TURKMENISTAN: MARY PARLIAMENT CANDIDATES HAVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001505

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON EIND SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: MARY PARLIAMENT CANDIDATES HAVE
LITTLE TO SAY

REF: ASHGABAT 1453


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: A November 14 meeting with the mayor and
deputy mayor of the city of Mary revealed a reluctance to
discuss substantive matters regarding the local election.
One local candidate declined to explain his campaign platform
because -- although the election is about a month away -- he
felt it was too early to expose his "secret" to the
competition. An informal group of people consisting of at
least ten people can initiate the nomination of "independent"
candidates. One candidate from the city of Mary is running
as an independent. Local officials discussed with pride the
construction projects that the president would soon
officially open, as well as other projects planned for
construction. After the mayor left, the deputy mayor and
others asked various questions about American life, some
concerning elections but most, revealingly, were about life
in a market economy. END SUMMARY.

DISCUSSION ABOUT TURKMENISTAN'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS


2. (SBU) Deputy Mayor of the city of Mary Berdy Atamuradov
explained at the beginning of the November 14 meeting that
econoff would meet only with Mayor Tirkesh Durdyliyev, and
not with provincial-level leadership, which also meant that
they could discuss local issues only. Durdyliyev said that
29 of the total 125 parliamentary seats are for Mary. Seven
people will stand for election for the three seats
representing the city of Mary. Durdyliyev said that the
party can select candidates, as well as trade organizations
and community organizations (youth, women, etc.). In
addition, any group consisting of ten people can initiate the
process of nominating a candidate. Upon deciding to nominate
a candidate, the group members must register the group,
gather 200 signatures on a petition, and file an application.
The mayor said that one candidate from Mary, city heating
engineer Shamuhamet Atayev, is running for election as an
independent nominated by a group. Durdyliyev said that
"Turkmen know each other well because it is a small country
and therefore people do not nominate themselves (but they
nominate each other since) they've known each other for many
years." He added that "all candidates would do a good job,"
regardless of who wins, and "our candidates don't fight
because they are for the people." He said that in the
newly-formed parliament, deputies will focus on legislation.
He closed by saying that the top priority of the parliament
is to pass laws written to international standards.

PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATES DECLINE TO DISCUSS PLATFORMS


3. (SBU) Orazgeldy Hummedov, who served in the parliament
from 1999-2004, is the Deputy Head of the Mayor's Education,
Health, and Culture Department. Hummedov declined to reveal
his campaign platform because he felt it was too early in the
race to make this information public, referring to it as
"secret." He did articulate, however, that he felt it is
"important to take another look at some laws" and to consider
revising them. Mayor Durdyliyev also explained that Hummedov
is an older gentleman and therefore very respected in the
community, implying that Turkmen citizens would not ask
Candidate Hummedov many questions regarding his plans if
elected to the parliament because of he is an elder.
Charymurad Amanov, Main Tax Inspector of the Tax Service of
the City of Mary, is also standing as a candidate and met
with econoff.

"HEALTHY PEOPLE = HEALTHY GOVERNMENT"


4. (SBU) Atamuradov said that the government has commissioned
several schools for Mary as a result of the president's
emphasis on education and health issues, two of which would
be finished soon. The president will most likely attend
official opening ceremonies for a school, the new airport,
and the mosque with seats for 2,000 worshipers (and an

ASHGABAT 00001505 002 OF 002


additional seating for 1,500 for sacrificial meals) in
December. Durdyliyev said that Mary Airport will become an
international airport with routes to Dubai and Moscow for
tourists visiting the ancient settlements of Merv and
Margush. Construction on three new schools of 600 students
each will commence in 2009. Construction on a 10,000-person
stadium was recently completed, and two more sports complexes
will soon be finished. Kindergartens and diagnostic medical
centers are also planned for Mary. Atamuradov said that a
"healthy people provides for a healthy government." He also
noted that 20 people have taken out consumer credit loans,
with others in the process of preparing loan applications.

BERDIMUHAMEDOV HIMSELF WILL TEST NEW INFRASTRUCTURE


5. (SBU) According to Durdyliyev, Mary's provincial portion
of the national highway system currently under construction
will be completed in December. A railway system for the
entire country is also under construction. According to
Atamuradov, the president will drive on the roads himself in
order to review road conditions.

CURIOUSITY ABOUT U.S. LIFE


6. (SBU) After Mayor Durdyliyev left the meeting -- to check
on the many construction projects underway in his town --
Deputy Mayor Atamuradov, in the presence of other officials
including a Central Elections Commission official who did not
introduce himself, asked questions about life in the U.S.:
What is better, private or public education? How does one
finance one's retirement? What percentage of people voted in
the U.S. presidential election on November 4? How does a
citizen register as a candidate for elective office?


7. (SBU) COMMENT: There was a more lively conversation over
life in the United States than about the elections. The
candidates had little to say. Campaigning is an unknown
concept. They also likely had little understanding of
exactly what their future position entailed. END COMMENT.
MILES