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Turkmenistan
Government and Politics
Government: Many Soviet-era officials still
in place, 1996; constitution of 1992 stipulates democratic separation
of powers, but presidency sole center of actual power under Saparmyrat
Niyazov. Legislative branch, fifty-member Milli Mejlis, has same
ratification functions as Soviet-era Supreme Soviet. Judiciary
very weak--judges appointed by president; Supreme Court reviews
constitutionality of legislation. Sixty-member National Council
with advisory function, actually subsidiary to presidential power.
Politics: Constitution guarantees political
freedom, but former Communist Party, now Democratic Party, dominates
and retains same structure and propaganda machine as in Soviet
era. Niyazov's cult of personality provides further domination.
Small, weak opposition groups concentrate on single issues; some
groups outlawed.
Foreign Relations: Basic policy "positive neutrality"--noninterference
and neutrality toward all countries and attempts to establish
relations as widely as possible. Marketing and transport of natural
gas and oil given priority in foreign economic deals. Remains
independent of other Central Asian and CIS countries when possible,
but maintains strong bilateral military and economic ties with
Russia.
International Agreements and Memberships: Member
of United Nations (UN), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World
Bank, Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Islamic Development
Bank, and CIS.
Data as of March 1996
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