Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT492
2008-04-18 12:07:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: AHAL PROVINCE PASTOR OPTIMISTIC AS CHURCH
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UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000492
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL/IRF
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KIRF SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: AHAL PROVINCE PASTOR OPTIMISTIC AS CHURCH
AWAITS REGISTRATION
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000492
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL/IRF
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KIRF SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: AHAL PROVINCE PASTOR OPTIMISTIC AS CHURCH
AWAITS REGISTRATION
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) During a visit to cities in Ahal province to the west of
Ashgabat, PAO met with the pastor of the Light of Life Christian
Church's branch in Abadan city. The Abadan branch of the church
applied for registration as a religious group in January 2007 and
has received two replies requiring adjustments to their application.
Despite the lengthy process, Pastor Ruslan Atajanov and his small
congregation are optimistic about receiving the registration and
about the direction of changes in Turkmenistan in general.
HOPE FOR REGISTRATION
3. (SBU) Noting that the Dashoguz and Turkmenabat branches of the
church have already received registration, Pastor Atajanov believed
that it was only a matter of time before the Abadan branch did.
Over the last several months, the church received feedback from the
Ministry of Justice on its application. Both times, only technical
aspects of the application needed correction. He did not view these
as merely an excuse to delay registration, and quickly corrected and
resubmitted the needed documents.
BUT DIFFICULTIES ALONG THE WAY
4. (SBU) He described the church's registration process as
troubling, because prior to their January 2007 submission for
registration, they had operated quietly, and without any government
interference. Almost immediately after submission of their
registration documentation, government authorities started to visit
his apartment, sometimes searching his belongings, and told the
group not to hold any gatherings until registration was approved.
In effect, he said, a religious group has to cease its activity
while the registration is pending. He explained that despite this,
his small congregation of ten persons still managed to meet quietly
without having their services or gatherings disrupted. Pastor
Atajanov also expressed his view that government officials simply
fear the instability, often associated with religious strife, seen
in other countries. He sympathized with this fear, but believed
that the church's sincerity and peaceful activity would eventually
show them there is nothing to fear.
OVERALL OPTIMISM
5. (SBU) Pastor Atajanov's optimism extends to Turkmenistan's
future under President Berdimuhamedov. He noted that church members
generally believe that life has improved in the past year of slow,
but positive reform. In particular, he noted the lifting of travel
bans and highway check-points as evidence of this. The only
complaint about the reforms, he reported, was that they should move
faster.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: His observation that life has improved following
the change in leadership is important to note. That reforms have
been perceptible to residents of rural Ahal means that they do seem
to be reaching rural residents. We will periodically check with
Pastor Atajanov to see how the registration process is progressing.
END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL/IRF
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KIRF SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: AHAL PROVINCE PASTOR OPTIMISTIC AS CHURCH
AWAITS REGISTRATION
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) During a visit to cities in Ahal province to the west of
Ashgabat, PAO met with the pastor of the Light of Life Christian
Church's branch in Abadan city. The Abadan branch of the church
applied for registration as a religious group in January 2007 and
has received two replies requiring adjustments to their application.
Despite the lengthy process, Pastor Ruslan Atajanov and his small
congregation are optimistic about receiving the registration and
about the direction of changes in Turkmenistan in general.
HOPE FOR REGISTRATION
3. (SBU) Noting that the Dashoguz and Turkmenabat branches of the
church have already received registration, Pastor Atajanov believed
that it was only a matter of time before the Abadan branch did.
Over the last several months, the church received feedback from the
Ministry of Justice on its application. Both times, only technical
aspects of the application needed correction. He did not view these
as merely an excuse to delay registration, and quickly corrected and
resubmitted the needed documents.
BUT DIFFICULTIES ALONG THE WAY
4. (SBU) He described the church's registration process as
troubling, because prior to their January 2007 submission for
registration, they had operated quietly, and without any government
interference. Almost immediately after submission of their
registration documentation, government authorities started to visit
his apartment, sometimes searching his belongings, and told the
group not to hold any gatherings until registration was approved.
In effect, he said, a religious group has to cease its activity
while the registration is pending. He explained that despite this,
his small congregation of ten persons still managed to meet quietly
without having their services or gatherings disrupted. Pastor
Atajanov also expressed his view that government officials simply
fear the instability, often associated with religious strife, seen
in other countries. He sympathized with this fear, but believed
that the church's sincerity and peaceful activity would eventually
show them there is nothing to fear.
OVERALL OPTIMISM
5. (SBU) Pastor Atajanov's optimism extends to Turkmenistan's
future under President Berdimuhamedov. He noted that church members
generally believe that life has improved in the past year of slow,
but positive reform. In particular, he noted the lifting of travel
bans and highway check-points as evidence of this. The only
complaint about the reforms, he reported, was that they should move
faster.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: His observation that life has improved following
the change in leadership is important to note. That reforms have
been perceptible to residents of rural Ahal means that they do seem
to be reaching rural residents. We will periodically check with
Pastor Atajanov to see how the registration process is progressing.
END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND