TURKMENISTAN'S PRESIDENT BERDIMUHAMMEDOV'S CABINET

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASHGABAT 000221

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY),SCA/PPD, EUR/ACE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SOCI EAID TX US
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S PRESIDENT BERDIMUHAMMEDOV'S CABINET
ANNOUNCEMENTS SO FAR

REF: ASHGABAT 214

Summary and Comment
--------------


1. (SBU) The collective impression of Berdimuhammedov's Cabinet
decisions to date -- especially for the Ministries of Education and
of Oil and Gas -- at first glance is dismaying and raises concerns
that Turkmenistan's post-Niyazov governance is set to stay the same
despite all the campaign hints of progressive change. The best case
to be made to the contrary rests on arguments that Berdimuhammedov's
parameters for significant new policies or personnel remain fragile
at this stage; that he did subtly break with Niyazov to the modest
extent feasible by bringing back some capable ministerial "retreads"
whom Niyazov fired, and by elevating former deputies over
Niyazov-appointed ministers; that he has yet to fill almost all the
nine Deputy Chairmen positions with overarching authority in the
Cabinet of Ministers, as well as all top security and
law-enforcement slots and numerous other key second-level
functionaries; and that even reappointed personnel who performed
abysmally under Niyazov may prove capable now that they are freed
from the latter's shadow.


2. (SBU) Locals making these arguments assume the existence of a
traditional Turkmenistan society consensus that change can, and for
security's sake probably should, only proceed at a very deliberate,
moderate pace. They point out that, from the inside, Turkmenistan's
status quo has appeared to be stable and could be far worse. Even
if that premise holds some water, it begs the question of what
reform can be hoped for if the new president's initial choices show
so little sign of change. Pessimists note how quickly the public
campaign airing of social and economic problems has slacked off
since Election Day, and certain ways in which Berdimuhammedov has
seemed to ape Niyazov, e.g., the ostentatious dispensation of cash
to favored public artists while the elderly continue deprived of
their pensions. The scorecard for the new president's first week in
office is mixed; how he fills the Deputy Chairmen positions will
provide a better indication of whether the pace of change in
Turkmenistan will be glacial or just slow. End Summary and Comment.


Not Much of a New Broom
--------------


3. (U) President Berdimuhammedov followed his quick
post-inauguration appointments of the Foreign Minister, Central Bank
Chairman and new Education Minister with a series of decrees on
reappointments and new appointments, including the naming of eight
more ministers on January 20. Also immediately following his
inauguration, Berdimuhammedov designated Yusup Ishangulyev as Chief
Administrative Officer of the Presidential Apparatus, replacing the
Niyazov regime's Muhammetberdi Bashiyev. Ishangulyev is reportedly
in his early thirties and worked for the last half-dozen years
alongside the president when he was Health Minister.


4. (SBU) Ministerial-level appointments or reappointments to date
include:

-- the reappointment of Foreign Minister Meredov in his current
position and simultaneous elevation to the status of Deputy Chairman
of the Cabinet of Ministers (i.e., Vice Premier),a post Meredov
originally occupied but was stripped of in 2004 by Niyazov. Meredov
at this point is the sole Deputy Chairman;

-- the reappointment as Central Bank Chairman of Geldymurat Abilov,
who has served in that position since May 2006;

-- the appointment as Minister of Education of Hydyr Saparlyev, who
served in the same position until being dismissed and sent to
Armenia as ambassador by Niyazov in mid-2005.

-- the appointment of Tachberdy Tagiyev as head of the State Concern
Turkmengas. Tagiyev was dismissed by Niyazov as Minister of Oil and
Gas and Mineral Resources in 2003;


ASHGABAT 00000221 002 OF 003


-- the reappointment of Gurbanmyrad Atayev as Minister for Oil and
Gas and Mineral Resources, but not to his collateral former position
of Deputy Chairman;

-- the reappointment of current Agriculture Minister Esenmyrat
Orazgeldiyev;

-- the appointment as Minister of Water Resources of Deputy Minister
(since 2005) Myratgeldy Akmammedov;

-- the reappointment as Minister of Textile Industry of Byklymberdy
Paromov;

-- the appointment as Minister of Economy and Finance of Khodjamirat
Geldymyradov, who previously served since 2005 as deputy minister
with portfolio for international technical assistance;

-- the return to government as State Minister and head of the
Turkmenhaly (Turkmen carpets) state corporation of former Textile
Industry Minister Djemal Geoklenova. Geoklenova was publicly fired
by Niyazov in June 2006 for alleged nepotism and other
irregularities (a fact omitted in the career summary printed in the
February 21 Neutralniy Turkmenistan). An embassy source asserts
that she is the aunt of the director of the Foreign Trade Bank, who
in turn is married to Berdimuhammedov's sister;

-- the appointment of Gurbanguly Myelekeyev as Minister of Trade and
Consumer Affairs;

-- the reappointment of Garyagdy Tashliyev as State Minister and
Chairman of the state corporation Turkmennebit (Turkmen Oil);

5. (U) Other appointments or reappointments:

-- Toyly Komekov as Chairman of the State Fisheries Committee;

-- Sherip Tajov as Chairman of the Joint-Stock Association for
village services "Turkmenobahyzmat";

-- Annamuhamet Muhadov as Chairman of the State Cotton Concern
"Turkmenpagta";

-- Annaguly Nurgeldiyev as Chairman of the State Ahal-Teke Horses
Association "Turkmenatlary";

-- Nokerguly Atagulyev as Chairman of the Association of Foodstuff
Industry of Turkmenistan.

