BERDIMUHAMMEDOV FIRES MINISTER OF CULTURE, RECTOR OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000583

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SOCI EAID TX US
SUBJECT: BERDIMUHAMMEDOV FIRES MINISTER OF CULTURE, RECTOR OF
TURKMEN-TURKISH UNIVERSITY

REFS: A) ASHGABAT 228;

B) ASHGABAT 307

ASHGABAT 00000583 001.2 OF 002


Summary
--------------


1. (U) In his June 8 Cabinet of Ministers meeting, President
Berdimuhammedov fired Minister of Culture Enebay Atayeva and former
Minister of Education-then-director of the International Turkmen
Turkish University (ITTU) Shemshat Annagylyjova. Dismissing Atayeva
with a reprimand for "serious short-comings," the president
appointed a young new Minister of Culture from his hometown,
Gokdepe. The new rector of ITTU, meanwhile, has substantive
experience in Turkey. Meanwhile, both Dashoguz and Mary have new
deputy hakims for education and culture; the transfer of post's
friendly contact, Shirin Toychiyevna Ahmedova, from that post in
Mary to that of head of the Institute for Democracy and Human Rights
is probably positive, but may make her into more of a figurehead
than an administrator. End Summary.

Ministry of Culture
--------------


2. (U) Enebay Atayeva's dismissal -- she was not named to an
alternate post -- was expected; the president already has publicly
criticized her, usually a sign that an official is on his/her way
out. This time Berdimuhammedov chastised her for sloppiness in
radio broadcasting, along with a more general charge that she failed
to fulfill her duties. Atayeva led the ministry during a
cooperative period with post; post is not familiar with 32 year-old
new Minister Kakageldi Chariyardurdiyev, though he has more
substantive experience in the cultural field than did Atayeva.

Turkmen-Turkish Rector Finally Gone
--------------


3. (U) ITTU Rector Shemshat Annagylyjova's dismissal also was no
surprise after the president failed to reconfirm her as Education
Minister. Her successor, Rejepmuhammedova Geldiyeva graduated from
the Azadi World Languages Institute in Turkish language and obtained
her master's degree at a university in Ankara. Post is unfamiliar
with Geldiyeva.


4. On the subject of educational reform, Deputy Chairman of the
Cabinet of Ministers Hydyr Saparlyev declared that all curriculum
changes for secondary schools were complete and approved for the
upcoming school year (Ref B). He also declared that many textbooks
have been rewritten and approved for use, and emphasized the need to
improve training in computer technology and use of the Internet. He
also declared that all schools should be implementing interactive
teaching methodologies, although he left open the question of how or
when this training might take place. (Comment: During a June 9
visit to Turkmenabat, PDOff spoke to a Fulbright alumna and director
of independent educational center Medet, who had organized a
three-day seminar for local teachers and administrators on
interactive teaching methodology. PDOff was present at the Center
when the regional educational department representative in charge of
schools, Kerimberdy Masharypov, called to thank the director for her
help in providing this training. When PDOff asked Masharypov later
in the day about why such training was taking place, he became
nervous and said that such training took place as a part of regular
training for teachers on an annual basis -- though it appears he had
requested Medet's help in this case because of pressure from the
highest levels of government, per Saparlyev's briefing to the
president. End Comment.)

Welayat Education-Culture Movements
--------------


5. (U)Long-time Mary Province Deputy Hakim for Education, Culture,
Healthcare and Sports Shirin Ahmedova was named head of the
Institute of Democracy and Human Rights. The institute's mandate is
to serve as an ombudsman for legislation related to democracy and
human rights, though the institute has never had much visibility.
Under former director Shemshat Atajanova the institute cooperated

ASHGABAT 00000583 002 OF 002


with post by sending its representatives to attend post-sponsored
conferences and recently hosting post-sponsored speaker Dr. Gregory
Payne. Ahmedova's successor in Mary is Gulyalek Amanova.


6. (U) Dashoguz also has a new deputy hakim responsible for the
above sectors: Shemshat Mammedova.

Biographical Note
--------------


7. (U) Chariyardurdiyev was appointed Minister of Culture and
TV/Radio Broadcasting on June 8, having served since 2004 as head of
the Schools, Museums and Libraries Department of the Ministry. From
1997 to 2004 he worked as a teacher at his alma mater, the Turkmen
State Institute of Culture, as a teacher, senior teacher, and head
of the Arts and Creativity Department, the department responsible
for applied and fine arts, archaeology and restoration-conservation.
In 1995 he completed his four-year degree at the Institute of
Culture, and spent 1996-1997 doing his mandatory military service.
He was born in 1974 in Gokdepe of Gokdepe Etrap of Ahal Welayat and
until entering the institute he worked as a farmer in Gokdepe.

Comment
--------------


8. (SBU) These firings are as notable for their style as for their
substance. Berdimuhammedov appears most comfortable aping Niyazov's
style and peculiar habits. Post has yet to observe him truly divert
from Niyazov's bad habits. Niyazov's huge portraits throughout the
country are being replaced by Berdimuhammedov's, media remains
essentially identical to the Niyazov era, i.e., centered exclusively
around the president and his activities, and Berdimuhammedov quotes
are popping up on banners and on the newspaper mastheads. More
importantly, his public style of government remains essentially
Niyazovian -- the president is perceived as hiring and firing
everyone and as the final arbiter on all decisions. Post continues
to hope that these bad habits are more a reflection of Soviet-style
routine than on Berdimuhammedov's intent to rectify the more
egregious insults Niyazov visited on the people of Turkmenistan.
After all he is using Niyazov's style to fire Niyazov's circle.


9. (SBU) Post is sorry to see Atayeva leave, she was friendly and
relatively cooperative. Nursery school teacher cum university
rector Annagylyjova's departure should be a plus. End Comment.

BRUSH