The UN Committee Against Torture (CAT) issued conclusions regarding Turkmenistan's first -- and very incomplete -- report to this treaty body that reviews the compliance of states with the UN Convention Against Torture.
The consortium of companies that support the Nabucco pipeline has once again announced a postponement of the start of construction to 2013, citing a lack of supply contracts, Asia Times reported. They include RWE (Germany); OMV (Austria); MOL (Hungary); Transgaz (Romania); Bulgargaz (Bulgaria); and BOTAS (Turkey).
A fact-finding mission by members of the European Parliament (MEPs) visited Turkmenistan in late April to assess human rights conditions. Possibly because the group was divided on its impressions, and the head of the delegation was not available, the press conference following the trip got little press coverage.
President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov made a two-day state visit to Uzbekistan May 5-6, reciprocating a visit made by Uzbek President Islam Karimov to Turkmenistan in October 2010. The Turkmen leader was met at the airport by Uzbek Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoev, Foreign Minister Elyor Ganiev and others, and was greeted by President Islam Karimov the next morning.
Belarus’ President Alyaksandr Lukashenka visited Turkmenistan April 27-28, met with President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, and travelled to the Avaza resort area to discuss economic cooperation. The Belarusian leader said that 1,500 of his country's tractors and other vehicles were already being delivered to communities in Turkmenistan, and he expected to double the order this year.
The European Parliament sent a delegation to Turkmenistan April 26-29 to perform a fact-finding mission on the situation of human rights, eurasianet.org reported. The visit was a prelude to a parliamentary vote coming up in June to sign a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), which will replace the Interim Trade Agreement now in place.
The Pentagon reportedly intends to ship 75 percent of all non-military cargo destined for Afghanistan via the Northern Distribution Network (NDN) by the end of 2011, EurasiaNet reported.
After a nearly five-year wait for a US ambassador to be appointed to Ashgabat, President Barack Obama's nominee, Robert E. Patterson, a career foreign service officer, was confirmed unanimously without debate by the US Senate on April 14 as US ambassador to Turkmenistan, the Congressional Record reported.
President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov dismissed his Minister of National Security and replaced him with the Minister of Defense, the Turkmen state media and regional press reported. It is not known what events could have precipitated the shuffle.
