Priorities of Turkmenistan at the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly

Preamble

 

Turkmenistan considers the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly as an important milestone in the consistent consolidation of international efforts to address key issues on the global agenda, affirming the leading role of the United Nations in maintaining and strengthening global peace, stability and security and fully realizing the declared sustainable development Agenda until 2030, in promoting the continued implementation of commitments and pledges to ensure sustainable development made by the Member States as a result of significant international conferences.

 

Within the framework of its activities during the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, Turkmenistan will abide by the firm adherence to the principles of neutrality, non-interference, strong commitment to the peaceful and political means of resolving conflicts and disputes.

 

The focus of cooperation of Turkmenistan in relevant areas shall be determined in accordance with its membership in ECOSOC, UNICEF Executive Board, as well as in a number of specialized UN bodies including the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development, UN Commission on Population and Development, UN Commission for Social Development and others.

 

At this session our country will continue its work to implement international undertakings of the President of Turkmenistan on the issues of global and regional concerns.

 

 

 

Security Cooperation

 

The 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly should serve to strengthen role of the United Nations as the key mechanism for the collective regulation of international relations and consolidation of principles of international law.

Strengthening of peace and security depends upon the development of the dialogue, synergies among peoples of different cultures and civilizations. The analyses of the latest world events testify to the fundamental changes in geopolitical realities. There is being observed an acceleration of reduced sustainability and effectiveness of regional and international security systems. Thus there is a need to continue the identification of ways to address the prevailing situation by the means of negotiations in any formats and at all levels.

Peaceful dialogue and constructive negotiations based on the principles shared responsibility for peace and security, mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs should form the framework for the settlement of any inter-state disputes.

The events of past few years endorsed the need for an in-depth review of the security concept as a whole. At the same time, we must support yet emerging consolidation and development centres and promote the creation of new ones capable of serving as strongholds for stability both in certain regions and throughout the world.

It is important that we adopt new approaches to the problems
related to security and development. Such approaches should be based on multi-polarity and an acknowledgement of the diversity of ways in which the progressive development of countries and peoples can be achieved.

In that regard, we propose to declare 2019 the Year of Peace and Confidence.

 

Disarmament

 

Turkmenistan has always been firmly and consistently committed to the issues of disarmament and non-proliferation. Turkmenistan is determined to continue to contribute its share to the practical implementation of non-proliferation process. Today there has been created every condition to take more decisive actions in this direction.

Accepting the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as the cornerstone of the nuclear non-proliferation mechanism, Turkmenistan advocates the necessity of its further strengthening, enhancing its universality and adaptation to new realities.

Turkmenistan favours the earliest possible entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and strengthening the verification regime of that Treaty as one of the most effective tools for ensuring non-proliferation, disarmament and nuclear safety in the world.

In this connection, Turkmenistan proposes organizing in Ashgabat a High-level Conference on disarmament affairs.

 

Counter-terrorism

 

At present, international terrorism has acquired a new dimension. It has changed from single acts in certain countries to a large-scale terrorist aggression against European, Asian and African countries. Outflow of millions of refugees, destruction of towns and the most treasured historical monuments – all these are becoming a simple part of everyday life.

Turkmenistan stands for the strengthening of international system to counter terrorism with the United Nations playing a principal coordinating role. Only global actions in strict observance of the Charter of the United Nations, Security Council Resolutions and the relevant principles and rules of international law, can provide an adequate response to global terroristic threat.

Turkmenistan actively cooperates with the UN Office for counter-terrorism in implementation of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

2011 Ashgabat Declaration and the Joint Plan of Action for the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia have become a significant contribution to uniting joint efforts in addressing a terrorist threat.

Priority directions Joint Plan of Action were definded by the Central Asian countries and the UN, at the High-Level Dialogue on Counter-Terrorism with the participation of the UN Secretary General Mr. António Guterres.

In this context it is also important to recall the High-level meeting and presentation of the III phase of Joint Plan of Action of comprehensive implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia which took place in Ashgabat on 30 April 2018.

