TURKMENISTAN CELEBRATES NEW PRESIDENT'S 50TH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000666

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (SNELSIRE)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN CELEBRATES NEW PRESIDENT'S 50TH
BIRTHDAY LESS OSTENTATIOUSLY

ASHGABAT 00000666 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Jennifer L. Brush for reasons 1.
4 (B) and (D).

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


1. (C) From uniform praise to media-covered receptions to
commemorative coins, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov's
50th birthday week provided a glimpse at how he is reflecting
but also departing from the presidential culture of the late
President Saparmyrat Niyazov. While there were some signs of
a new emerging personality cult, what occurred paled in
comparison to Niyazov's excess and highlighted -- without
deifying -- Berdimuhamedov: stadiums that under Niyazov would
have been filled with 40,000 well-wishers were empty, streets
were not lined with waving children, and stages where plays
once mythologized the president were dark. Nor was there a
national holiday. Berdimuhamedov's version was softer and
less self-directed. Yet, while he boycotted most of the
birthday events, he did not put the brakes on them, and even
as former President Niyazov's photos are disappearing, they
are merely being replaced with the new president's photos.
End Summary.

MINISTERS SING "ALL HAIL TO THE KING"
--------------


2. (C) Several days before his birthday on June 29,
Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov announced
he did not want national celebrations or events. In fact, he
said, he was not in a position to order any such festivities.
Nonetheless, in Niyazovian style, the Cabinet of Ministers
held a televised conference and reception in his honor two
days before his birthday, during which Foreign Affairs Deputy
Chairman Rashit Meredov and others offered up fulsome
speeches praising the many accomplishments of
Berdimuhamedov's first six months. A common theme in all of
the speeches (compiled in English, Russian, and Turkmen in a
book distributed to the entire diplomatic corps, which was
required to attend) was the New Revival and Great Reform
policy of Berdimuhamedov. Deputy Chairman Meredov, who has
generally shown a positive disposition toward U.S.
delegations this year, bolded in the printed English version
of his speech the section on U.S.-Turkmenistan cooperation,
the only section in the entire book that was formatted in
bold. However, the guest of honor did not attend the event.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. PRESIDENT"
--------------


3. (C) On the morning of Berdimuhamedov's birthday, the
Cabinet of Ministers, Mejlis (Parliament) leaders, welayat
hakims (provincial governors),higher education rectors, the
media, and other government officials gathered at the
Presidential Palace to honor the president. Local newspapers
published front-page the wishes of foreign executives and
dignitaries. Afternoon and evening events followed, which
Berdimuhamedov also did not attend. A concert dedicated to
the president and his birthday was held in the Rukhyet
Palace's cavernous hall. Flag-waving school children,
feverishly-clapping government ministers and leaders, and
generally bored, yawning diplomats sat through 18
song-and-dance performances. A gold and velvet throne for
the president sat empty in the center of the floor, and a
large poster of Berdimuhamedov towered over the stage from
the back curtain. While two of the performances were
congratulatory in nature, none specifically revolved around
the president. After the concert, Mejlis Speaker Akja
Nurberdiyeva and Deputy Chairman Meredov hosted a government
reception for the diplomatic corps and foreign business
representatives.

ASHGABAT 00000666 002.2 OF 002



REMOVED, AT TIMES REPLACED: BERDIMUHAMEDOV'S MIXED BAG
-------------- --------------


4. (C) Despite the press-covered conferences and receptions
in his honor, some removal of past cult and excess marked the
week leading up to Berdimuhamedov's 50th birthday. The date
itself was not declared a national holiday, nor did it
coincide with another holiday. Concert performances were
more congratulatory than mythologizing. A number of Niyazov
portraits were taken down from buildings and the golden
Niyazov profile that had appeared 24 hours a day in the
corner of Turkmenistan's state-run television station
broadcasts disappeared. (Comment: Some opposition news media
incorrectly reported that Niyazov's profile was replaced with
Berdimuhamedov's. End Comment.)


5. (C) In some cases, however, the discarded Niyazov photos
were replaced with Berdimuhamedov's own, most notably on
important government buildings, such as the Oil and Gas
Ministry. And a photograph of Berdimuhamedov has now
replaced the picture of Niyazov hanging behind news casters.
Additionally to mark the birthday, commemorative coins were
minted with Berdimuhamedov,s image; his biography was
published; and the Mejlis awarded him the "Motherland" Order,
a new order created for this occasion which carries with it a
$20,000 bonus, thirty-percent pay raise, and gold and
diamond-studded chain.

COMMENT
--------------


6. (C) In a country where glorification of the leader had
become religion, it is not surprising that vestiges would
remain under Berdimuhamedov. It is uncertain whether these
past developments or the recent events and accolades were the
work of Berdimuhamedov or his handlers. And it is premature
to conclude whether the mixed bag of activities signifies
simply a consolidation of power or, more troubling, the
continuation of leadership by personality cult.


7. (C) Certainly, Berdimuhamedov's birthday week involved
elements reminiscent of, if divergent from, his predecessor.
Although his face is now on coins, television, and more and
more buildings, it still does not come close to the unbridled
excessivenss of Niyazov. Only time will tell the limits of
his sense of entitlement, given the steady increase in
Berdimuhamedov imagery and propaganda since the start of his
presidency. Additionally, Berdimuhamedov has been careful
not to criticize Niyazov, while simultaneously discontinuing
some of his predecessor's unpopular excesses. Berdimuhamedov
may be trying to keep Niyazov a prominent person in
Turkmenistan's history but discreetly let his cult fade. And
if the president were to criticize Niyazov, he might
unintentionally suggest that power is not perfect -- a
message Berdimuhamedov will not want to send, as he has most,
if not all, of the system's political authority.


8. (C) Berdimuhamedov's unassuming persona is unlikely to
generate a cult of personality similar to Niyazov's; however,
he may view the benefits, particularly for job security, too
great a temptation to resist unchecked presidential
authority. If the birthday week was any indication,
Berdimuhamedov appears to be resisting this inclination less
and less. End Comment.
BRUSH