TURKEMNISTAN ASKS FOR U.S. ASSISTANCE ON HUMAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001130 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, EUR/ACE, DRL ASTANA FOR USAID/CAR ALMATY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL EAID KDEM TX SUBJECT: TURKEMNISTAN ASKS FOR U.S. ASSISTANCE ON HUMAN RIGHTS REF: A. ASHGABAT 1079 ¶B. ASHGABAT 1001 ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Institute for Democracy and Human Rights Chairman Shirin Ahmedova told USAID Regional Democracy and Governance Office Director Kim Delaney October 18 that the Institute is on the hook to President Berdimuhamedov to show that the country is complying with international agreements on human rights standards. She said concrete constructive criticism of Turkmenistan's human rights record is useful and welcome. Ahmedova asked that the United States propose a concrete workplan of cooperation on human rights and local governance issues that could lead to a formal MOU. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (SBU) USAID Regional Democracy and Governance Office Director Kim Delaney met October 18 with Institute for Democracy and Human Rights Chairman Shirin Ahmedova to discuss further cooperation. Ahmedova said her Institute is charged with educating local governments and the population on their legal rights and the country's international obligations regarding human rights. It also plays a role in bringing local governments into conformity with international human rights standards. According to Ahmedova, President Berdimuhamedov wants to see marked progress in adherence to international human rights standards by the end of 2007. She said the Institute is tasked with monitoring the government's progress in this area. ¶4. (SBU) As part of its charge, Ahmedova said, the Institute processes citizens' appeals regarding violations ranging from human rights to housing and labor laws. It handled 951 such cases over the past nine months. One of the Institute's new goals is to establish a legal information and resource center. USEFUL TO HEAR CONCRETE CRITICISM ¶5. (SBU) Ahmedova, who is known to be very frank and open, said she found very useful the recent roundtable organized by the German Association for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) directed towards helping the Government of Turkmenistan map out a plan of legal reform (Ref. A). She said it was especially useful to hear concrete constructive criticism. Ahmedova personally supports adopting GTZ's proposal. (NOTE: The UNDP Resident Representative told DCM that, during a meeting he had at the Institute on October 5, Ahmedova said Turkmenistan has a long way to go to even approach international human rights standards. END NOTE.) REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE ¶6. (SBU) At the end of the meeting, Ahmedova asked for a specific workplan that would contain ideas discussed during the meeting. She also proposed an MOU on cooperation on human rights and local governance issues. She named a number of specific areas where the Institute would welcome assistance from the United States: -- Creating an Internet database of national legislation and international conventions to which Turkmenistan is a party (NOTE: U.S. implementing partner ABA/CEELI has already developed a web database of Turkmen legislation that is expected to be available online in November 2007. END NOTE.); -- Submitting articles to the Institute's journal; -- Expanding legal access to legal information; ASHGABAT 00001130 002 OF 002 -- A study-tour to educate government officials on issues related to local governance; -- Training for lawyers on legal rights; -- Computer training for local officials in rural areas; and, -- Workshops on local self governance (Ahmedova said the presentation should be organized through the MFA). ¶7. (SBU) COMMENT: It sounds as if Berdimuhamedov is serious about improving human rights in Turkmenistan, although his understanding of international human rights standards may not be fully formed. Ahmedova appears to be a serious partner, who sincerely wants U.S. assistance. Both OSCE and UNDP rave about their interactions and cooperation with her and the Institute. The ball is clearly in the U.S. court regarding a concrete proposal on human rights cooperation. We would be cautious, however, of bringing to Turkmenistan traditional U.S. democracy NGOs that Russian black propaganda has tarred throughout the region. END COMMENT. HOAGLAND