Though Turkmenistan has been officially neutral since 1995, the document represents its most comprehensive foreign policy statement to date. The document explains how Turkmenistan plans to use its neutral status to promote peace in the region, to attract new foreign investors, and to advance social, political and economic reforms. So far, Turkmenistan has avoided military and political alliances and it plans to respond only to humanitarian calls in the future. By remaining free of entangling alliances, Turkmenistan feels it can wield a positive influence in the region and gain the respect of other nations. But experts on the region say the document's heavy emphasis on neutrality, cooperation and peace brokering is undermined by the country's own shaky status.
International position is earned rather than decreed by states.
And Turkmenistan has not yet reached the point where it has made its neutrality work. It has not yet turned itself into a regional forum yet. It is unclear whether it will become a respected actor in the region or the broader international community. It is yet to be seen whether Turkmenistan will become a peacemaking center, as envisioned in the foreign policy document. Olcott, of the Carnegie Endowment, says Turkmenistan would be more credible as a regional leader if it first took care of domestic reforms.