MEREDOV DESCRIBES TURKMENISTAN'S RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASHGABAT 000863

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/ACE, DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SCUL KDEM KIRF TX
SUBJECT: MEREDOV DESCRIBES TURKMENISTAN'S RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
SITUATION AS A CUP HALF FULL (SBU)

REF: ASHGABAT 845

Summary: Deputy Prime Minister Meredov gave members of the
US Committee on International Religious Freedom a brief
report on his country's progress on religious freedom, and
underscored that although there continue to be problems with
the registration of religious groups, the system is working.
He expressed the willingness, however, to review procedures
and laws with international and US experts, and was
interested in further discussion regarding joint training or
other cooperative programs in the future. End summary.


1. USCIRF Chairman Michael Cromartie kicked off the session
by asking Meredov about the right of Muslim citizens to go on
the Hajj, given recent reports that some applicants are
refused exit visas. Meredov responded that there are no
restrictions for those seeking to go, especially if they have
their own financial means. Additionally, the government
routinely pays for the travel of another 188 pilgrims. This
number is limited to the number of seats available on the
aircraft designated to deliver pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. The
GOT routinely permits the transit of other Central Asian
pilgrims taking buses through Turkmenistan on their way to
the Hajj, in numbers ranging from 500 to 2,000 annually.


2. Chairman Cromartie thanked Meredov for the recent release
of political prisoner (?) Merdan Shirmedov and for giving him
a departure visa to join his wife abroad. Meredov responded
that the issue was not a problem, and that if there are other
similar concerns, they should be brought to government's
attention, where a mutually acceptable resolution will be
sought.


3. Meredov, in an effort to offset any lengthy discussion of
registration woes, described his government's successes over
the past few years in registering religious groups. He noted
that the government's procedures for registration is a work
in progress, but cited the 2004 removal of the 500-member
requirement as one sign that the government is working to
streamline the process. He declared that all are now free to
register. He also highlighted his government's past response
to the requests of international NGOs regarding the treatment
of conscientious objectors, who, he stated, had been released
from detention and given jobs.


4. When asked by commission delegates why unregistered
religious groups are refused permission to engage in group
activities, Meredov returned to his government's record,
indicating that five groups were approved for registration
last year, and that the only reason more groups have not been
registered is that the government and unregistered groups
disagreed on the issue of how to handle what he called branch
offices of registered groups. Registered groups balked at
the idea of registering their regional ministries, since they
considered themselves already registered. In order to
resolve the issue, the government organized a round table
meeting of both registered and unregistered groups, and
arrived at a solution. Thereafter, branch offices of
religious groups registered in Ashgabat would be required to
obtain a letter of attorney which allowed the branches to
operate normally in outlying regions. He added that his
government is planning to hold a similar round table this
year.


5. Commissioner Argue expressed his support for the round
table idea, but noted that the treatment of religious groups
seeking registration appeared to be uneven in different parts
of the country. Meredov responded that the issue was not one
of geography, but related more to problems with specific
groups. Some branch offices, he noted, had followed through
and acquired letters of attorney, but other offices had
refused. Ambassador Hoagland noted that sometimes local
authorities did not appear to understand central government
procedures,which made registration more difficult. Meredov

ASHGABAT 00000863 002 OF 003


responded that he could look into this issue, and
acknowledged that local and regional officials could benefit
from programs that would train them to properly handle
religious groups.


6. Commissioner Argue asked whether Russian Orthodox and
Muslim groups have an easier time registering than Christian
evangelical groups. Meredov responded that while
Turkmenistan did not have a tradition with evangelical
groups, their applications for registration were being
accepted. He noted that the Ministry of Justice was
currently reviewing the applications of four religious
groups: Word of Life, Source of Life, Light of Life, and Road
of Imams. He argued that representatives of these groups
complained to the international community without sufficient
reason, but added that the USCIRF commission was welcome to
bring their concerns to the government of Turkmenistan,
noting that the Turkmen people have a long history of
religous tolerance.


7. Commission Staff Member Cosman cited reports that no new
religious groups or NGOs had been registered since 2004, and
that this had created an impression abroad that the
registration process has become slow, and that an issue as
minor as a misplaced comma can prevent successful
registration. She also mentioned reports that the
registration process for Christian groups of ethnic Turkmen,
in particular, had become arduous. Meredov denied that this
was the case, that since 2005, five new groups had
registered, and that all who had sought registration had
received it. Since 2006, only the four additional groups
currently under review had applied for registration.


8. Commissioner Argue asked whether international NGOs,
along with religious groups who want to provide drug and
alcohol treatment and assistance, would be permitted to do
so. Meredov responded that his government would need to know
more about such groups before it could respond. He
acknowledged that drug addiction is of great concern, and
that the government and NGOs are working to address the
problem. Government efforts include a new anti-drug
propaganda program and increased law enforcement attention to
the problem.


9. Commissioner Imam Eid commented that he had been able to
turn to an elected politician when his grievances were not
addressed through formal government channels in the United
States. He suggested that the government of Turkmenistan
consider establishing an ombudsman for minorities who could
report grievances to the top levels of government. Meredov
reminded him that this was one of the primary purposes of the
Council on Religious Affairs, which he described as
independent, experienced, and knowledgeable. When the Imam
also asked about Turkmenistan's refusal to issue exit or
departure visas respectively to Turkmen and foreign clerics
this year, Meredov indicated that the Council on Religious
Affairs had responsibility for addressing such issues, but
asked that names of the refused be passed to his office,
because Turkmenistan had no reason to deny their visas.


10. Meredov ended the meeting by thanking the commission for
coming to Turkmenistan, and invited them to come back again.
He expressed interest in any joint program the commission
might consider. He asked the delegates what kind of
cooperation the commission envisioned. Chairman Cromartie
replied that future cooperation should be centered on deeper
dialog, and that the commission could help move Turkmenistan
closer to international religious freedom standards. He
asked Meredov whether the Turkmen government would consider
redrafting its religion law with the assistance and
consultation of international experts. Meredov replied that
although the law is already in place, it could still be
improved, and his government would be willing to cooperate on
the law's modernization.


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