DUSHANBE, July 1, 2008, Asia-Plus — I think Tajik authorities are ready to improve parliamentary election legislation, Mr. Payam Foroughi, Human Dimension Officer at the OSCE Center in Dushanbe told Asia-Plus today, following a of the working group for discussing changes and addenda to the election legislation.
Today, the working group discussed issues related to amendments to the law on election of members of local legislatures (Majlis). The meeting participants included representatives of all officially registered political parties and civil society.
According to Mr. Foroughi, having adopted a number of laws aimed at promoting observance of human rights and freedoms, Tajikistan has demonstrated its adherence to fulfillment of its intentional obligations.
Adding that they are looking to the Tajik government for another step in that direction, he noted that the implementation of laws is quite another problem.
Mr. Foroughi said that as soon as changes and addenda are made to the parliamentary election legislation, the OSCE Center in Dushanbe will launch on acquainting the population with them.
It was the fourth of a series of meetings to discuss amendments to the parliamentary election legislation. The first three meetings considered amendments proposed to the law on elections to the Majlisi Oli (Tajik parliament). The last fifth meeting will be held on July 3.
The meetings are part of the IFES project to support credible elections in Tajikistan. The project is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
