OREANDA-NEWS. June 24, 2009. The aspects of the study of the best practice of local governance were put on the agenda of the roundtable organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Turkmen National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under President of Turkmenistan in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Turkmenistan. The forum brought together the representatives of the Mejlis, the Institute of State and Law under President of Turkmenistan, the Institute of Foreign Relations of the MFA, journalists and the international experts – Marylyn Davis, Gavin Helf and Michael Kunz (USA).

The focus of the discussion was the future trends in cooperation to achieve the goals the large-scale progressive reforms initiated in Turkmenistan to cement the democratic basis of the state and society. In this regard emphasis was put on the need to study the best international practice, advanced methodology and forms of local governance. The participants focused on the significance of closer collaboration for these purposes and expansion of exchange of delegations. In particular, the effectiveness of the recent trip of the Turkmen government officials to the United States, during which they had visited Maryland and Vermont and had the meeting with the high-ranking officials of the U.S. Department of State, was highly appreciated.

Over 200 books granted by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to the Turkmen National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under President of Turkmenistan replenished the specialized literature library.