BERDIMUHAMEDOV TELLS OFFICIALS TO CLEAN UP THE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001325

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL TX
SUBJECT: BERDIMUHAMEDOV TELLS OFFICIALS TO CLEAN UP THE
CITY AND GET RID OF THE SATELLITE DISHES


1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: At an impromptu Cabinet of Ministers
meeting held during an Iranian trade show on November 30,
President Berdimuhamedov was seemingly inspired by a
three-dimensional satellite map of Ashgabat to issue several
directives primarily based on the city's aesthetic
shortcomings. Noting that satellite dishes and cigarette
butts are ugly, President Berdimuhamedov proposed that the
Ministry of Communications install a giant satellite dish and
disseminate programming to residents via cable, and
instructed the Ministry of Internal Affairs to enforce the
ban on smoking in public. Berdimuhamedov also instructed
Ashgabat Mayor Deryageldi Orazov to upgrade the electrical
system, install an improved water drainage system, and
broaden city streets. Pointing out the quantity of leaves on
the streets, the president directed Orazov to keep the city
streets cleaner and ordered that architects include car parks
and playgrounds in plans for new apartment buildings.
Berdimuhamedov then took aim at his deputies, stating that
they have not updated their way of thinking enough after
having traveled abroad. END SUMMARY.

GET RID OF THE SATELLITE DISHES


3. (U) While viewing a three-dimensional satellite map of
Ashgabat during a visit to an Iranian trade show at the
Exhibition Palace November 30, President Berdimuhamedov held
an impromptu Cabinet of Ministers meeting. Using the map as
a visual reminder of where he had seen things that had
irritated him during his frequent inspections of the city,
Berdimuhamedov criticized Ashgabat City Mayor Deryageldi
Orazov and various ministers for what he viewed as
shortcomings in Ashgabat's aesthetic qualities. In
particular, noting that the satellite farms adorning the
rooftops of nearly every apartment building in Ashgabat are
ugly, Berdimuhamedov instructed Minster of Communications
Resulberdi Hojagurbanov to remove satellite dishes. Instead,
Berdimuhamedov said, the government should install a single
powerful dish, from which residents will receive satellite
television service via cables. (COMMENT: Post IMO believes
that resorting to a single "powerful" dish to provide cable
to the entire city would be technically impossible. Local
cable infrastructure is so woefully inadequate that service
would quickly deteriorate the farther one gets from the dish.
In addition, you need multiple dishes pointed at several
satellites to pull in the various channels now commonly
viewed. END NOTE.) Siemens reportedly is actively
encouraging this project in order to win what would be a
significant contract.

...AND CLEAN UP THE CITY


4. (U) Berdimuhamedov directed Mayor Orazov to improve
Ashgabat's electrical grid to avoid brownouts during
inclement weather. Noting that whole streets had problems
with standing water during some recent rainstorms,
Berdimuhamedov also told Orazov to install an improved
drainage system. Berdimuhamedov stated that Ashgabat should
broaden streets to lessen traffic jams, even if it means
kicking people out of their homes temporarily, though he
added that the displaced residents should be offered housing
once the new construction was completed. (NOTE: It takes
two or three years to build new housing. In the meantime,
residents will be responsible for finding a place to live, in
a city that has a shortage of housing of any quality. END
NOTE.) The president also demanded that every newly built
apartment block should be provided with separate car parks
and playgrounds from now on.

SMOKING, ANOTHER ASSAULT ON THE EYES


5. (U) Berdimuhamedov also directed the Ministry of Internal
Affairs to take necessary measures to enforce the ban on

ASHGABAT 00001325 002 OF 002


smoking in public places. "Once cannot go around without
seeing cigarette stubs everywhere in the city. Streets are
full of smokers. This problem continues because some senior
officials are themselves smokers. This should not be the
case," the president said. The president also criticized the
"old mentality" of his deputies. "You are thinking in old
ways despite the fact that you have been sent abroad several
times to learn."


6. (SBU) COMMENT: There is more than meets the eye to
Berdimuhamedov's complaints about Ashgabat. Post has already
noted Berdimuhamedov's tendency to place importance on
appearances. He is not a technical person and, while he
cannot give technical advice, he wants the marble city to
function as -- as well as to look like -- a modern city.
Most importantly, he genuinely seems to care about making the
country more efficient and comfortable.


7. (SBU) COMMENT CONTINUED: That being said, however, the
president may need to compromise on the satellite dishes.
Turkmenistan's people have learned to compensate for dismally
boring domestic television fare by depending on foreign
satellite television for entertainment and the "real" (read
Russian) news. Although a law against satellite dishes has
been on the books for years, this was one law that even
former President Niyazov never seriously sought to enforce.
Ashgabat's citizens will not easily sign on to the
president's new plan, unless they can be convinced that
eliminating their satellites will not result in the loss of
any of their current programming options. END COMMENT.
CURRAN