20.09.2008

State News Agency of Turkmenistan (TDH)

Turkmenistan-UN: improving electoral system as a vector of co-operation

Improvement of the electoral system was the focus of the roundtable organized at the Turkmen National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under President of Turkmenistan

The forum organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the IDHR and UN Development Programme in the framework of the Project Cooperation on Enhancing Electoral System and Processes in Turkmenistan brought together along with the organizers’ representatives the deputies of the Mejlis, the representatives of the Supreme Court, the Ministry of Justice, the Institute of State and Right under President of Turkmenistan, the members of the Central Commission for Election and Referenda and the election commission from the regions and Ashgabat. The brief overview on the electoral law in Turkmenistan reflecting the major principles of the current international norms was presented to the participants. These included universal suffrage, voluntary participation in the elections, equal opportunities for candidates, free agitation during the election campaigns, protection of the electoral rights of citizens, publicity and transparency

Making presentation on the progress of the joint project launched this year and aimed at concerting efforts to enhance the national electoral system UNDP Assistant Resident Representative in Turkmenistan Inita Paulovica emphasized that its ultimate goal was to further intensify the democratic processes and reforms in the country based on the monitoring of the current national electoral legislation and to bring it in compliance with the international norms. In this regard exchange of experience and introduction of the best international practices and standards of holding the election campaign, elections and summing up the elections acquired particular importance.

Ms. Inita Paulovica said that this work had been initiated. In particular, the members of the Central Commission for elections and Referenda had visited Latvia o study the electoral system of this country and monitor the referendum on the constitutional amendment as observers.

Putting emphasis on the efforts that Turkmenistan took to improve the national legislation, including the electoral laws the participants focused on the new version of the Constitution of Turkmenistan drafted on the initiative of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. The participants defined the coming elections to the Mejlis as an important step towards implementing its provisions and the country’s democratic development. The forum illustrated the partners’ adherence to close Turkmenistan-UN co-operation meeting the mutual interests and the spirit of time.