Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASHGABAT1130
2007-10-19 06:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKEMNISTAN ASKS FOR U.S. ASSISTANCE ON HUMAN
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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
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
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