OSCE OBSERVER MISSION ARRIVED IN TURKMENISTAN

The Central Commission for Holding Elections and Referendums in Turkmenistan met with members of the mission of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, who arrived in the Turkmen capital to assess the preparations for and conduct of the upcoming elections on March 26.

During the meeting, the participants pointed out the productivity of long-term bilateral cooperation, one of the most important aspects of which is the exchange of experience and the study of legal instruments and international practice in organizing election campaigns. In this regard, the major attention was focused on the active preparations for the elections.

The guests were acquainted with the calendar plan of events drawn up by the CEC, with the list of constituencies and electoral districts, forms of documents and, in general, the on-site work done. As was said, the first two stages of the election campaign, the nomination and registration of candidates, were held in accordance with the current legislation of Turkmenistan, laying the foundation for conducting democratic elections organized on a broad alternative basis and taking into account generally accepted provisions of international law.

The participation in the campaign of national and international observers, as well as major international organizations, including a group of evaluators from the ODIHR/OSCE, invited at the initiative of the Turkmen party will contribute to the objectivity of the election process. Within their powers, they will be given the opportunity to freely observe the course of the election campaign and voting on the election day, freely visit polling stations in the capital and velayats of the country.

Demonstrating Turkmenistan’s commitment to mutually beneficial cooperation, representatives of the CEC assured that the necessary conditions will be created for monitoring all stages of the election events held in an atmosphere of transparency and openness.

During the meeting at the Central Commission for Holding Elections and Referendums, members of the OSCE mission were handed over relevant IDs.

Highly appreciating the open door policy and international partnership strategy being pursued by our state, as well as the course taken for broad democratic transformations, the members of the ODIHR/OSCE delegation expressed the readiness of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to further provide comprehensive assistance to the Turkmen party in promoting large-scale legal reform aimed at the steady improvement of the national legislation and the electoral system in particular.

The program of the delegation’s stay in our country includes meetings in a number of ministries and departments.