VZCZCXRO3709
RR RUEHDBU RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHAH #0661/01 1861259
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 051259Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8955
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0387
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0409
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 2097
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0846
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0894
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0393
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0433
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0362
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0277

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000661 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN (NICOLAIDIS) AND SCA/PPD (BLOCKER/KAMP) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO PREL TX US
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN SHOWCASES INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP AT 
ZAMAHSHARY CONFERENCE 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1.  (U) A host government-organized conference dedicated to Islamic 
scholar Mahmyt Zamahshary from May 23 to 25 was surprisingly close 
to a legitimate international scholarly conference, despite the 
usual ceremonial trappings of such conferences under late President 
Niyazov.  The event's ceremonial propaganda focused on new President 
Berdimuhamedov, but did not overshadow the interaction of 
international scholars gathered for the event.  Meanwhile, Iranian 
diplomats and scholars played leading roles at this and other 
host-government sponsored cultural events in May.  End Summary. 
 
OPEN SCHOLARSHIP AND DEBATE IN TURKMENISTAN 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) For three days the conference's six committees of scholars 
from 23 different countries presented academic articles on various 
aspects of Mahmyt Zamahshary, an 11th century Islamic writer and 
scholar who lived within the borders of present-day Turkmenistan and 
is now being portrayed as a major Turkmen national and cultural 
hero.  The conference began with an introductory letter from the 
president but from then on focused on academic pursuits.  The 
chairman of the conference and director of the Miras Cultural 
Center, Annagurban Ashyrov, gave an opening presentation devoid of 
nationalistic rhetoric and called for unified, international 
academic study of Zamahshary.  After each opening day speech by 
Turkmen and international scholars, Ashyrov gave intelligent 
critical commentary also free of nationalistic rhetoric. 
 
¶3. (U) The diplomatic corps was ordered to attend at the last 
moment, per usual practice.  International participants sponsored 
fully by the host government admitted some degree of self-censorship 
in preparing their initial papers because of fear of the host 
government denying future visas.  But few felt constrained once they 
arrived.  An American and a Turkish scholar stated that they had 
published "careful criticism" of the regime before.  No one 
mentioned a need to coordinate their research results with Ruhnama 
doctrine.  Nor was anyone confronted by the host government about 
what they presented during the conference.  Between-sessions 
discussion between international scholars, local scholars and 
government officials was abundant, free, and good-natured.  (Note: 
local academics are routinely warned away from foreigners and 
interaction is often restrained or scripted.  End Note.)  Post's 
representative witnessed a heated debate between an Iranian and 
Indian scholar on interpretation of Islamic doctrine.  The host 
government organized field trips to the historic sites of Izmuk Shir 
and Kone Urgench for all participants, which aided the air of 
debate. 
 
¶4. (U) Each committee, mostly chaired by international scholars, 
gave final reports calling for further unified study of Zamahshary, 
particularly through expanded translation efforts of his texts and 
scholarly criticism of his work, and coordinated research between 
scholars.  (Comment: Scholarship in this field is running in 
parallel language streams of Russian, English, