TURKMENISTAN: USCIRF AT THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE: RUHNAMA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000878

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, DRL, ECA, IIP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PINR SCUL KIRF KISL KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: USCIRF AT THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE: RUHNAMA
CONFUSION REIGNS AGAIN

REF: A) ASHGABAT 860, B) ASHGABAT 737, C) ASHGABAT 466


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


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: At the Ministry of Culture and TV/Radio
Broadcasting, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
(USCIRF) delegation received a warm reception and more disjointed
answers regarding the Ruhnama (the late President Niyazov's "book of
the soul/spirit"). Ministry officials expressed appreciation for
joint U.S.-Turkmen cultural programs and journalist training. A
short discussion about Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
confirmed the government's continuing dislike for the organization.
The meeting revealed the Ministry's plans to take a more inclusive
approach to the Uzbek minority. This was the first U.S. Government
contact with the young and newly appointed Minister Kakageldi
Charyardurdyev, who appeared to be adjusting to the position. END
SUMMARY.


2. (U) On August 22, USCIRF delegation members held a friendly and
open meeting with Minister of Culture and TV/Radio Broadcasting
Kakageldi Charyardurdyev as well as Deputy Minister Gulmyrat Muradov
and Agadurdy Akmuradov, Head of the International Relations
Department who has generally been a supporter of the Embassy's
cultural programming. This was our first contact with the newly
appointed minister.

APPRECIATION FOR JOINT CULTURAL PROGRAMS/JOURNALIST TRAINING


3. (SBU) Minister Charyardurdyev chose to highlight recent
cooperative programming with the Embassy. In particular, he noted
his appreciation for the Yellow Bird Native American Dance group who
participated in Turkmenistan's first International Folk Culture and
Theater Festival in April (ref C) and spoke in appreciative terms of
the Ari Roland Duo's joint concerts with local musicians in July
(ref B). International Relations Head, Akmuradov also thanked the
United States for the recent TV-Coop program which sent a TV crew to
the United States in June, emphasizing that the ministry would
welcome other opportunities to train journalists in the United
States. (NOTE: The discussion revealed similar enthusiasm for
journalists sent to Beijing for training. END NOTE.)

GENERAL SUPPORT FOR INTERNET...


4. (SBU) USCIRF Chairman Cromartie inquired about the Ministry's
role in supporting Internet access and specifically the closure of a
Counterpart International
Internet resource center. Akmuradov detailed his government's work
in establishing high-speed Internet access for the National Library
and the Supreme Council on Science and Technology. He expressed
support for the NATO virtual Silk Road project and looked forward to
future Internet development. Akmuradov did not address, however,
the Counterpart International resource center.

... GENERAL DISDAIN FOR RFE/RL


5. (SBU) Cromartie also asked the Ministry to consider allowing
RFE/RL to open its service in Turkmenistan. (NOTE: RFE/RL's Turkmen
service operates from Prague. END NOTE.) Akmuradov again took the
lead in replying by saying that he "did not know the value" of
allowing RFE/RL into Turkmenistan. Adding that he knew several
RFE/RL journalists personally from his own prior experience as a
journalist, Akmuradov complained that the Turkmen Service of RFE/RL
was "poor journalism," the broadcasters had poor Turkmen language
skills, produced shallow reports, chose topics poorly, and mixed
genres. Despite the list of complaints, Akmuradov said that if
RFE/RL reporting improved and their "interests coincided" then they
could reconsider.

DIFFICULTY ON THE RUHNAMA ISSUE


6. (SBU) As in other meetings (ref A),USCIRF Commissioner Talal
Eid raised his concerns about the role of the Ruhnama in society,
the prominence of Ruhnama quotes in the Gypjak mosque, and its

ASHGABAT 00000878 002 OF 002


apparent violation of Islamic norms. After a short, but
uncomfortable silence, Akmuradov explained that Turkmen believers
differed somewhat from their neighbors or Arab believers, and
therefore, such practice was not offensive to locals. Moreover, he
claimed that scholars of religion were consulted and agreed with the
decision to use the Ruhnama in mosques. (NOTE: The "agreement" of
scholars was part of Niyazov-era propaganda. Recently released
former Chief Mufti Nasrullah ibn Ibadullah was imprisoned after
protesting the Ruhnama's entry into mosques. END NOTE.)

IMPROVMENTS FOR MINORITIES?


7. (SBU) USCIRF Staffer Catherine Cosman asked about relations with
the Turkmen Diaspora abroad, and if any efforts were being made to
review the "unfortunate" recent policies towards Russian, Uzbek, and
other minorities in Turkmenistan. In reply, Akmuradov reviewed
efforts to work cooperatively with the Turkmen Diaspora in a number
of countries. He also noted bilateral efforts with Uzbekistan to
conduct a major cultural program in 2008-12 to "advance" and "shift"
policies towards the Uzbek population. Without discussing any other
minority, Akmuradov mentioned ongoing efforts to conduct friendly
cultural programs with all of Turkmenistan's neighbors and major
economic partners.


8. (SBU) COMMENT: The Ministry of Culture has generally been a more
open and cooperative partner with the Embassy than other ministries.
The Ministry also made it clear that joint U.S.-Turkmen programs
are highly appreciated. It's imperative that the Embassy continue
journalism programs for the state news media, because they are more
receptive than in the past to such programs and also because of
existing programs with China (and recent expressions of interest in
journalism training in Iran). It was also noteworthy that Minister
Charyardurdyev participated little in the discussion following his
approving opening remarks. Charyardurdyev is in his thirties,
significantly younger than his colleagues at the table, and has had
comparatively minimal experience at this level. While open and
friendly, his lack of experience showed.


9. (SBU) COMMENT CONTINUED: It is a positive sign that the
Ministry plans to be more inclusive of its Uzbek minority. And it
can be seen as a hopeful sign that responses on the Ruhnama
continued to be uncertain and differed from those heard in other
meetings - an indicator that the policy of promoting the Ruhnama is
waning. We continue to judge Ruhnama will sooner rather than later
fade to the status of cultural embarrassment and historical
curiosity. END COMMENT.

HOAGLAND