Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT1173
2008-09-05 07:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: NGO ROUNDTABLE REVEALS CONTINUED OBSTACLES
how-toVZCZCXRO5945 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #1173 2490726 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 050726Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1491 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2070 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1935 RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4258 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 2506 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2852 RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001173
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/ACE, SCA/PPD
AID/W FOR EE/EA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SCUL KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: NGO ROUNDTABLE REVEALS CONTINUED OBSTACLES
FOR CIVIL SOCIETY DEVELOPMENT
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001173
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/ACE, SCA/PPD
AID/W FOR EE/EA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SCUL KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: NGO ROUNDTABLE REVEALS CONTINUED OBSTACLES
FOR CIVIL SOCIETY DEVELOPMENT
1. (SBU) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Deputy Assistant Secretary George Krol's meeting
with NGO representatives revealed continued concerns about
registration and government attitudes towards civil society
activity. Most groups expressed hope that NGOs would be allowed to
participate in more areas of Turkmen society, but also noted the
challenges which they continue to face. In a surprising side note,
attendees seemed to accept fully a Russian media view of Georgian
President Saakashvili. END SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) On September 2, a group of ten local NGO reps assembled
for a roundtable with Deputy Assistant Secretary George Krol in the
Embassy's public Information Resource Center. Participants included
groups ranging from the International Center for Not for Profit Law
(ICNL) to the "Agama" rock-climbing club. After each organization
gave a brief overview of its work, DAS Krol asked about challenges
and registration issues. Some of the represented NGOs were
registered, while others have made various efforts to obtain
registration.
4. (SBU) All groups who commented expressed frustration with the
registration process. Several described bureaucratic difficulties,
with their applications for registration being held for months at a
time for consideration and then returned for technical errors.
Geographic limitations were also raised, as most groups can only
register in Ashgabat city or perhaps another locality. The ICNL
representative noted that, for the most part, it is the bureaucracy
and application process rather than the legal framework that is so
terrible. He did point out that the law requires a minimum
membership of 500 people for registration as a nationwide
organization. He added that such a number is not realistic and
attempting to organize that many people would in itself cause
possible problems with authorities.
5. (SBU) In addition, many NGO reps described the atmosphere of
suspicion of any kind of NGO or civil society activity. The
organizer of "Charity without Borders," in particular, noted that
government officials are suspicious of all groups or activities.
She expressed frustration at trying to convince officials that NGO
activity is not a threat and could be beneficial for the country.
She emphatically added, "We're not another Saakashvili," to which
other NGO reps seemed to nod their heads in agreement. (NOTE: Post
sees this as successful Russian media campaigning against the
Georgian president, as all NGO reps likely get their international
news from Russian satellite TV, despite their pro-Embassy, pro-civil
society backgrounds. END NOTE.)
6. (SBU) COMMENT: While each group's experience varied, most
attendees of the NGO roundtable expressed concern about the
obstacles to registration and periodic harassment from government
officials. Although the situation has generally improved in
Turkmenistan for NGO activity, it is clear that this is still a
sector of society in its infancy. END COMMENT.
7. (U) DAS Krol cleared this cable.
CURRAN
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/ACE, SCA/PPD
AID/W FOR EE/EA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SCUL KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: NGO ROUNDTABLE REVEALS CONTINUED OBSTACLES
FOR CIVIL SOCIETY DEVELOPMENT
1. (SBU) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Deputy Assistant Secretary George Krol's meeting
with NGO representatives revealed continued concerns about
registration and government attitudes towards civil society
activity. Most groups expressed hope that NGOs would be allowed to
participate in more areas of Turkmen society, but also noted the
challenges which they continue to face. In a surprising side note,
attendees seemed to accept fully a Russian media view of Georgian
President Saakashvili. END SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) On September 2, a group of ten local NGO reps assembled
for a roundtable with Deputy Assistant Secretary George Krol in the
Embassy's public Information Resource Center. Participants included
groups ranging from the International Center for Not for Profit Law
(ICNL) to the "Agama" rock-climbing club. After each organization
gave a brief overview of its work, DAS Krol asked about challenges
and registration issues. Some of the represented NGOs were
registered, while others have made various efforts to obtain
registration.
4. (SBU) All groups who commented expressed frustration with the
registration process. Several described bureaucratic difficulties,
with their applications for registration being held for months at a
time for consideration and then returned for technical errors.
Geographic limitations were also raised, as most groups can only
register in Ashgabat city or perhaps another locality. The ICNL
representative noted that, for the most part, it is the bureaucracy
and application process rather than the legal framework that is so
terrible. He did point out that the law requires a minimum
membership of 500 people for registration as a nationwide
organization. He added that such a number is not realistic and
attempting to organize that many people would in itself cause
possible problems with authorities.
5. (SBU) In addition, many NGO reps described the atmosphere of
suspicion of any kind of NGO or civil society activity. The
organizer of "Charity without Borders," in particular, noted that
government officials are suspicious of all groups or activities.
She expressed frustration at trying to convince officials that NGO
activity is not a threat and could be beneficial for the country.
She emphatically added, "We're not another Saakashvili," to which
other NGO reps seemed to nod their heads in agreement. (NOTE: Post
sees this as successful Russian media campaigning against the
Georgian president, as all NGO reps likely get their international
news from Russian satellite TV, despite their pro-Embassy, pro-civil
society backgrounds. END NOTE.)
6. (SBU) COMMENT: While each group's experience varied, most
attendees of the NGO roundtable expressed concern about the
obstacles to registration and periodic harassment from government
officials. Although the situation has generally improved in
Turkmenistan for NGO activity, it is clear that this is still a
sector of society in its infancy. END COMMENT.
7. (U) DAS Krol cleared this cable.
CURRAN