TURKMENISTAN: PRESIDENT TO USCIRF: "DID I PASS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASHGABAT 000845

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL/IRF, H

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KIRF TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: PRESIDENT TO USCIRF: "DID I PASS
MY EXAM?"

REF: ASHGABAT 0827


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


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The USCIRC meeting with President
Berdimuhamedov was an honest give and take. The president
told the delegation, "Take your time to meet whomever you
want in Turkmenistan. Learn all you can. You'll probably
find short-comings. If you mention them to us, we will fix
them." In their lobby interview with state media following
the meeting, all three commissioners described the meeting as
"productive and encouraging." END SUMMARY.


3. (U) The U.S. Commission on International Religious
Freedom (USCIRF) met with President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov
for 45 minutes on August 20. Deputy of the Cabinet of
Ministers/Foreign Minister Rashit Meredov sat in. The U.S.
delegation members participating were head of delegation
Commissioner Michael Cromartie, Commissioner Imam Talal Eid,
Commissioner Dr. Don Argue, and USCIRF Senior Policy Analyst
Catherine Cosman.

USCIRF'S RAISON D'ETRE


4. (SBU) Commissioner Cromartie, noting it was a great honor
to meet with the president, explained the U.S. Congress
created USCIRF to monitor religious freedom and freedom of
thought and conscience around the world, as defined by the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and many other
international documents, to ensure respect for religious
freedom is an integral part of U.S. foreign policy. He
emphasized the USCIRF role is not to engage in diplomacy but
to act as fact-finders.


5. (SBU) Cromartie said he highly commended Berdimuhamedov
for the August 9 release of 11 prisoners of the Niyazov era,
including former Chief Mufti of Turkmenistan Ibadullah
(reftel). He emphasized USCIRF does not seek to impose U.S.
values and principles on other countries, but simply wants to
encourage living up to international commitments. He added
USCIRF is delighted with Berdimuhmedov's announced
educational reforms and plans for Internet cafes. He asked
for the president's thoughts on religious freedom for all
citizens of Turkmenistan.

THE TURMEN VERSION OF RECENT HISTORY OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM


6. (SBU) Berdimuhamedov, initially seeming a bit bored,
rattled through his briefing paper. Turkmenistan is party to
some 80 international agreements and conventions, including
on human rights, and continues to work to implement its
obligations. The constitution guarantees freedom of
conscience and freedom of religion. In Turkmenistan,
religious organizations are not run by the government. In
2003, parliament passed laws protecting human rights and
ensuring freedom of religion and conscience, including the
right of religious organizations to exist. In 2004, more
legislation strengthened citizens' rights, and registration
of religious groups began. Four "non-traditional" religious
groups were registered: Baptists, Adventists, Hari Krishnas,
and Bahais


7. (SBU) Cromartie interrupted, "But what about the
unregistered groups?"


8. (SBU) President Berdimuhamedov replied, "Be patient. I'm
coming to that." More Protestant groups were registered.
2004 also saw new legislation to stop the prosecution of
unregistered groups. To implement all these commitments, in
2005 parliament created the Commission on Human Rights, and
several people were released from prison at that time.

ASHGABAT 00000845 002 OF 003


Looking up from his briefing paper, the president said,
"Maybe I haven't said enough yet. The Ministry of Justice
has registered 90-plus Islamic groups, 15 Christian groups,
and some others, including, specifically, evangelical groups."

AMNESTIES WILL CONTINUE


9. (SBU) Cromartie thanked the president for his "fine
presentation" and said he wanted to underline how delighted
USCIRF was with the release of 11 prisoners on August 9. But
he suspects there are more who will need clemency.


10. (SBU) Berdimuhamedov responded that one of his earliest
acts as president had been to establish a commission to
review such cases. The 11 were the first. Amnesty will not
just be an annual event corresponding to national holidays,
but will be an on-going process. But it's important to
understand it's a relatively sensitive process. Cromartie
guaranteed USCIRF would broadly publicize every amnesty.

THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS MAKE POSITIVE PRESENTATIONS


11. (SBU) Commissioner Argue thanked the president for the
meeting. He said the spirit of openness was a positive
indication for the future. He said, "Thank you for your
commitment to diversity. You can build a great state on the
foundation of diversity. We understand that change does not
happen overnight. A journey of a thousand miles starts with
the first step. We want to see your journey continue, and we
will publicize your successes."


12. (SBU) Commissioner Eid noted it was a special honor to
meet the president. He explained his background -- born in
Lebanon and a graduate of al-Ahzar University in Cairo and
Harvard University. He noted the United States has about
1,400 mosques and about 500 full-time Islamic schools.
Muslims enjoy a comfortable life in the United States. When
difficult issues arise, they solve them through dialogue with
the law-enforcement agencies. In U.S. life, Muslims,
Christians, and Jews live together peacefully and
productively, and the U.S. government encourages dialogue
among all people of faith. The days immediately following
9/11 had been difficult for U.S. Muslims, but within five
days President Bush went to the main Islamic Center in
Washington, DC, and declared Muslims a full part of American
society and the need to distinguish that all Muslims are not
terrorists. Thereafter, Muslims felt safe again. The Imam
said, "We are delighted you encourage openness among faiths
in Turkmenistan. You have our support."

WHO CAN GO ON HAJJ? ANYONE WHO CAN AFFORD IT


13. (SBU) President Berdimuhamedov noted his thanks for the
expression of support. He noted his first foreign trip had
been to Saudi Arabia where he had performed the Minor Hajj
and where he had "prayed to the Almighty for the happiness
and prosperity of all citizens of Turkmenistan."


14. (SBU) Cromartie asked, "Will you let more citizens go on
hajj next time?"


15. (SBU) President Berdimuhamedov chuckled and replied,
"The government pays for one planeload of citizens to go on
hajj, but we don't prevent private citizens from organizing
their own trips. We have numerous travel agencies in touch
with agencies in Saudi Arabia for this very purpose. The
state funds a small number and wants to ensure they come from
all levels of society, but we do not interfere in private
plans


16. (SBU) Cromartie interjected, "Could I go on hajj if I

ASHGABAT 00000845 003 OF 003


couldn't afford it?"


17. (SBU) Senior Researcher Cosman interjected, "What about
freedom of movement problems?" Imam Eid intervened, "The
president has stated clearly any citizen can go on hajj, but
the state will fund only a relatively small number."

OTHER ISSUES


18. (SBU) Cromartie asked if there are aspects of the law on
religion that might need further revision to meet
international standards. Berdimuhamedov decided to reply by
listing the number of mosques the state is building
throughout the country. He added Turkmenistan would not
reject any opportunity to participate in international
conferences on religious heritage and freedom. He also noted
that the government had recently donated land to the Russian
Orthodox Church for a fourth church in Ashgabat.


19. (SBU) Cromartie asked if Baptists would be allowed to
build a new church. Berdimuhamedov replied, "Yes, if they
are properly registered." Cromarite: "Why do they have to
be registered?" Berdimuhamedov: "Because it's our law."
Cromartie: "What if I have a church and don't want to
register?" The meeting briefly broke down into multiple
voices cross-talking. Cromartie: "Your 2003 law on
registration is too restrictive. It requires too much
information." "Nope," the president said, "that's how it
is." Then he added, "But if changes to the law are needed,
we'll listen to the people and make the changes. We want to
be a democratic state without restrictions. I do not hand
down orders from the top. I want full discussion and
consensus on important issues like this."


20. (SBU) Cosman asked, "Would you consider a law allowing
alternative service for conscientious objectors?" The
president replied, "All issues can be considered. In fact we
don't yet have statistics on this, but I think the situation
must be fairly rare."

"DID I PASS MY EXAM?"


21. (SBU) Cromartie once again expressed his pleasure
meeting the president and asked, "Do you have any questions
for us?"


22. (SBU) Berdimuhamedov laughed, "Did I pass my exam?"
Then he added, "Seriously, take your time to meet whomever
you want in Turkmenistan. Learn all you can. You'll
probably find short-comings. If you mention them to us, we
will fix them."


23. (SBU) In their lobby interview with state media
following the meeting, all three commissioners described the
meeting as "productive and encouraging." (COMMENT: We
agree. END COMMENT.)
HOAGLAND