"This should be considered as a first step of a renewed dialogue with the Turkmen authorities on electoral processes and a range of other issues," said ODIHR Director Ambassador Christian Strohal. "I welcome this invitation and the Turkmen authorities' expressed readiness for co-operation in a constructive spirit."
The Election Support Team will help the OSCE Centre in Ashgabad to follow the election process. Team members will also familiarize themselves with election-related issues, as this is the first time the ODIHR is involved with elections in the country.
The team is not observing nor monitoring the election as deployment of an election observation mission was not possible because of time constraints. A public report is not foreseen.
The experts are set to meet with representatives of State institutions in charge of the organization of the elections, presidential candidates, civil society organizations and the international community.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has expressed support for Kazakhstan's desire to assume the rotating chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2009.
Speaking at the end of a visit to Berlin by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev, Merkel emphasized that such backing was conditional on continued political reforms in the country.
Merkel said that Germany, the current holder of the rotating EU Presidency, could be a motor for deeper integration of Central Asia with the EU.
"Central Asia is a focal point of the German presidency of the European Union, and we support the European Union in that we are developing more intensive relations in that region, especially with Kazakhstan," Merkel said.
Nazarbaev reportedly welcomed Merkel's initiative and said that Kazakhstan has a right to OSCE chairmanship. He said that his country had a free press and would be holding "open-ended" elections.
Western observers have not recognized any of the handful of elections in Kazakhstan since it gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 as free and fair.
In 2006, OSCE foreign ministers postponed consideration of Kazakhstan's election to the chairmanship.
The United States and others said Kazakhstan needed to take more steps toward democracy.
Human rights organizations frequently criticize Kazakhstan's government for failing to allow for independent media and for alleged human rights violations.
Nazarbaev has maintained a tight grip on virtually all state institutions since he ascended to power in 1989, and has consolidated his power through a disputed referendum and three presidential elections in 1991, 1999, and 2005.
EU Involvement
Merkel today pushed her proposals for more EU involvement in Central Asia in conjunction with her meeting with Nazarbaev.
Germany is the current holder of the presidency of the European Union, which is seeking to diversify its energy suppliers.
Merkel said that Germany can be a motor for deeper integration of Central Asia with the EU.
"Central Asia is a focal point of the German presidency of the European Union, and we support the European Union in that we are developing more intensive relations in that region, especially with Kazakhstan," Merkel said.
Nazarbaev reportedly welcomed Merkel's initiative toward Central Asia, but the two did not mention any specific energy project.
Turkmenistan was, and
remains, one of the most isolated societies in the
world. Under President Niyazov, who died in December
2006, it was nearly impossible for independent
observers, NGOs and analysts to collect information
about the views, opinions, or thoughts of the Turkmen
public. Except for a few Western European embassies
and the OSCE Mission in Turkmenistan's capital,
Ashgabat, no Western observers could stay in the
country, and journalists were ultimately forced to
leave.
Unfortunately, the political situation did not change
with Niyazov's death. In fact, it got worse. This was
evidenced in the recent Ovadan-Depe prison massacre,
where Turkmen special forces suppressed a riot in a
closely-guarded prison camp outside Ashgabat, leaving
23 people dead. The massacre put to rest any hopes
for a positive transition in Turkmenistan and showed
that the junta, which seized power a month ago, is
determined to continue the reign of terror. Hoping to
legitimize their rule, the junta has scheduled to
stage an election on February 11, 2007, which
analysts agree will be a farce.
Because of Turkmenistan's seclusion, it was and
remains difficult to get an impression of the
electorate's public opinion. ETG is proud to present
one of the first polls, which was supported and
supervised by our organization. With the assistance
of our correspondents in Turkmenistan, ETG-sponsored
pollsters were able to interview over 1,100
individuals from every region in the country.
If you are interested in receiving an electronic
copy, please contact us.