TURKMENISTAN: POST INPUT TO OSCE PRE-HDIM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000789 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN; DRL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM OSCE TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: POST INPUT TO OSCE PRE-HDIM DEMARCHE IN ADVANCE OF SEPTEMBER MEETING REF: STATE 60838 ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (SBU) In response to reftel request, post provides the following input for the pre-HDIM demarche to the Turkmen government: BEGIN DEMARCHE TEXT: ¶3. (SBU) The Government of the United States commends the government of Turkmenistan for its decision to develop a national strategic plan to catalogue and to implement the international human rights conventions to which it is a party, and for having already taken a number of concrete steps toward fulfilling its international human rights obligations, including: -- The Government of Turkmenistan established a Human Rights Commission under the President in late 2007, as part of its publicly stated intention to fulfill the country's international human rights obligations. The Commission has been demonstrating its commitment to the process by working closely with UNDP, the EU, and OSCE to introduce international human rights standards into Turkmen legislation, judicial practice, and state institutions. -- The Government has already revised the Laws on Women's Rights and Childrens' Rights, and instituted a new Law on Trafficking in Persons as part of its continued effort to bring national laws into conformity with the country's international treaty and convention obligations. It is currently undertaking a significant revision of the National Constitution that will facilitate other planned reforms. -- Shortly after taking office, President Berdimuhamedov re-instated a tenth year of compulsory schooling, necessary for Turkmen students to be considered for enrollment in foreign institutes and universities. Additionally, higher educational institutions have expanded their student enrollments, extended the term of study to five years, and has begun to re-establish post-graduate programs. ¶4. (SBU) We urge the government to continue its positive momentum on reform by fully implementing steps it has already begun to take: -- The successful revision and reform of the Criminal Code, Criminal Procedure Code, and Civil Code, carried out in cooperation with international expert consultants, will represent positive developments in building a sound framework for strengthening the rule of law and supporting human rights. -- The government recently registered the first non-government organization since 2005. We urge the government to continue to register non-government organizations in the coming months. Two religious organizations were also successfully registered in 2007, and additional registrations would be welcomed. -- Turkmen television media organizations have begun broadening their coverage of international news events, and the United States encourages additional efforts to increase public access to information via television, Internet and print sources. In the spirit of greater international coverage, the United States would welcome press accreditation for additional foreign correspondents in Turkmenistan. -- For the first time, the Government of Turkmenistan engaged ASHGABAT 00000789 002 OF 002 this year in substantive discussions with visiting high-level ICRC, OSCE, and EU delegations, as well as the U.S. Committee on International Religious Freedom. The United States remains optimistic that such dialogues will continue and lead to concrete cooperation agreements with such entities that will advance Turkmenistan's human rights goals. END DEMARCHE TEXT. HOAGLAND