Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT370
2009-03-23 14:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: IRANIANS TRAVEL EN MASSE TO ASHGABAT
how-toVZCZCXRO7277 PP RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHAH #0370/01 0821446 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 231446Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2512 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4967 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 3211 RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000370
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/IR; STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2019
TAGS: IR PGOV PREL TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: IRANIANS TRAVEL EN MASSE TO ASHGABAT
FOR NOWRUZ
Classified By: DCM Sylvia Reed Curran. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000370
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/IR; STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2019
TAGS: IR PGOV PREL TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: IRANIANS TRAVEL EN MASSE TO ASHGABAT
FOR NOWRUZ
Classified By: DCM Sylvia Reed Curran. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (SBU) Hundreds of Iranian tourists from the northern city
of Mashhad have arrived in Ashgabat to spend part or all of
the Nowruz holidays. Most made the 140-mile trip from Iran's
second largest city by bus as part of one of several
organized tour groups and are staying at the city's
moderately-priced hotels. Despite cold and rainy weather for
much of their stay, they were out shopping and enjoying what
they reported as very advantageous prices for clothing and
other goods as compared to Iran. Iran Watcher chatted with
several families staying at the Ak Altyn Hotel in Ashgabat
yesterday: One family, smiling and relaxed, and reported
that it was their second time celebrating Nowruz in
Turkmenistan. The family members said they particularly
enjoyed the break from the bustle, traffic, and "pressures"
of Iran. With the exception of two elderly women sporting
headscarves, none of the women in the group were veiled.
They commented that it was a relief to be free from that and
other restrictions for a few days.
BORDER HASSLES
2. (C) Sepideh, a housewife in her late thirties traveling
with her husband, mother and two children, said that although
the road trip from Mashhad to the Bajgyran border took only
three hours, the Turkmen border authorities had given the
group "a very hard time" at the border, questioning them and
checking documents for more than six hours. Notwithstanding
that delay (her group reached Bajgyran, 30 kilometers from
Ashgabat, at 10:30 a.m. last Wednesday, but did not get to
Ashgabat until five p.m.),she said that she finds Ashgabat
was a "wonderful" place to celebrate the Iranian New Year. In
the hotel lobby, her mother and several members of the group
modeled shoes, cardigans, and other bargains they found on a
shopping excursion that morning.
VIEWS OF AMERICA
3. (C) Vahid, Sepideh's husband, a thoughtful, soft-spoken
businessman in his mid-forties, said that Iranians were
"excited and overjoyed" at President Obama's election in
November, because in their view, the election of an
African-American to the U.S. presidency was "undeniable
evidence of the freedom that exists in America." Although
Vahid had not yet heard President Obama's Nowruz message as
they were in Ashgabat when it was broadcast, he had heard of
it and said that he was hopeful that relations between the
United States and Iran will improve soon. He cautioned,
however, that many people in Iran, while they feel very
favorable towards the United states, actually oppose a
warming of relations. As they see it, he offered, a warming
now would lend legitimacy to the Iranian regime, and give it
more "staying power." He said that Iranians in general favor
a withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. Likewise, another
member of the traveling party said that, "90% of Iranians
love America," noting that "the other 10% don't know anything
about it."
ELECTION PROSPECTS
4. (C) Describing President Ahmadinejad as "universally
disliked," XXXXXXXXXXXX said that with the announcement that former
President Khatami had withdrawn his candidacy for the
presidency, Iranians are now pinning their hopes on former
Prime Minister Mir Hussein Musavi. When asked who he expects
will prevail in the election, however, XXXXXXXXXXXX was less
certain. He said, "even if Musavi wins the most votes, the
government could always reverse the results." He went on to
note the "great divide between the Iranian people and the
Iranian government," such as on the requirement for women to
wear the hijab and on many other social issues.
