ADDITIONAL TESTING FOR FLEX: A BREAKTHROUGH?

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