6. (U) Available Biographies of Newly Appointed Officials:
-- Yusup Ishanguliyev - the official press did not publish a
biography. According to informal reports, prior to his new position
Ishanguliyev worked as Berdimuhammedov's assistant while the latter
was the minister if health. Supposedly, Ishanguliyev is 30 years
old, rude, and has a medical education.
-- Tachberdy Tagiyev was born in 1955 in Etrek Etrap of Balkan
Welayat. Education: Turkmen Polytechnic Institute. He majored in
drilling and exploitation of oil and gas deposits (1977).
Professional experience: 1977-1993 - specialist of Nebitdagnebit oil
and gas production directorate; 1993-1997 - chairman of the oil and
gas production directorate Gamyshlyjanebit; 1997-1998 - deputy,
first deputy chairman of the State Oil Concern Turkmennebit.
November 2002 until October 2003 - Minister of Oil and Gas Industry
and Mineral Resources. 2003-2006 governor of Balkan Welayat; 2006
until present appointment - director general of Turkmenbashy Oil
Refinery.
-- Hojamyrat Geldimyradov was born in 1965 in Baharly Etrap of Ahal
Welayat. Education: Turkmen Polytechnic Institute majored in
economics and organization of construction (1989),Law Academy of
Ukraine (2004). Professional experience: 1989-1990 - Designing and
production self-financing construction bureau of Baharly Etrap;
1990-1997 - department chief of Baharly Etrap Tax Service; 1997-2004
- senior tax inspector, department chief of State Tax Service of
Ahal Welayat; 2004-2005 - chief of department on supervision of the
work of tax services of the Main State Service o Turkmenistan; 2005
until present appointment - deputy minister of economy and finance,
national coordinator of international technical assistance to
Turkmenistan.

ASHGABAT 00000221 003 OF 003



-- Myratgeldi Akmamedov was born in 1951 in Turkmengala Etrap of
Mary Welayat. Education: Turkmen Polytechnic Institute majored in
construction engineering (1976). Professional experience: 1976-1977
- inspecting engineer of the Ashgabat Inspection of the Ministry of
irrigation engineering and water management; 1977-1984 - worked from
mid-level to senior positions at the Saryyazy mobile mechanical
division of the Ministry of irrigation engineering and water
management; 1985-1990 - chief engineer of the Hauzhan mobile
mechanical division, chief of mobile mechanical division No. 18 of
the GlavKarakumstroy Administration; 1990-1994 - deputy hakim of
Oguzhan Etrap of Mary Welayat; 1994-1995 - deputy chairman of
Hemayat Association; 1995-2003 - chief of construction department of
the Ministry of motor transport and highways; 2003-2005 - chief of
department of industry, construction and mechanization of the
Ministry of water management, head of Gunbatarsuwhojalyk (department
on irrigation and water management in western Turkmenistan) under
the Ministry of water management; 2005 until present appointment -
First deputy minister of water management.

-- Jemal Geoklenova was born in 1959 in Ashgabat. Education: Turkmen
Institute of national economy majored in economics (1982).
Professional experience: 1982-1985 - senior engineer of the Ministry
of local industry; 1985-1991 - chief of planning and economics
division of the department of public services of the Ashgabat city
executive committee; 1991-1995 - director of the leasehold sewing
association "Ahal", head of sewing association "Bahar"; 1995-1997 -
First deputy minister of textiles; 1997-2002 - Minister of Textiles.
Simultaneous to her ministerial job from 1999 to 2002 worked as
Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and from 2000 to 2002 -
as executive director of the State Fund for the development of
textile industry. Between August and November of 2002 she worked as
Counselor of the Turkmenistan Embassy in the Russian Federation.


-- Hydyr Saparlyev was born in 1958 in Mary city. Education:
Turkmen Polytechnic Institute, majored in engineering (1982),
Candidate of technical sciences (1986). Professional experience:
1982-1983 - teacher at the Turkmen polytechnic institute; 1983-1986
- post-graduate student at the Turkmen polytechnic institute;
1986-1994 - worked from engineer to head of laboratory at the
scientific and research unit "Gun" of the Academy of sciences of
Turkmenistan; 1994-1997 - professor, deputy dean at the Turkmen
State Transport and Communication Institute, advisor to the Cabinet
of ministers on science and education; 1998-1999 - assistant to
Deputy Chairman of the cabinet of ministers, head of science and
education department of the Cabinet of ministers; 2001-2004 - rector
of the Turkmen polytechnic institute; 2004-2005 - minister of
education; 2005 until present appointment - Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Armenia.

BRUSH