Turkmenistan

First of all, on behalf of the Turkmenistan delegation, I would like to express my deep condolences to the families and relatives of the victims of the air crash that happened yesterday in New York. I have the honour, on behalf of Mr. Saparmurat Niyazov, the President of Turkmenistan, to congratulate the United Nations and Secretary-General Kofi Annan on receiving the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize, and I wish the United Nations every success in its effective and highly competent work aimed at solving the thorniest problems affecting today’s world. Mr. President, allow me to congratulate you on your election as President of the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly. We are confident that your experience and knowledge will expedite the work of the General Assembly most effectively. Turkmenistan is participating in the work of the United Nations General Assembly for the tenth time as an independent entity in international relations and for the sixth time as a State whose status of neutrality has been recognized by the community of nations. Since the adoption of the General Assembly resolution 50/80 on the Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan, which is of historic significance for us, our young State has consistently witnessed the support of the United Nations in striving for peace and in our foreign policy initiatives aimed at strengthening peace, security and stability. Taking advantage of this opportunity, I would like to convey to the heads of delegations present here and to the representatives of the member States of the United Nations the words of gratitude from President Niyazov and assure you of Turkmenistan’s unswerving commitment to its international obligations as a permanently neutral State. Relations with the United Nations, based on close cooperation and strict observance of the fundamental principles of the Organization, have been and remain at the fore of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy strategy. For us, the United Nations is the main and universal decision-making entity for the most crucial problems of global development. We share the view of the Organization itself that providing it with a new impetus in view of the rapidly changing realities of today’s world is of the utmost relevance. In our view the main aspect of this new drive is respect for the overall balance of interests on the basis of the fundamental criteria underpinning the functioning of the Organization, its ideals, the letter and the spirit of the United Nations Charter. It is our firm belief that the United Nations has proven over the years of its existence that it represents the most effective and just mechanism for resolving international issues. It is the mainstay of the whole system of international stability and security. Turkmenistan has always stood for, and continues to stand for, the strengthening and expansion of the United Nations role in the world. In this connection, we believe that international law and the United Nations Charter, which is based on principles of peace, equality, respect for nations and for their rights and sovereignty and choosing their own way of development, continue to serve as the basis for the world order in this new century. This belief reflects our principles as a neutral State, the entire philosophy of our country’s foreign policy and our practice in this decade-long participation in regional and international affairs. Turkmenistan attaches the utmost importance to its cooperation with the United Nations and its specialized agencies. Our Government and the United Nations Development Programme jointly carry out a number of large-scale projects in the social and economic spheres that have yielded good results for the environment and many other areas, including health, education and ecology. Our cooperation with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United 38 Nations Population Fund and other agencies has been most effective. Turkmenistan will continue to maintain close ties with these important agencies of the United Nations in the search for new avenues of cooperation. We consider interaction with United Nations bodies and agencies to be an important and useful instrument in our regional, economic, cultural and informational cooperation, as well as in our joint efforts with the Governments of neighbouring countries to implement other international programmes of various types. All of this undoubtedly fosters neighbourly relations and partnership ties in the region. Therefore, our country intends to focus in the future on maintaining the closest possible contact with the offices of United Nations specialized agencies, whose importance continues to grow. Along these lines, I should like to draw particular attention to the situation that has emerged in our region since the tragic events of 11 September in the United States. It was with tremendous grief that the people of Turkmenistan heard the news from America. The President of Turkmenistan, on behalf of the people of our country, expressed sincere condolences to the families and relatives of victims, and he addressed words of consolation and compassion to all Americans. These acts of terror have been unconditionally condemned in our country. The Government of Turkmenistan was one of the first to make a statement in support of international efforts to combat terrorism effectively. Turkmenistan recommended uniting such efforts under the auspices of the United Nations. Action needs to be closely coordinated by the members of the international community on the basis of international law, ensuring that no manifestation of terrorism in this world will go unpunished and making possible effective and legitimate measures to combat this evil. Given what has happened, our country has cooperated actively with the United Nations in providing transportation through Turkmenistan for humanitarian supplies being sent to Afghanistan by United Nations specialized humanitarian relief agencies, including UNICEF, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the World Food Programme, as well as other governmental and non- governmental organizations. Turkmenistan’s constructive position has received general support from the United Nations and the majority of States in the world. We are greatly concerned over the situation in Afghanistan and the ongoing armed conflict in that country, which affects stability as well as social and economic development in the region. Turkmenistan shares the view that there is no alternative to a peaceful resolution of the Afghanistan question through negotiations. That is why we are convinced that the road to peace in this long-suffering country lies in political negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations. In this respect, we greatly appreciate the efforts of the Secretary-General to enhance the role of the United Nations in finding a solution to the Afghan crisis, because it is precisely the United Nations that must play a role in working out international legal mechanisms to resolve the situation in Afghanistan. As to the implementation of a strategy for peaceful development and cooperation in the region, I would like to stress that the foreign policy of neutrality pursued by Turkmenistan from the beginning follows precisely this path. This point also touches on the question of exploiting the valuable hydrocarbon deposits of the Caspian Sea Basin, which involves not only regional interests but also the interests of many other nations of the world as well as those of trans- national companies. It is our policy to take those interests into account. Naturally, the oil and natural gas deposits in the Caspian Sea are extremely important energy resources for the twenty-first century. Their rational and effective exploitation, and the construction of an appropriate pipeline infrastructure to deliver these energy supplies to world markets, will ensure considerable economic growth for many States and the welfare of their people. The United Nations can play an important role in this process, as it is capable of creating a mechanism to guarantee the safe and unimpeded transportation of such raw materials along inter-State pipelines. As the Assembly will recall, Turkmenistan put forward this idea at the Millennium Summit and suggested that an international convention should be worked out in this regard. Effective economic activity in the Caspian is inherently linked to ensuring stability in the Caspian region. Turkmenistan believes that the Caspian Sea area should be a zone of peace, stability and sustained 39 international cooperation based on the principles of justice and mutual respect. It is clear that the problems now faced by Member States of the United Nations are complex and manifold. Their solution is possible not only through collective efforts but also through the necessary recognition of the individual role and responsibility of each nation as a member of the world community. It is this logic of political behaviour that Turkmenistan has in mind when it limits itself to the goals of strengthening peace and promoting economic, social and cultural development. Our country is always ready for constructive partnership, and the United Nations knows that it can always rely on Turkmenistan.