Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ASHGABAT1288
2006-12-20 12:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
ADDITIONAL TESTING FOR FLEX: A BREAKTHROUGH?
how-toVZCZCXRO9960 RR RUEHAST RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHMRE RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #1288 3541257 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 201257Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8117 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNOSC/OSCE POST COLLECTIVE RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0459 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0514 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0073 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1715 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUETIAA/DIRNSA FT GEORGE G MEADE MD RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1713
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001288
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY),SCA/PPD (KAMP),IIP/G/NEA-SA
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO PREL TX US
SUBJECT: ADDITIONAL TESTING FOR FLEX: A BREAKTHROUGH?
REF: A) ASHGABAT 1285 B) A/S BOUCHER'S 12/18/2006 LETTER TO
PRESIDENT OF TURKMENISTAN
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001288
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY),SCA/PPD (KAMP),IIP/G/NEA-SA
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO PREL TX US
SUBJECT: ADDITIONAL TESTING FOR FLEX: A BREAKTHROUGH?
REF: A) ASHGABAT 1285 B) A/S BOUCHER'S 12/18/2006 LETTER TO
PRESIDENT OF TURKMENISTAN
1. (U) In response to Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher's letter
to President Niyazov regarding problems with FLEX recruitment and
testing, Serdar Bashimov, head of the American Department in the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA),requested a meeting December 20
with A/DCM and PAO. Mr. Bashimov reported that the government was
prepared to agree to FLEX re-testing as requested in A/S Boucher's
letter, and that MFA would send the embassy a diplomatic note
confirming this by the close of business on December 20. He asked
the Embassy to submit by diplomatic note a proposed schedule for the
re-testing, which post plans to provide -- along with a draft
advertisement for the re-testing -- on December 21. Mr. Bashimov
indicated that the Ministry of Education would need to approve the
final arrangements, and asked in a separate phone call with the
A/DCM for the Embassy to be "flexible" in its requests.
NOT OUT OF THE FIRE YET
--------------
2. (U) In response to questions by emboffs regarding measures to
avoid a repetition of the harassment that was experienced throughout
the FLEX testing process, Bashimov said only that our concerns had
been noted and would be taken into consideration. However, the
harassment had been a result of local officials "making poor
decisions," rather than an orchestrated effort by the Ministry of
Education. He added that Turkmenistan took seriously its agreement
on the FLEX program.
TEA and NGOS
--------------
3. (U) Other issues were briefly discussed, including advertising
for the Teaching Excellence Award (TEA) program and the status of
U.S.-based non-governmental organizations in Turkmenistan. Although
there was no resolution of these issues, the meeting atmosphere was
cooperative and polite.
COMMENT
--------------
4. (U) Post is grateful for the letter provided by A/S Boucher and
believes that it could generate greater cooperation with the FLEX
program and other exchanges. While we believe that additional
harassment is likely, the letter's reiteration of the importance
that the Assistant Secretary -- and the Department as a whole --
places on education almost certainly made a difference. Glad as we
are about the MFA's decision, however, it puts additional pressure
on us to ensure a turnout that supports our assertions that there
are a number of students who would have tested if given the chance.
BRUSH
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY),SCA/PPD (KAMP),IIP/G/NEA-SA
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO PREL TX US
SUBJECT: ADDITIONAL TESTING FOR FLEX: A BREAKTHROUGH?
REF: A) ASHGABAT 1285 B) A/S BOUCHER'S 12/18/2006 LETTER TO
PRESIDENT OF TURKMENISTAN
1. (U) In response to Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher's letter
to President Niyazov regarding problems with FLEX recruitment and
testing, Serdar Bashimov, head of the American Department in the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA),requested a meeting December 20
with A/DCM and PAO. Mr. Bashimov reported that the government was
prepared to agree to FLEX re-testing as requested in A/S Boucher's
letter, and that MFA would send the embassy a diplomatic note
confirming this by the close of business on December 20. He asked
the Embassy to submit by diplomatic note a proposed schedule for the
re-testing, which post plans to provide -- along with a draft
advertisement for the re-testing -- on December 21. Mr. Bashimov
indicated that the Ministry of Education would need to approve the
final arrangements, and asked in a separate phone call with the
A/DCM for the Embassy to be "flexible" in its requests.
NOT OUT OF THE FIRE YET
--------------
2. (U) In response to questions by emboffs regarding measures to
avoid a repetition of the harassment that was experienced throughout
the FLEX testing process, Bashimov said only that our concerns had
been noted and would be taken into consideration. However, the
harassment had been a result of local officials "making poor
decisions," rather than an orchestrated effort by the Ministry of
Education. He added that Turkmenistan took seriously its agreement
on the FLEX program.
TEA and NGOS
--------------
3. (U) Other issues were briefly discussed, including advertising
for the Teaching Excellence Award (TEA) program and the status of
U.S.-based non-governmental organizations in Turkmenistan. Although
there was no resolution of these issues, the meeting atmosphere was
cooperative and polite.
COMMENT
--------------
4. (U) Post is grateful for the letter provided by A/S Boucher and
believes that it could generate greater cooperation with the FLEX
program and other exchanges. While we believe that additional
harassment is likely, the letter's reiteration of the importance
that the Assistant Secretary -- and the Department as a whole --
places on education almost certainly made a difference. Glad as we
are about the MFA's decision, however, it puts additional pressure
on us to ensure a turnout that supports our assertions that there
are a number of students who would have tested if given the chance.
BRUSH