U.S. Not Sending Observers For Turkmen Elections
December 12, 2008
ASHGABAT -- The United States will not send observers to Turkmenistan for its parliamentary elections on December 14.
U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat Public Affairs Officer Andrew Paul told RFE/RL's Turkmen Service that the embassy will, however, informally monitor the elections and report its findings to the U.S. State Department.
He added that Turkmenistan has a long way to go to meet international standards, though there has been some progress.
Paul said the fact that there is not a multiparty system and no independent media in Turkmenistan shows the level of development in the country.
The United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the Commonwealth of Indepedent States are sending small observer teams that total about 40 people to monitor the elections.