Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASHGABAT1040
2007-09-27 10:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN GROUP IN
VZCZCXRO9584 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #1040 2701047 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 271047Z SEP 07 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9444 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 2804 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0626 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0502 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL PRIORITY 1078 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 1791 RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9445 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0577 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001040
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KIRF TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN GROUP IN
TURKMENABAT IS REGISTERED
REF: A. ASHGABAT 845
B. ASHGABAT 897
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001040
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KIRF TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN GROUP IN
TURKMENABAT IS REGISTERED
REF: A. ASHGABAT 845
B. ASHGABAT 897
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) Post confirmed today that the evangelical Christian
Source of Life Church in Turkmenabat was successfully
registered on the 24th of September, after two years of
process. The preacher, Jabar Aliyev, received news of it
from a representative of the Council on Religious Affairs.
He was extremely pleased about the development, which he said
will open the door for increasing his congregation from ten
people to "many more," and will also make it much easier to
rent venues for church services.
3. (SBU) COMMENT: We are pleased by this first registration
of a religious group since 2004. We hope the government is
acting on at least some of the promises President
Berdimuhamedov made to members of the USCIRF delegation in
August (reftels). It is possible this registration was a
gesture calculated to coincide with President
Berdimuhamedov's trip to UNGA in New York. While waiting in
the airport VIP lounge to see off the president on September
23, First Deputy Foreign Minister Wepa Hajiyev pulled the
Charge aside to tell him explicitly Source of Life is being
registered. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KIRF TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN GROUP IN
TURKMENABAT IS REGISTERED
REF: A. ASHGABAT 845
B. ASHGABAT 897
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) Post confirmed today that the evangelical Christian
Source of Life Church in Turkmenabat was successfully
registered on the 24th of September, after two years of
process. The preacher, Jabar Aliyev, received news of it
from a representative of the Council on Religious Affairs.
He was extremely pleased about the development, which he said
will open the door for increasing his congregation from ten
people to "many more," and will also make it much easier to
rent venues for church services.
3. (SBU) COMMENT: We are pleased by this first registration
of a religious group since 2004. We hope the government is
acting on at least some of the promises President
Berdimuhamedov made to members of the USCIRF delegation in
August (reftels). It is possible this registration was a
gesture calculated to coincide with President
Berdimuhamedov's trip to UNGA in New York. While waiting in
the airport VIP lounge to see off the president on September
23, First Deputy Foreign Minister Wepa Hajiyev pulled the
Charge aside to tell him explicitly Source of Life is being
registered. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND