TUKRMNEISTAN: AHAL PROVINCE OFFICIALS SHOW REMARKABLE NEW

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001048 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, EUR/ACE, DRL, ECA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ECON SOCI KPAO TX SUBJECT: TUKRMNEISTAN: AHAL PROVINCE OFFICIALS SHOW REMARKABLE NEW OPENNESS ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: In a distinctive change over previous visits to Ahal in post's provincial reporting program, PAO was warmly welcomed and treated to a new level of hospitality and openness, particularly by a high-ranking alumnus of the Cochran Program. While previous visits since the accession of President Berdimuhamedov had mostly shown more cooperation and openness, local officials raised the welcome for the PAO's September 21 visit to a new level. This may be an indicator of growing acceptance of foreign, especially American, contacts and a deliberate "PR" campaign to woo Embassy officials. END SUMMARY. PREVIOUS HOSPITALITY WAS REQUIRED? ¶3. (SBU) In the two previous meetings with Ahal officials, PAO met with Guljimal Ezizova, Deputy Governor for Education, Culture and Sport. Ms. Ezizova had been simply polite and forthcoming when discussing wheat harvests in June. But the mood had been worse in May, when Ezizova politely, but defensively talked about health care and hospital facilities and nearly barred an approved visit to a regional hospital. A DRAMATIC DIFFERENCE ¶4. (SBU) In the most recent visit, Ahal provincial officials provided a very frank discussion of cotton harvest and textile production issues (septel),and clearly went beyond the usual pleasantries. Mammetdurdy Mammetdurdiyev, Deputy Governor for Agriculture, Construction, and the Economy is also a Cochran program alumnus. When meeting at the provincial government headquarters, he engaged in more small talk than is typical of a Turkmenistani bureaucrat and also talked about his appreciation of the Cochran program and a similar program that he attended in the United Kingdom. Throughout the hour-long meeting, Mammetdurdiyev was relatively open about past problems in Turkmenistan and drew realistic comparisons between western economies and Turkmenistan's. However, he politely defended the current agricultural policy in Turkmenistan as necessary because of the recent past. He freely and openly noted school children and government employees formerly had been ordered into the fields to pick cotton, and commented that it was a bad practice that should never be used again. PERSONAL TOUCHES WITHOUT A FEAR OF FOREIGNERS ¶5. (SBU) Mr. Mammetdurdiyev was also concerned with the personal touch. In the course of small talk, PAO mentioned that his parents would visit Turkmenistan and his father would enjoy the opportunity to see a local farm. Without hesitation, Mammetdurdiyev offered to show farms to the PAO's father personally, then noted "if it's OK with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," as he looked in the direction of the MFA escort for the meeting. But without waiting for any reply, he offered his home and cell phone numbers to the PAO, so that such a visit could be arranged. Toward the start of the meeting, PAO had requested the chance to simply greet Ms. Ezizova, the previous point of contact. At the end of the meeting, he remembered without prompting to invite Ezizova to his office. After she entered the room beaming like she was re-uniting with an old friend, PAO, Mammetdurdiyev, and Ezizova shared several minutes of warm, pleasant, informal conversation. (NOTE: Such contact would be hard to imagine a year ago. END NOTE) LOWER-LEVEL CONTACTS DO THE SAME ¶6. (SBU) Mr. Mammetdurdiyev accompanied PAO to a cotton ginning plant and a neighboring textile plant where the reception was similar. The district governor also provided pleasant personal touches, as did the directors of the two plants. Officials were open and enthusiastic about showing off their sites, and describing their work, including challenges and problems - something still somewhat rare in post-"Golden Age" Turkmenistan. PAO was treated to ASHGABAT 00001048 002 OF 002 meals in both locations. The textile factory director excitedly explained her efforts to create just the perfect Turkmen meal for her American visitor. In contrast to previous meals with Turkmenistani bureaucrats, the small talk and laughter was free-flowing. ¶7. (SBU) COMMENT: Other recent trips to meet Ahal officials were normally pleasant and correct. But this most recent visit raised "official" hospitality to a new, more genuine level. During the Niyazov era, less-genuine ceremonial welcomes to Embassy staff might have included dancers, musicians, and costumed female greeters, accompanied by cold, pro-forma meetings. PAO's experience in Ahal seemed to represent a sincere and personal effort to provide simple hospitality, without fear of open and frank discussion with foreigners. We sincerely hope this continues. END COMMENT. HOAGLAND