Oriented on making people closer

On the eve of the parliamentary elections in Turkmenistan, the head of the CIS observer mission, Secretary General of the CIS Sergey Lebedev gave an exclusive interview to ORIENT:

– Sergey Nikolaevich, how do you assess the preparations for the parliamentary elections in Turkmenistan?

– Our mission has been in Turkmenistan at the invitation of Turkmenistan for more than two weeks. During this time, we visited a number of polling stations, got acquainted with how work with voters and candidates for deputies is organized on the ground, met with people responsible for organizing elections, etc. Our overall assessment is quite positive, the preparation for the elections and the process of early voting, in our opinion, were organized, without violations and without comments. We were informed that about two percent of the voters have already cast their votes.

During our mission, we were convinced that the organizers created all conditions so that the voters, citizens of Turkmenistan, could freely express their will by electing the most worthy people to all elected bodies, starting from districts, regions and up to the legislature.

Moreover, we have grounds for such an opinion, because the competition at each polling station for deputies of the Mejlis was at least two people per place. In other words, the citizens of Turkmenistan had an alternative, that is, the opportunity to choose. In addition, as we have seen, a lot of preliminary work has been carried out so that the most worthy people really get into the number of candidates for deputies of the parliament.

There were many candidates, there was a selection process, and we are confident that the people of Turkmenistan will elect people to all the elected bodies who will fulfill the promises made to the voters and who will work for the welfare of the Turkmen people. And, this is the most important thing.

– Sergey Nikolaevich, you have often visited Turkmenistan, including elections at various levels. Tell me, do you observe any progress in the organization of such socio-political companies as elections? Moreover, not so much in technical terms as in improving the electoral process itself.

– I state with great satisfaction and at the same time with responsibility that there are positive changes both in the legislation of Turkmenistan and in the organization of elections.

The legislation of Turkmenistan is based on national traditions and interests. In addition, that is right! After all, every country and every nation has its own peculiarities. We have some, and in other parts others. For example, the laws and regulations of some countries, including the so-called economically developed ones, may seem strange to us. Nevertheless, they believe that this is the most suitable option for them. However, it will be wrong when they, as they say, from their bell tower, will demand that everywhere there are the same orders as they have.

Every nation has its own national traditions, and it is right when they are taken into account when forming their legislation. At meetings with the President of Turkmenistan, the esteemed Arkadag, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, I said that the elections in Turkmenistan are held in a special, festive atmosphere. Turkmens call it Baýram.

In addition, it is good when music sounds at polling stations, smartly dressed people come, and festive trade is organized. All this creates an atmosphere of real celebration, which inspires voters' confidence in the election process. Moreover, it is very good that such traditions are preserved and multiplied by the Turkmen people.

I also noted for myself such positive moments that the organization of the elections themselves is getting much better every time, the premises, for example, are very decent for polling stations. These are, as a rule, modern buildings of cultural and educational institutions, well-equipped higher educational institutions and secondary schools. In addition, visiting them, you feel the atmosphere of the holiday, order and attention from the organizers everywhere. All this is nothing compared to the long-forgotten times when our states did not have the opportunity to provide such conditions for holding socio-political events.

However, the main and significant change is the growing maturity of the electorate. This is not only in Turkmenistan. It is remarkable that such changes are observed throughout the CIS. The voter has become more literate and demanding. If there used to be a lot of people who believed the populist promises of candidates, the modern voter has become more discerning, realizing that the future of his personal and the whole country depends on his will.

The current voter, before casting his vote during the elections, studies the candidate's biography, his track record, goes to meetings with him, watches TV programs with his speeches and, assessing all this, concludes whether the candidate will be able to fulfill his promises, as well as how real they are.

I recall such candidates in the Russian Federation who promised multiple salary increases, scholarships, free transportation, etc. Despite the fact that such fabulous promises were unrealizable, there were still those who voted for such candidates.

However, the current voter in the CIS and Turkmenistan has already become more politically mature and literate. In addition, this is the main feature of modern elections.

– Sergey Nikolaevich, in the CIS, 2023 has been declared the Year of the Russian Language as the language of interethnic communication. I would like to know how your communication with representatives of Turkmenistan took place during your mission?

– Fortunately, I have not encountered any language difficulties. Our mission visited a number of polling stations and everyone with whom I had to communicate – from ordinary people to high–ranking officials - understood me, and I understood them. I am convinced that this situation has developed thanks to the successful national language policy implemented by the country's leadership, which has shaped the attitude towards the Russian language as the language of interethnic communication in the CIS.

Russian Russian language schools are known to exist in Turkmenistan, there are plans to build a new building for the Pushkin State Russian Drama Theater in Ashgabat, the opening of the Russian-Turkmen University is also planned, and much more. We are grateful to the leadership of Turkmenistan for such support of the Russian language.

– Sergey Nikolaevich, we somehow harmoniously switched from the topic of national elections in Turkmenistan to the issues of the Commonwealth of Independent States. In this regard, tell me, in your opinion, what are the main directions of integration processes in the CIS today?

– In the CIS, economic cooperation has always been a priority, its preservation and expansion. Turkmenistan shows a good example in this matter. The scale of economic cooperation with the Russian Federation and its subjects, as well as with other countries, is increasing every year. Moreover, such a partnership is mutually beneficial for all parties.

Economic cooperation is a broad concept. However, I would single out transport and logistics cooperation. Especially considering that Turkmenistan is an important transit state for highways and railways along the North-South line. There are plans to strengthen, expand and improve such cooperation in this direction. We really hope that these plans will be implemented.

No less relevant is energy interaction, gas and oil production, processing, ecology. In connection with the current situation, the list of the most important areas, of course, includes cooperation in the field of healthcare and agriculture as the basis of food independence. There are good examples of fruitful cooperation in all these areas. We very much hope that these and other vectors of mutually beneficial partnership will continue to develop in the future.

– We, Sergey Nikolaevich, have touched upon the issues of the past, today, and now I propose to move forward to the near future. March is ending and next month, or rather, on April 9, you, dear Sergey Nikolaevich, will be congratulated on your 75th birthday by relatives, numerous friends and acquaintances. Throughout your life, and this is no less than three quarters of a century, you have been entrusted to work in a variety of positions. Tell me, what do you think is the most important thing in your life?

– It is important for any person to have a circle of reliable and loyal friends. I always put reliability and loyalty first. Loyalty to principles, loyalty to friends, loyalty to the Motherland! I evaluate people by this criterion. At one time, in order to appreciate these qualities of a person, they said, "you can go to intelligence with him." I am a happy person, thanks to the fact that there were many such people around me, with whom, figuratively speaking, I went and, God forbid, I will still go on reconnaissance!

Bekdurdy AMANSARYEV

Photo: orient.tm