Ambassador Murad Mammetalyyev of Turkmenistan in Seoul hosted a reception at the Grand Hyatt Seoul on Nov. 17, 2015 to celebrate the Independence Day and 20th Anniversary of Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan.
Many important guests attended the reception from the government, business world and various other segments of Korean society as well as the Seoul Diplomatic Corps and other areas of the international community in Korea.
Guests from the Korean society included Chancellor Yun Duk-min of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy and representatives from many different organizations, including Publisher-Chairman Lee Kyung-sik of The Korea Post Media (publisher of five different Korean and English media).

Attendance from the Seoul Diplomatic Corps was very large, and included Ambassadors Oscar Gustavo Herrera Gilbert of Ecuador, Antonio Quintero Nobre of Portugal, Mumba Smyth Kapumpa of Zambia, Albino Malungo of Angola, Hassan Taherian of Iran, Jose Luis Bernal of Mexico,Natallia Jhylevich of Belarus, Vasyl Marmazov of Ukraine, Ramzi Teymurov of Azerbaijan, Botirjon Asadov of Uzbekistan, Hakan Okcal of Turkey, Zahid Nasrulah Khan of Pakistan, Guadalupe Palomeque de Taboada of Bolivia, Grecia Fiodalicia Pichardo of Dominican Republic,William Paterson of Australia, Dato Rohana binti Ramli of Malaysia, Petar Andonov of Bulgaria and Sylvestre Kouassi Bile of Cote d'Ivoire.
Speaking to the guests, Ambassador Mammetalyyev of Turkmenistan said, “One of the bright examples is the diplomatic relations established between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea. It should be emphasized that today we are witnessing the growing dynamics of the bilateral relations and mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas, including trade, investment, technology, science, culture, sports and other spheres.Frequent exchanges of the visits on a highest level during the past few years gives a great impulse for the increasing level of bilateral relations between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea.” Excerpts from the speech follow:
This year Turkmenistan celebrates the 24thanniversary of Independence and the 20th anniversary of proclamation of the Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan. These two events are very meaningful and important for Turkmen people.

Any country, which has taken the road of true independence, is forced to address a myriad of challenges in a very short period of time, to seek to have its place in new realities, respond to objective questions that the history puts to it. For Turkmenistan, which gained independence after the Soviet Union collapse the choosing a foreign policy strategy became one of most important and crucial then. Turkmenistan has chosen a model called positive neutrality and formulated its fundamental principles: peacefulness, non-interference in the affairs of other nations, respect for their sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-participation in international military organizations and treaties. That decision was welcomed and confirmed by United Nations Organization. 20 years ago the General Assembly of United Nations Organization accepted the Resolution № 50/80А on Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan. On June 2015 the General Assembly by Resolution has reaffirmed support for the status of Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan and welcomed the government’s decision to declare 2015 the Year of Neutrality and Peace as well as holding in December 2015 an International Conference on “The policy of neutrality: in ernational cooperation for peace, security and development”.

For that reason during this year Turkmenistan holds numerous international events, demonstrating the high level importance of the Permanent Neutrality status for Turkmenistan and Turkmen Nation, as well as promoting the main idea ? establishment of permanent peace and prosperity entire the world. One of the most important events in this regard is the International Conference entitled: “The policy of neutrality: international cooperation for peace, security and development”, to be held on December 12, 2015 in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan. Heads of states and governments from all around the world, as well as heads of prominent international organizations are being invited to participate in this important event. That’s why, I would like to take this opportunity for reiterating the invitation of the President of Turkmenistan H.E.Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov addressed to the distinguished heads of states and governments, as well as other high-ranking guests from all around the world for actively participation in this historical conference.
After the 20 years we can confidently say that we had made a right choice. Today, Turkmenistan, having the fourth largest reserves of natural gas, shows the economic growth rate of 10 percent per year.Turkmenistan lives in peace and harmony with its neighbors, maintains friendly and equal relations with all countries of the world, develops mutually beneficial economic and trade contacts with them.

One of the bright examples is the diplomatic relations established between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea. It should be emphasized that today we are witnessing the growing dynamics of the bilateral relations and mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas, including trade, investment, technology, science, culture, sports and other spheres.Frequent exchanges of the visits on a highest level during the past few years gives a great impulse for the increasing level of bilateral relations between Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea.
In April 2015, the President of Turkmenistan His Excellency Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov paid a state visit to the Republic of Korea. During that visit the President of Turkmenistan also participated in the 7thWorld Water forum, held in Daegu city. In his speech, he had a number of initiatives, among which the idea of creating the “water diplomacy"can be outlined.The first in the history of bilateral relations state visit of the President of the Republic of Korea Her Excellency madam Park Keun-hye to Turkmenistan was carried out in June 2014. It has to be mentioned that more than twenty intergovernmental documents and agreements, aimed at further development of the mutual beneficial cooperation, were signed during that two state visits.
In this context it is also necessary to point out the multi-billion dollar contracts signed during the above-mentioned visits with leading Korean companies such as LG,Hyundai and Daewoo,aimed on the implementation of major oil and gas projects in Turkmenistan. It is necessary to emphasize the huge contribution made by the leading Korean companies in the development of various sectors of Turkmenistan during the years of the Independence of our country.

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