CiO appeals to Turkmen President to work with OSCE on human rights

THE HAGUE, 4 March 2003 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Netherlands Foreign Minister Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, met Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Rashid Meredov on Monday in Ashgabad to discuss a number of issues, including human rights, terrorism and future co-operation between the OSCE and Turkmenistan.

"It is clear after my discussion with President Niyazov that the President of Turkmenistan is willing to continue dialogue with the OSCE - even if different opinions exist about the situation in the country and if mutual criticism is expressed," said Minister de Hoop Scheffer, stressing the importance of keeping communication lines open between the OSCE and Turkmenistan.

The CiO spoke at length with the President about the Moscow Mechanism that ten OSCE states initiated after the arrests by the Turkmen authorities of people suspected of having been involved in the alleged assassination attempt against President Niyazov in November 2002. Under the Moscow Mechanism, a rapporteur was appointed to examine the investigations carried out by the Turkmen authorities.

"Earlier, the Turkmen authorities had decided not to appoint their own rapporteur. I have appealed to President Niyazov that Turkmenistan should react to this report," the CiO said. "I favour the Turkmen authorities' involvement in the Moscow Mechanism, whatever the difficulties. I am hopeful that the President will take my words to heart and that I have prepared the ground for a reaction from the Turkmen side."

He explained that the CiO represents all 55 participating States of the OSCE and therefore does not have a direct responsibility for the Moscow Mechanism.

The Netherlands Chairman-in-Office also mentioned that he had drawn the attention of President Niyazov to specific human rights concerns, such as the detention of environmental activist Farid Tukhbatullin. "The President has assured me that Mr. Tukhbatullin will be released soon," Minister de Hoop Scheffer said.

On the issue of two recent pieces of legislation raised by the CiO - the crime of 'betrayal of the Motherland' and the travel ban imposed on Turkmen nationals - the President said these new laws were related to the terrorist acts with which the country has been confronted in the aftermath of the assassination attempt.

While fully sharing the President's concern about all forms of terrorism, the CiO urged that due process should be observed in trials. In this connection, he suggested that the OSCE Centre in Ashgabad should be able to send observers to judicial proceedings.

Stressing again the importance of not seeing the door closed on OSCE activities in the country, also when it comes to the fate of prisoners of conscience and the conditions of imprisoned people in general in Turkmenistan, the Chairman-in-Office said this was also raised in his meeting with President Niyazov. "I specifically addressed the right of prisoners to receive family members and other visitors," the CiO said. "While the law prohibits visits during the first five years in the case of life imprisonment, the President indicated that in other cases provisions for such visits could be made."

The visit to Turkmenistan of Minister de Hoop Scheffer was the first of a series of visits the CiO intends to pay to all five Central Asian republics, reflecting the importance he attaches to developments in this region and these countries' participation in the OSCE.

The Minister outlined the Netherlands priorities for its Chairmanship, including combating various forms of illegal trafficking, terrorism and ensuring balance between the politico-military, economic and the human security concerns in OSCE programmes.

The CiO used the opportunity of his visit to Ashgabad to make a stop-over in Kiev for a meeting with the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anatoly Zlenko.

The discussion with Minister Zlenko focused on the ongoing efforts to seek a political solution for the Moldovan/Transdniestrian conflict, including through elaboration of a new constitution.

The CiO and the Ukrainian Minister shared the opinion that the constructive engagement of all parties is needed to build on the agreement to work jointly in a constitutional commission and that this requires the active approach of the international community. They also fully concurred on the need to establish effective border controls on the Ukrainian-Moldovan border, including the section of the border along the Transdniestrian region.