TURKMENISTAN'S SUPREME COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE AND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000046

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ENRG TRGY TBIO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S SUPREME COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY WANTS TO LEARN FROM U.S. EXPERIENCE

REF: 08 ASHGABAT 1642


1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Supreme Council on Science and Technology
officials said at a meeting with Dan Stein of the U.S. Trade
Development Agency that they would welcome ideas on how to
expand the national Internet network for educational
institutions and improve its efficiency, during the proposed
orientation visit for Information and Communication
Technology specialists in March. They are also interested in
how the United States undertakes telemedicine, monitors oil
and gas pipelines, and renewable energy technologies. One of
the officials invited U.S. specialists to come to
Turkmenistan so that more scientists could benefit from this
educational opportunity. Finding ways of showing the Turkmen
what they ask for, even when it is not what U.S. agencies
originally conceived of, could be a productive method of
fostering the relationship. Bringing U.S. specialists to
Turkmenistan for seminars is also an idea that is well worth
exploring, to build the relationship and gain more trust, as
well as impact more individuals. END SUMMARY.

UPCOMING TRIP FOR ICT SPECIALISTS


3. (SBU) On January 7, U.S. Trade and Development Agency
(USTDA) Europe and Eurasia Director, Daniel Stein, met with
the Deputy Chairwoman of the Supreme Council on Science and
Technology (SCST),Akjeren Allanurova, and Department Head on
State Science Policy, Orazmamed Vasov, to discuss the
upcoming orientation visit to the United States for
government Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
specialists (reftel). Stein advised that the diplomatic note
for the visit, scheduled for March 2009, had been submitted
to Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Two SCST participants would
be invited to join six other representatives from the
Ministry of Communications, Turkmen Telecom, and other
government structures for the trip to Washington, DC, and
Silicon Valley. Turkmenistan's representatives would be
expected to deliver a presentation on ICT developments in
Turkmenistan and the Supreme Council could help collect the
necessary additional details.

SCST TO EXPAND ITS IT NETWORK


4. (SBU) In response to Stein's inquiry regarding specific
meetings or interests during the trip, Allanurova and Vasov
both cited Cisco Systems' existing presence in Turkmenistan.
Additionally, Vasov highlighted the SCST's role in spreading
new technologies to other ministries (e.g., Oil and Gas,
Energy and Industry),through its national internet network,
which connects 62 educational and scientific institutions,
via distance learning and other methods. In response to
President Berdimuhamedov's initiatives, the SCST plans to
expand the network and improve its efficiency, so would
welcome ideas on how to accomplish this. Meetings that build
better understanding of how the United States undertakes
telemedicine and monitors oil and gas pipelines were other
specific interests. (NOTE: The latter was framed in the
context of the recent Turkmenistan-authored UN resolution
regarding pipeline security. END NOTE.)

RENEWABLE ENERGY A PRIORITY


5. (SBU) Allanurova said its "Gun" (Sun) Research Institute
is tasked with developing technologies for renewable energy
sources, like solar and wind. The SCST is very interested in
renewable energy technologies due to the high costs
associated with building infrastructure for Turkmenistan's
many isolated communities. She would appreciate the
opportunity for participants to visit a solar project while
in the United States. Stein suggested that meetings with
Department of Energy specialists could be arranged in
Washington, and would look into possible visits to solar

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projects in California. Noting that a relatively limited
number of specialists would benefit from the exchange trip,
Allanurova invited U.S. specialists to come to Turkmenistan
so that more scientists could learn about the most recent
developments in this field.


6. (SBU) COMMENT: Meeting the Turkmen halfway by finding
ways of showing them what they ask for, even when it is not
what U.S. agencies originally conceived of -- such as
telemedicine and monitoring of oil and gas pipelines -- could
be a productive method of fostering the relationship.
Bringing U.S. specialists to Turkmenistan for seminars is
also an idea that is well worth exploring, to build the
relationship and gain more trust, as well as impact more
individuals. END COMMENT.
MILES