Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov issued on August 25 a presidential decree establishing a new interagency state commission empowered to "implement international obligations" for the protection of human rights, ITAR-TASS reported. The presidential press service also announced that the decree was followed by a decision to establish a UN-affiliated "regional center for preventive diplomacy" in Ashgabat, to be opened with an international conference in December organized by Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov to coincide with the national holiday celebrating Turkmenistan's neutrality. RGCopyright (c) 2007. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
Published in: Turkmenistan Forms Human Rights Commission, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 27 August 2007.