OSCE human rights chief to visit Turkmenistan

WARSAW, 15 June 2010 - The Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Ambassador Janez Lenarcic, is travelling to Ashgabat today for talks on how ODIHR can assist the authorities in implementing Turkmenistan's international commitments.

During the two-day visit, Lenarcic will meet Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, the Chairperson of the Mejlis, Akja Nurberdiyeva, and the Director of the National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights, Yazdursun Gurbannazarova, as well as representatives of the Central Election Commission.

As a participating State of the OSCE, Turkmenistan has undertaken to implement a wide range of commitments related to human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

ODIHR is mandated to support participating States with putting their human rights and democracy commitments into practice.