TURKMENBASY, Turkmenistan, October 7. /TASS/. The United Nations should clarify the criteria for the status of a neutral state and update the concept in line with modern realities so that it is not "blurred," Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko told reporters.

According to Matviyenko, Switzerland, which has traditionally been considered a neutral state, is moving away from this status because it follows the European Union’s directives and supports what she described as illegal sanctions, resulting in the "erosion" of the concept. Switzerland is not the only country behaving this way in today’s turbulent world, Matviyenko noted.

"I think the time has come for the United Nations to once again analyze its documents and provisions and ensure that if a state has permanent neutrality status, it strictly complies with all international rules established by the UN Charter and adheres to them. Perhaps the status of a neutral state should be clarified, perhaps updated in light of what is happening, so that the concept is not blurred and does not become merely decorative," she said.

At the same time, Turkmenistan, as the Federation Council speaker noted, is a genuinely sovereign state pursuing an independent and balanced foreign policy in the interests of its country and people. It is a state that does not succumb to any pressure, is not beholden to anyone and does not support illegal sanctions, she said. "This is exactly how countries with neutral state status should behave. And I want to say that Russia highly values Turkmenistan’s consistent position in maintaining permanent neutrality," she said.