Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASHGABAT885
2007-08-27 13:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN'S PRESIDENT CREATES NEW HUMAN RIGHTS
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000885
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL, IO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S PRESIDENT CREATES NEW HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION TO IMPLEMENT INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS
REF: A. ASHGABAT 707
B. ASHGABAT 831
ASHGABAT 00000885 001.2 OF 002
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000885
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL, IO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S PRESIDENT CREATES NEW HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION TO IMPLEMENT INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS
REF: A. ASHGABAT 707
B. ASHGABAT 831
ASHGABAT 00000885 001.2 OF 002
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: An August 24 session of Turkmenistan's
Cabinet of Ministers became a vehicle for President
Berdimuhamedov to announce that he was establishing an
interagency "Human Rights Commission" to coordinate work
designed to bring Turkmenistan into compliance with
commitments that it has made in signing onto international
human rights instruments. At the same session, he
restructured the Ministry of Transportation, and appointed a
new Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers for energy
and construction. Turkmenistan has done little in the 15
years since its independence to begin implementing the human
rights conventions onto which it signed. Given
Berdimuhamedov's widely rumored impending visit to the UN
General Assembly in September, Turkmenistan likely sees this
as an effective deliverable as it tries to showcase its new
image. END SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) At an expanded meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers
August 24, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of
Ministers/Foreign Minister Rashit Meredov reported on
concrete steps that Turkmenistan had taken in order to
fulfill the approximately 100 international conventions
onto which it had signed, either upon independence in 1991 or
since independence. One of these steps was the establishment
of an interagency "Human Rights Commission," that would bring
Turkmenistan into compliance with commitments that it made
when signing into international human rights instruments.
Meredov said he had recommended establishing a special
interagency commission to oversee Turkmenistan's fulfillment
of its commitments. (NOTE: UNDP Deputy Resident
Representative told DCM August 27 that setting up the
commission was a requirement of a UNDP human rights project
with Turkmenistan. Septel. END NOTE.) A separate press
article noted President Berdimuhamedov signed a decree
establishing the commission on August 24.
4. (U) Also at the Cabinet of Ministers, the president,
noting that "failure is obvious everywhere, be it in
transport or roads or construction projects," said that he
had been advised to set up a separate department for roads
(road construction earlier fell under the responsibility of
the Ministry of Transport and Roads). He set up a new body,
the Ministry of Roads, to oversee all road construction.
Berdimuhamedov appointed Asyr Sarybayev minister of the new
agency, Saguly Gayipniyazov to serve as the new Minister of
Transportation, and Nazarguly Saguliyev as the new Deputy
Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers responsible for
overseeing the energy and construction sectors (bio para 6).
COMMENT
5. (SBU) A human rights contact at UNDP temporarily assigned
to the UN office here following the visit by UN High
Commissioner on Human Rights Louise Arbour in May told post
that Turkmenistan was facing serious difficulties following
up on a mandatory requirement to report on its implementation
of the various UN human rights instruments onto which it had
signed. Although Meredov had committed to try to carry out
this requirement, it had made, up to that time, little
progress in implementing most of its commitments. UNDP now
says that Turkmenistan has agreed to take even bolder steps
regarding human rights. Given Turkmenistan's deputy
chairmanship of the UNGA and the decision for Berdimuhamedov
ASHGABAT 00000885 002.2 OF 002
to visit the UNGA, the Turkmenistan government must believe
this is the right time to make this move. END
COMMENT.
