We have discussed Turkmenistan's ‘opening up’ diplomatically from their isolationist and totalitarian Niyazov era on a few occasions. The nation's participation in the latest NATO Summit, EU Troika, and their warming of relations with Turkey, for instance. I am pleased to report that this ‘opening up’ seems to have some legs:
1. Current President Berdymuhamedov has introduced major amendments to the constitution, planned for September 2008. A special committee has been formed to propose constitutional reforms and the president requested the ministry of justice, ministry of internal affairs, ministry of national security, the Supreme Court, prosecutor general, and the institute of democracy and human rights to create working groups to also propose reforms. For reasons of showcasing the transparency of this process, Berdymuhamedov stated that the mass media will publish the details of proposed amendments and that local journalists will be invited to attend the constitutional reform meetings once a month. After the parliament debates the proposals, a special session of the Khalk Maslahaty (People's Council) will be held in September in Ashgabat to adopt the amendments. Berdymuhamedov asserted; 'the world is moving forward and any state that cannot keep pace with the global developments will inevitably be left behind.”
2. Last Wednesday, Turkmenistan and Lithuania signed a memorandum of understanding for intergovernmental cooperation with an emphasis in the energy, transportation, tourism, trade, culture and humanitarian spheres. This is another example of Turkmenistan looking toward to the West to increase its leverage in all directions and to court the resources and markets that Europe can provide. During the meeting with Lithuania's Prime Minister Kirkilas, Berdymuhamedov stated; “European direction is one of the priority areas for the foreign policy strategy of Turkmenistan. We are taking steps to deepen our dialogue with the EU.”
3. On a much larger scale, Turkmenistan and India have signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the oild an gas sectors, but this will be discussed in the next few days.
4. On a cultural bent, Berdymuhamedov gave parliament his approval to work on changing the names of the months back to their traditional forms. The nation's previous dictator, Niyazov, infamously changed these names in 2002 to versions that honored Turk heros, chief among them, himself. The official parliament resolution should happen sometime this year, maybe as early as June. Gurbansoltan (April), Turkmenbashi (January), and Ruhnama (September) will soon be left to the trash heap of history.
It is important to not overstate these reforms and claim that Turkmenistan is headed towards democracy and an open and vigorous foreign policy, but these reforms, even as slight as some appear, matter and are positive signs none the less.
To personify just how far Berdymuhamedov and Turkmenistan have to go though, here is a report from Forum 18 about a recent government raid on a Bible class in Ashgabat. Unfortunately, religious and personal freedoms are still pedestrian in this nation showing signs of progress.
Two steps forward, three religious persecution steps back.
(Photo Source: The Guardian, Guardian.co.uk)
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