Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASHGABAT1003
2007-09-21 13:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: MEETING WITH INSTITUTE OF DEMOCRACY
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UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001003
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN AND DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL SCUL TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: MEETING WITH INSTITUTE OF DEMOCRACY
AND HUMAN RIGHTS DIRECTOR AKHMEDOVA
REF: ASHGABAT 996
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001003
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN AND DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL SCUL TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: MEETING WITH INSTITUTE OF DEMOCRACY
AND HUMAN RIGHTS DIRECTOR AKHMEDOVA
REF: ASHGABAT 996
1. (U) Sensitive byt unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Institute for Democracy and Human Rights
Deirector Shirin Ahmedova told poloff September 21 that the
new Human Rights Commission has plans to cooperate closely
with the UN and EU. The Commission also wants to develop the
capcity and expertise to monitor legislation being considered
in parliament and prepare a national stategy to implement
human rights reform in Turkmenistan. Given the Institute's
eagerness to engage international partners, including the
United States, Post strongly believes a visit by DRL to
Turkmenistan would be very opportune. END SUMMARY.
3. (U) Poloff met today with the director of Turkmenistan's
Institute of Democracy and Human Rights, seeking to discuss
the role and ambitions of the new Human Rights Commission,
but also seeking more clarity on the Institute itself.
Institute Director Shirin Ahmedova was appointed to the
directorship in June, having worked previously in the Mary
regional governor's office and the Prosecutor General's
office in Ashgabat.
4. (U) She said that the new commission is comprised of
members from the Mejlis, Ministry of Education, Ministry of
Culture and Broadcasting, Ministry of Health, Ministry of
Welfare and Social Care, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and
Ministry of Economy and Finance. There are also members from
the Turkmen Women's Union, several professional unions, and
the Council on Religious Affairs.
5. (U) The commission's long-term plan is focused on a
strategy that will give it the capacity and access to
expertise needed to monitor legislation being considered in
parliament, prepare a national strategy for implementing
human rights reform, and coordinate implementation of those
reforms within the participating ministries, agencies, and
local government entities.
6. (U) The commission already has in place short-term plans
to cooperate closely with UN and EU partners, including an
October working group seminar to formulate a plan for initial
steps this year. In November, a three-day seminar in
coordination with independent experts from the UNDP will
compile a near term program for implementing reform in the
areas of culture, education, and social structures.
Additionally, over the next two years, UNDP, UNCHR and others
will be partnering with the commission to provide training
seminars, both in the capital and in the provinces that will
unveil planned reforms on a local level.
7. (SBU) COMMENT: It is clear that the commission has high
ambitions, and that the director of the Democracy Institute
believes that the commission will have a solid mandate the
President supports. Members of our Public Diplomacy section
report that Director Ahmedova recently made an unexpected,
first-time appearance there, telling them the Institute will
be opening a public information center soon, and requesting
guidance on how that is done. More interesting signs of
change. Post believes that given the Institute's eagerness to
engage international partners, including the United States
(REFTEL),a visit by DRL to Turkmenistan would be very
opportune.
CURRAN
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN AND DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL SCUL TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: MEETING WITH INSTITUTE OF DEMOCRACY
AND HUMAN RIGHTS DIRECTOR AKHMEDOVA
REF: ASHGABAT 996
1. (U) Sensitive byt unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Institute for Democracy and Human Rights
Deirector Shirin Ahmedova told poloff September 21 that the
new Human Rights Commission has plans to cooperate closely
with the UN and EU. The Commission also wants to develop the
capcity and expertise to monitor legislation being considered
in parliament and prepare a national stategy to implement
human rights reform in Turkmenistan. Given the Institute's
eagerness to engage international partners, including the
United States, Post strongly believes a visit by DRL to
Turkmenistan would be very opportune. END SUMMARY.
3. (U) Poloff met today with the director of Turkmenistan's
Institute of Democracy and Human Rights, seeking to discuss
the role and ambitions of the new Human Rights Commission,
but also seeking more clarity on the Institute itself.
Institute Director Shirin Ahmedova was appointed to the
directorship in June, having worked previously in the Mary
regional governor's office and the Prosecutor General's
office in Ashgabat.
4. (U) She said that the new commission is comprised of
members from the Mejlis, Ministry of Education, Ministry of
Culture and Broadcasting, Ministry of Health, Ministry of
Welfare and Social Care, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and
Ministry of Economy and Finance. There are also members from
the Turkmen Women's Union, several professional unions, and
the Council on Religious Affairs.
5. (U) The commission's long-term plan is focused on a
strategy that will give it the capacity and access to
expertise needed to monitor legislation being considered in
parliament, prepare a national strategy for implementing
human rights reform, and coordinate implementation of those
reforms within the participating ministries, agencies, and
local government entities.
6. (U) The commission already has in place short-term plans
to cooperate closely with UN and EU partners, including an
October working group seminar to formulate a plan for initial
steps this year. In November, a three-day seminar in
coordination with independent experts from the UNDP will
compile a near term program for implementing reform in the
areas of culture, education, and social structures.
Additionally, over the next two years, UNDP, UNCHR and others
will be partnering with the commission to provide training
seminars, both in the capital and in the provinces that will
unveil planned reforms on a local level.
7. (SBU) COMMENT: It is clear that the commission has high
ambitions, and that the director of the Democracy Institute
believes that the commission will have a solid mandate the
President supports. Members of our Public Diplomacy section
report that Director Ahmedova recently made an unexpected,
first-time appearance there, telling them the Institute will
be opening a public information center soon, and requesting
guidance on how that is done. More interesting signs of
change. Post believes that given the Institute's eagerness to
engage international partners, including the United States
(REFTEL),a visit by DRL to Turkmenistan would be very
opportune.
CURRAN