The adoption of the Law on Political Parties at the recent session of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan became a landmark event in the social and political life of the country. This law is intended to facilitate the development of the political system and democratization of civil society institutions.
A roundtable with the representatives of the Mejlis, the Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan and public associations was conducted by the editorial board to discuss the provisions and significance of the Law on Political Parties.
Together with political parties the society gains an active social force that facilitates fulfilling its strategic objectives, enhances the reputation of a state as democratic and jural, the crucial foundation for the development of civil society and its structural units. The scale and novelty of the tasks set to the state and society, increased public conscience and civil activity of Turkmen citizens require the encouragement of the political and civil activity of citizens and expanding their involvement in tackling social and economic issues.
In this regard parties and public associations should develop the time-coherent concept of political activity. Its core is the new ideology proclaimed by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov – “a state for the people” based on the respect for the universal values, democratic principles and traditions of the Turkmen nation, humanism, patriotism and internationalism. This concept that is easy for every citizen to understand and co to mass consciousness will contribute to continuously raising public conscience and political culture.
Pirnazar HUDAYNAZAROV, Chairman of the Committee for Human Rights and Freedoms of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan:
”The new law is intended to strengthen the legal foundations and enhance the truly democratic traditions in the society, ensure the political, economic, social and cultural rights of an individual, it is concrete evidence for the implementation of international human rights standards. The Law of Turkmenistan on Political Parties sets forth the legal foundations for the creation of political parties, their rights and obligations, the scope of activity and regulates relations between political parties and government bodies and other organisations.
”According to the law, Turkmen citizens shall be entitled to create political parties, join or abstain from joining them, participate in activities of political parties on a voluntary basis for their political convictions and freely cease to be a member of political parties. A citizen of the country who permanently resides in Turkmenistan and has reached the age of 18 may join a political party. A citizen may be a member of only one political party. And above all, the activities of political parties shall not restrict the rights and freedoms of an individual and citizen vested by the Constitution and laws of Turkmenistan.
“Article 8 of the Law regulates the restrictions set forth in Article 30 of the Constitution of Turkmenistan on the creation and activities of political parties. the establishment of political parties which pursue the forced change of the foundations of the constitutional system, allow violence in their activities, restrict the constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens, advocate war, racial, ethnic or religious animosity, jeopardize the health and moral standards of the people as well as the creation of political parties based on nationality or religion shall be prohibited.
“The state guarantees the protection of rights and legitimate interests of political parties and provides them with the equal legal opportunities. The interference of government bodies, local governments and officials in the activities of political parties as well as the interference of political parties in the activities of the abovementioned bodies and officials shall not be allowed.
”The Mejlis of Turkmenistan continues the work on modernisation of the national legislation as the Parliament is to lay the legal foundation for the advancement of the Turkmen state on the way of democratic changes.”
Yazdursun GURBANNAZAROVA, Director of the Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan:
“In the legal context the Law of Turkmenistan on Political Parties implies the legitimacy of political activity that must comply with the law and international law standards.
“The rights of citizens to create political parties and other public associations that carry out the activities in accordance with the Constitution and laws are secured by Article 30 of the Basic Law of Turkmenistan. This constitutional provision is declared in the international documents well. For example, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) that our country acceded to. These legislative guidelines underlying our law ensure the support and understanding of the people and international recognition and appreciation of the process of creating public associations.
“All the parts of the new law, one way or another, declare the democratic foundations of the society and the rights to freedom of opinion and expression. In his book “State Regulation of Social and Economic Development of Turkmenistan” the President of Turkmenistan writes, “The new Constitution of Turkmenistan proclaims an individual the highest value of the society, and this has predetermined all further steps towards the development of civil society that guarantees the motivated and concerned attitude of everyone towards his rights and duties.”
Kasymguly BABAEV, First Secretary of the Political Council of the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan:
“The new Constitution of Turkmenistan that corresponds with the present stage of development of the society and state was adopted in September 2008. The Constitution declaring an individual the highest value of the society and state ensures the priority legal force of the fundamental human rights and freedoms, the protection of the honour and dignity of an individual and the high standard of wellbeing of every member of society.
“The Law on Political Parties fully guarantees the rights of citizens vested in the Constitution such as to be involved in forming public opinion, bring public opinion to the notice of citizens, government bodies and local governments, participate in election and referenda, nominate candidates to the presidency, the Mejlis, halk maslakhaty and Gengeshi. Thus, the law guarantees the right of citizens to participate in activities of government bodies and local government through their elected representatives.
Encouraging political pluralism is a critical aspect of the ongoing democratic changes. The new law sets forth the clearly defined procedure for creating political parties. In accordance with the law, political parties which obtained the state registration are entitled to distribute information on their activities and present their views, aims and objectives. They may submit the proposals for elaborating the decision to government bodies and local governments, participate in election in accordance with the laws of Turkmenistan, establish a mass media enterprise and carry out publishing activities, use the state-owned media, protect rights and legitimate interests of their members in connection with their political activities and represent them in government bodies and local governments.”
Amanbay ASHIROV, Vice Chairman of the Central Council of Magtymguly Youth Organization of Turkmenistan:
“The state policy priorities included the concern for the people’s welfare that testifies to practicing democracy and humanity in our country. The new law is guarantees the exercise the democratic rights and freedoms, the evidence for the success of the legal reform."
“The law widely regulates the process of creating political parties in the country. In these conditions, the Youth Organization sees its main objective in improving its activities aimed at raising political awareness among youth and broadening its outlook. Once we manage to form the concept of ‘a citizen’ in the minds of young people, in the truest and highest sense of this word, we will accomplish the task of bringing up patriots of our Motherland who will add new historic achievements to the chronicle of our country.”
