NEWS
TO THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF TURKMENISTAN’S INDEPENDENCE: FIRST STEPS ON THE WAY OF SOVEREIGN DEVELOPMENT
2021 is an anniversary year for Turkmenistan, which has declared its independence three decades ago and become a full member of the world community. Declaration of the State Sovereignty of Turkmen SSR from August 22, 1990, which is considered to be the first act establishing the sovereignty of the republic in the composition of the USSR, is worth to be mentioned among important milestones on the way to independence. Turkmen SSR was defined as a sovereign national state, which holds full control of the power across its entire territory and keeps right to establish political and economic order independently.
National referendum on independence of Turkmenistan, which was held by the Government on October 26, 1991, when 94 percent of the country’s population have voted for independent way of development, was another important step.
Based on the results of the referendum, the Supreme Council of Turkmen SSR has adopted the Constitutional Law on Independence and bases of the state order of Turkmenistan on October 27, 1991, which declared democratic independent state within the borders of Turkmen SSR. The supremacy of the Constitution and laws of Turkmenistan was established across the whole territory of the country.
The law said: “Independence of Turkmenistan is declared for the highest goals – acquiring of true national statehood by Turkmen people, provision of each human regardless of the nation, race, social status and belief with rights and freedoms provided by the Constitution of Turkmenistan, Universal Declaration on Human Rights and other standards of international law, building of humane democratic society with the supremacy of law”.
According to the Constitutional Law of Turkmenistan from October 9, 2017, the initial text of the Law on Independence and bases of the state order of Turkmenistan was amended. The amendments were related to the celebration of the Independence Day of Turkmenistan, which used to be celebrated on October 27 – 28 and starting from 2018, September 27 is considered as celebration date.
International practice and experience of number of unrecognized states show that declaration of independence does not guarantee international legal personality. It is important that independence would be recognized by other states and international organizations, to establish diplomatic relations, which are the foundation for support of official relations between sovereign states and other entities of international law. In the first year of independence, Turkmenistan received recognition of dozens countries of the world.
The People’s Republic of China (06.01.1992), the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea (10.01.1992), the Kingdom of Denmark (21.01.1992), and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (23.01.1992) were among the first states, which established diplomatic relations with Turkmenistan.
In the first half of 1992, the diplomatic relations have been established both with close neighbors like Iran and Afghanistan as well as with other states of Asia, Europe and America – the Republic of Turkey, the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Cuba, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Germany, the Kingdom of Sweden, Swiss Confederation, United States of America, Japan, Canada, the Republic of India, Italy. Establishment of diplomatic relations was based on exchange of notes, letters, protocols and joint communiques, declarations and memorandums.
In later years, Turkmenistan has significantly expanded its diplomatic presence in the world and has come to the 30th anniversary of independence as a state having diplomatic relations with 149 states. 40 diplomatic missions and consulates of Turkmenistan work abroad. 35 diplomatic missions of foreign states and 13 representatives of international organizations are accredited in the country.
Membership in the United Nations Organization (March 2, 1992) was an important step in recognition and strengthening of Turkmenistan’s independence. For the past years, Turkmenistan has become a strategic partner of the UN in achievement of its goals in regional and global scale.
All without exclusion 185 countries of the United Nations at that moment have voted for adoption of Special Resolution on Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan during the session of the UN General Assembly on December 12, 1995. Opening of the UN Regional Center of Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia in Ashgabat has become another example of constructive cooperation between the UN and Turkmenistan.
Trying to intensify its participation in work of various UN structures, Turkmenistan has opened Permanent representative office at the branch office of the United Nations in Geneva, where number of the key divisions of the UN as well as headquarters of other big international organizations are located, in 2011.
At the same time, Turkmenistan plans to expand the presence of the UN structures in the country. At present time, our country is in the composition of 13 Councils, Committees and Commissions of the UN and actively participates in global processes in the context of implementation of 2030 Global Agenda.
In general, Turkmenistan is a member of 47 international organizations, including the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Islamic Cooperation Organizations, Non-Alignment Movement and other.