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Ashgabat, 24 May 2013 – The UN Assistant Secretary General on human rights issues, head of the OHCHR office at UN Headquarters in New York, Mr. Ivan Simonovic, met today with members of the UN Country Team and representatives of the EBRD, Europa House, ADB, EU liaison Office in Turkmenistan at the UN Building in Ashgabat. Mr. Ivan Simonovic is visiting Ashgabat as part of his tour of Central Asian counties.
 
The UN Assistant Secretary General informed the meeting participants that he arrived in Ashgabat to follow-up on the outcomes of the UN Secretary General’s visit to Turkmenistan in 2010, during which the sides had a substantial discussion on the human rights issues. Mr. Ivan Simonovic noted that his visit to the region is taking place against the background the ongoing discussions at the UN headquarters on development of the new Strategy for Central Asia that will particularly focus on the issues related to security and human rights situation in the region.    

During the meeting, the participants exchanged views on the achievements and challenges in the area of human rights in the country.

As part of his visit to Turkmenistan, the UN Assistant Secretary General will hold meetings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Supreme Court, the Prosecutor General’s Office and National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan. Mr. Ivan Simonovic will also meet members of the Interdepartmental Commission of Turkmenistan on implementation of Turkmenistan’s international obligations in the sphere of human rights.