BIO -- DEPUTY CHAIRMAN SAGULIYEV
6. (U) Saguliyev was born in the village of Bagyr in Ahal
Province's Ruhabat District in 1959. He graduated from the
Turkmenistan Agricultural Institute in 1980, and from the
Moscow Institute of Agriculture in 1985 with degrees in
mechanical engineering and teaching engineering. He started
his work career in 1980 as a teacher at the Ashgabat College
of Agricultural Mechanization. In 1982-84, he worked as a
senior safety engineer at the
headquarters of student construction teams. In 1984-86, he
again taught at the Ashgabat College of Agricultural
Mechanization, then became the chief mechanical engineer at
the Yerbent State Farm in Ruhabat District. In 1991, he
became a deputy director of the Birlesik Association, then
from 1992-1994, worked as head of the operation department
of the Number 2 motor transport enterprise. In 1994-1996, he
worked as deputy director of the Azat-92 private venture and
director of the Nazarguly-Wekil private venture. From
1996-2000, he held various posts at the Azatlyk district
administration. From 2000-2004, he worked as acting deputy
chief of Azatlyk District, then, in 2004-2006, worked as
chief engineer at the State Hydrometeorology Committee under
the Cabinet of Ministers. In 2006, he was appointed Chairman
of the State Hydrometeorology Committee.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL, IO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S PRESIDENT CREATES NEW HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION TO IMPLEMENT INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS
REF: A. ASHGABAT 707
B. ASHGABAT 831
ASHGABAT 00000885 001.2 OF 002
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: An August 24 session of Turkmenistan's
Cabinet of Ministers became a vehicle for President
Berdimuhamedov to announce that he was establishing an
interagency "Human Rights Commission" to coordinate work
designed to bring Turkmenistan into compliance with
commitments that it has made in signing onto international
human rights instruments. At the same session, he
restructured the Ministry of Transportation, and appointed a
new Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers for energy
and construction. Turkmenistan has done little in the 15
years since its independence to begin implementing the human
rights conventions onto which it signed. Given
Berdimuhamedov's widely rumored impending visit to the UN
General Assembly in September, Turkmenistan likely sees this
as an effective deliverable as it tries to showcase its new
image. END SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) At an expanded meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers
August 24, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of
Ministers/Foreign Minister Rashit Meredov reported on
concrete steps that Turkmenistan had taken in order to
fulfill the approximately 100 international conventions
onto which it had signed, either upon independence in 1991 or
since independence. One of these steps was the establishment
of an interagency "Human Rights Commission," that would bring
Turkmenistan into compliance with commitments that it made
when signing into international human rights instruments.
Meredov said he had recommended establishing a special
interagency commission to oversee Turkmenistan's fulfillment
of its commitments. (NOTE: UNDP Deputy Resident
Representative told DCM August 27 that setting up the
commission was a requirement of a UNDP human rights project
with Turkmenistan. Septel. END NOTE.) A separate press
article noted President Berdimuhamedov signed a decree
establishing the commission on August 24.
4. (U) Also at the Cabinet of Ministers, the president,
noting that "failure is obvious everywhere, be it in
transport or roads or construction projects," said that he
had been advised to set up a separate department for roads
(road construction earlier fell under the responsibility of
the Ministry of Transport and Roads). He set up a new body,
the Ministry of Roads, to oversee all road construction.
Berdimuhamedov appointed Asyr Sarybayev minister of the new
agency, Saguly Gayipniyazov to serve as the new Minister of
Transportation, and Nazarguly Saguliyev as the new Deputy
Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers responsible for
overseeing the energy and construction sectors (bio para 6).
COMMENT
5. (SBU) A human rights contact at UNDP temporarily assigned
to the UN office here following the visit by UN High
Commissioner on Human Rights Louise Arbour in May told post
that Turkmenistan was facing serious difficulties following
up on a mandatory requirement to report on its implementation
of the various UN human rights instruments onto which it had
signed. Although Meredov had committed to try to carry out
this requirement, it had made, up to that time, little
progress in implementing most of its commitments. UNDP now
says that Turkmenistan has agreed to take even bolder steps
regarding human rights. Given Turkmenistan's deputy
chairmanship of the UNGA and the decision for Berdimuhamedov
ASHGABAT 00000885 002.2 OF 002
to visit the UNGA, the Turkmenistan government must believe
this is the right time to make this move. END
COMMENT.
BIO -- DEPUTY CHAIRMAN SAGULIYEV
6. (U) Saguliyev was born in the village of Bagyr in Ahal
Province's Ruhabat District in 1959. He graduated from the
Turkmenistan Agricultural Institute in 1980, and from the
Moscow Institute of Agriculture in 1985 with degrees in
mechanical engineering and teaching engineering. He started
his work career in 1980 as a teacher at the Ashgabat College
of Agricultural Mechanization. In 1982-84, he worked as a
senior safety engineer at the
headquarters of student construction teams. In 1984-86, he
again taught at the Ashgabat College of Agricultural
Mechanization, then became the chief mechanical engineer at
the Yerbent State Farm in Ruhabat District. In 1991, he
became a deputy director of the Birlesik Association, then
from 1992-1994, worked as head of the operation department
of the Number 2 motor transport enterprise. In 1994-1996, he
worked as deputy director of the Azat-92 private venture and
director of the Nazarguly-Wekil private venture. From
1996-2000, he held various posts at the Azatlyk district
administration. From 2000-2004, he worked as acting deputy
chief of Azatlyk District, then, in 2004-2006, worked as
chief engineer at the State Hydrometeorology Committee under
the Cabinet of Ministers. In 2006, he was appointed Chairman
of the State Hydrometeorology Committee.
HOAGLAND