Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT502
2008-04-22 11:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: YOUNG ECONOMIST SPECULATES ON
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000502
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV ECON SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: YOUNG ECONOMIST SPECULATES ON
FUTURE REFORMS, CHANGE NEEDED
Classified By: CDA RICHARD E. HOAGLAND: 1.4 (B),(D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000502
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV ECON SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: YOUNG ECONOMIST SPECULATES ON
FUTURE REFORMS, CHANGE NEEDED
Classified By: CDA RICHARD E. HOAGLAND: 1.4 (B),(D).
1. (C) On a plane to Istanbul on April 5, EconOff sat next
to Nury Meredov (strictly protect),a former economic advisor
employed on a contractual basis at Turkmenistan's Embassy in
Washington. Meredov was on his way to Malaysia to
participate in a Government of Malaysia-sponsored, two-week
seminar on "information technology in economic development"
with other young government employees from Asia. Meredov is
now an economic analyst in the Macroeconomic Policy
Department at the Ministry of Economy and Development. He
highly praised his alma mater, Western Illinois University --
where he completed a master's degree in Economics -- for its
status as a research university and for the assistantship
opportunities presented to him as a result. At one point,
Meredov criticized the Turkmen requirement that students
should have three years of professional work experience
before applying for graduate school, calling it unnecessary.
He was fully aware that his conversation partner was a U.S.
Embassy employee. Meredov was pleased to have run into an
American, and accepted her business card.
2. (C) Speaking about Turkmenistan's lack of accepted
technical assistance from foreign countries, Meredov said
that he believed that Turkmenistan would eventually accept
more assistance, because "it's necessary for development" of
the country. He said that he liked the Kazakhstan model,
citing it as a potential example that Turkmenistan could
follow in its economic evolution.
3. (C) COMMENT: Young Turkmen may be feeling less heat from
authorities about interactions with foreigners, since not
only did Meredov accept EconOff's business card, but he also
directly criticized some of his government's policies and
addressed the lack of partnership with many countries.
However, it's also obvious from the topic of his seminar and
his destination that Turkmenistan is accepting technical
assistance. Malaysia has reason to offer Turkmenistan
assistance -- namely Petronas' growing involvement in
Turkmenistan's hydrocarbon sector -- and is one of those
countries which, despite its lack of a diplomatic presence in
Ashgabat, seems to be pursuing an active relationship with
Turkmenistan. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV ECON SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: YOUNG ECONOMIST SPECULATES ON
FUTURE REFORMS, CHANGE NEEDED
Classified By: CDA RICHARD E. HOAGLAND: 1.4 (B),(D).
1. (C) On a plane to Istanbul on April 5, EconOff sat next
to Nury Meredov (strictly protect),a former economic advisor
employed on a contractual basis at Turkmenistan's Embassy in
Washington. Meredov was on his way to Malaysia to
participate in a Government of Malaysia-sponsored, two-week
seminar on "information technology in economic development"
with other young government employees from Asia. Meredov is
now an economic analyst in the Macroeconomic Policy
Department at the Ministry of Economy and Development. He
highly praised his alma mater, Western Illinois University --
where he completed a master's degree in Economics -- for its
status as a research university and for the assistantship
opportunities presented to him as a result. At one point,
Meredov criticized the Turkmen requirement that students
should have three years of professional work experience
before applying for graduate school, calling it unnecessary.
He was fully aware that his conversation partner was a U.S.
Embassy employee. Meredov was pleased to have run into an
American, and accepted her business card.
2. (C) Speaking about Turkmenistan's lack of accepted
technical assistance from foreign countries, Meredov said
that he believed that Turkmenistan would eventually accept
more assistance, because "it's necessary for development" of
the country. He said that he liked the Kazakhstan model,
citing it as a potential example that Turkmenistan could
follow in its economic evolution.
3. (C) COMMENT: Young Turkmen may be feeling less heat from
authorities about interactions with foreigners, since not
only did Meredov accept EconOff's business card, but he also
directly criticized some of his government's policies and
addressed the lack of partnership with many countries.
However, it's also obvious from the topic of his seminar and
his destination that Turkmenistan is accepting technical
assistance. Malaysia has reason to offer Turkmenistan
assistance -- namely Petronas' growing involvement in
Turkmenistan's hydrocarbon sector -- and is one of those
countries which, despite its lack of a diplomatic presence in
Ashgabat, seems to be pursuing an active relationship with
Turkmenistan. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND