The Turkmen capital hosts a two-day seminar on international standards for democratic elections and election monitoring. The meeting organised by the Government of Turkmenistan and the OSCE Center in Ashgabat is conducted at the Turkmen National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under President of Turkmenistan. The activists of the large public organisations of Turkmenistan, the members of the OSCE delegation including the international experts of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) who are on a visit to Ashgabat take part in the seminar.

Those speaking at the opening ceremony noted that nowadays collaboration between Turkmenistan and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe had entered the stage of an active dialogue. The bilateral contacts had become more dynamical and concrete in the issues related to democratization of the society and human rights as well. Emphasis was put on the reciprocal endeavours of Turkmenistan and OSCE to further constructive partnership. The participants noted that the established format of co-operation enabled to openly exchange views and discuss the urgent problems basing of the principles of mutual respect and understanding. The priority fields of Turkmenistan-OSCE co-operation included human rights and freedoms, development of democratic institutes and civil society.

The seminar is aimed at providing consultations to national observers in conducting elections in compliance with the international standards as applied to the forthcoming important political action in Turkmenistan - the elections to velayat and city people’s councils (halk maslakhaty).

On the first day the international experts presented the fundamental guidelines of the ODIHR activities, its mission, aims and objectives. The thematic overviews were presented at the seminar. The participants discussed the issues of paramount importance for national observers such as election assessment, observation programme design, analysis of legislation, election disputes monitoring. The participants got acquainted with the international practice of pre-election monitoring and election reporting and provision of recommendations. The organizers of the forum distributed the handouts during the meeting.