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FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000761 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, ECA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV SCUL KPAO ECA TX
SUBJECT:  TURKMENISTAN:  MEJLIS COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, SCIENCE, AND 
CULTURE GRAPPLES WITH HUGE REFORM MANDATE 
 
¶1.  (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for public Internet. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  Post's PAO had a friendly and open meeting with 
the Chair of the Mejilis (Parliament) committee on Education, 
Science, and Culture.  The discussion revealed that the committee 
has a massive portfolio of issues, but with a mandate from the 
Turkmen President to draft new legislation.  Chairman Vladimir 
Gubanov previously served in the Ministry of Education where he was 
one of Post's more open contacts.  Hopefully, Gubanov will be 
approved for an Open World visit to the United States in October 
¶2009.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) On May 27, PAO met with the Chair and Deputy Chair of the 
Mejlis Committee on Education, Science, and Culture, which also 
covers environmental protection, sports, tourism, youth policy, mass 
media and publishing.  The Chair is Vladimir Gubanov, who until the 
most recent parliamentary elections had served as Deputy Minister of 
Education for higher and tertiary education.  The Deputy Chair is 
Berdymurad Kurbanov, previously unknown to Post.  PAO hoped to learn 
more about the committee's plans for legal reform within the broad 
mandate given by President Berdimuhamedov for the Mejlis to "create 
a new legislative basis for the society and economy."  In 
particular, a new law on education had been planned for introduction 
in May 2009, but this appears to be delayed. 
 
THE NEW MEJLIS IN THE BIG PICTURE 
 
¶4. (U) Chairman Gubanov first outlined how the 124-member Mejlis has 
five committees with five permanent Mejlis members each.  Other, 
non-permanent members are resident in their home districts and serve 
as liaisons between their constituencies and the Mejlis.  Aside from 
the committee he chairs, Gubanov noted the committees on Human 
Rights and Democracy, Economy and Social Policy, International and 
Inter-Parliamentary Relations, and Local Governance. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Further Gubanov explained how his committee and others 
participated in working groups with relevant ministries or state 
organizations in order to develop new laws that would meet the 
President's broad mandate to reform multiple areas.  He noted that 
discussion in the working groups was open, and even at times heated 
due to the frank exchange of ideas which characterizes their work. 
He also emphasized that the committee used many resources including 
the Internet to research approaches to legal reform.  With this in 
mind, he noted his willingness to receive more information or 
materials from the U.S. Embassy. 
 
ON EDUCATION 
 
¶6.  (U) Gubanov noted that he and his colleagues continued to 
consider which educational model to adopt in Turkmenistan and that 
there were many reasons to consider the Bologna process or other 
models.  Without providing any additional detail, he simply noted 
that like Russia, they would take their time to make a careful 
decision. 
 
¶7.  (U) One of their current tasks, among many, is to reform the 
1993 Law on Education in order to provide for professional, adult 
education to enable citizens to work in second or new careers, as 
well as provide secondary vocational or professional schooling.  He 
also noted an emphasis on making the establishment of private 
schools possible.  He showed a sincere interest in learning more 
about educational programs in the United States, such as evening 
programs, distance learning, and community colleges. 
 
OTHER REFORM TASKS 
 
¶8.  (U) Gubanov also noted that his committee is  working on other 
legal reform or initiatives including Laws on Culture, on Protection 
of the Ozone Layer, on Quarantine of Plants, on Tourism (which he 
noted should help generate tourism revenue for the country), on 
Sports and Physical Education. 
 
OPENNESS TO AMERICAN INFORMATION/EXPERTISE 
 
ASHGABAT 00000761  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶9.  (U) PAO used the meeting to explain the Open World Program, and 
the proposed trip for four Mejlis members dealing with education and 
science to visit the United States in October.  Although the program 
is waiting official approval and nominations via a proposal sent by 
diplomatic note, Gubanov and his deputy both expressed an interest 
in this program.  However, a lengthy and bureaucratic process will 
determine who from the Mejlis is actually nominated for 
participation.  Towards the end of the meeting, Gubanov again 
expressed his appreciation for U.S. Embassy support and his openness 
to American information and expertise.  He also mentioned that they 
could use materials on leadership skills for use on youth policy. 
The Public Affairs Section will find and provide appropriate 
material. 
 
¶10.  (SBU) PAO also mentioned a couple of problematic areas in the 
current Education law, that the hoped the Committee could address: 
There is no legal provision for current students or professors to 
participate in exchange programs.  Students must withdraw from their 
academic programs before joining an exchange. 
 
¶11.  (SBU) COMMENT:  Prior to assuming his position, Vladimir 
Gubanov was one of the best contacts that Post had in the Ministry 
of Education, until he left to become a Mejlis member.  His new 
position will hopefully yield a greater influence on the legal basis 
for cooperation in education and exchange programs.  However, the 
committee that Gubanov heads, consisting of five members only, has 
such a massive portfolio that it is unclear if they can meet the 
President's expectations.  Gubanov already is well informed about 
many U.S. Government programs and recognizes their value for 
Turkmenistan's long-term development.  Post hopes that Gubanov will 
be selected by the government for the Open World program in October. 
 END COMMENT. 
 
MILES