A roundtable with the representatives of the Mejlis, the Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan and public associations was conducted by the editorial board to discuss the provisions and significance of the Law on Political Parties.
Together with political parties the society gains an active social force that facilitates fulfilling its strategic objectives, enhances the reputation of a state as democratic and jural, the crucial foundation for the development of civil society and its structural units. The scale and novelty of the tasks set to the state and society, increased public conscience and civil activity of Turkmen citizens require the encouragement of the political and civil activity of citizens and expanding their involvement in tackling social and economic issues.
In this regard parties and public associations should develop the time-coherent concept of political activity. Its core is the new ideology proclaimed by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov – “a state for the people” based on the respect for the universal values, democratic principles and traditions of the Turkmen nation, humanism, patriotism and internationalism. This concept that is easy for every citizen to understand and co to mass consciousness will contribute to continuously raising public conscience and political culture.
Pirnazar HUDAYNAZAROV, Chairman of the Committee for Human Rights and Freedoms of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan:
”The new law is intended to strengthen the legal foundations and enhance the truly democratic traditions in the society, ensure the political, economic, social and cultural rights of an individual, it is concrete evidence for the implementation of international human rights standards. The Law of Turkmenistan on Political Parties sets forth the legal foundations for the creation of political parties, their rights and obligations, the scope of activity and regulates relations between political parties and government bodies and other organisations.
”According to the law, Turkmen citizens shall be entitled to create political parties, join or abstain from joining them, participate in activities of political parties on a voluntary basis for their political convictions and freely cease to be a member of political parties. A citizen of the country who permanently resides in Turkmenistan and has reached the age of 18 may join a political party. A citizen may be a member of only one political party. And above all, the activities of political parties shall not restrict the rights and freedoms of an individual and citizen vested by the Constitution and laws of Turkmenistan.
“Article 8 of the Law regulates the restrictions set forth in Article 30 of the Constitution of Turkmenistan on the creation and activities of political parties. the establishment of political parties which pursue the forced change of the foundations of the constitutional system, allow violence in their activities, restrict the constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens, advocate war, racial, ethnic or religious animosity, jeopardize the health and moral standards of the people as well as the creation of political parties based on nationality or religion shall be prohibited.
“The state guarantees the protection of rights and legitimate interests of political parties and provides them with the equal legal opportunities. The interference of government bodies, local governments and officials in the activities of political parties as well as the interference of political parties in the activities of the abovementioned bodies and officials shall not be allowed.
”The Mejlis of Turkmenistan continues the work on modernisation of the national legislation as the Parliament is to lay the legal foundation for the advancement of the Turkmen state on the way of democratic changes.”
Yazdursun GURBANNAZAROVA, Director of the Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan:
“In the legal context the Law of Turkmenistan on Political Parties implies the legitimacy of political activity that must comply with the law and international law standards.
“The rights of citizens to create political parties and other public associations that carry out the activities in accordance with the Constitution and laws are secured by Article 30 of the Basic Law of Turkmenistan. This constitutional provision is declared in the international documents well. For example, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) that our country acceded to. These legislative guidelines underlying our law ensure the support and understanding of the people and international recognition and appreciation of the process of creating public associations.
“All the parts of the new law, one way or another, declare the democratic foundations of the society and the rights to freedom of opinion and expression. In his book “State Regulation of Social and Economic Development of Turkmenistan” the President of Turkmenistan writes, “The new Constitution of Turkmenistan proclaims an individual the highest value of the society, and this has predetermined all further steps towards the development of civil society that guarantees the motivated and concerned attitude of everyone towards his rights and duties.”
Kasymguly BABAEV, First Secretary of the Political Council of the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan:
“The new Constitution of Turkmenistan that corresponds with the present stage of development of the society and state was adopted in September 2008. The Constitution declaring an individual the highest value of the society and state ensures the priority legal force of the fundamental human rights and freedoms, the protection of the honour and dignity of an individual and the high standard of wellbeing of every member of society.
“The Law on Political Parties fully guarantees the rights of citizens vested in the Constitution such as to be involved in forming public opinion, bring public opinion to the notice of citizens, government bodies and local governments, participate in election and referenda, nominate candidates to the presidency, the Mejlis, halk maslakhaty and Gengeshi. Thus, the law guarantees the right of citizens to participate in activities of government bodies and local government through their elected representatives.
Encouraging political pluralism is a critical aspect of the ongoing democratic changes. The new law sets forth the clearly defined procedure for creating political parties. In accordance with the law, political parties which obtained the state registration are entitled to distribute information on their activities and present their views, aims and objectives. They may submit the proposals for elaborating the decision to government bodies and local governments, participate in election in accordance with the laws of Turkmenistan, establish a mass media enterprise and carry out publishing activities, use the state-owned media, protect rights and legitimate interests of their members in connection with their political activities and represent them in government bodies and local governments.”
Amanbay ASHIROV, Vice Chairman of the Central Council of Magtymguly Youth Organization of Turkmenistan:
“The state policy priorities included the concern for the people’s welfare that testifies to practicing democracy and humanity in our country. The new law is guarantees the exercise the democratic rights and freedoms, the evidence for the success of the legal reform."
“The law widely regulates the process of creating political parties in the country. In these conditions, the Youth Organization sees its main objective in improving its activities aimed at raising political awareness among youth and broadening its outlook. Once we manage to form the concept of ‘a citizen’ in the minds of young people, in the truest and highest sense of this word, we will accomplish the task of bringing up patriots of our Motherland who will add new historic achievements to the chronicle of our country.”