Turkmenistan considers the practice of establishing regional frameworks for implementing United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy as remarkably successful. As a result, the Central Asian countries proved such success. In this connection, building on the experience gained, Turkmenistan proposes initiating a dialogue with countries of other regions of the world to elaborate a systematic regional and sub-regional approach to the implementation of the UN Counterterrorism Strategy. We believe that the UN Counter-Terrorism Office has a primary leading role to play in this process.

 

Cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking

 

Illicit drug trafficking remains to be a source of serious concern, while still being one of the threats to world peace and security.

Being a responsible party to the system of international relations, Turkmenistan is actively engaged into activities of world community to confront the today’s challenges and threats and therefore it attaches greater significance to the development of international cooperation in combating drug trafficking. That is one of the key priorities of Turkmenistan to contribute to the establishment of peace, security and stability in the region.

The efforts of Turkmenistan are focused on the joint work towards identifying the efficient mechanisms in coordinating the collaboration with regards to fight against drugs and their precursors. As a universal international organization, the United Nations has a key role to play in that process. Over many years Turkmenistan has been demonstrating a result-oriented and targeted cooperation with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. As a result, large-scale national and regional programmes and projects have been realized and are being implemented jointly with UNODC.

In order to actively be involved in the efforts of the world community in combating drugs Turkmenistan is intended to present its candidature to the membership in United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs for 2020-2023. Turkmenistan is determined to hence promote the further expansion of multilateral dialogue on drugs issues.

 

2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

 

Sustainable Development Goals

 

Turkmenistan is actively working towards the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals adopted in September of 2015 by the UN World Summit in New York. Particularly, Turkmenistan was one of the first countries to formally adopt all 17 Goals of Sustainable Development as well as practical implementation of 148 targets and 194 indicators arising therefrom.

There has been established a national SDG monitoring body in the country with the assignment of Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan as a leading coordinator in-charge of the monitoring and national reporting.

Close collaboration of Turkmenistan with the United Nations in this area has been set out in the five-year Partnership Framework for Development for 2016-2020.

At the state level the Programme of the President of Turkmenistan for Social and Economic Development of the Country for 2018-2024 was approved which covers the objectives on the SDGs implementation.

Establishment of the Education and Resource Centre on SDGs at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan is yet another result of successful cooperation of the Government of Turkmenistan with the UN system. This Centre is becoming a platform for teaching and awareness-raising on 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda among the public throughout the country.

Its results and progress of the 2030 Agenda implementation Turkmenistan will submit in a National Voluntary Review on the SDGs at the High-Level Political Forum on sustainable development in 2019.

 

Sustainable Development of Transport

 

In the contemporary world the synergy in the transport field forms an integral part of sustainable development which directly influences the effectiveness and well-balanced world economic relations. Turkmenistan puts forward concrete initiatives, including the UN format, thus contributing to the international cooperation in this strategic track.

The issues related to the opportunities of reinforced cooperation in transport and communication sphere, enhancing logistics basis of all modes of transport as well as future plans on the extension of existing transport corridors and creation of new ones were discussed at the International forum «The Great Silk Road – towards the new frontiers of development» which took place in the National Tourist Zone «Аvaza» in Turkmenistan on2 May 2018.  The Forum served as a logical follow-up to the Global Sustainable Transport Conference organized in Ashgabat under the aegis of the United Nations and it was aimed at bringing the initiatives of the Global Conference into the practical implementation.

As an initiator of a number of the UN General Assembly resolutions on sustainable transport and taking the advantage of its membership to the ECOSOC and UNECE Inland Transport Committee, Turkmenistan will further continue realizing the initiatives of Turkmenistan in transport sphere.

 

Sustainable Energy Development

 

Amongst the branches of economy the energy sector is one of the unique areas which forms the basis of economy of any level. In the modern world economy there is almost no electricity-free sphere and its role in the social sphere is of special importance.

As in previous years one of the main directions of foreign policy strategy of Turkmenistan is the cooperation in energy sphere, promotion of sustainable and equitable access to the energy resources.

Turkmenistan will be firm and consistent in implementing the provisions of the relevant UN General Assembly resolutions directed to securing reliable and stable energy supply. To that end Turkmenistan reaffirms its readiness to close interaction with all interested states and international organisations.

