OREANDA-NEWS. July 21, 2008. Further improvement of the election system of Turkmenistan was a focus of the roundtable organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, the Turkmen National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under President of Turkmenistan and the UN Development Programme in the framework of the joint project Cooperation in Strengthening the Election System and Processes in Turkmenistan.

The project launched in 2008 is aimed at further intensifying and developing the democratic processes and reforms in Turkmenistan and monitoring the current election legislation, drafting the proposals on legislative and institutional development.

The roundtable brought together the international consultants, the heads and specialists of the local offices of the largest UN agencies, the representatives of the Mejlis, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Culture and TV and Radio Broadcasting, the Supreme Court, the Bar, the State Committee for Statistics, the Institute of State and Right under President of Turkmenistan, the Institute of Strategic Planning and Economic Development. The members of the Central Commission for Election and Referenda of Turkmenistan, velayat election commissions and public organisations – the Women’s Union, Magtymguly Youth Organisation, the journalists, the teachers and students of the Magtymguly Turkmen State University and the Turkmen State Institute of Economy and Management were among the participants of the meeting.

The brief survey on the Turkmen election legislation was presented at the roundtable. Those speaking noted that the staged process of reforming the legislative base including the election law as an important component had been started on the initiative of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in order to strengthen the democratic foundations of the state and society. In accordance with the resolutions of the Turkmen leader the State Commission for Improvement of Legislation and the Constitutional Commission responsible for amending the Constitution of Turkmenistan had been established and effectively functioned. The key activities of these agencies include implementing the international norms and standards in the national election legislation, bringing it in compliance with the international norms, conventions and agreements that Turkmenistan participates in.

Those speaking noted that being a full member of the world community and standing steadfast to the undertaken commitments Turkmenistan adhered to the provisions of the relevant international documents it joined and strictly observed when organizing and holding elections.

The election legislation of Turkmenistan reflects the fundamental principles and standards of the universally recognized international norms including universal, equal and direct suffrage with secrecy of the ballot, free and voluntary participation of citizens in elections, equal nomination of candidates and equal opportunities for candidates, , transparency and publicity, free election campaigning and protection of the electoral rights. The national legislation sets the organizational, legal, economic and other measures guaranteeing the right to elect and be elected, to participate in the election actions and procedures to citizens. The Constitution stands as the guarantor of the strict observance of the major principles of the election process.

The presentations on the election systems worldwide, the international election standards, the election norms and practice of different countries were made at the roundtable. The international consultants noted that a main objective of the work with the Turkmen partners was to provide assistance in adopting the unified Election Code of Turkmenistan through providing the relevant information based on the best international practice. In this context the participants put forward the proposals on improvement of election management and the election legislation of Turkmenistan in close collaboration with the local experts.

The consultants informed that they would carry out the further activity through multilateral consultations, open discussions and wide exchange of views that was vividly proved by the roundtable arranged in the conference hall of the National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under President of Turkmenistan.