TURKMENISTAN: MEETING WITH INSTITUTE OF DEMOCRACY

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