Dear colleagues, dear friends! On behalf of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Member States of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, I am pleased to welcome the participants of the regular meeting of parliamentary leaders of the countries – members of the Group of Friends of Neutrality. This platform is becoming an important format for dialogue among lawmakers on key issues of the international agenda on the basis of the principles of openness and equality.
I would like to thank the organizers of the event, our Turkmen friends, who this year hold large-scale celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of the international recognition of neutrality. Throughout all these years, Russia has supported Turkmenistan in its commitment to a wise foreign policy that serves the interests of peace and stability.
Embracing the position of neutrality commands respect. This is especially relevant nowadays, when the world is facing serious challenges and threats. We are witnessing persistent attempts by certain states to “fuel” confrontation in various parts of the world, impose their own “rules of the game” on others. All this is being done to slow down the process of establishing a more just multipolar world.
In these circumstances we need consolidation of efforts, not confrontation and the thirst for global domination. A special role belongs to parliamentary diplomacy, which can ensure joint and equal development for all interested countries.
In this sense, it is symbolic that it was precisely in neutral Turkmenistan that the Interparliamentary Forum of Central Asia countries and Russia was launched. With the support of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan, honorable Gurbanguly Myalikguliyevich Berdimuhamedov, preparations are now underway for its second session. These effective platforms enable our parliamentarians to exchange legislative experience and share best lawmaking practices through constant communication.
It is noteworthy that today the concept of positive neutrality is gaining new prominence and being imbued with fresh, unifying international initiatives. These were presented by the President of Turkmenistan, His Excellency Serdar Gurbangulyyevich Berdimuhamedov, during the landmark 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Today, parliaments bear special responsibility for maintaining a high level of interaction not only in the political sphere but also in the economic and humanitarian areas.
Russia is making significant efforts to expand scientific, technical, educational and cultural cooperation with the countries of the Group of Friends of Neutrality.
I would also like to highlight the importance of fostering connections among the young people of our countries. It is they who in the foreseeable future will assume leading roles in the economy, politics and science. Taking this opportunity, I would like to propose the World Youth Festival as a platform for such interaction. It will be held next year in Krasnoyarsk, and I look forward to the active participation of representatives from the member states of the Group of Friends of Neutrality.
I am confident that today’s meeting, along with other initiatives of our Turkmen friends, will contribute to creating favourable conditions for expanding the constructive parliamentary dialogue and, more broadly, for strengthening interstate cooperation for the benefit of the peoples of our countries.