Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT205
2009-02-10 05:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
UNHCR HOLDS SEMINAR ON STATELESSNESS IN TURKMENISTAN
how-toVZCZCXRO6900 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #0205/01 0410558 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 100558Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2300 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4818 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2600 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2465 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 3062 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0948 RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3328 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000205
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, PRM, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF UNHCR TX
SUBJECT: UNHCR HOLDS SEMINAR ON STATELESSNESS IN TURKMENISTAN
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000205
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, PRM, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF UNHCR TX
SUBJECT: UNHCR HOLDS SEMINAR ON STATELESSNESS IN TURKMENISTAN
1. (U) Sensitive but Unclassified. Not for Internet distribution
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: At a February 6 seminar for Government officials
on the improvement of legislation on statelessness, a UNHCR expert
explained the international legal framework of citizenship rights
and prevention of statelessness. He also discussed the causes of
statelessness and protection of stateless persons. According to a
Turkmen Government official, in 2012 Turkmenistan will conduct a
national census with the assistance of the United Nations
Development Program (UNDP). The United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR) Representative noted that the Turkmen
Government had invited UNHCR to review the country's legislation.
As such, the seminar was held in the framework of legal reform in
Turkmenistan aimed at bringing the country's legislation in line
with international standards. END SUMMARY.
UNHCR INVITED TO REVIEW LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
3. (SBU) The director of the State Institute for Democracy and Human
Rights (IDHR),Shirin Ahmedova, opened the session, saying that the
seminar was held in the framework of legal reform for further
democratization of Turkmen society and improvement of national
legislation. In this regard, Ahmedova underscored that Turkmenistan
pays significant importance to learning from international
experience and strengthening contacts with foreign partners,
especially with UN agencies. The UNHCR Representative to
Turkmenistan, Brita Helleland, noted that the Government of
Turkmenistan had invited UNHCR to review the legislative process and
that UNHCR would support the process by rendering its assistance.
The seminar on statelessness was one such event organized by UNHCR
together with the Turkmen Government.
4. (SBU) Mark Manly, the Head of the Statelessness Unit at UNHCR
Headquarters, delivered a presentation on statelessness. In
particular, he talked about the international legal framework for
citizenship rights and the prevention of statelessness. He also
addressed the UNHCR's mandate in this area, the causes and detection
of statelessness, and the protection of stateless persons. His
presentation was followed by a Q&A session as well as discussion of
UN Conventions and Turkmen laws governing citizenship and
statelessness.
NATIONAL CENSUS SCHEDULED FOR 2012
5. (SBU) In the course of the seminar, Ahmedova mentioned that in
2005, former President Niyazov issued two acts to eliminate cases of
statelessness, according to which more than 3,000 stateless persons
received residence permits and over 13,000 refugees received
Turkmenistan citizenship. She underscored that this government
action was an example of Turkmenistan's commitment to principles of
peacefulness and humanism. She also reminded the audience that in
2012 Turkmenistan would conduct a national census with the
assistance of UNDP in order to learn how many people reside in
Turkmenistan.
6. (SBU) The event gathered representatives from IDHR, Institute for
State and Law under President of Turkmenistan, Mejlis (Parliament)
of Turkmenistan, Ministries of Justice, Internal Affairs, Social
Welfare, Education, Healthcare, State Customs, Migration, and Border
Services, General Prosecutor's Office, Bar Association, Police and
Military Academies, professors and students of Turkmen State
University, Institute of International Affairs of MFA, local media,
U.S. Embassy, Russian Embassy and UNHCR Mission in Turkmenistan.
7. (SBU) COMMENT: The workshop was yet another indication of the
Turkmenistan Government's willingness to work with UN organizations.
Substantively, it followed the familiar format of a subject matter
expert(s) meeting with Government officials to present information
about international standards and to field questions. It remains to
be seen in the final Turkmen legislative product to what extent the
principles underlying international practices were grasped by the
participants and incorporated. END COMMENT.
ASHGABAT 00000205 002 OF 002
MILES
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, PRM, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF UNHCR TX
SUBJECT: UNHCR HOLDS SEMINAR ON STATELESSNESS IN TURKMENISTAN
1. (U) Sensitive but Unclassified. Not for Internet distribution
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: At a February 6 seminar for Government officials
on the improvement of legislation on statelessness, a UNHCR expert
explained the international legal framework of citizenship rights
and prevention of statelessness. He also discussed the causes of
statelessness and protection of stateless persons. According to a
Turkmen Government official, in 2012 Turkmenistan will conduct a
national census with the assistance of the United Nations
Development Program (UNDP). The United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR) Representative noted that the Turkmen
Government had invited UNHCR to review the country's legislation.
As such, the seminar was held in the framework of legal reform in
Turkmenistan aimed at bringing the country's legislation in line
with international standards. END SUMMARY.
UNHCR INVITED TO REVIEW LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
3. (SBU) The director of the State Institute for Democracy and Human
Rights (IDHR),Shirin Ahmedova, opened the session, saying that the
seminar was held in the framework of legal reform for further
democratization of Turkmen society and improvement of national
legislation. In this regard, Ahmedova underscored that Turkmenistan
pays significant importance to learning from international
experience and strengthening contacts with foreign partners,
especially with UN agencies. The UNHCR Representative to
Turkmenistan, Brita Helleland, noted that the Government of
Turkmenistan had invited UNHCR to review the legislative process and
that UNHCR would support the process by rendering its assistance.
The seminar on statelessness was one such event organized by UNHCR
together with the Turkmen Government.
4. (SBU) Mark Manly, the Head of the Statelessness Unit at UNHCR
Headquarters, delivered a presentation on statelessness. In
particular, he talked about the international legal framework for
citizenship rights and the prevention of statelessness. He also
addressed the UNHCR's mandate in this area, the causes and detection
of statelessness, and the protection of stateless persons. His
presentation was followed by a Q&A session as well as discussion of
UN Conventions and Turkmen laws governing citizenship and
statelessness.
NATIONAL CENSUS SCHEDULED FOR 2012
5. (SBU) In the course of the seminar, Ahmedova mentioned that in
2005, former President Niyazov issued two acts to eliminate cases of
statelessness, according to which more than 3,000 stateless persons
received residence permits and over 13,000 refugees received
Turkmenistan citizenship. She underscored that this government
action was an example of Turkmenistan's commitment to principles of
peacefulness and humanism. She also reminded the audience that in
2012 Turkmenistan would conduct a national census with the
assistance of UNDP in order to learn how many people reside in
Turkmenistan.
6. (SBU) The event gathered representatives from IDHR, Institute for
State and Law under President of Turkmenistan, Mejlis (Parliament)
of Turkmenistan, Ministries of Justice, Internal Affairs, Social
Welfare, Education, Healthcare, State Customs, Migration, and Border
Services, General Prosecutor's Office, Bar Association, Police and
Military Academies, professors and students of Turkmen State
University, Institute of International Affairs of MFA, local media,
U.S. Embassy, Russian Embassy and UNHCR Mission in Turkmenistan.
7. (SBU) COMMENT: The workshop was yet another indication of the
Turkmenistan Government's willingness to work with UN organizations.
Substantively, it followed the familiar format of a subject matter
expert(s) meeting with Government officials to present information
about international standards and to field questions. It remains to
be seen in the final Turkmen legislative product to what extent the
principles underlying international practices were grasped by the
participants and incorporated. END COMMENT.
ASHGABAT 00000205 002 OF 002
MILES