Turkmenistan supports the Security Council resolution aimed at further consolidation of efforts of UN member-states in the matters of international support to Afghanistan, including regional development initiatives such as Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline construction project, Agreement on Transit, Trade and Transport Corridor Afghanistan-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey («Lazurite»), Turkmenistan-Afghanistan railway construction project.

Turkmenistan stands ready to provide a platform for further discussion of appropriate financial and economic, investment and institutional conditions to consolidate the efforts of international community to support the realization of aforementioned transnational projects.

 

 

Sustainable Development and Climate Change

 

Protection of the environment, management of the environment, environmental security – are the priorities for Turkmenistan.

Turkmenistan carries out consistent and determined work on the practical implementation of the decisions of the Rio+20 Conference on sustainable development, III World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Japan and VII World Water Forum held in the Republic of Korea.

Environment Policy and Strategy of the state for the nearest future are aimed at the ecologically safe and sustainable development based on a comprehensive environment-friendly solution of economic and social challenges.

International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea

 

Turkmenistan supports the principle of considering and resolving the water and environmental issues in the Central Asia on the basis of the universally recognized norms of international law taking into account the interest of each country of the region as well as the participation of international organisations. In this process it should be recognized that the regional consensus is the only acceptable form

Within the framework of its chairmanship in the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) Turkmenistan jointly with the countries of the Central Asia focuses the main activities on the preparation of a new Aral Sea Basin Programme (ASBP-4), enhancement of Regional Environmental Action Programme for Sustainable Development in Central Asia; acceleration of ratification process and entry into force of the Framework Convention on Environmental Protection for Sustainable Development in Central Asia, improvement of the economic and social situation in the Aral Sea basin countries by the means of expanding the population’s access to quality water and sanitation systems as well as the improvement of the quality of healthcare services.

In accordance with the UN General Assembly Resolution «Cooperation between the United Nations and the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea», adopted in April of 2018, a new point on the cooperation of UN with the IFAs has been included into the agenda of 73rd session of the UN General Assembly with a call to the Secretary General to prepare a relevant report.

Furthermore efforts on the elaboration of a UN Special Programme for Aral Sea Basin are under way presently.

We believe that the time has come for drafting a Resolution on preparation of UN Special Programme for Aral Sea Basin during the current session with the support of DESA, UNEP and partner organisations dealing with environment and climate change and for conducting appropriate negotiations and consultations on this significant document with all member-states of the United Nations and concerned agencies of the United Nations system.

 

Sustainable Development and Youth

 

At present, the youth actively partake in all spheres of life. At the current stage of the development of international relations, youth organisations are the important social and political driving forces both at national and inter-state levels. This is not only due to objective increase of political involvement of youth in the context of modern globalization, democratization and integration processes in the world but the willingness of political elite to have the youth as a strong social and political force in the efforts to advance and promote the undertakings as well. Defining the legal status of the your people in a modern state is one of the key priorities as it is the youth, being a crucial social and public indicator, largely determines the future progressive and innovative development of society and that of the country as well. Youth policy has also been extensively developed at the international level. The reason for this is that the previously unconsidered political capacities of this socio-political force in the world in the background of successful experience at the national level are now important and, above all, serve as an efficient political instrument.

Under the present conditions of world political, economic and social processes, the youth are becoming a strategic resource which determines the development of not only a state but the entire international relations in a longer-term perspective.

Hence in the context of achieving sustainable development goals Turkmenistan puts forward the initiative on the importance of establishing a Global partnership for defending the interests of youth.

We believe it appropriate to have the Office of the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Youth, UNICEF, UNESCO, UNFPA and other UN agencies and international organisations mandated to elaborate and realize youth policies at the international level.

Turkmenistan stands ready to provide a platform to advocate such a dialogue, particularly, to host in our country an International Youth Forum, with one of the main objectives to prepare the proposals on the structure, composition, working methods and other organizational aspects of the future international organisations.

Conclusion

 

Present priority positions, consistent implementation of initiatives and proposals, put forward at various international forums, will be the determining factor when developing country’s approaches to cooperation with the every UN member-state as well as UN agencies, bodies, establishments in the course of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly.

 

Turkmenistan commends closer international engagement in addressing urgent contemporary problems, expresses firm willingness to joint activities in order to approve noble ideals of peace and justice, realization of goals and targets facing the United Nations.