Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ASHGABAT638
2006-06-15 03:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:  

TASHKENT-BASED ISRAELI UPDATES EMBASSY ON

Tags:  KIRF PGOV PHUM PREL IS UZ TX 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9478
RR RUEHDBU
DE RUEHAH #0638 1660323
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 150323Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7456
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0282
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000638 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SCA/CACEN FOR FRESE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2016
TAGS: KIRF PGOV PHUM PREL IS UZ TX
SUBJECT: TASHKENT-BASED ISRAELI UPDATES EMBASSY ON
TURKMENISTAN'S JEWISH DIASPORA

Classified By: CDA JENNIFER BRUSH FOR REASONS 1.4 (B and D).

-------
SUMMARY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000638

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SCA/CACEN FOR FRESE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2016
TAGS: KIRF PGOV PHUM PREL IS UZ TX
SUBJECT: TASHKENT-BASED ISRAELI UPDATES EMBASSY ON
TURKMENISTAN'S JEWISH DIASPORA

Classified By: CDA JENNIFER BRUSH FOR REASONS 1.4 (B and D).

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. (SBU) On June 6, Conoff met with Anatoli Livshitz, the
Tashkent-based Israeli Consular and Immigration officer who
came to Ashgabat to conduct immigrant visa interviews for
Turkmenistani Jews to immigrate to Israel. Livshitz told
Conoff that despite Turkmenistan's resource wealth and
strategic location in Central Asia, Tel Aviv does not have a
definitive policy towards Turkmenistan. While Israel took a
great interest in sustaining other diasporas in the former
Soviet republics, it appears that Israel does not take much
interest in the Jews of Turkmenistan, something that the
local Jewish community does not seem to entirely mind. END
SUMMARY.

--------------
TURKMENISTAN'S (SHRINKING?) JEWISH COMMUNITY
--------------


2. (SBU) According to Livshitz, Turkmenistan's Jewish
community currently numbers 700 people. (Note: Local
community members put their numbers at around 1500. End
Note.) This year's immigration interviews netted 40
immigrants who will soon immigrate to Israel.


3. (SBU) Livshitz said that Israel's main concern with
Turkmenistan's Jewish community was its sustainability.
Since the community is small, unorganized, and unregistered,
it is very difficult for Jewish life to thrive here, unlike
in other Central Asian countries. The community depends on
the meager support that comes from Israel (Note: The
community also receives assistance from the American Jewish
Joint Distribution Committee. End Note.) He thanked post for
"keeping an eye out" on the local community and involving
them in embassy events (like the recent Holocaust memorial
event post hosted in April) since such attention and
inclusion is very important to the community's morale.

-------------- -
ISRAEL-TURKMENISTAN RELATIONS, OR LACK THEREOF
-------------- -


4. (SBU) Livshitz said that Israel, while maintaining
diplomatic relations with Turkmenistan, really does not have
a specific policy with the country. Conoff informed Livshitz
that he and the Charge recently met with Mikhail Mirkin, the
Israeli representative of Merhav, who is also Turkmenistan's
Honorary Consul in Israel (Note: While meeting with the
Charge, Mirkin, who at first was critical of Niyazov and his
policies, praised Niyazov's policies in Turkmenistan and
criticized USG efforts to promote democracy in Turkmenistan
AS "premature." End Note.) Livshitz said that Mirkin
declined several requests to meet while he was in Ashgabat.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


5. (C) Unlike other Jewish diasporas in the former Soviet
Union, Turkmenistan's small and unorganized Jewish community
appears to attract little if any interest from Tel Aviv,
except during regional consular circuit rides through the
region. The Israeli immigration agency Sokhnut has an
unofficial representation office in Ashgabat where the
community gathers to celebrate holidays. As seen by the low
level of importance Israel attaches to its relations with
Turkmenistan, a country with no real Jewish history, Israel's
policies here do not seem to indicate that unlike other
former Soviet diasporas, they are interested in sustaining
the longevity in Turkmenistan of the Jewish community .


6. (C) Despite not having a vibrant religious and cultural
history, the ability to legally gather to worship, or Tel
Aviv's safety umbrella, the Jews of Turkmenistan by and large
appear to live a comfortable existence here, albeit with the
same problems that all religious/social/minority groups in
Turkmenistan face. Many are quick to point out economic
reasons, not anti-Semitism (which is not a phenomena here),
are the main impetus for immigration, and that some who have
immigrated have returned to Turkmenistan. While there are
some who seek to find their futures in Israel or Queens, New
York, many more appear to be tolerating the status quo, at
least for now. END COMMENT.
BRUSH