Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT411
2008-04-02 09:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:  

TURKMENISTAN: MARY CITY TEACHERS CONTINUE TO

Tags:  PGOV PREL PHUM SOCI KPAO TX 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHAH #0411 0930915
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 020915Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0536
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 3577
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1395
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1262
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 1831
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2378
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000411 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, ECA, IIP, DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SOCI KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: MARY CITY TEACHERS CONTINUE TO
VISIT AMERICAN CORNER DESPITE OFFICIAL PRESSURE

Classified By: CDA Richard E. Hoagland for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000411

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, ECA, IIP, DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SOCI KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: MARY CITY TEACHERS CONTINUE TO
VISIT AMERICAN CORNER DESPITE OFFICIAL PRESSURE

Classified By: CDA Richard E. Hoagland for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) During a visit to the American Corner in the
provincial city of Mary on March 26, American Corner Director
Albina Burashnikova told EmbOff that she thinks that the
governor's office is behind school directors warning teachers
that visiting the American Corner could put their jobs in
jeopardy. Burashnikova added that school directors also
regularly report to Mary's Provincial Education Department
that no teachers from their schools visit the American
Corner. However, Burashnikova said, the teachers continue to
visit, if only because this is their only source of
English-language teaching materials. (NOTE: On the day that
EmbOff stopped by, five teachers had visited. END NOTE.)
Burashnikova said that one teacher called UNDP in Ashgabat
about this intimidation, and the UN told the teacher that
this was a matter for the U.S. Embassy. Burashnikova is
scared that the governor's office will start to put pressure
on the students.


2. (C) Although provincial officials are trying to steer
teachers away from the American Corner, it appears that
Mary's schools have bigger problems. One student said he and
his classmates are not allowed to access the Internet via
school computers when they don't have permanent teachers, and
they haven't had a teacher for several months because the
previous one quit.


3. (C) COMMENT: It says a lot that in this very cautious
society, teachers continue to visit the American Corner,
despite the fact their bosses regularly and actively
discourage them. We suspect the source of the attempted
prohibition is the Ministry of Education, or at least the
powerful faction led by International Relations Director Nury
Bayramov. The American Corner is like oxygen for students,
who want to learn more and for their teachers, who appreciate
the Corner as a resource. Unfortunately, some officials feel
so threatened by the idea of free access to Western
information that they attempt to put a stop to what the
country needs most. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND