TURKMENBASHY AMERICAN CORNER: MAYOR SAYS ONLY FOREIGN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000966

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, EUR/ACE, IIP

E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID SCUL KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENBASHY AMERICAN CORNER: MAYOR SAYS ONLY FOREIGN
MINISTER CAN DECIDE - FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS OTHERWISE


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


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The American Corner in the Caspian Sea port city
of Turkmanbashy, closed since May 2005, can reopen if we find an
"appropriate stand-alone building." This would entail higher
expenses than normal for an American Corner. See action request in
para eight below. END SUMMARY


3. (U) The Turkmenbashy American Corner opened in November 2002 and
functioned normally until May 2005, when it had to vacate its
quarters because of a rent dispute. Successful American Corners
operate in three other cities of Turkmenistan - Dashoguz, Mary, and
Turkmenabat; the government has approved another for Balkanabad (the
capital of the province that includes the Caspian Sea port city of
Turkmanbashy; and Ashgabat has a full Resource Information Center in
the Ak Altyn Hotel.

KAFKA WOULD FEEL AT HOME


4. (SBU) The young woman who directs the Turkmanbashy American
Corner, Nurbibi Nuryagdiyeva, recounted to the Charge on August 11
in Turkmanbashy a frustrating voyage through opaque bureaucracy to
try to reopen the Corner. The first place she found was in a busy
commercial building that houses mostly small retail shops and hair
salons. But local authorities, reportedly on the advice of the
Foreign Ministry, told her it was inappropriate because it was not
prestigious enough for "high-level foreigners to visit." The same
happened for another potential site she found when the city
authorities turned it down because neighborhood garbage bins were
"within sight of the entrance." The city proposed to Nuryagdiyeva
yet another site that she herself decided was inappropriate because
the view from the windows was blocked by another building and access
was difficult.


5. (SBU) She has now found two first-floor apartments owned by a
woman intending to immigrate. The space, conveniently located on
the main street of downtown Turkmanbashy, can easily be reconfigured
for an American Corner. Embassy Ashgabat has permission from the
Foreign Ministry to reopen the American Center, but the mayor's
office has continued to follow a script straight out of Kafka. The
mayor told Nuryagdiyeva to prepare a dossier of documents, which she
dutifully completed. But recently the Deputy Mayor for Culture told
Nuryagdiyeva the newest site wouldn't work because other residents
in the building "would complain about the health threat of radiation
from all the computers."

THE MAYOR'S VERSION


6. (SBU) During a meeting with Turkmanbashy Mayor Ashyrniyaz
Pomanov on August 11, Charge recounted the history of American
Corners and encouraged him to approve the current site so that the
Turkmanbashy Corner can reopen. Pomanov said he himself does not
oppose this. In fact, the city is ready to help with the renovation
and will provide utilities and other infrastructure support.
However, only the Governor of Balkan Province and the Foreign
Ministry can approve the reopening. Charge noted the Embassy
already has Foreign Ministry approval and that by all accounts the
ball is definitely in his court. Increasingly uncomfortable, the
mayor finally said, "I must have a letter of permission from Foreign
Minister Meredov."

THE FOREIGN MINISTER'S VERSION


7. (SBU) When Charge recounted this conversation to Meredov on
August 13, he said, "Absolutely not true. We've already agreed in
principle that we want the American Corner in Turkmanbashy open."
He explained that he had, in fact, vetoed the proposed location in a
commercial building, explaining, "It wouldn't look good for visitors
to see signs out front that advertise blue jeans, hair salons, and
the American Corner." He also said the current idea of joining two
small apartments in an apartment building is a non-starter because
by law residential space cannot be used for commercial or any other
use than living quarters. Meredov said the solution he would
approve would be a small stand-alone building. He added, "We are
not trying to be difficult, and we certainly do not intend to spy on

ASHGABAT 00000966 002 OF 002


you. We simply want this done right."


8. (U) ACTION REQUEST: A small, stand-alone building will be more
difficult to find and will be more expensive. We suggest EUR/ACE
might consider if there would be funds available to outfit such a
building, assuming it can be found. Please advise.


9. (SBU) COMMENT: It is unclear whether or not Meredov was being
disingenuous - he usually isn't - but it does seem clear the
solution lies in Ashgabat, not in Turkmanbashy. American Corners
exist in other important population centers in Turkmenistan, and
there would seem to be no clear reason why the government would try
to block one in Turkmenbashy, especially since one had already
functioned there successfully 2002-20005. Assuming modest
additional funds might be available, we will pursue finding an
appropriate building that meets both sides' needs. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND