TURKMENISTAN: CHAIRMAN OF PARLIAMENT DESCRIBES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000327

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: CHAIRMAN OF PARLIAMENT DESCRIBES
AMBITIOUS REFORM AGENDA

Classified By: Charge Richard Miles, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Mejlis (Parliament) Chairwoman Akja
Nurberdiyeva described an ambitious agenda of legislative
reform, including laws involving the economy, education,
agriculture and the justice system. Revising legislation
involves a wide-range of inputs from government agencies at
various levels and from citizens, as well as expert advice.
She described parliamentarians as having an integral role in
the process. However, with at least ten draft laws under
consideration in each committee and very few experienced
legislators, it is more likely that actual drafting takes
place in interagency working groups staffed by
representatives from ministries and experts. Nurberdiyeva
expressed support for more parliamentary exchanges, which
might present an opening for further collaboration. END
SUMMARY.

POTENTIAL FOR MORE PARLIAMENTARY STUDY TRIPS


2. (C) On March 11, the Charge met with Mejlis Chairwoman
Akja Nurberdiyeva to discuss the Parliament's legislative
reform efforts and enhanced contacts and cooperation with the
United States. Four members of parliament, including two
commitee chairmen, had returned the previous day from a
Library of Congress Open World trip to Washington, DC and
Little Rock, Arkansas. The Charge highlighted such
exchanges, as well as the International Republican
Institute's offer to Nurberdiyeva to host a study trip for
parliamentarians, as opportunities for cooperation that could
enhance the work of the Parliament. Nurberdiyeva mentioned
that she herself has not visited the United States and
expressed hope that many of the current 120 members would be
able to participate in such trips.

AN AMBITIOUS PRESIDENTIAL LEGISLATIVE REFORM AGENDA


3. (C) Nurberdiyeva went on to describe the task, issued by
President Berdimuhamedov, for legislative reform in
practically every area as the basic responsibility of the
Mejlis. Many of the laws on the books are from the 1990s
with the Government was new. They need to be updated to take
into account the changes that have taken place in society.
She ran down a list of areas and specific laws currently
under review, including economy, culture, agriculture and
education. The Human Rights Committee is working on the
criminal procedure code and laws involving the procuracy and
judicial structure. She said a lot of effort is going into
legislation on small and medium businesses. The Labor Code
is in its final stage of review at the level of the Cabinet
of Ministers. The Committee on Education, Science and
Culture is working on education-related laws, including the
status of research associates. Agriculture laws are also
being reviewed for possible revision. Nurberdiyeva said each
committee is working on at least ten draft laws.


4. (C) She further explained that legislative reform is a
joint effort that also involves local authorities, groups of
citizens, the Cabinet of Ministers and various government
ministries and agencies. Working groups are set up
consisting of experts, lawyers, and scholars with detailed
knowledge and experience. As a result, Nurberdiyeva asserted
that at the time the draft law is completed, all aspects have
been reviewed and the law has been adapted "to the realities
of life." The goal is to have laws that meet current needs
and remain relevant in the future.

PARLIAMENTARIANS COULD USE MORE TRAINING


5. (C) According to Nurberdiyeva there is a need to train
the new members of Parliament. She said not everyone is able
at first, to perform the difficult work since members
themselves work on draft laws. The Mejlis invites
specialists from government agencies to brief members and
hold conferences. She said the new parliamentarians are

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adapting and in two or three months will work well. Training
trips would be useful for the members to see parliamentary
practices in other countries, as well as to share information
about the experience in Turkmenistan.

PARLIAMENTARY ROLE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS


6. (C) On the subject of the budget approval process,
Nurberdiyeva said each committee reviews the budget items for
the areas of its responsibility. They ask experts from the
Ministry of Finance and other agencies to consult and answer
questions. Each committee initially approves the appropriate
budget items, then the entire budget passes to the general
session of the Mejlis for approval. Government ministers
attend and field questions at that session. She
characterized the budget process as complicated, containing
many nuances and suggestions about what to accept or reject.
Budget items on the social side attract particular attention
because they have a direct impact on citizens.


7. (C) COMMENT: No doubt the Chairwoman has her hands full
overseeing a comprehensive reform of legislation while
working with a body of largely novice legislators. Despite
her description of the process, it is not clear how active a
role the parliamentarians play in drafting new laws. It is
clear from other government contacts that interagency working
groups take on the lion's share of the work in preparing
draft laws, which then would certainly need to be cleared
with both the Cabinet of Ministers and the Presidential
Apparat before going to the Mejlis for passage.
Nurberdiyeva's desire for further parliamentary exhanges and
study trips is a positive sign, although it remains to be
seen whether such support is genuine and shared at higher
levels of the Government. Nonetheless, it appears that
parliamentarians' roles in the budgetary and legislative
processes could provide some checks on government actions, if
and when parliamentarians mature into their role. END
COMMENT.
MILES