Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT237
2008-02-14 09:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: UNDP HELPING PREPARE REPORT FOR UN
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000237
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: UNDP HELPING PREPARE REPORT FOR UN
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
REF: ASHGABAT 0159
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000237
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: UNDP HELPING PREPARE REPORT FOR UN
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
REF: ASHGABAT 0159
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: UNDP is working with Turkmenistan's
Human Rights Commission to formulate a plan to complete two
key UN reports Turkmenistan agreed to submit by the end of
2008. The more significant report, which Turkmenistan agreed
to present to the UN Human Rights Council, is a status report
on its efforts to implement all international human rights
standards as described in the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights. The looming submission date could also have the
effect of encouraging further improvements in Turkmenistan's
human rights practices. END SUMMARY.
PREPARING FOR GENEVA
3. (SBU) Poloff met February 4 with Irina Liczek, UNDP's
lead advisor in the effort to bring Turkmenistan into
conformity with its UN human rights obligations. She has
been working closely with senior officials at the Institute
for Democracy and Human Rights (IDHR) to develop short- and
long-term implementation plans for Turkmenistan's Human
Rights Commission, so that it can complete a long list of
UN-mandated reports, while also plotting out a strategy for
conducting broad legislative reform.
4. (SBU) UNDP is assisting the Human Rights Commission,
through its IDHR contacts, in formulating a game plan for
completing two key UN reports that Turkmenistan agreed to
submit by the end of 2008. (NOTE: There are other, less
significant reports that also must be submitted this year.
END NOTE.) The report on the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights will be a one-time core
document that summarizes Turkmenistan's implementation of
relevant conventions, and also will include general
information on the country, such as population statistics,
geography, and political conditions.
5. (SBU) The more significant report Turkmenistan agreed to
present to the UN Human Rights Council is to be reviewed
during a new process called the Universal Periodic Review.
The country will be assessed on the status of its efforts to
implement all international human rights standards as
described in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. A
Turkmen delegation will go to the Human Rights Council
headquarters in Geneva in December 2008 and present its
report for the first time.
DIRECT ACCESS PROMOTES EFFICIENT COOPERATION
6. (SBU) Liczek said her office has complete, direct access
to and contact with Institute Director Shirin Akhmedova as
well as the Institute's representative on the Human Rights
Commission, Shemshat Atayeva, and does not have to submit
dipnotes through MFA to hold meetings or to call. She
described Akhmedova as one of a handful of reformists in the
Government of Turkmenistan, who has been angry and
disappointed by draft legislation the Commission approved in
the past. Akhmedova is fully invested in the process, and
has been completely cooperative and open with UNDP
representatives.
7. (SBU) One growing concern that UNDP and Akhmedova share
as Turkmenistan moves forward on reform plans is the lack of
a constitutional court in Turkmenistan. This is expected to
be problematic in the longer term, because any contradiction
to Turkmenistan's Constitution that is inadvertently included
in newly drafted legislation is unlikely to be properly
addressed or remedied. And with so much new legislation
moving forward, the risk of inconsistency may be growing.
Liczek did not know whether Turkmenistan has any longer-term
ASHGABAT 00000237 002 OF 002
plan to create a court to deal with such issues.
8. (SBU) COMMENT: The UNDP's free access to IDHR,
unhindered by a requirement for prior approval, is still
unusual in Turkmenistan, and it is clear that both bodies are
operating under special dispensation. (By comparison, while
the U.S. embassy has had some luck in getting meetings
related to ongoing programs without diplomatic note,
especially for USAID and Public Diplomacy programs, even our
access -- which most of the other diplomatic missions in town
envy -- is not yet close to UNDP's.) To a large extent, this
is due to the fact that the United Nations is a "neutral"
organization whose multilateral focus is perceived as "safe"
and without political agendas. As such, it has become one of
the Government of Turkmenistan's favored assistance vehicles.
IDHR has also taken on a special, empowered status under
Berdimuhamedov's direct supervision and Akhmedova's empowered
and strong leadership, undoubtedly reflecting the trust that
the president has in Akhmedova as well as the importance he
places on this issue. But with the submission of the two UN
reports coming up at the end of this year, relatively free
access may also be a matter of necessity, given both the size
of the task at hand and the very short timeframe for showing
at the very least demonstrable progress in implementing its
UN commitments. The looming submission date may also spur
further improvements in Turkmenistan's human rights practices
in addition to its ideals on paper. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: UNDP HELPING PREPARE REPORT FOR UN
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
REF: ASHGABAT 0159
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: UNDP is working with Turkmenistan's
Human Rights Commission to formulate a plan to complete two
key UN reports Turkmenistan agreed to submit by the end of
2008. The more significant report, which Turkmenistan agreed
to present to the UN Human Rights Council, is a status report
on its efforts to implement all international human rights
standards as described in the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights. The looming submission date could also have the
effect of encouraging further improvements in Turkmenistan's
human rights practices. END SUMMARY.
PREPARING FOR GENEVA
3. (SBU) Poloff met February 4 with Irina Liczek, UNDP's
lead advisor in the effort to bring Turkmenistan into
conformity with its UN human rights obligations. She has
been working closely with senior officials at the Institute
for Democracy and Human Rights (IDHR) to develop short- and
long-term implementation plans for Turkmenistan's Human
Rights Commission, so that it can complete a long list of
UN-mandated reports, while also plotting out a strategy for
conducting broad legislative reform.
4. (SBU) UNDP is assisting the Human Rights Commission,
through its IDHR contacts, in formulating a game plan for
completing two key UN reports that Turkmenistan agreed to
submit by the end of 2008. (NOTE: There are other, less
significant reports that also must be submitted this year.
END NOTE.) The report on the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights will be a one-time core
document that summarizes Turkmenistan's implementation of
relevant conventions, and also will include general
information on the country, such as population statistics,
geography, and political conditions.
5. (SBU) The more significant report Turkmenistan agreed to
present to the UN Human Rights Council is to be reviewed
during a new process called the Universal Periodic Review.
The country will be assessed on the status of its efforts to
implement all international human rights standards as
described in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. A
Turkmen delegation will go to the Human Rights Council
headquarters in Geneva in December 2008 and present its
report for the first time.
DIRECT ACCESS PROMOTES EFFICIENT COOPERATION
6. (SBU) Liczek said her office has complete, direct access
to and contact with Institute Director Shirin Akhmedova as
well as the Institute's representative on the Human Rights
Commission, Shemshat Atayeva, and does not have to submit
dipnotes through MFA to hold meetings or to call. She
described Akhmedova as one of a handful of reformists in the
Government of Turkmenistan, who has been angry and
disappointed by draft legislation the Commission approved in
the past. Akhmedova is fully invested in the process, and
has been completely cooperative and open with UNDP
representatives.
7. (SBU) One growing concern that UNDP and Akhmedova share
as Turkmenistan moves forward on reform plans is the lack of
a constitutional court in Turkmenistan. This is expected to
be problematic in the longer term, because any contradiction
to Turkmenistan's Constitution that is inadvertently included
in newly drafted legislation is unlikely to be properly
addressed or remedied. And with so much new legislation
moving forward, the risk of inconsistency may be growing.
Liczek did not know whether Turkmenistan has any longer-term
ASHGABAT 00000237 002 OF 002
plan to create a court to deal with such issues.
8. (SBU) COMMENT: The UNDP's free access to IDHR,
unhindered by a requirement for prior approval, is still
unusual in Turkmenistan, and it is clear that both bodies are
operating under special dispensation. (By comparison, while
the U.S. embassy has had some luck in getting meetings
related to ongoing programs without diplomatic note,
especially for USAID and Public Diplomacy programs, even our
access -- which most of the other diplomatic missions in town
envy -- is not yet close to UNDP's.) To a large extent, this
is due to the fact that the United Nations is a "neutral"
organization whose multilateral focus is perceived as "safe"
and without political agendas. As such, it has become one of
the Government of Turkmenistan's favored assistance vehicles.
IDHR has also taken on a special, empowered status under
Berdimuhamedov's direct supervision and Akhmedova's empowered
and strong leadership, undoubtedly reflecting the trust that
the president has in Akhmedova as well as the importance he
places on this issue. But with the submission of the two UN
reports coming up at the end of this year, relatively free
access may also be a matter of necessity, given both the size
of the task at hand and the very short timeframe for showing
at the very least demonstrable progress in implementing its
UN commitments. The looming submission date may also spur
further improvements in Turkmenistan's human rights practices
in addition to its ideals on paper. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND