
