OSCE ready to help Turkmenistan advance democratic reforms after election, says Chairman Moratinos

MADRID, 12 February 2007 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, said today he hoped the dialogue between the Organization and Turkmenistan will intensify after Sunday´s Presidential election, including on elections and other related areas of democracy and rule of law.

The OSCE Chairman stressed the importance of the support the OSCE and its Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights can provide in future electoral processes and invited the Turkmen authorities to make use as soon as possible of the expertise of the Organization in the advancement of democratization.

"We are ready to help in all areas where the OSCE is active, whether in the political-military dimension, environmental and economic matters or human rights. For that purpose the OSCE field centre in Ashgabad should play a useful role," said Minister Moratinos.

He added that the OSCE expects that, following the election, Turkmenistan will engage in a process of political reform and democratization and stands ready to support it. The Minister concluded that such process will contribute to strengthening the stability in the region.