OSCE CiO appeals to Turkmenistan to live up to human rights commitments

NEW YORK, 26 September 2003 - The Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Netherlands Foreign Minister Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, spoke on Thursday with the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov, about co-operation between the OSCE and Turkmenistan, especially with regard to human rights.

"I told the Minister that I attach importance to us following up on some of the issues that I discussed with President Niyazov when I visited Turkmenistan in March", said Minister de Hoop Scheffer after the meeting at UN headquarters in New York.

"I think that we had constructive talks on that occasion and I appealed to Minister Meredov to live up to the human rights standards that Turkmenistan, as an OSCE state, is committed to. I repeated once more that the OSCE is ready to assist Turkmenistan and to build a constructive relationship with that country."

"More specifically, I drew the attention of Minister Meredov to the issue of exit travel legislation, informing him that I hope Turkmenistan will take positive steps in this regard."

The Chairman-in-Office also raised the issue of full access by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to Turkmen prisons.

"I made a plea to Minister Meredov for improvement in this area", Minister de Hoop Scheffer said, adding that he also drew the attention of the Turkmen Minister to the issue of freedom of religion and the deteriorating situation of NGOs in Turkmenistan.