President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov delivered a keynote speech at the meeting of the Constitutional Commission, highlighting the priority aims and objectives of the reform of the Basic Law of Turkmenistan.
The Turkmen leader said that thousands of proposals had been received from ministries and departments, political parties and public organisations and the regions of the country.
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said: “Whatever initiative we are putting forward, we assign primary importance to the aim of further enhancing the international prestige of our neutral Motherland.” In 1995, Turkmenistan gained the legal status of permanent neutrality, recognized by the United Nations General Assembly, which was secured in Article 1 of the Constitution.
In this context, the President focused on the appropriateness of separating Part 4 of Article 1 that defines the legal status of neutrality into a new article of the Constitution.
Taking the information provided by the work commissions of Mejlis into account, the Turkmen leader proposed that Section I of the Constitution should contain the provision which would specify that our state promotes scientific and technological progress and maintains international cooperation in this area and that the science and technology policy of the Turkmen state meets the interests of society and every citizen.
The Turkmen leader emphasized the appropriateness of incorporating the article which would contain new regulations and guidelines, reflecting the state policy for the protection of the rights and freedoms of young people and the work of historical importance carried on in our country on a long-term basis.
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on the appropriateness of incorporating the provisions which would state that international agreements of Turkmenistan have direct effect.
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on the appropriateness of clearly formulating universally recognized basic standards in the field of human rights and freedoms and setting forth them in a new way, in an easy to read form.
The Turkmen leader also focused on the need to work on the section which secures the constitutional legal framework for the bodies of power and government, namely the provisions of crucial importance formulated in the chapters which define the authorities, rights and duties of the President of Turkmenistan, Mejlis, the Cabinet of Ministers, the judiciary and local authorities.
The rights, duties and authorities of the legislative, executive and judicial powers should be set forth clearly. It is proposed to incorporate new articles and introduce certain amendments and additions to the existing articles.
Noting that it was proposed to establish the Constitutional Court of Turkmenistan as one of the law enforcement agencies which has the supreme state power, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov instructed the Constitutional Commission to discuss this issue once gain before adopting the final decision. The Turkmen leader said that the new relevant articles should be incorporated into the Constitution if the proposals for the establishment of such an agency were approved.
The Turkmen leader noted that Article 58 of the Constitution had been changed as a result of the reforms carried out in previous years. This Article states that if the President of Turkmenistan is unable to perform his duties for some reason, a Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers shall perform the duties of the President of Turkmenistan on a temporary basis on the decision of the State Security Council until presidential elections are held.
In accordance with the proposals of Turkmen citizens, the provisions which would state that the duties of the President of Turkmenistan in the above case should be performed by the Chairperson of Mejlis of Turkmenistan until presidential elections were held should be incorporated into the Constitution. The Turkmen leader noted that, guided by the common practices, the possibility to change these provisions should be considered. In this regard, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov instructed to thoroughly review these proposals in order to adopt a deliberate decision on this matter and study it once again, if necessary.
Focusing on the priorities of legislative activity of national Parliament, the President said that the proposals for the establishment of the Presidium of Mejlis of Turkmenistan, which would ensure the prompt fulfilment of the tasks and emerging everyday issues, had been submitted. The Turkmen leader noted that the provisions which would allow for the establishment of the Presidium that would manage the activities of Parliament and determine its composition could be incorporated into the articles regulating the legal status of activities of Mejlis.
Noting that the proposals for the incorporation of the new section “Economy and Finance and Credit” into the Constitution had been submitted, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on the need to incorporate the provisions which would state that the state encourages and supports entrepreneurship, promotes small and medium-sized businesses and ensures legal protection of taxpayers into this section.
The Turkmen leader focused on the appropriateness of providing a detailed description of the provisions setting forth the authorities of the Central Bank, the values declared the national property of our country, the effective use and protection of them.
Suggesting once again that the incoming proposals for the improvement of the Constitution in line modern requirements should be reviewed, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on the appropriateness of discussing these proposals at the meeting of the Elders’ Council first and then published the draft Constitution in the mass media for discussion. The Turkmen leader suggested that the final draft of the Basic Law should be presented to deputies of Mejlis for discussion and adopted at the meeting of the Elders’ Council, which will be held in 2016.
