TURKMENISTAN: MFA PROTESTS EMBASSY-ORGANIZED

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 001596 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN; DRL/IRF E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2019 TAGS: KIRF PHUM PGOV TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: MFA PROTESTS EMBASSY-ORGANIZED RELIGIOUS ROUNDTABLE REF: ASHGABAT 1590 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Sylvia Reed Curran, Reasons 1.4 (b) an d (d) ¶1. (C) On December 9, MFA Americas Department Director Serdar Bashimov called in the Acting DCM to "strongly protest" the Embassy-organized roundtable for leaders of non-registered religious groups that took place on December 3 (reftel). Bashimov complained that the MFA had not been notified in advance about the event, particularly in light of the fact that the attendees represented unregistered groups. He added that there were "rules and regulations" to be followed concerning holding events in this country, and that the Embassy needed to comply with them. To act otherwise did not contribute to mutual understanding, confidence and trust. Bashimov commented that there are a lot of bilateral tasks ahead and implied that meetings such as the roundtable could impact negatively on other aspects of U.S.-Turkmen relations. ¶2. (C) The Acting DCM explained the U.S. Government's policy of supporting religious freedom around the world, and that contacts and meetings such as the roundtable in question were an integral part of our effort. Noting that post had held similar events in the past, for example, with leaders of registered religious groups, as well as frequent separate meetings with the individuals at the roundtable and others, the Acting DCM pressed Bashimov to explain why this roundtable was a concern. Bashimov responded that there was no problem meeting with religious leaders once their groups had been registered. He added that this was a "quite sensitive area," and that this concern of the Turkmen government had been conveyed to the Embassy in the past. The Acting DCM pointed out that the groups represented at the roundtable had been trying to register, and that the applications of two of the groups had been sitting at the Ministry of Justice for more than one year awaiting final approval. Bashimov concluded by saying that the roundtable was "an issue of acute concern" within the government. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: This protest from the MFA came as a bolt out of the blue. Post maintains regular contact with the individuals who attended the roundtable and had no reason to expect that the event with six attendees would even come to the government's attention, let alone generate a protest. The roundtable was held at the Embassy's Information Resource Center and involved no government participation, so there was no reason to inform the MFA about the event. In fact, similar events with representatives of unregistered groups had been held with poloffs in the past at the IRC and at the Embassy's MPR. Since the Acting DCM was Charge at the time, perhaps the event attracted greater than usual government attention. Contrary to Bashimov's assertion, the MFA has not in the past conveyed to the Embassy that such meetings were off-limits. He clearly had instructions to deliver the protest, but when pressed on details, it was apparent that post had not violated any "rules," but that most likely someone in the government had learned of the event and just didn't like it. Post will continue its contact with the full range of religious groups in Turkmenistan, as well as look for opportunities to urge appropriate Turkmen government officials about the importance of dialogue with such groups. END COMMENT. CURRAN