In the framework of his visit to Austria, the National Leader of the Turkmen people and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, gave an interview about the situation in the Middle East and how it affects his country.
As is known, the situation in the Middle East, which is a neighboring region for Turkmenistan, remains extremely complex. Moreover, the possibility of an escalation of tensions up to the use of weapons of mass destruction cannot be ruled out. What could be the consequences of such a situation?
The development of the current situation causes serious concern for Turkmenistan. Our concern is fully justified, since the vast region of the Middle East geographically borders Turkmenistan. In this regard, the events taking place there may have a negative impact on neighboring countries and the region as a whole.
Turkmenistan is a neutral state. Our position is based on the resolution of conflict situations and disputes by peaceful, political and diplomatic means. This is a fundamental point of view that has never changed and will not change.
At the same time, over the past three decades Turkmenistan has been actively participating in multilateral efforts aimed at reducing military activity and excluding the use of force as an instrument of foreign policy.
First and foremost, this concerns weapons of mass destruction. I would like to state openly that Turkmenistan strongly advocates for the prohibition of weapons of mass destruction.
Our country is a party to most of the key international legal instruments on arms control, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.
In addition, Turkmenistan is one of the active participants in the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia. For us, such a legal status is not merely a political or military-technical category, but above all a matter of morality, humanism, and an awareness of our responsibility to present and future generations.
As a doctor who has devoted decades to public service in safeguarding the health and lives of present and future generations, I would like to note that weapons of mass destruction would lead to irreparable negative consequences. I know that in the event of their use, they would have the most severe impact on the population, the environment, and all areas of socio-economic development of large regions. This is an issue that requires a very deep and the highest level of responsibility. To underestimate it, to treat it superficially and thoughtlessly, is an extremely dangerous situation that must not be allowed.
It has become known that during the current Middle Eastern conflict, military strikes have also been carried out on territories of the Caspian region. What is your position, and in general the position of Turkmenistan, on this situation?
– It is necessary to understand that for more than thirty years Turkmenistan, together with the Caspian littoral states – Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Iran and Russia – has consistently and with sincere intentions built Caspian cooperation. Over these years, we have coordinated our actions and jointly achieved success in various areas of partnership.
As a result, in 2018 all the coastal states signed the fundamental document – the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea. The Convention clearly states that the Caspian Sea is a zone of peace, agreement and good neighborliness, and the deployment of armed forces or any military activity by non-littoral states is prohibited here. This provision serves as a fundamental factor of regional security.
Therefore, it is quite natural that Turkmenistan is concerned about military strikes carried out on the territory of a neighboring Caspian state. Our country fully rejects such actions. Military activity in the Caspian region is absolutely unacceptable.
In this regard, Turkmenistan, after careful consideration of the recently proposed draft Joint Statement of the Caspian states, will take a decision on its support.
This draft notes that the spread of the armed conflict in the Middle East to the Caspian region would mean an escalation and poses a threat to regional security.
This document reflects our principled views, as well as our position on the inadmissibility of expanding the scope of the conflict.
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