Parliamentary Diplomacy as an Effective Instrument in Foreign Policy
“Parliamentary diplomacy is a guarantor of strengthening the international authority of
our state. As a result of the establishment of the two-chamber parliament,
the legislation in our country will achieve a new level in its development.
And it creates all necessary conditions for the participation of the representatives of
different political parties in adoption of new laws. Such reforms once again raise the
international authority of Turkmenistan as a sovereign state with
the developed advanced political system.”
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov
Parliamentary diplomacy - concerns the full range of international activities undertaken by parliamentarians in order to increase mutual understanding between countries, to assist each other in improving the control of governments and the representation of a people and to increase the democratic legitimacy of inter-governmental institutions. And also it is a guarantee of strengthening of international authority of the country. Parliamentary diplomacy is not only exclusively aimed at establishing the legal basis for international relations, but also seeks to strengthen ties and solidify interstate and interregional integration.
International politics is traditionally presumed to be the domain of diplomats and ministers, but one should bear in the mind the significance not only of individual politicians and political parties but also of whole parliamentary bodies in engaging in diplomacy. In general there are three major parliamentary diplomacy categories: i) parliamentarians; ii) political parties; and, iii) parliaments (local, regional or international). Of course, the type of parliament selected will depend on the country and parliamentary system.
A number of factors contribute to the effectiveness of parliamentary diplomacy. For example, the size of a parliamentary body is important. The more individual parliamentarians there are then the more likely it is that skills and expertise for conflict prevention, mediation and dialogue can be sourced. That said, one must not underestimate smaller parliamentary bodies. Individual parliamentarians of high expertise and experience can still be found in smaller parliaments, and the smaller parliament may have an added-value in engaging in a situation of greater concern and proximity to it.
It’s very important to emphasize the role of national parliaments during their cooperation process with other parliaments. This is included in the competences of the parliaments or to be more precise regulated through the different bilateral agreements. For example, the Parliament as the highest legislative institution has the right to ratify international treaties, hold important meetings with foreign specialist in different fields where the cooperation and the exchange of expertise is necessary, create mutual committees on specific agendas etc. The speaker of parliament participates in international meetings and conferences in which are discussed important issues. Another active part of parliamentary diplomacy is composed by the Inter-Parliamentary Relations and Permanent or Temporary Delegations at the international organizations which represent the Parliament in international relations.
Parliamentary diplomacy is also an important tool in Turkmenistan’s foreign policy. Both chambers of the Milli Genesh, the Halk Maslahaty and the Mejlis, engage in parliamentary diplomacy. The Turkmenistan’s Foreign Policy Concept, which was approved by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on February 18, 2017, tasks the Parliament of Turkmenistan not only with legislative support of foreign policies and the fulfillment of international obligations but also with improving the effectiveness of parliamentary diplomacy. Parliamentary diplomacy is increasingly moving beyond protocol activities of exclusively in international committees. Actually, the leadership of both chambers, with the two speakers at the helm, and all parliamentarians have direct contacts with their foreign counterparts, paying working visits both to the near and far abroad, holding meetings with public officials and civil society representatives in different countries, and articulating new ideas and mechanisms for resolving various international problems. Foreign representatives tend to visit the Turkmen parliament not just to maintain the existing ties but also to expand cooperation and find solutions to problems.
Having established efficient bilateral and multilateral relations in the result of far-seeing diplomatic strategy, Turkmenistan has gained valuable experience in development of new ways and directions of cooperation with foreign partners. Having become a member of around 50 international organizations, our country has demonstrated resilience of its foreign course and truth of chosen way to the world taking part in more than 150 conventions, agreements and multilateral documents. The President of Turkmenistan directs activity of the deputy corps in implementation of foreign strategy of the country at implementation of national interests and making of positive image of the state as stable and reliable partner, which is open for cooperation, as well as a peace-maker, messenger of the idea of multilateral diplomatic dialog in all current problems of global and regional scale, generator of new approaches to their solution.
The Milli Genesh of Turkmenistan is a full member of Inter-Parliamentary Union, Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and actively participates in other big international Parliamentary Assemblies. The Milli Genesh pays special attention to the role of parliamentarian diplomacy in development of relations between the countries and nations, strengthening of peace and fraternity and thinks that these relations are integral part of international dialog. Participating in inter-parliamentarian forums, the deputies actively use international tribune for promotion and implementation of initiatives of the President of Turkmenistan, popularization of success in development of the country, make the colleagues from other states aware of the information about political and economic changes, speak out their positions in many current modern issues.
According to the principles of multidimensional foreign policy, the Milli Genesh of Turkmenistan has established inter-parliamentary groups of friendship with parliaments of 43 states of the world on bilateral basis. Work for unification of legislation, implementation of standards of international law, study of the best practice of law enforcement, analysis of law-making tendencies are important components of international activity of Turkmen parliamentarians.
Today, Turkmenistan expands the borders of beneficial relations with the states of the planet, uses political, economic and cultural potential for the sake of peace and sustainable development. Our state actively participates in development of agreed solutions of important issues of humanity with the countries of the world, competent organizations including with the United Nations, European Union, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Islamic Cooperation Organization. Efforts of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov for deserving continuation of valuable humanistic principles, creative initiatives proposed for the triumph of peace, understanding and friendship serve as reliable foundation for expansion of long-term partnership on bilateral and multilateral base. Latest history of Turkmenistan is made based on humanistic principles of the Main Law, which guarantees protection of human rights and freedoms, which declared human being as the main value of the state and society under wise leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. Following slogan “The State for Human Being!” big achievements are made for the sake of happy and prosperous life of our nation.
Baynazar NEPESOV,
2nd year student of the Faculty of International Relations
of the Institute of International Relations
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.