Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ASHGABAT412
2006-04-20 03:02:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:  

GOTX ALLOWS WRITER ESENOV TO DEPART TURKMENISTAN

Tags:  PHUM PINR PGOV TX 
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VZCZCXRO8532
RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHMRE RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHAH #0412 1100302
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 200302Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7221
INFO RUCNOSC/OSCE POST COLLECTIVE
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0473
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1669
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0026
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0027
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0383
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJR/HSE/CCJ5//
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J5/RUE//
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000412 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY)

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PINR PGOV TX
SUBJECT: GOTX ALLOWS WRITER ESENOV TO DEPART TURKMENISTAN
TO RECEIVE PEN AWARD

REF: ASHGABAT 386

UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000412

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY)

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PINR PGOV TX
SUBJECT: GOTX ALLOWS WRITER ESENOV TO DEPART TURKMENISTAN
TO RECEIVE PEN AWARD

REF: ASHGABAT 386


1. (SBU) Summary: Despite FM Meredov's confirmation to
OSCE Ashgabat Ambassador Ibrahim Djikic on April 14 that
PEN Club award winner, writer Rahim Esenov, would not be
permitted to travel due to two convictions (reftel),
Esenov and his daughter Maya departed the morning of
April 17 for New York to receive the award at the PEN
Gala. While Mr. Esenov's departure may indicate a
communication failure between GOTX ministries, post
believes that it is equally likely that it represents a
true victory for western diplomacy in the quest to
promote human rights and freedom of expression. End
summary.


2. (SBU) When Embassy officers told Esenov of FM
Meredov's discussion of charges, Esenov was surprised,
contending that his only act involving "contraband" was
commercial: he had made a commercial contract with a
driver to carry books from Moscow to Ashgabat. He also
noted that the GOTX had unfairly decided to punish his
son-in-law for the "crimes" by banning him from leaving
the country for five years.


3. (SBU) OSCE Human Dimensions Officer Benjamin Moreau,
who facilitated OSCE's financial support for the ticket
of Mr. Esenov, expressed concern that Mr. Esenov would
not travel to the airport given the charges, but Esenov
confirmed he would go. Because FM Meredov had so firmly
stressed to Ambassador Djikic that Esenov would not be
permitted to travel, Djikic decided it was not necessary
for Moreau to accompany Esenov to the airport.
Ambassador Jacobson also decided that PAO vice the DCM
should accompany the Esenovs so as to lower the USG
profile in this sensitive case.


4. (SBU) PAO and IRC Assistant--who had filmed Esenov so
that PEN would be able to show a video in the event
Esenov was not able to travel--met with Mr. Rahim Esenov,
his daughter Maya and her family at the airport on April
16 for check-in at the Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt,
connecting to New York. PAO informed PEN administrative
officer by e-mail that both Esenov and his daughter
appeared to have departed.


5. (SBU) Maya Esenova's family informed embassy staff by
phone the following morning that they assumed both had
departed. DCM--who had facilitated the ticket of Esenova-
--called Lufthansa the next morning to inquire whether
Esenov and his daughter were on the manifest; the
Lufthansa official called back later and could tell the
DCM only "don't worry" --which she understood as code for
"they departed." But it was not until PEN informed SCA
deskoff by phone of the Esenovs' arrival in JFK that post
was able to confirm they had departed.

Comment
--------------


6. (SBU) Post believes that Mr. Esenov's departure was
either due to GOTX internal miscommunication or to their
decision that his departure would ultimately benefit GOTX
more than preventing him from departing - an argument the
DCM had stressed to the MFA in early April. GOTX's
decision simply may not have been transmitted to the
airport immigration officers, indicating loopholes in the
bureaucracy. However, we believe that Esenov's departure
may well represent a victory for western diplomacy in the
quest to promote freedom of expression. His departure was
the result of intense efforts of U.S. embassy staff,
coordinating with PEN Center, Washington, and OSCE and UK
diplomats in Ashgabat, for many weeks, who can savor a
far too seldom but deep satisfaction in their
contributions to such an historic event.