Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT243
2008-02-15 11:07:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: VALENTINE'S DAY STILL A POPULAR
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UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000243
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: VALENTINE'S DAY STILL A POPULAR
EVENT
REF: ASHGABAT 0242
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000243
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: VALENTINE'S DAY STILL A POPULAR
EVENT
REF: ASHGABAT 0242
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) Turkmen exile opposition website chrono-tm.org
reported on February 14 that Ashgabat City officials warned
restaurant and bar owners not to hold Valentine's Day events
at their venues, because they would clash with the
"officially approved program" of events honoring the
anniversary of the president's inauguration and Flag Day.
The article suggested that restaurateurs had cancelled their
events in response to this pressure.
3. (SBU) Embassy staff reported, however, that several
major restaurants they went to for dinner held Valentine's
Day-themed events, and the restaurants were filled with
couples. One of post's musically-talented colleagues at the
OSCE Center performed at the British Pub's explicitly
Valentine's Day evening event. Further, the government
sponsored only one official event (reftel) for the on-year
anniversary of the presidential inauguration -- and it was
not at a restaurant. It appears that this popular holiday, a
peak business day for restaurateurs and flower vendors, is
continuing to be observed here.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: The website's article may have simply
been an example of the standard poor-quality journalism
increasingly common on opposition websites where the exiled
writers pick up stray rumors and declare them to be negative
policy. We would more readily accept a report that city
officials warned owners of the more popular establishments
that they would have to cancel Valentine's Day events if
government officials wanted to hold official events there on
the same date. What was clear on February 14 was that --
affairs of state notwithstanding -- the business of
celebrating Valentine's Day in Turkmenistan continues to
trump any other consideration. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: VALENTINE'S DAY STILL A POPULAR
EVENT
REF: ASHGABAT 0242
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) Turkmen exile opposition website chrono-tm.org
reported on February 14 that Ashgabat City officials warned
restaurant and bar owners not to hold Valentine's Day events
at their venues, because they would clash with the
"officially approved program" of events honoring the
anniversary of the president's inauguration and Flag Day.
The article suggested that restaurateurs had cancelled their
events in response to this pressure.
3. (SBU) Embassy staff reported, however, that several
major restaurants they went to for dinner held Valentine's
Day-themed events, and the restaurants were filled with
couples. One of post's musically-talented colleagues at the
OSCE Center performed at the British Pub's explicitly
Valentine's Day evening event. Further, the government
sponsored only one official event (reftel) for the on-year
anniversary of the presidential inauguration -- and it was
not at a restaurant. It appears that this popular holiday, a
peak business day for restaurateurs and flower vendors, is
continuing to be observed here.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: The website's article may have simply
been an example of the standard poor-quality journalism
increasingly common on opposition websites where the exiled
writers pick up stray rumors and declare them to be negative
policy. We would more readily accept a report that city
officials warned owners of the more popular establishments
that they would have to cancel Valentine's Day events if
government officials wanted to hold official events there on
the same date. What was clear on February 14 was that --
affairs of state notwithstanding -- the business of
celebrating Valentine's Day in Turkmenistan continues to
trump any other consideration. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND