OREANDA-NEWS. December 29, 2007. President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov chaired the first sitting of the Commission for Improvement of Legislation of Turkmenistan. The Commission chaired by the President of Turkmenistan was established about a month ago to strengthen the legal foundation of Turkmenistan, to create the solid legislative basis for the political, social, economic, scientific and cultural reforms implemented throughout Turkmenistan.

Opening the sitting Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov emphasized that in the epoch of fundamental changes and large-scale progressive reforms aimed at bringing the country up to a higher level of development that had started in the history of revival of independent Turkmenistan to strengthen the legal and democratic foundation of the Turkmen state was of paramount importance. The time itself made to bring the national legislation in compliance with the current tasks, to meet the demands made by the scale of the reforms as well as the international standards and norms, the President noted. Turkmenistan was building a jural secular democratic state and on this way it intended to stand steadfast to the letter and intent of the Fundamental Law and its international commitments.

The members of the State Commission reported on the work done.

Commenting on the reports the President emphasized that the drafting new laws and statutory acts regulating the policy of the state in different spheres should be targeted. Noting that the priorities of national development should be taken into consideration Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov defined the analysis of the current legislation of Turkmenistan, elimination of the existing contradictions, elaboration of the necessary amendments and additions in compliance with the universally recognized norms as the priority tasks.

The President emphasized that this activity was of paramount importance for the process of restructuring the economic system and expanding external economic co-operation. The President said that the effective tools meeting the international standards should be applied allowing foreign companies to conduct investment activity in Turkmenistan and to create the favourable investment climate.

Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov approved the workplan of the Commission for 2008 and issued the relevant Resolution. Focusing on the necessity to ensure effective co-ordination of the work on drafting legislative acts as well as monitoring the fulfillment of the designated tasks the President put emphasis on the necessity of establishing the Secretariat of the State Commission for Improvement of Legislation of Turkmenistan. Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov charged Deputy Speaker of the Mejlis K. Babaev with establishing and managing the work the Secretariat

Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov informed of establishment of the Institute of State and Law under President of Turkmenistan and issued the relevant Decree. The Turkmen leader specified the tasks set to the recently established structure. The work on improvement of the national legislation should be based on thorough study of the best international practices in close collaboration with foreign colleagues and leading international legal experts

Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov said that independent neutral Turkmenistan was moving resolutely towards building a democratic jural state. The ultimate goal was to guarantee the respect for human rights and freedoms based on the highest moral values vested in the Constitution of Turkmenistan. Elaborating on this statement Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov emphasized that Turkmenistan’s adherence to the progressive norms of international law was vividly evidenced by intensification of co-operation with the United Nations and other leading international organisations. Having joined the fundamental international conventions, treaties and agreements our country would continue to contribute to global peace and progress, security and sustainable development, the Turkmen leader said.

In this context Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov set the specific tasks to the Commission and noted that its activity should be an effective factor for advancing the country along the path of the reforms and changes.