Tomorrow, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC) hosts a seminar at the Human Rights House in Oslo called ´Turkmenistan: status Quo or hope for change?´. The seminar also marks the opening of a three-day photography exhibition with nique andpreviously unshown pictures from this very closed former Soviet republic, trapped between Iran and Afghanistan. Right, former president Sapamuat Nyiazov.(13-MAR-07)
Based on NHC´s press release,this article has been prepared for publication by HRHF / Niels Jacob Harbitz.
22 December 2006, Sapamurat Niyazov, President of Turkmenistan and ´the leader of all Turkmenis´ died, leaving behind a country practically shut off from the rest of the world and with a people controlled by the secret police and subjected to an absurd cult around the perona of the president. 14 February this year, Niyazov´s successor, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhammedov, was sworn in without any real competition.
The seminar:
Berdymuhammedov was one of Niyazov´s closest colleagues and confidantes and there is very little in his past that might suggest he will be a progressive spokesman for democratization. Even so, there are few positive signs, among them, that he, without really having to, has still initiated reforms of the health care and education systems, and is also allowing increased access to Internet. Is there reason to hope for change in this oilrich country? The speakers at the seminar are all leading exile politicians and human rights defenders from all across Europe, all with a particular expertise on Turkmenistan. To see the 
programme for the eminar, in Norwegian, click here.
The photo exhibition:
Shokrat Kadyrov, a Turkmeni living in Norway, has put together a unique exhibition of pictures of Turkmeni folklore and everyday life, mostly from the Soviet era. The majority of the photographs are hitherto unpublished and derive mostly from a private collection. The exhibition will be open tomorrow, 14 March, and also Thursday 15 and Friday 16, from 12:00 to 16:00 both days. There will also be a great collection of Turkmeni rugs and jewellery on display. To read more about the photo exhibition, in Norwegian, click here.
