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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Turkmenistan promises democratic reform |
| 2008-06-26 |
| Turkmenistan, criticised by human rights groups for its slow pace of reform, has promised a European Union delegation it will bring about more democratic change, state media reported on Wednesday. The EU sees Central Asia’s top gas producer as key to its ambitions to diversify energy supplies away from Russia, which provides the bloc with a quarter of its gas needs. Brussels also wants Turkmenistan, one of the world’s most isolated states, to show more commitment to democratic reform. Turkmen Khabarlary news agency said Turkmen officials briefed visiting EU delegates on Tuesday on the country’s steps to improve human rights. “Full-scale work is under way in the country aimed at strengthening people’s welfare, democratic traditions and creating real guarantees for citizens to fulfil their personal, political, economic, social and other rights,” the agency reported. |
| Posted by:Fred |