Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASHGABAT1078
2007-10-05 11:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: OSCE SEES IMPROVEMENT IN HUMAN
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001078
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: OSCE SEES IMPROVEMENT IN HUMAN
RIGHTS
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001078
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: OSCE SEES IMPROVEMENT IN HUMAN
RIGHTS
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: OSCE sees an improvement in human rights,
in the attitude of the government toward human rights, and in
the ability of the OSCE Ashgabat Center to do business, since
Berdimuhamedov came to power in early 2007. For the first
time ever, government officials have been able to travel
abroad for OSCE-sponsored training, and the Turkmenistan
government has been willing to cooperate with ODIHR. Most
importantly, while all impediments have not disappeared,
OSCE's ability to work with and provide services to ordinary
people has increased tremendously. OSCE's civil society work
has expanded and local residents are no longer routinely
hindered by the government from participating. END SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) The OSCE has noted an improvement in human rights,
as well as the Turkmenistan government's attitude toward
human rights, since President Berdimuhamedov came to power.
According to Ashgabat OSCE Center Human Dimensions officer
Benjamin Moreau, cooperation between OSCE and the Turkmen
government has blossomed over the past nine months. For
example, in 2006 OSCE was able to hold only one seminar on
the general topic of understanding human rights. In 2007,
OSCE has held four seminars teaching human rights standards
to judges and prosecutors. Over 80 people participated in
the four seminars. In addition, OSCE has started a human
rights course in one of the universities. Approximately 40
second- and third-year students in the international law,
law, and diplomacy programs, as well as professors, are in
the course.
EXCHANGES/VISITS
4. (SBU) Travel and exchanges have also expanded, Moreau
said. In fact, for the first time since 1999, Turkmenistan
officials have participated in overseas seminars. A total of
14 government officials attened various OSCE seminars,
including six from the Ministry of Education. Four
parliamentarians recently went to Berlin to learn how the
Bundestag functions and to learn more about local
self-governance in Germany. Moreau said OSCE hopes to expand
cooperation with parliament. He believes the role of that
body may be evolving, because Turkmenistan government
contacts have said there are plans to double the size of the
body (to 100 members) by the 2008 parliamentary elections. A
number of OSCE officials have visited Turkmenistan,
including, for the first time ever, two separate ODIHR
delegations.
5. (SBU) In another major change from the past, Moreau said,
the Turkmenistan government did not object this year to OSCE
sending ordinary citizens abroad for training. Previously,
government officials would discourage people from going. A
record 16 people since the beginning of 2007 have traveled
for OSCE training in other countries.
CIVIL SOCIETY
6. (SBU) Moreau said 2007 marked the first time OSCE was not
prevented or hindered by the government form providing civil
society training. In the past, security officials would
actually stop invitees from attending. OSCE's three resource
centers have been able to expand their courses from English
and computer literacy to now include leadership-skills
training, human rights, and healthy living. Most notably,
Moreau said, the Turkmenistan Red Crescent Society has
proposed several joint projects, including one on HIV/AIDS.
LEGAL CONSULTATIONS
7. (SBU) Moreau said the OSCE Center continues to receive
complainants regarding human rights issues on a daily basis
ASHGABAT 00001078 002 OF 002
and to provide advocacy. However, the number of drop in
cases has decreased. (NOTE: Both Post and the UK Embassy
have also noted a marked decrease in the number of people
seeking our assistance on human rights cases. END NOTE.) At
the same time, there are fewer barriers to potential clients,
although monitoring of who comes and goes continues. Moreau
said the government has responded to a majority of diplomatic
notes sent regarding cases, unlike in the past. In 2007, the
OSCE Center has provided 906 legal consultations to 200
people. A freedom of movement case involving the family of
former Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers for
Financial Affairs and Central Bank Chairman Orazov, who was
fired for embezzlement and fled the country, was positively
resolved, and they were able to leave the country.
HOPES FOR 2008
8. (SBU) The Turkmenistan government has accepted OSCE's
proposed 2008 plan of activity. ODIHR has also submitted,
for the first time, a plan of activity to the government and
is awaiting a response. Moreau said Berdimuhamedov had
agreed orally to cooperation with ODIHR, and so OSCE would
see if that translates into action.
