Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT1671
2009-12-30 09:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: NEARING END OF STUDENT SAGA?
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 001671
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN; PPD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM SOCI SCUL TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: NEARING END OF STUDENT SAGA?
REF: ASHGABAT 1662
Classified By: Charge Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1 (C) During the official Turkmenistan government New Year's
party on December 29, Charge pulled aside Deputy Chairman for
Education and Health Hydyr Saparlyev and pressed him
regarding the Turkmenistan American Scholarship Program
(TASP) student issue. Since late July, TASP students who
formerly studied at the American University of Central Asia
in Bishkek have been prevented from leaving the country for
any reason. Charge asked Saparlyev when the TASP student
problem would be resolved. Saparlyev responded, "January."
During a December 25 meeting, Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov
had promised Charge that he would raise the matter with
Saparlyev to see if it could be settled (reftel).
¶2. (C) COMMENT: It's not over until it's over is fitting
everywhere, but especially is the case in Turkmenistan.
While Saparlyev is not to be trusted, the fact that he gave a
timeframe is hopeful. We will continue to press. Saparlyev
played the major role in putting the students on the
blacklist and must remove them. It is likely that Meredov
did speak to Saparlyev following the meeting with Charge.
Charge had suggested to Meredov that the "perfect solution"
would be to settle this no later than January so that the
students could start winter semester at the American
University in Bulgaria. END COMMENT.
CURRAN