TURKMENISTAN: USCIRF MEETS THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION:

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000860

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SCUL KIRF KISL KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: USCIRF MEETS THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION:
DISCOMFORT WITH THE RUHNAMA


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


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The U.S. Commission on International Religious
Freedom (USCIRF) delegation's meeting with the Ministry of Education
(MOE) was polite and lively, yet not particularly conclusive.
Although Minister Muhammetgeldi Annamanov and his colleagues
stressed that "of course" religious freedom was practiced in
Turkmenistan, the topic of the Ruhnama caused significant
discomfort. The Ministry's representatives were befuddled and even
back-tracked when discussing President Niyazov's "Book of the Soul"
and its role in education. The hurried discussion, as well as
defensive and sometimes inconsistent comments by the ministry's top
representatives, appeared to be an indicator that the future of the
Ruhnama is uncertain. While there is no clear policy to lead the
ministry or the country away from Niyazov's Ruhnama, it is clear
that there is no longer a single, unified position on this topic.
If we are patient, it will likely fade to an historic curiosity.
END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
(USCIRF) met August 21 with officials from the Ministry of Education
(MOE). As observed in prior meetings, MOE's International
Department head, Nury Bayramov sat directly next to Minister
Muhammetgeldi Annamanov and displaced Deputy Minister for elementary
and secondary schools Gulshat Mammedova one space farther away.
This pattern again indicated Bayramov's strong influence within
MOE.

REVIEW OF EXCHANGE PROGRAMS


3. (SBU) USCIRF Chairman Michael Cromartie started his discussion
with an open-ended question about the ministry's involvement with
the United States in educational and exchange programs.
Disappointingly, Minister Annaamanov appeared unable to answer this
question in detail. When asked for detail, he turned to the Head of
MOE's International Department, Nury Bayramov, who gave a fairly
complete list of the U.S. Government Exchange Programs and Peace
Corps activities in Turkmenistan and emphasized the quality of
Turkmenistan's cooperation in these programs (COMMENT: Bayramov's
words belied his own interference in the implementation of these
programs and intimidation perpetrated against program candidates and
alumni. END COMMENT.) Minister Annaamanov added a few comments
about the great attention paid to education by President
Berdimuhamedov and recited the key reform steps the president had
taken since assuming the presidency.

THE PINK AND GREEN ELEPHANT IN THE CURRICULUM


4. (SBU) Chairman Cromartie asked about the role of the Ruhnama,
the late President Niyazov's "book of the soul" written as part
history, part cultural identity, part behavioral guide, and part
spiritual guide for the Turkmen. The mere question brought confused
looks and rushed comments between Minister Annamanov and his
colleagues. Annamanov used the word "sacred" in referring to the
Ruhnama, then turned to his staff to help him explain how much the
book is used in the curriculum. Bayramov and Deputy Minister
Mammedova both hurriedly explained that only one hour of class time
per week is dedicated to the Ruhnama. (NOTE: The Ruhnama is also
integrated in classes on Turkmen history, literature and culture,
thus only one hour of class time entitled "Ruhnama" is misleading.
END NOTE.)


5. (SBU) Deputy Minister Mammedova explained that one hour per week
is sufficient because students end up reading the Ruhnama "of their
own will" because it is such a "spiritual book" that leads to
"purity," a standard formulation of the Niyazov era. This
commentary moved Commissioner Talal Eid, the Muslim imam of the
delegation, to raise concerns that a "spiritual" book was part of
the required curriculum. He went on to express his concern for the
use of Ruhnama quotes and the lack of Koranic verses that he
observed at the Gypjak Mosque, a Niyazov-era, self-aggrandizing
project and the largest mosque in Central Asia. Stressing his
respect for local culture and the Ruhnama, Eid made the point that

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the Gypjak mosque would be offensive to any practicing Muslim and
could even contribute to Islamic extremism. Mammedova qualified her
use of "spiritual," saying that it was more of a "historical,
cultural, and philosophical" book showing Turkmen their past and
their future. She subsequently avoided use of the word "spiritual."
(NOTE: The curriculum lists the course as "Saparamurat
Turkmenbashy's Sacred Ruhnama," and the word "Ruhnama" means "book
of the soul" or "spirit." END NOTE.)


6. (SBU) Minister Annaamanov and Bayramov attempted to defend the
Ruhnama, while stressing that Turkmenistan practices complete
"freedom of religion." Annamanov advised that anyone who read the
Ruhnama would see that it calls on the people to follow the
principles of Islam. (NOTE: He failed to address Eid's concern that
elevating the Ruhnama's status in mosques was itself a violation of
Islamic principles or that a required course would call on students
to follow a particular religion. END NOTE.) In side comments with
Bayramov, the minister also quipped that the Soviets had modified
religion, so it was not so strange that "we would too," causing
Bayramov to roll his eyes with a mixture of disgust and
bewilderment. Later the Minister noted that anyone can follow any
faith. He highlighted major religious organizations play a role in
instilling values in youth, and help in anti-drug awareness
campaigns. Annaamanov also pointed to patterns of tolerance among
different religious groups as evidence of religious freedom.


7. (SBU) In his turn, Bayramov tried to explain that religion was
still in the process of "modernizing." He stressed that no one was
forced to worship in the Gypjak mosque, so the possible offense to
Muslims was not so severe. He ended with a comment about his own
faith and hope that Allah accepts his prayers.


8. (U) The remainder of the discussion allowed MOE officials to
talk about curriculum, class hours, and school conditions in
general. The deputy minister underlined that all education is free,
including textbooks.


9. (SBU) COMMENT: This meeting broke relatively new ground on
education and religious freedom in Turkmenistan. However, the
subject of the Ruhnama -- once an irrefutable cornerstone of
national and educational policy -- revealed much more. The hurried
discussion as well as defensive and sometimes inconsistent comments
by the ministry's top representatives were an indicator that the
future of the Ruhnama is uncertain. While there is no clear policy
to lead the ministry or the country away from Niyazov's Ruhnama, it
is clear that there is no longer a single, unified position on this
topic. If we are patient, Ruhnama will likely fade quietly away
until it becomes an historic curiosity.


10. (SBU) COMMENT CONTINUED: Unfortunately, the meeting also
showed that the obstructionist Nury Bayramov continues to play an
influential role in the Ministry of Education. END COMMENT

HOAGLAND