The Group of Friends of Neutrality for Peace, Security and Sustainable Development serves as a platform to develop under the auspices of the United Nations a wide multilateral dialogue on the practical application of the principles of neutrality in preventing conflicts, eliminating their causes and consequences, and resolving humanitarian issues.

Turkmenistan initiated the establishment of this Group of Friends to facilitate regular dialogue internationally, in particular within the United Nations, on the practical use of the peacekeeping and peacebuilding potential of countries building their policies on the principles of neutrality.

Using the positive experience of currently functioning multilateral Groups on various issues of international agenda, the abovementioned Group of Friends acts as an informal association to strengthen political dialogue within the United Nations and to develop previously unexplored tools for strengthening peace and security.

28 countries (see list below) joined this Group, in particular the co-sponsors of the United Nations General Assembly resolutions “International Day of Neutrality” of February 2, 2017[1], “The Role and Importance of a Policy of Neutrality in Maintaining and Strengthening International Peace, Security and Sustainable Development” of December 7, 2020[2].

Regular meetings of the Group of Friends will lead to the establishment of a stable political and diplomatic platform for promoting the principles of neutrality in international relations.

The First Meeting of the Group of Friends of Neutrality for Peace, Security and Sustainable Development at the ambassadorial level took place in New York on 27 August 2020, which reaffirmed the adherence to the principles enshrined in the UN Charter including those of sovereignty and the sovereign equality of States, territorial integrity and non-intervention in the internal affairs of any State, and to defend, promote and encourage the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security are not endangered.

The First Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of Neutrality for Peace, Security and Sustainable development took place in Ashgabat on 10 December 2022.

The Final Declaration adopted during the Ministerial Meeting[3] confirmed the following format and working methods of the Group of Friends of Neutrality:

• The Group of Friends has an informal, open-ended nature, and, accordingly, its composition shall be regularly updated, as United Nations Member States, Observers of the General Assembly of the United Nations and the United Nations entities indicate their willingness and interest in joining it;
• The Group of Friends shall meet regularly, at least every six months, at the ambassadorial level in New York. Extraordinary meetings can be convened to discuss specific questions, at the request of its members;
• The Group of Friends meets once a year at the level of Foreign Ministers at a pre-agreed venue;
• The Group of Friends will be coordinated by two co-chairs (Turkmenistan and any member country willing to co-chair) for a term of one year and, upon completion of that term, the principle of geographical rotation will be observed for the transfer of the coordination.

Note: Countries and international organizations are able to join the Group of Friends of Neutrality by sending diplomatic notes or letters of intent or by joining the abovementioned Ministerial Declaration.

[1] United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/71/275.

[2] United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/75/28.

[3] Document A/77/778 of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Members

of the Group of Friends of Neutrality for Peace,

Security and Sustainable development

1. Afghanistan

2. Azerbaijan

3. Belarus

4. Burkina Faso

5. China

6. Costa Rica

7. Djibouti

8. Egypt

9. Eswatini

10. Gambia

11. Ghana

12. Guinea

13. Iran

14. Iraq

15. Ireland

16. Kazakhstan

17. Kyrgyz Republic

18. Morocco

19. Pakistan

20. Qatar

21. Russian Federation

22. Sri Lanka

23. Syria

24. Tajikistan

25. Turkmenistan

26. Uganda

27. Uzbekistan

28. Venezuela

29. Vietnam