TURKMENISTAN: A VISIT WITH A DASHOGUZ DEPUTY HAKIM

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 001271 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN; SCA/PPD E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV SOCI SCUL PHUM TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: A VISIT WITH A DASHOGUZ DEPUTY HAKIM Classified By: Charge Sylvia Reed Curran, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On September 28, 2009 PAO met with a Dashoguz province Deputy Hakim (Deputy Governor) Gurbanjemal Atabayeva during a regional visit. The meeting was initially cold and reserved until talk turned to the recent visit by US Fulbright Scholar Melda Yildiz. Atabayeva expressed a desire to continue the excellent work of the American Corner and discussed the impressive work of the Ambassador,s Fund for Cultural Preservation in the province. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) As part of a continued effort to regularly visit each of the provinces, PAO visited Dashoguz on a two-day visit September 28-29, 2009. An initial introductory meeting was held with Deputy Hakim Gurbanjemal Atayevna Atabayeva. The provincial coordinator for international and educational programs and the Hakim,s personal assistant also attended. Atabayeva is a recent appointment, having spent her career as a teacher of Turkmen language in secondary schools. I KNOW MELDA TOO! ¶3. (C) After introductions and a brief overview of the purpose of the visit, Atabayeva dourly read her talking points about the Dashoguz region and the efforts of President Berdimuhamedov to improve education programs and increase the prosperity of the region. Atabayeva continued with notes on the recent international conference held in Dashoguz on local folk hero Gorbanguly. When PAO mentioned the participation of US Fulbright scholar Dr. Melda Yildiz in the conference, Ms. Atabayeva interjected excitedly "I know Melda!" She then jumped to her feet and produced a photo of the conference group and told of her conversations with the American scholar. CULTURAL HERITAGE PRESERVATION AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE ¶4. (C) The tone of the meeting changed completely as Atabayeva eagerly departed from her talking points to praise the work of Dr. Yildiz, the English language programs at the American corner, and the various restoration projects run under the Ambassador,s Fund for Cultural Preservation. The meeting ended on a happy note as Atabayeva encouraged future trips and future collaboration with the Americans. ¶5. (C) COMMENT: There is a real thirst for exchange and English language programs in the regions. The various outreach programs of the Embassy appear to be succeeding in their goal to improving relations with the regions. END COMMENT. CURRAN