9. (SBU) COMMENT: While Turkmenistan has a long way to go to
reach "international standards" on human rights, the changes
noted by OSCE are a positive sign that while the steps are
slow, they appear to be in the right direction. It is
important for the United Staes and other Western countries to
encourage Turkmenistan's changes and provide the necessary
assistance to keep things on the right track. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: OSCE SEES IMPROVEMENT IN HUMAN
RIGHTS
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: OSCE sees an improvement in human rights,
in the attitude of the government toward human rights, and in
the ability of the OSCE Ashgabat Center to do business, since
Berdimuhamedov came to power in early 2007. For the first
time ever, government officials have been able to travel
abroad for OSCE-sponsored training, and the Turkmenistan
government has been willing to cooperate with ODIHR. Most
importantly, while all impediments have not disappeared,
OSCE's ability to work with and provide services to ordinary
people has increased tremendously. OSCE's civil society work
has expanded and local residents are no longer routinely
hindered by the government from participating. END SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) The OSCE has noted an improvement in human rights,
as well as the Turkmenistan government's attitude toward
human rights, since President Berdimuhamedov came to power.
According to Ashgabat OSCE Center Human Dimensions officer
Benjamin Moreau, cooperation between OSCE and the Turkmen
government has blossomed over the past nine months. For
example, in 2006 OSCE was able to hold only one seminar on
the general topic of understanding human rights. In 2007,
OSCE has held four seminars teaching human rights standards
to judges and prosecutors. Over 80 people participated in
the four seminars. In addition, OSCE has started a human
rights course in one of the universities. Approximately 40
second- and third-year students in the international law,
law, and diplomacy programs, as well as professors, are in
the course.
EXCHANGES/VISITS
4. (SBU) Travel and exchanges have also expanded, Moreau
said. In fact, for the first time since 1999, Turkmenistan
officials have participated in overseas seminars. A total of
14 government officials attened various OSCE seminars,
including six from the Ministry of Education. Four
parliamentarians recently went to Berlin to learn how the
Bundestag functions and to learn more about local
self-governance in Germany. Moreau said OSCE hopes to expand
cooperation with parliament. He believes the role of that
body may be evolving, because Turkmenistan government
contacts have said there are plans to double the size of the
body (to 100 members) by the 2008 parliamentary elections. A
number of OSCE officials have visited Turkmenistan,
including, for the first time ever, two separate ODIHR
delegations.
5. (SBU) In another major change from the past, Moreau said,
the Turkmenistan government did not object this year to OSCE
sending ordinary citizens abroad for training. Previously,
government officials would discourage people from going. A
record 16 people since the beginning of 2007 have traveled
for OSCE training in other countries.
CIVIL SOCIETY
6. (SBU) Moreau said 2007 marked the first time OSCE was not
prevented or hindered by the government form providing civil
society training. In the past, security officials would
actually stop invitees from attending. OSCE's three resource
centers have been able to expand their courses from English
and computer literacy to now include leadership-skills
training, human rights, and healthy living. Most notably,
Moreau said, the Turkmenistan Red Crescent Society has
proposed several joint projects, including one on HIV/AIDS.
LEGAL CONSULTATIONS
7. (SBU) Moreau said the OSCE Center continues to receive
complainants regarding human rights issues on a daily basis
ASHGABAT 00001078 002 OF 002
and to provide advocacy. However, the number of drop in
cases has decreased. (NOTE: Both Post and the UK Embassy
have also noted a marked decrease in the number of people
seeking our assistance on human rights cases. END NOTE.) At
the same time, there are fewer barriers to potential clients,
although monitoring of who comes and goes continues. Moreau
said the government has responded to a majority of diplomatic
notes sent regarding cases, unlike in the past. In 2007, the
OSCE Center has provided 906 legal consultations to 200
people. A freedom of movement case involving the family of
former Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers for
Financial Affairs and Central Bank Chairman Orazov, who was
fired for embezzlement and fled the country, was positively
resolved, and they were able to leave the country.
HOPES FOR 2008
8. (SBU) The Turkmenistan government has accepted OSCE's
proposed 2008 plan of activity. ODIHR has also submitted,
for the first time, a plan of activity to the government and
is awaiting a response. Moreau said Berdimuhamedov had
agreed orally to cooperation with ODIHR, and so OSCE would
see if that translates into action.
9. (SBU) COMMENT: While Turkmenistan has a long way to go to
reach "international standards" on human rights, the changes
noted by OSCE are a positive sign that while the steps are
slow, they appear to be in the right direction. It is
important for the United Staes and other Western countries to
encourage Turkmenistan's changes and provide the necessary
assistance to keep things on the right track. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND