TURKMENISTAN: PARLIAMENT REQUESTS INPUT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000531

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, EUR/ACE, DRL
AID/W FOR EE/EA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL EAID KDEM TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: PARLIAMENT REQUESTS INPUT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
LAW



1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Representatives from USAID's local governance
implementing partners met with the Parliament and the Institute of
Democracy and Human Rights on April 23-24 to discuss potential areas
for cooperation. In a significant breakthrough for cooperation with
the Mejlis, the head of the Committee on Intergovernmental and
Interparliamentary Affairs requested USAID's commentary on the
existing law on local governance. The director of the Institute
indicated its willingness to organize joint activities related to
reviewing legislation in this area once a new Constitution is
approved, and specifically requested support for improving the
functions of the Citizens' Appeal Commission. Noting the growing
number of USAID partners that have either proposed or already
established joint activities with the Institute, the director
suggested that USAID consider developing a framework cooperation
agreement similar to the United Nations' Development Assistance
Framework (UNDAF). END SUMMARY.

MEJLIS FINALLY ACCEPTS AN OFFER


3. (U) On April 23, visiting experts from USAID's Community
Empowerment project and USAID Country Representative met with the
parliamentary committee heads responsible for Local Government and
Intergovernmental and Inter-parliamentary Affairs. A representative
from Urban Institute described its USAID-funded worked in support of
local government reform in countries ranging from Eastern Europe to
Central Asia. Counterpart International's Azerbaijan Country
Director described its ongoing work with Urban Institute that
focused on municipal development issues in cooperation with
Azerbaijan's parliament and local government structures.


4. (U) Parliament representatives were interested in the experience
of other countries, and asked numerous questions about how finances
were allocated from the center to the local levels. Stopping short
of accepting opportunities for training local officials on a range
of financial and managerial issues, the deputies nonetheless
acknowledged its importance and the critical need for such
activities. Noting that the role of parliament was to develop or
improve legislation, the committee chairman on Intergovernmental and
Interparliamentary Affairs requested that Urban Institute review
existing legislation for conformity with international standards.
Closing by saying "Let's start our cooperation this way," he agreed
to submit copies of the law(s) for review to USAID through the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

INSTITUTE WANTS SUPPORT WITH APPEALS' COMMISSION


5. (U) On April 24, the same delegation met with the director of
the Institute of Democracy and Human Rights, Shirin Ahmedova, to
discuss potential areas of cooperation. After listening to the
experts' remarks, Ahmedova identified three areas for possible joint
activities. First, without duplicating the role of Parliament,
USAID could organize a seminar with international experts examining
the role of local government officials, similar to an event recently
undertaken by USAID-partner the International Center for
Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL). Ahmedova noted that this should not
include the Constitution, since a draft Constitution must be
submitted by July in response to President Berdimuhamedov's recent
announcement regarding updates to the existing Constitution.
According to Ahmedova, it was not possible for Counterpart or Urban
Institute to work in this area due to the time necessary for
approvals, and the fact that reviewing local governance legislation
will take time.


6. (U) Next, Ahmedova asked for assistance in streamlining the work
of the Citizens' Appeal Commission. If local government structures
worked well and problems were resolved on the local level, most
complaints would never rise to the level of the commission. To
this end, she suggested the training of local officials with the
goal of increasing the effectiveness of their work.

ASHGABAT 00000531 002 OF 002




7. (U) Saying "it's not a big problem," Ahmedova also suggested
that support in developing instructions and regulations for local
officials would be useful in ensuring their understanding of
responsibilities under local and national-level laws. Indirectly
acknowledging a much greater problem, she said that there was an
urgent need to ensure correspondence between national and local
laws. This, however, was a long-term issue for which the head of
government was responsible. Still, the Institute was prepared help
arrange training seminars for local officials in this area.


8. (U) Finally, in response to the increasing opportunities for
USAID's partners to cooperate with the Institute, Ahmedova proposed
that USAID consider developing a framework plan for cooperation
similar to the UN's Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). She
suggested that such an approach would help identify a range of
partners for USAID's programs and activities in this sector. After
developing this framework, it should be submitted to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs for approval.


9. (SBU) COMMENT: The request by parliament for commentary
represents a breakthrough in USAID's engagement with this
institution. Past meetings had never progressed beyond a general
request for more information on USAID's programs and their results.
The request could be a recognition of the potential value of the
proposed assistance -- or possibly the result of intergovernmental
competition with more assertive structures like the Institute.
Regardless, USAID will await the official versions of the laws and
will supply the requested commentary. After that, we will see if
any doors to further cooperation open wider.


10. (SBU) COMMENT CONTINUED: As in past meetings, the Institute
continues to request assistance related to the Citizens' Appeals
Commission. From the director's reference to a growing number of
complaints, it appears that citizens continue to use this mechanism
as a way to connect with the government, and possibly that actions
meriting complaint are on the rise. Displaying an appreciation for
the skills necessary for appropriate functioning of local
government, Ahmedova rightfully acknowledged that local officials
need more training in order to be able to properly do their jobs.


11. (SBU) COMMENT CONTINUED: Regarding the development of an
UNDAF-type framework, the USG and the Government of Turkmenistan are
already in discussions about developing a new Cooperation Agreement
that covers USG assistance programs. Ms. Ahmedova is probably not
aware of these ongoing efforts, and the suggestion did not appear to
be an effort to bureaucratize USAID's growing relationship with the
Institute. Regardless, her request highlights the importance of
developing more formal relations with government structures as a
result increased the bilateral engagement. END COMMENT.

CURRAN