TURKMENISTAN'S SUPREME COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000623 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, OES/STC (KANE) E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2019 TAGS: EAGR ECON ENRG EPA EPET PGOV SENV TBIO TSPL TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S SUPREME COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMMENTS ON THE EMBASSY SCIENCE FELLOW PROGRAM REF: A. ASHGABAT 269 ¶B. ASHGABAT 270 Classified By: Charge Richard Miles, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (SBU) Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Science and Technology, Akjeren Allanurova, said in a meeting on May 12 that her organization is interested in collaboration with the following U.S. agencies under the Embassy Science Fellow Program (ESFP) (Ref. A): -- National Science Foundation, because its mission is similar to that of the Supreme Council for Science and Technology, especially in the areas of computers and information sciences, economic sciences, financing research, and preparation of scientists; -- U.S. Geological Survey, especially in monitoring and mitigation of earthquakes, general geological matters, hydrotechnology and in the oil and gas field; and -- U.S. Department of Agriculture, as the Supreme Council works jointly with the Agriculture University (Ref. B) on agriculture projects and research. ¶3. (SBU) COMMENT: Post has reported in the past that the Supreme Council for Science and Technology has expressed the desire for U.S. experts to visit Turkmenistan in order that more Turkmen can benefit from the interaction, since only limited numbers of Turkmen can participate in U.S. programs abroad at any given time. Akjeren has mentioned many times in the past that she is also interested in exploring the issue of renewable energy resources. Post would welcome a Fellow from any of the U.S. agencies listed above to work with the Supreme Council next year, and welcomes questions that would assist OES in determining a good fit for the program for the 2010 session of the Program. END COMMENT. MILES