ODIHR Director offers co-operation with Turkmenistan on elections, rule of law and human rights
(OSCE/Jens Eschenbaecher)ODIHR Director Janez Lenarcic (right) welcomes Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian during the Minister's visit to Warsaw on 17 February 2009. (OSCE/Jens Eschenbaecher) Photo details
ASHGABAD, 22 May 2007 - Ambassador Christian Strohal, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), expressed hope today that Turkmen authorities would be ready to co-operate on election issues, rule of law and human rights.
"I was encouraged by pledges made by the President and Foreign Minister to work with ODIHR on legislative reviews, gender issues, criminal justice reform, on participating in future election observations and holding regional workshops on human rights and democratization," said Ambassador Strohal at the end of his two-day visit to Turkmenistan.
"We will now follow up on this by establishing working contacts with the administration, and work to reach out to the Turkmen public."
He added that this will depend entirely on the willingness of the Turkmen authorities to translate the assistance offered by the ODIHR into concrete reforms, as agreed with the President.
In his meeting with President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, Ambassador Strohal raised concerns regarding the human rights situation in Turkmenistan, offering to assist the country towards fulfilling its OSCE human rights commitments.
"Turkmenistan has a long way to go before its institutions are truly democratic and human rights fully respected. I appreciate the determination of the President to engage more fully with the OSCE in this regard and to ensure the openness of his administration," said Ambassador Strohal.
"I was encouraged by pledges made by the President and Foreign Minister to work with ODIHR on legislative reviews, gender issues, criminal justice reform, on participating in future election observations and holding regional workshops on human rights and democratization," said Ambassador Strohal at the end of his two-day visit to Turkmenistan.
"We will now follow up on this by establishing working contacts with the administration, and work to reach out to the Turkmen public."
He added that this will depend entirely on the willingness of the Turkmen authorities to translate the assistance offered by the ODIHR into concrete reforms, as agreed with the President.
In his meeting with President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, Ambassador Strohal raised concerns regarding the human rights situation in Turkmenistan, offering to assist the country towards fulfilling its OSCE human rights commitments.
"Turkmenistan has a long way to go before its institutions are truly democratic and human rights fully respected. I appreciate the determination of the President to engage more fully with the OSCE in this regard and to ensure the openness of his administration," said Ambassador Strohal.