OSCE Centre organizes study visit for Turkmenistan parliamentarians

ASHGABAT, 6 July 2009 - Five members of Turkmenistan's Mejlis (Parliament) started a study visit today to the parliaments of Slovenia and Austria.

Organized by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, in co-operation with the Slovene and Austrian Parliaments and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, the five-day visit will help parliamentarians share expertise and strengthening inter-parliamentary contacts among the OSCE participating States.

The members of Turkmenistan's Parliament are expected to have meetings at the National Assembly (Parliament) of Slovenia and the National Election Commission as well as the Parliamentary Channel of Slovene Television. Discussions will focus on the state authority structure and voting system in Slovenia, activities in the constituencies and the role of the media in the election campaign and democratic law-making. The delegation will also meet the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia.

"Exchanging views and best practices among parliamentarians from different OSCE participating States is crucial for promoting the implementation of OSCE commitments in the area of democratization and the rule of law," said Ambassador Arsim Zekolli, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.

"It is particularly important that the parliamentarians will discuss different aspects of parliamentary work, including public and mass media participation, which is an indispensable part of democratic lawmaking."

The delegation will subsequently visit the Austrian Parliament and attend a session of the OSCE Permanent Council, one of the Organization's main regular decision-making bodies.

The visit is a follow-up to study trips to the French, German and Swedish parliaments organized by the Centre.