Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT1146
2009-09-09 13:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMEN GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS ON STUDY ABROAD
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 001146
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2019
TAGS: PGOV SCUL SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMEN GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS ON STUDY ABROAD
ARE WIDESPREAD
Classified By: Charge Sylvia R. Curran, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 001146
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2019
TAGS: PGOV SCUL SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMEN GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS ON STUDY ABROAD
ARE WIDESPREAD
Classified By: Charge Sylvia R. Curran, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) At the September 8 Tajik Independence Day reception,
diplomats from other embassies commented that the Turkmen
government had blocked Turkmen students from leaving
Turkmenistan for studies in their countries. The German
Charge d'Affaires noted that four of eight students that had
been awarded German government scholarships for study in
Germany had not been allowed to depart. She felt this was
incomprehensible given that, during the selection process, a
Turkmen official had been part of the review panel that chose
the successful applicants. The German Charge also mentioned
that she had been calling other embassies to confirm Turkmen
government claims of foreign students enrolled in Turkmen
universities. While not providing any figure, the Turkish
Charge d'Affaires said that due to the large expatriate
Turkish community in Turkmenistan, some Turkish students
enroll to remain close to their families. A Chinese diplomat
said there is one Chinese student enrolled at the National
Institute of Foreign Languages. (NOTE: The rector of the
Pedogogical Institute in Turkmenabat told us in 2008 that
nearly 20 Afghan students, primarily ethnic Turkmen, studied
at his school. END NOTE.)
2. (C) The Russian political counselor remarked that would-be
Turkmen students wanting to depart for Russian schools are
having difficulty leaving Turkmenistan. The exception is
those students who are recipients of Turkmen government
scholarships or cases where tuition has been waived through
an agreement with the Russian government. He said, however,
that other officials at his embassy were addressing the
issue, and he could not provide numbers of affected students
or what measures had been taken by the Russians. Having
previously worked at the Russian embassy in Bishkek, the
Russian diplomat scoffed at the idea that Turkmen authorities
questioned the educational standards at the American
University of Central Asia (AUCA).
3. (C) The Kyrgyz ambassador in Ashgabat, who recently
returned to Ashgabat from an extended vacation, asked poloff
about the prospects for Turkmen students to still enroll at
AUCA. He could not understand how the American University in
Bulgaria (AUBG) could be viewed by Turkmen officials any
differently than they view AUCA.
4. (C) COMMENT: Despite initial indications from the MFA to
us that the ban on foreign studies was limited to Kyrgyzstan
as a result of specific conditions there, it is clear that
the Turkmen government is stepping up efforts to block any
foreign study by Turkmen students that is not GOTX approved.
Perhaps the outflow of students had reached a point that
became embarrassing for Turkmen officials. It is also
possible that the Turkmen leadership believes the stories
that some Turkmen students are becoming radicalized abroad.
Unfortunately, instead of trying to stem the outflow by
improving educational opportunities at home and competing for
students, it seems the government decided to severely
restrict foreign study as an option. END COMMENT.
CURRAN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2019
TAGS: PGOV SCUL SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMEN GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS ON STUDY ABROAD
ARE WIDESPREAD
Classified By: Charge Sylvia R. Curran, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) At the September 8 Tajik Independence Day reception,
diplomats from other embassies commented that the Turkmen
government had blocked Turkmen students from leaving
Turkmenistan for studies in their countries. The German
Charge d'Affaires noted that four of eight students that had
been awarded German government scholarships for study in
Germany had not been allowed to depart. She felt this was
incomprehensible given that, during the selection process, a
Turkmen official had been part of the review panel that chose
the successful applicants. The German Charge also mentioned
that she had been calling other embassies to confirm Turkmen
government claims of foreign students enrolled in Turkmen
universities. While not providing any figure, the Turkish
Charge d'Affaires said that due to the large expatriate
Turkish community in Turkmenistan, some Turkish students
enroll to remain close to their families. A Chinese diplomat
said there is one Chinese student enrolled at the National
Institute of Foreign Languages. (NOTE: The rector of the
Pedogogical Institute in Turkmenabat told us in 2008 that
nearly 20 Afghan students, primarily ethnic Turkmen, studied
at his school. END NOTE.)
2. (C) The Russian political counselor remarked that would-be
Turkmen students wanting to depart for Russian schools are
having difficulty leaving Turkmenistan. The exception is
those students who are recipients of Turkmen government
scholarships or cases where tuition has been waived through
an agreement with the Russian government. He said, however,
that other officials at his embassy were addressing the
issue, and he could not provide numbers of affected students
or what measures had been taken by the Russians. Having
previously worked at the Russian embassy in Bishkek, the
Russian diplomat scoffed at the idea that Turkmen authorities
questioned the educational standards at the American
University of Central Asia (AUCA).
3. (C) The Kyrgyz ambassador in Ashgabat, who recently
returned to Ashgabat from an extended vacation, asked poloff
about the prospects for Turkmen students to still enroll at
AUCA. He could not understand how the American University in
Bulgaria (AUBG) could be viewed by Turkmen officials any
differently than they view AUCA.
4. (C) COMMENT: Despite initial indications from the MFA to
us that the ban on foreign studies was limited to Kyrgyzstan
as a result of specific conditions there, it is clear that
the Turkmen government is stepping up efforts to block any
foreign study by Turkmen students that is not GOTX approved.
Perhaps the outflow of students had reached a point that
became embarrassing for Turkmen officials. It is also
possible that the Turkmen leadership believes the stories
that some Turkmen students are becoming radicalized abroad.
Unfortunately, instead of trying to stem the outflow by
improving educational opportunities at home and competing for
students, it seems the government decided to severely
restrict foreign study as an option. END COMMENT.
CURRAN