TURKMENISTAN: BOUCHER MEETS OFFICIALS ON

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASHGABAT 000688

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN;

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: BOUCHER MEETS OFFICIALS ON
DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND EDUCATION

REF: A. A. 2007 ASHGABAT 0885

B. B. ASHGABAT 0647

C. C. ASHGABAT 0206


1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: On May 28, Assistant Secretary Richard
Boucher had separate meetings focusing on Democracy/Human
Rights and Education. In the meeting with the Institute for
Democracy and Human Rights, Institute Director Shirin
Akhmedova detailed the Institute's role in helping
Turkmenistan to meet its international human rights
obligations and its many projects with international
partners. She said the Institute is working closely with the
parliament on constitutional reform and preparation of the
December 2008 parliamentary elections. Akhmedova said the
Central Election Commission has authorized Institute
personnel to monitor elections around the country. The
meeting with Deputy Chairman for Education, Health, and
Science Hydyr Saparlyev and Education Minister Muhammetgeldi
Annaamanov focused on both basic and higher education.
Saparlyev spoke positively about blossoming cooperation with
Columbia University and Texas A&M University. He was
noncommittal about the Turkmenistan adopting a
"Bolashak-type" program, saying it was "one option." END
SUMMARY.


3. (SBU) On May 28, Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher met
with Shirin Akhmedova, Director of the Institute for
Democracy and Human Rights. Akhmedova described the
Institute's structure, goals and mission, and noted its key
role in the reform process now underway in Turkmenistan.
With the Institute's guidance and participation, the
government established the Human Rights Commission in August
2007 (ref A),the State Commission on Legislative Reform in
November 2007 and the Constitutional Commission in April

2008. The Institute also was continuing to work closely with
the parliament on issues such as reform of the family code,
preparation for the December 2008 parliamentary elections,
and revision of the constitution.

MANY INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS


4. (SBU) Akhmedova underscored the Institute's central role
in making sure Turkmenistan meets its international human
rights commitments and talked about the many projects it is
doing with international partners (Ref B). The UN
Development Program is helping them develop a reporting
capacity, and United Nations Children's Fund is helping them
reform the juvenile justice system. Another project with the
UN that will begin in October 2008 will be designed to
strengthen the country's capacity to protect human rights.
She also described the Institute's work with EU/TACIS, to
include a recently completed commercial arbitrage seminar.
She also described cooperation with USAID (Ref C),to include
work revising legislation on non-governmental organizations,
legal regulation of the media (through Internews Network),
and reform of the religion law. She also mentioned that
ABA/CEELI was continuing to work with the Institute on a
project to improve computer literacy for institute staff, and
along with the UN, was developing an international legal
resource center at the Institute.


5. (SBU) Assistant Secretary Boucher noted the wide variety
of international partners, and asked if the Institute worked
with any international human rights organizations. Akhmedova
said the Institute had not worked with any of them, since it
had not received any concrete proposals for cooperation from
them. She did, however, describe an invitation she and other
government officials had received from the British embassy
for a human rights-related study trip to London July 5-12
that is to include meetings with human rights organization
representatives. she also noted one of her staff members was

ASHGABAT 00000688 002 OF 003


currently in the United Sates on an International Visitors
Program focused on human rights.

PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS


6. (SBU) When asked about Turkmen non-governmental
organizations, Akhmedova said there were about 200 such
registered organizations operating in Turkmenistan that
engage in issues related to human rights and social welfare.
Representatives of these groups are invited to many
Institute-sponsored events. As an example, she noted the
Institute's work with a society for disabled citizens, which
is assisting it with fulfillment of Turkmenistan's
obligations regarding the UN Convention on the Disabled.

ELECTION REFORM


7. (SBU) The Institute holds national election observer
status, and the Central Election Commission has authorized
Institute personnel to monitor elections around the country.
When asked about the direction in which the Institute wants
to focus electoral reform, Akhmedova said the focus was
upward, toward senior levels of government. The Institute is
working with UN Development Program on a project designed to
build capacity within the Central Election Commission, and
the EU is sponsoring additional work. Akhmedova added that
the revised constitution will also introduce numerous changes
to the electoral process.

BASIC EDUCATION


8. (SBU) The meeting with Deputy Chairman for Education,
Health, and Science Hydyr Saparlyev and Education Minister
Muhammetgeldi Annaamanov on May 28 was cordial. Saparlyev
detailed plans for building new schools and outfitting them
with computers. He also emphasized efforts to modernize the
curricula for schools and update textbooks, reduce teacher's
workloads and classroom sizes. Saparlyev said curriculum
development was an ongoing process that required frequent
updates. Saparlyev had little comment when Boucher raised
curricula reform, writing of new textbooks, and the "one
laptop per child" program. When Boucher mentioned the
Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study program
sponsored by USAID, Saparlyev said the government was
reviewing and examining their teaching of various subjects.

HIGHER EDUCATION


9. (SBU) Regarding the subject of a possible government
scholarship program, Saparlyev noted that it was one option
and cited the examples of foreign companies or programs that
take students to Russia, Turkey, China, and other countries.
He estimated that there are 5,000 slots available for
students in Turkmen Universities, with plans to expand to
50,000 in the coming years.


10. (SBU) Saparlyev spoke in positive terms regarding
developing cooperation with Columbia University or Texas A&M
University. He admitted, however, that the government needed
to recognize degrees from private universities in the region
(American University of Central Asia and Kazakhstan's
International Management, Economics and Strategic Planning
University) - a small but significant signal that the
government is not automatically against such programs.


11. (SBU) Saparlyev expressed his appreciation for Assistant
Secretary Boucher's emphasis on education. He also explained
that the government of Turkmenistan would examine any
proposals in education "with pleasure."


12. (SBU) COMMENT: The Institute for Democracy and Human
Rights' energetic director showed why so many international
partners are willing to work with her. Enthusiastic about

ASHGABAT 00000688 003 OF 003


her organization's role and the possibilities, she is one of
the most forward leaning of Turkmen officials. While
Saparlyev was quite supportive of educational exchanges, he
was non-committal on a "Bolashak-type" program. In addition,
he was not overly enthusiastic to the idea of cooperation on
some areas of basic education. END COMMENT.


13. (U) Assistant Secretary Boucher has cleared this cable.
HOAGLAND