TURKMENISTAN: OFFICIAL TRAVEL TO DASHOGUZ PROVINCE IS

UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000543 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, DRL, EEB E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PCUL PINR KPAO TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: OFFICIAL TRAVEL TO DASHOGUZ PROVINCE IS CLOSELY WATCHED ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: ECA Policy and Evaluation Director, Rick Ruth, visited Turkmenistan in early April to tour sites undergoing restoration thanks to support from the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation. During the visit to Dashoguz province, the Embassy delegation was greeted unexpectedly by local and national government representatives, who later escorted the delegation throughout the area. More than just friendly escorts, it appears that the government may be increasing its monitoring and control of official visits to the provinces. END SUMMARY. APPROVED BY THE GOVERNMENT ¶3. (U) ECA Policy and Evaluation Director, Rick Ruth, visited Turkmenistan March 31 - April 5 to familiarize himself with cultural restoration projects currently funded by the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation. He visited five sites in Ashgabat and three sites in the Dashoguz Province, located on the border with Uzbekistan and which require special permission for foreigners to visit. Because many of the projects are managed and protected by the Ministry of Culture, the Embassy sought and easily obtained Turkmen Government approval to visit the sites and speak with site staff. CLOSELY WATCHED IN DASHOGUZ ¶4. (SBU) On April 1, Embassy officer, FSN and Rick Ruth arrived at Dashoguz airport and were greeted by some unexpected hosts. The contract driver, who was hired to drive the delegation to the hotel, said that he was questioned by "KGB" or Ministry of National Security agents when he arrived at the airport about why he is meeting the delegation and who contracted him. He also said that "KGB" was all around because an Embassy delegation was there. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs America's Desk representative as well as the Dashoguz Provincial Cultural Department representative welcomed the delegation and said that they had two black Mercedes sedans available to drive to the hotel. ¶5. (U) The following day, the delegation traveled to all three Ambassador Fund sites with the official government escorts and representatives. The delegation raced across the Kara Kum Desert at high speeds to Gerogly District, where representatives of the local district and village governments as well as site administrators at the Ak Saray Ding Watch Tower were waiting. The delegation then proceeded to the Ysmamut-Ata Mausoleum, where the main Imam of Gerogly district walked the delegation through the site. Finally, the group went to the Soltan Tekesh Mausolem in Kone Urgench City. In black government sedans, soldiers and police officers at intercity road blocks saluted the cars and let the delegation pass without stopping. UNSCHEDULED TRAVEL NOT ALLOWED? ¶6. (SBU) An unscheduled dinner-time visit to the home of a relative of the FSN caused a small panic among the government escorts. The problem was resolved by inviting the escorts to join the dinner. Despite their initial objections, the government reps allowed the visit. One of them, the Dashoguz Cultural Department representative, continued with the group to the relative's house, where he became very nervous and fidgety. While there, he was called several times and questioned about the group's presence, and eventually he was ordered to take the delegation back to Dashoguz. ¶7. (U) COMMENT: Government approval is required for all official meetings and visitors. In the past two years, official guests were allowed to travel to and through the provinces usually with little visible government interference or assistance. The level of scrutiny seen with Rick Ruth's visit was largely unprecedented since President Berdimuhamedov assumed the presidency. It is also curious since Dashoguz had long been considered one of the least restrictive parts of Turkmenistan. MILES