Bakhtyiev R. Policy of neutral Turkmenistan in the context of transformation processes of the post-Soviet period.

The thesis is devoted to investigation of neutral Turkmenistan policy in the post-Soviet period. Since Turkmenistan for the first time in history was awarded the status of a neutral state under the aegis of the United Nations organization, special attention was given to study of the prerequisites and endogenous and exogenous factors, under the influence of which the state was given such status. Multiple and various sources were analyzed, mainly those documents forming the theoretical and empirical basis of the investigation (including in Turkmen). Factors characterizing the peculiarities of gaining the neutral state status were detailed. Stages of changes in republic's political order occurred due to change of its position in the international community are examined. It is significant to note that Turkmenistan marched confidently towards new status and this process was hard-won. Based on an examination of various documents the thesis represents the development of changes in the political, economic and social spheres, which took place in Turkmenistan over the past two decades. The Constitution adopted in 1992 (with subsequent amendments and additions) regulated the status of Turkmenistan as a state adhering to the permanent neutrality. Thereby the legal framework enabled the republic to act in accordance with the adopted status. The thesis outlines the basic directions of foreign policy of Turkmenistan in view of already existing or newly established relations. Special attention is given to the republic's economic relations, its foreign trade, construction of large technical objects, particularly gas pipelines. Solving of regional problems is also among significant aspects of the policy of neutral Turkmenistan. It should be noted that this republic is among quite different countries of Central Asia, and Turkmenistan has to solve many issues in partnership with neighboring countries (Uzbekistan. Tajikistan, Iran and Afghanistan) - The thesis characterizes the main problems of bilateral and multilateral relations to be solved. Turkmenistan also took the hard way in the system of the CIS - from the critically-cautious attitude to active participation in bilateral and multilateral relations with CIS countries in recent years. The relationship with the Russian Federation and other CIS countries is also considered in sufficient detail.