TURKMENISTAN: LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS GIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001384 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, INL/AAE BUHLER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR PGOV SOCI TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS GIVE PRESENTATIONS IN ENGLISH REF: Ashgabat 500 ASHGABAT 00001384 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (U) SUMMARY: Six law enforcement officers graduating from Post's INL-funded English Language training (ELT) courses gave presentations on various subjects in English on October 19 before their classmates, language instructors, Poloff and INL Assistant. The subjects presented included the structure of Turkmenistan's law enforcement agencies, the functions and partners of the State Counter- Narcotics Service (SCNS),the language course itself and course content, Turkmenistan's branch of Interpol, counter-narcotics activities, and the classifications of illegal narcotics. Some of the students were making presentations for the first time in their careers, and were understandably nervous. Others appeared confident and were open to follow-up questions from the class and observers. At the end, the students thanked instructors profusely for their efforts and expressed gratitude to the Embassy for the organization of this project. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (SBU) BACKGROUND: The INL-funded English Language Training for Turkmen Law Enforcement Officials (ELT) Project was launched in 2006 and until last year was also sponsored by the British Embassy. The program's objective is to improve mid- and junior level security officers' skills in conversational English, as well as their understanding of international documentation, particularly law enforcement manuals and legal texts. Ultimately, such skills would facilitate greater engagement and cooperation with U.S. and international counterparts. The classes take place at the Altyn Asyr Customs Training Center three times a week for ten months. 12 officers graduated in 2007, 20 students last year, and 17 students will graduate from the current session in November. On the basis of class performance and interviews, three students are selected each year to participate in a law enforcement study tour in the UK. END BACKGROUND. ¶4. (SBU) The first student, Tumar, an SCNS legal advisor, made a presentation about her agency's functions and partners. She described the agency's interactions with organizations such as UNODC, the Border Management Program for Central Asia (BOMCA) and Central Asia Drug Addiction Program (CADAP),both funded by the EU funded by the EU, OSCE, and DEA. She then described various types of drugs, including heroin, cocaine, marijuana and LSD. She was the most prepared and confident of the students, and her performance was impressive in view of the fact that she started as a beginner less than a year ago. At the end of her presentation, she thanked the instructors and said "Last year I couldn't speak a word in English, but now I can make a presentation." ¶5. (SBU) The second student, Geldimyrat, a legal advisor with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, made a presentation on the structure of Turkmenistan's law enforcement agencies. He spoke about the ten agencies that make up the State Security Council, described their functions, and made comparisons with similar agencies in the United States. He also described Turkmenistan's legislative branch. Geldimyrat spoke confidently and openly, and without notes. ASHGABAT 00001384 002.2 OF 002 ¶6. (SBU) Other students talked about the ELT class itself, its structure, and how they had acquired English, and about their jobs. A student from the Customs Service, Muhammet, made a presentation on counter-narcotics activities. He gave definitions of various types of drugs, and said that Afghanistan produces 92% of the heroin in the world, and went on to describe Turkmenistan as a "transit country," rather than a "consumer" of drugs. When asked, Muhammet said that he has thus far never confiscated drugs at the airport, most of his seizures being medicines or Turkmen carpets destined for export. ¶7. (SBU) The last student to present was a junior officer from the Migration Service named Guwanch. His presentation on drugs was short and specific. He described cannabis, which he referred to as "one of the most highly consumed" drugs in the world. ¶8. (SBU) COMMENT: Since its establishment, the ELT project has been the most successful INL undertaking in Turkmenistan. The classes allow Embassy officers and Turkmen officials rare opportunities to meet and discuss topics openly and informally, without the need to obtain official approval in advance. Additional funding provided this year for the continuation of ELT project will allow INL to launch the fourth year of classes at the end of December. END COMMENT. CURRAN