Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT498
2009-04-20 05:55:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:  

EDUCATION OFFICIALS EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR COOPERATION, BUT

Tags:  PREL PGOV SCUL EAID KPAO TX 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHAH #0498/01 1100555
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R 200555Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000498 

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, ECA, DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SCUL EAID KPAO TX
SUBJECT: EDUCATION OFFICIALS EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR COOPERATION, BUT
FAIL TO COMMIT TO SPECIFIC PROGRAMS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000498

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, ECA, DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SCUL EAID KPAO TX
SUBJECT: EDUCATION OFFICIALS EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR COOPERATION, BUT
FAIL TO COMMIT TO SPECIFIC PROGRAMS


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


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher's meeting
with Turkmenistan's top two education officials successfully
presented U.S. views and continued engagement in this area.
Unfortunately, it also revealed the continued lack of open dialogue
or cooperation in this critical field in Turkmenistan. Boucher also
addressed science and religion to no avail in the course of the
meeting. END SUMMARY.

ENGAGEMENT, AT LEAST ON THE SURFACE


3. (SBU) On April 15, Assistant Secretary Boucher met with
Turkmenistan's Deputy Chairman for Education, Health, Science, and
Religion, Hydyr Saparlyev, and Minister of Education, Muhammetgeldi
Annaamanov. Saparlyev was friendly and talkative, but managed to
avoid much substance in the conversation. In response to Boucher's
open ended questions about educational reform, Saparlyev reviewed
recent major construction projects of new schools and sports
facilities, world health day activities, new textbooks, modern
technology in the classroom, and the start of graduate programs. Of
special note, Saparlyev mentioned the new Public Service Academy
which is starting its version of leadership and management training
for mid to upper level government officials. Regarding
international expertise or assistance in developing new textbooks,
Saparlyev talked in broad terms about the process of developing
textbooks, noting that the country was meeting the challenge and
would have new textbooks covering 100 percent of schools by the
start of the next academic year.


4. (SBU) Saparlyev shifted the focus to Turkmenistan's hosting of
an international academic "Olympiad" in Chemistry. The event is to
take place in Ashgabat, April 25-May 2, with high school students
representing 19 countries. Saparlyev added that Turkmen students
would likely do well. (NOTE: Past experience shows that students
from Turkmen-Turkish schools, which have a stronger curriculum than
regular Turkmen schools, make up the vast majority of the successful
Turkmen students at international "Olympiads." END NOTE.)


DISCUSSION OF SCIENCE AND RESEARCH POLICY


5. (SBU) Saparlyev described a new process for competitive research
grants, run under the Supreme Council for Science and Technology.
The Supreme Council advertises research themes that will be funded
through grants, with various institutions competing for receipt of
the grant money. (NOTE: This program is largely modeled on the
U.S. system and was inspired by an International Visitors Leadership
Program project which sent two Supreme Council officials to the
United States. The program started last year initiated grant
projects in over sixty different research areas. END NOTE.)
Saparlyev listed the various areas of research, including
agriculture, energy, and linguistics. Regarding cooperation with
the United States, Saparlyev said cooperation was good in all areas,
but they need to be programs which obtain results.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM


6. (SBU) Saparlyev emphasized the freedom of religious practice and
the open society in Turkmenistan. He claimed religious
organizations did not have any problems. Boucher encouraged
Saparlyev to support registration of legitimate religious groups.
Saparlyev noted that there is great religious tolerance under
Turkmen law, that all procedures are followed properly, and that
according to law some types of groups might not be eligible for
registration.

DISCUSION OF PROPOSED U.S. PROGRAMS


7. (SBU) Boucher noted that the Embassy was ready to work on a
variety of educational programs, specifically USAID's Quality
Learning Program,
University partnerships such as with Texas A&M, and the possibility
of a Turkmen Government scholarship program like Kazakhstan's

ASHGABAT 00000498 002 OF 002


Bolashak Program. Saparlyev did not comment on the USAID program.
He said there had been a previous partnership with Texas A&M
University, but highlighted recent joint educational conferences
with Columbia University. Saparlyev referred to the global
financial crisis and the expense of sending students to overseas
universities.


8. (SBU) COMMENT: As the meeting came to a close, Saparlyev
expressed his interest in practical proposals from the United States
with specific results. Despite the existence of specific U.S.
proposals that could yield specific results, Saparlyev was
consistent in projecting the image of his openness to new ideas and
cooperation with the U.S. while simultaneously avoiding commitment
to any specific action. The progress that is achieved (such as the
Supreme Council for Science and Technology's research grant program)
occurs despite Saparlyev. He makes every effort to appear "on top"
of all the issues, despite apparent evidence to the contrary,
including his own sometimes self-contradictory remarks. The
unanswered question is whether Saparlyev's approach is intentional,
reflecting an official state policy or a sign of incompetence.
Since Saparlyev's actions appear to contradict the President's
official policy on education, Post tends to see this as
incompetence. However, active opposition and disruption to U.S.
educational programs in Bayramov's Ministry reveal that at least
some elements of the government actively oppose U.S. educational
programming.


9. (SBU) COMMENT CONTINUED: ENGAGING FOR THE LONG TERM - Clearly
our programs can pay off -- in the shorter term we see that the
International Visitors Leadership Program has inspired a research
grant program that may yield improved research efforts. In other
efforts directed towards education, we see little short-term
progress. But just as what happened following the death of Niyazov,
our continued engagement may yield future advances only after
possible personnel changes in Turkmenistan's educational structure
begin to permit improved cooperation.


10. (U) Assistant Secretary Boucher cleared this cable.

MILES