The Turkmen leader said that thousands of proposals had been received from ministries and departments, political parties and public organisations and the regions of the country.
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said: “Whatever initiative we are putting forward, we assign primary importance to the aim of further enhancing the international prestige of our neutral Motherland.” In 1995, Turkmenistan gained the legal status of permanent neutrality, recognized by the United Nations General Assembly, which was secured in Article 1 of the Constitution.
In this context, the President focused on the appropriateness of separating Part 4 of Article 1 that defines the legal status of neutrality into a new article of the Constitution.
Taking the information provided by the work commissions of Mejlis into account, the Turkmen leader proposed that Section I of the Constitution should contain the provision which would specify that our state promotes scientific and technological progress and maintains international cooperation in this area and that the science and technology policy of the Turkmen state meets the interests of society and every citizen.
The Turkmen leader emphasized the appropriateness of incorporating the article which would contain new regulations and guidelines, reflecting the state policy for the protection of the rights and freedoms of young people and the work of historical importance carried on in our country on a long-term basis.
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on the appropriateness of incorporating the provisions which would state that international agreements of Turkmenistan have direct effect.
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on the appropriateness of clearly formulating universally recognized basic standards in the field of human rights and freedoms and setting forth them in a new way, in an easy to read form.
The Turkmen leader also focused on the need to work on the section which secures the constitutional legal framework for the bodies of power and government, namely the provisions of crucial importance formulated in the chapters which define the authorities, rights and duties of the President of Turkmenistan, Mejlis, the Cabinet of Ministers, the judiciary and local authorities.
The rights, duties and authorities of the legislative, executive and judicial powers should be set forth clearly. It is proposed to incorporate new articles and introduce certain amendments and additions to the existing articles.
Noting that it was proposed to establish the Constitutional Court of Turkmenistan as one of the law enforcement agencies which has the supreme state power, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov instructed the Constitutional Commission to discuss this issue once gain before adopting the final decision. The Turkmen leader said that the new relevant articles should be incorporated into the Constitution if the proposals for the establishment of such an agency were approved.
The Turkmen leader noted that Article 58 of the Constitution had been changed as a result of the reforms carried out in previous years. This Article states that if the President of Turkmenistan is unable to perform his duties for some reason, a Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers shall perform the duties of the President of Turkmenistan on a temporary basis on the decision of the State Security Council until presidential elections are held.
In accordance with the proposals of Turkmen citizens, the provisions which would state that the duties of the President of Turkmenistan in the above case should be performed by the Chairperson of Mejlis of Turkmenistan until presidential elections were held should be incorporated into the Constitution. The Turkmen leader noted that, guided by the common practices, the possibility to change these provisions should be considered. In this regard, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov instructed to thoroughly review these proposals in order to adopt a deliberate decision on this matter and study it once again, if necessary.
Focusing on the priorities of legislative activity of national Parliament, the President said that the proposals for the establishment of the Presidium of Mejlis of Turkmenistan, which would ensure the prompt fulfilment of the tasks and emerging everyday issues, had been submitted. The Turkmen leader noted that the provisions which would allow for the establishment of the Presidium that would manage the activities of Parliament and determine its composition could be incorporated into the articles regulating the legal status of activities of Mejlis.
Noting that the proposals for the incorporation of the new section “Economy and Finance and Credit” into the Constitution had been submitted, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on the need to incorporate the provisions which would state that the state encourages and supports entrepreneurship, promotes small and medium-sized businesses and ensures legal protection of taxpayers into this section.
The Turkmen leader focused on the appropriateness of providing a detailed description of the provisions setting forth the authorities of the Central Bank, the values declared the national property of our country, the effective use and protection of them.
Suggesting once again that the incoming proposals for the improvement of the Constitution in line modern requirements should be reviewed, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused on the appropriateness of discussing these proposals at the meeting of the Elders’ Council first and then published the draft Constitution in the mass media for discussion. The Turkmen leader suggested that the final draft of the Basic Law should be presented to deputies of Mejlis for discussion and adopted at the meeting of the Elders’ Council, which will be held in 2016.