The OSCE held a training seminar on strategic communications and public relations in state institutions of Turkmenistan in Ashgabat on June 16–17. This was reported by the news website AsmanNews.
The event brought together representatives of government agencies responsible for media and public relations, including press attachés of Turkmenistan’s embassies abroad who joined online.
Opening the seminar, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, William Leaf, recalled the organization’s long-standing commitments in the field of freedom of information and access to information. He noted that transparency and openness are key factors for stable governance and dialogue between the state and society.
Experts from Kazakhstan and Lithuania presented modern approaches to the work of press services. The focus was on strategic communication planning, audience engagement, crisis communications, media relations, and the use of artificial intelligence in public communication. Measures to counter disinformation and strengthen cooperation between government bodies and the public were also discussed.
William Leaf emphasized that the information environment is changing rapidly, creating new opportunities and challenges. According to him, the OSCE promotes the introduction of digital tools and AI while simultaneously strengthening transparency, accountability, and public trust.
After the seminar concluded, a separate training course on public speaking skills for civil servants was held on June 17–18. Participants studied the preparation of official statements, the structure of public speeches, and the adaptation of messages for different audiences. Practical sessions focused on OSCE-related topics, including law enforcement, environmental protection, and gender equality.