5. (C) COMMENT: The visitors we spoke with were warm and
engaging. Unlike many Iranians who visit Turkmenistan, they
appeared unconcerned about the presence of hotel security
personnel in the vicinity and shared their views openly. As
they parted company, they told Iran Watcher of their delight
at meeting an American who speaks FARSI. END COMMENT.
MILES
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/IR; STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2019
TAGS: IR PGOV PREL TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: IRANIANS TRAVEL EN MASSE TO ASHGABAT
FOR NOWRUZ
Classified By: DCM Sylvia Reed Curran. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (SBU) Hundreds of Iranian tourists from the northern city
of Mashhad have arrived in Ashgabat to spend part or all of
the Nowruz holidays. Most made the 140-mile trip from Iran's
second largest city by bus as part of one of several
organized tour groups and are staying at the city's
moderately-priced hotels. Despite cold and rainy weather for
much of their stay, they were out shopping and enjoying what
they reported as very advantageous prices for clothing and
other goods as compared to Iran. Iran Watcher chatted with
several families staying at the Ak Altyn Hotel in Ashgabat
yesterday: One family, smiling and relaxed, and reported
that it was their second time celebrating Nowruz in
Turkmenistan. The family members said they particularly
enjoyed the break from the bustle, traffic, and "pressures"
of Iran. With the exception of two elderly women sporting
headscarves, none of the women in the group were veiled.
They commented that it was a relief to be free from that and
other restrictions for a few days.
BORDER HASSLES
2. (C) Sepideh, a housewife in her late thirties traveling
with her husband, mother and two children, said that although
the road trip from Mashhad to the Bajgyran border took only
three hours, the Turkmen border authorities had given the
group "a very hard time" at the border, questioning them and
checking documents for more than six hours. Notwithstanding
that delay (her group reached Bajgyran, 30 kilometers from
Ashgabat, at 10:30 a.m. last Wednesday, but did not get to
Ashgabat until five p.m.),she said that she finds Ashgabat
was a "wonderful" place to celebrate the Iranian New Year. In
the hotel lobby, her mother and several members of the group
modeled shoes, cardigans, and other bargains they found on a
shopping excursion that morning.
VIEWS OF AMERICA
3. (C) Vahid, Sepideh's husband, a thoughtful, soft-spoken
businessman in his mid-forties, said that Iranians were
"excited and overjoyed" at President Obama's election in
November, because in their view, the election of an
African-American to the U.S. presidency was "undeniable
evidence of the freedom that exists in America." Although
Vahid had not yet heard President Obama's Nowruz message as
they were in Ashgabat when it was broadcast, he had heard of
it and said that he was hopeful that relations between the
United States and Iran will improve soon. He cautioned,
however, that many people in Iran, while they feel very
favorable towards the United states, actually oppose a
warming of relations. As they see it, he offered, a warming
now would lend legitimacy to the Iranian regime, and give it
more "staying power." He said that Iranians in general favor
a withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. Likewise, another
member of the traveling party said that, "90% of Iranians
love America," noting that "the other 10% don't know anything
about it."
ELECTION PROSPECTS
4. (C) Describing President Ahmadinejad as "universally
disliked," XXXXXXXXXXXX said that with the announcement that former
President Khatami had withdrawn his candidacy for the
presidency, Iranians are now pinning their hopes on former
Prime Minister Mir Hussein Musavi. When asked who he expects
will prevail in the election, however, XXXXXXXXXXXX was less
certain. He said, "even if Musavi wins the most votes, the
government could always reverse the results." He went on to
note the "great divide between the Iranian people and the
Iranian government," such as on the requirement for women to
wear the hijab and on many other social issues.
5. (C) COMMENT: The visitors we spoke with were warm and
engaging. Unlike many Iranians who visit Turkmenistan, they
appeared unconcerned about the presence of hotel security
personnel in the vicinity and shared their views openly. As
they parted company, they told Iran Watcher of their delight
at meeting an American who speaks FARSI. END COMMENT.
MILES