Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT419
2008-04-03 12:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: GENERAL OBSERVATIONS FROM A VISIT
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000419
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2018
TAGS: PGOV ECON SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: GENERAL OBSERVATIONS FROM A VISIT
TO THE CITY OF MARY
REF: A. 07 ASHGABAT 1141
B. ASHGABAT 0076
C. ASHGABAT 0023
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 000419
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2018
TAGS: PGOV ECON SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: GENERAL OBSERVATIONS FROM A VISIT
TO THE CITY OF MARY
REF: A. 07 ASHGABAT 1141
B. ASHGABAT 0076
C. ASHGABAT 0023
Classified By: CDA Richard E. Hoagland for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: EmbOff recently traveled to the city of
Mary, the capital of the province of the same name. As she
walked around town and stopped at various venues, she had an
opportunity to talk to a number of local residents. They
revealed a degree of ambivalence about transition and reform
-- fearful of how it would affect them, while realizing it
was necessary. END SUMMARY.
REALIZATION THAT TRANSITION TO MARKET ECONOMY WILL BE TOUGH
2. (SBU) During a March 26-27 visit to the provincial
capital city of Mary, a group of artists in the local
artists' union told EmbOff they were resigned to the idea
that they are poor. One said he felt it was time for market
pricing to take effect. He realized, however, it would be a
process that might not be a comfortable transition for all.
BARELY GETTING BY
3. (C) A local driver lamented the loss of his Afghan War
veteran privileges. Variously stating "this is just between
us" or "I have children," he said that he would leave the
country if he could because "we're just existing." He and
his wife had the idea to send his son to school in the U.K.,
but claimed it was necessary to pay guards $150 to get into
the British Embassy. The son will be finishing his
obligatory term in the army very soon, and his parents hope
that he will win one of the few trainee spots allotted to
each province offered by the Malaysian oil firm Petronas
(Ref. A).
MARY IS NOT BURNING
4. (SBU) Discussions in Mary also revealed that rumors of
fires at gas stations and that security had been increased in
response to discontent about a nearly 800% increase in gas
prices, as reported on opposition websites, were untrue (Ref.
B). (In fact, Mary residents said they had heard of gas
station burnings in Ashgabat, Turkmenbashy, and Turkmenabat.
Following recent visits to Turkmenbashy and Turkmenabat, we
can confirm rumors about those cities and the capital are
also untrue.) We also noticed that threats by local officials
to remove satellite dishes on apartment buildings to please
the president's aesthetics have been followed by ... inaction
(Ref. C). Completion of construction on the new official
mosque by Turkish company Kilich Inshaat is way past the
deadline. Other current construction projects in progress in
the city include a grade school/kindergarten complex (Ilk
Inshaat),stadium (Kilich Inshaat),maternity hospital,
airport (Efor),and one street-widening project. Existing
modern Turkish-built buildings include the drama theater,
culture palace, bazaar, and state chemical fertilizer concern
offices.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: Turkmenistan is changing, but the
evolution takes place at an even more glacial pace in the
provinces. People still remain somewhat guarded and probably
will for the long term. Old habits die hard. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2018
TAGS: PGOV ECON SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: GENERAL OBSERVATIONS FROM A VISIT
TO THE CITY OF MARY
REF: A. 07 ASHGABAT 1141
B. ASHGABAT 0076
C. ASHGABAT 0023
Classified By: CDA Richard E. Hoagland for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: EmbOff recently traveled to the city of
Mary, the capital of the province of the same name. As she
walked around town and stopped at various venues, she had an
opportunity to talk to a number of local residents. They
revealed a degree of ambivalence about transition and reform
-- fearful of how it would affect them, while realizing it
was necessary. END SUMMARY.
REALIZATION THAT TRANSITION TO MARKET ECONOMY WILL BE TOUGH
2. (SBU) During a March 26-27 visit to the provincial
capital city of Mary, a group of artists in the local
artists' union told EmbOff they were resigned to the idea
that they are poor. One said he felt it was time for market
pricing to take effect. He realized, however, it would be a
process that might not be a comfortable transition for all.
BARELY GETTING BY
3. (C) A local driver lamented the loss of his Afghan War
veteran privileges. Variously stating "this is just between
us" or "I have children," he said that he would leave the
country if he could because "we're just existing." He and
his wife had the idea to send his son to school in the U.K.,
but claimed it was necessary to pay guards $150 to get into
the British Embassy. The son will be finishing his
obligatory term in the army very soon, and his parents hope
that he will win one of the few trainee spots allotted to
each province offered by the Malaysian oil firm Petronas
(Ref. A).
MARY IS NOT BURNING
4. (SBU) Discussions in Mary also revealed that rumors of
fires at gas stations and that security had been increased in
response to discontent about a nearly 800% increase in gas
prices, as reported on opposition websites, were untrue (Ref.
B). (In fact, Mary residents said they had heard of gas
station burnings in Ashgabat, Turkmenbashy, and Turkmenabat.
Following recent visits to Turkmenbashy and Turkmenabat, we
can confirm rumors about those cities and the capital are
also untrue.) We also noticed that threats by local officials
to remove satellite dishes on apartment buildings to please
the president's aesthetics have been followed by ... inaction
(Ref. C). Completion of construction on the new official
mosque by Turkish company Kilich Inshaat is way past the
deadline. Other current construction projects in progress in
the city include a grade school/kindergarten complex (Ilk
Inshaat),stadium (Kilich Inshaat),maternity hospital,
airport (Efor),and one street-widening project. Existing
modern Turkish-built buildings include the drama theater,
culture palace, bazaar, and state chemical fertilizer concern
offices.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: Turkmenistan is changing, but the
evolution takes place at an even more glacial pace in the
provinces. People still remain somewhat guarded and probably
will for the long term. Old habits die hard. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND