The presidential election campaign has entered its final stage, the presidential election will be held on February 12. These days the CIS Observer Mission is visiting Turkmenistan. Head of the CIS Observer Mission Headquarters, Yevgeniy Aleksandrovich SLOBODA gave an interview about the objectives and tasks of the Mission:
“We’ve come to Turkmenistan at the invitation of the Turkmen side. We view the invitation of the Mission as an act of goodwill of the leadership of Turkmenistan dictated by the intention to democratize the society, ensure transparency and openness of the election process for international observers.
“The Mission consists of 61 accredited observers representing the national Parliaments, election commissions and diplomatic corps of the CIS states and the representatives of the CIS Executive Council, the Interparliamentary Assembly of Member Nations of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Belarus-Russia Union.
“The Mission and its headquarters perform their functions in compliance with the Constitution and the Law of Turkmenistan on the Election of the President of Turkmenistan, universally recognized standards of electoral law, the Regulations on the CIS Observer Mission during the presidential, parliamentary elections and referenda. Performing its functions, the Mission is committed to the principle of political neutrality and non-interference in internal affairs of the state. Our objective is to facilitate the free election provided that the election is the internal affair of the state.
“We visited a number of election districts and took part within our authorities the meeting of the Central Commission for Election and Referenda. We could see that the election commissions at all levels were ready for the February 12 election. The Central Commission provided the polling stations with necessary reference literature and technical resources, including communications equipment.
“The meeting of the Central Commission I attended was held in a transparent and open atmosphere, in presence of representatives of the public organisations and journalists and the decision-making process was participatory.
“Having visited the election districts and talked to members of the election commissions, we got evidence that everyone discharged their obligations very responsibly. We felt that they were determined to hold the election in a timely and proper manner.
“I would like to note that all the presidential candidates have the equal opportunities to hold the canvass campaign. We could saw it from the materials in the printed media, on television, during the meetings with the electorates.
“I would like to wish the people of Turkmenistan the success in holding the election, prosperity, happiness and wellbeing.”
“We’ve come to Turkmenistan at the invitation of the Turkmen side. We view the invitation of the Mission as an act of goodwill of the leadership of Turkmenistan dictated by the intention to democratize the society, ensure transparency and openness of the election process for international observers.
“The Mission consists of 61 accredited observers representing the national Parliaments, election commissions and diplomatic corps of the CIS states and the representatives of the CIS Executive Council, the Interparliamentary Assembly of Member Nations of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Belarus-Russia Union.
“The Mission and its headquarters perform their functions in compliance with the Constitution and the Law of Turkmenistan on the Election of the President of Turkmenistan, universally recognized standards of electoral law, the Regulations on the CIS Observer Mission during the presidential, parliamentary elections and referenda. Performing its functions, the Mission is committed to the principle of political neutrality and non-interference in internal affairs of the state. Our objective is to facilitate the free election provided that the election is the internal affair of the state.
“We visited a number of election districts and took part within our authorities the meeting of the Central Commission for Election and Referenda. We could see that the election commissions at all levels were ready for the February 12 election. The Central Commission provided the polling stations with necessary reference literature and technical resources, including communications equipment.
“The meeting of the Central Commission I attended was held in a transparent and open atmosphere, in presence of representatives of the public organisations and journalists and the decision-making process was participatory.
“Having visited the election districts and talked to members of the election commissions, we got evidence that everyone discharged their obligations very responsibly. We felt that they were determined to hold the election in a timely and proper manner.
“I would like to note that all the presidential candidates have the equal opportunities to hold the canvass campaign. We could saw it from the materials in the printed media, on television, during the meetings with the electorates.
“I would like to wish the people of Turkmenistan the success in holding the election, prosperity, happiness and wellbeing.”