Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT1154
2009-09-11 10:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
PROCESS FOR SELECTING TURKMEN HAJJ TRAVELERS
how-toVZCZCXRO3286 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #1154 2541033 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 111033Z SEP 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3446 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 5656 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3374 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3238 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 3899 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3889 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RHMCSUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001154
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KIRF KISL TX
SUBJECT: PROCESS FOR SELECTING TURKMEN HAJJ TRAVELERS
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001154
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KIRF KISL TX
SUBJECT: PROCESS FOR SELECTING TURKMEN HAJJ TRAVELERS
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (U) During an Embassy-hosted Iftar on September 10,
Turkmenistan's Grand Mufti Rowshen Allaberdiyev explained to
us the process for selecting the 188 government-funded Hajj
travelers each year. He also asserted that, in addition to
the government-sponsored group, more than 1,000 Turkmen
self-fund their Hajj trips each year. According to
Allaberdiyev, individuals apply to go on the Hajj to a
provincial-level committee. After those officials decide on
candidates for their provinces, those successful candidates
are advanced to a national-level review in Ashgabat, where
the final cut is made. After that, the successful candidates
are invited to travel. Allaberdiyev seemed to indicate that
there was no hard and fast criteria for being selected at any
level.
2. (SBU) COMMENT: It appears that this review process is only
for those vying for government sponsorship and not for
self-financing individuals. If you have the money and there
is no other reason preventing your travel, you can make the
pilgrimage. END COMMENT.
CURRAN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KIRF KISL TX
SUBJECT: PROCESS FOR SELECTING TURKMEN HAJJ TRAVELERS
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (U) During an Embassy-hosted Iftar on September 10,
Turkmenistan's Grand Mufti Rowshen Allaberdiyev explained to
us the process for selecting the 188 government-funded Hajj
travelers each year. He also asserted that, in addition to
the government-sponsored group, more than 1,000 Turkmen
self-fund their Hajj trips each year. According to
Allaberdiyev, individuals apply to go on the Hajj to a
provincial-level committee. After those officials decide on
candidates for their provinces, those successful candidates
are advanced to a national-level review in Ashgabat, where
the final cut is made. After that, the successful candidates
are invited to travel. Allaberdiyev seemed to indicate that
there was no hard and fast criteria for being selected at any
level.
2. (SBU) COMMENT: It appears that this review process is only
for those vying for government sponsorship and not for
self-financing individuals. If you have the money and there
is no other reason preventing your travel, you can make the
pilgrimage. END COMMENT.
CURRAN