TURKMENISTAN: MEETING WITH MEJLIS CHAIR A LESSON

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000152 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL SOCI KWMN TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: MEETING WITH MEJLIS CHAIR A LESSON IN DIPLOMACY ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: In a cordial meeting with a recent visitor, the Chair of Turkmenistan's Mejlis presented a rosy picture of life in Turkmenistan for women, claiming that no challenges currently exist for them that require future consideration. However, after a personal connection was made, the Mejlis Chairman shared some personal details about herself and talked with her American visitor in a relaxed and unrehearsed way that post has never before observed. Making a personal connection with interlocutors, by finding areas of common interest and sharing personal details with them, especially in this part of the world, can set a lasting and cordial tone for the rest of the professional relationship, and is more important than any gift that can be presented. Learning more about her on a personal level will be a benefit in the long run as post expands its interaction with her on Turkmenistan's reform agenda. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (SBU) In a meeting January 25 with Turkmenistan's Mejlis Chair Akja Nurberdiyeva, a recent American visitor found common ground and was able to connect on a warm, personal level in a way that post had not seen before. The two women talked about living and working conditions for women in Turkmenistan, maternity leave issues, their own families, and the differences in family cultures in the United States and in Turkmenistan. ¶4. (SBU) During the course of the conversation, the visitor asked questions about how women in Turkmenistan cope with home, work, maternity, and family responsibilities. Initially, Nurberdiyeva either responded with bland statements denoting the country's ongoing achievement of socio-economic development goals or simply denied that challenges exist for women living and working in Turkmenistan. (NOTE: The Mejlis recently adopted new laws on gender equality and womens' rights to facilitate its efforts to bring national legislation into conformity with international conventions to which it is a party. In Turkmenistan, however, the greater task lies in promoting institutional reform that guarantees enforcement of legislation. END NOTE.) ¶5. (SBU) Regardless of Nurberdiyeva's responses, however, the visitor expertly described areas of achievement and areas that need work in regard to living and working conditions for women in the United States, which caused some introspection on Nurberdiyeva's part. The visitor was able to share with her that legislation and policies designed to promote and protect womens' rights do not work perfectly even in the United States, and new issues constantly emerge that needed to be addressed. Interspersed with such descriptions, the visitor shared her own observations of elements of Turkmen family culture that serve as premier examples of strong, supportive family networks--something American culture could never rival, given the American phenomenon of families dispersed across the country. ¶6. (SBU) During the conversation, Nurberdiyeva appeared to become increasingly relaxed as she realized that the visitor did not come with an agenda or intend to relay criticism of Turkmenistan's reform efforts. After the visitor related details of her own family life, children and desire for grandchildren, the Chair began to open up and share details about herself as well. She revealed that although Turkmenistan has appropriate legislation to provide paid maternity leave to women who are home with small children until they are 18 months of age, she was unable to take advantage of the policy herself, "because of her work." She indicated that she has a 12 year-old son and a 22 year-old son who attends Turkmen State University. In this context, she noted that grandparents play an integral role in the Turkmen family support network, suggesting that this has been especially true in her family. ASHGABAT 00000152 002 OF 002 ¶7. (SBU) COMMENT: Although the meeting was not deep on substance, its tone revealed an element of diplomacy that is often forgotten in the fast-paced, business-first environment we usually deal in. Making a personal connection with interlocutors, by finding areas of common interest and sharing personal details with them, especially in this part of the world, can set a lasting and cordial tone for the rest of the professional relationship, and is more important than any gift that can be presented. Showing respect for local culture and values, while sharing the imperfections of our own culture, appears to make people more receptive to hear what we have to say on more substantive issues of U.S. policy. END COMMENT. HOAGLAND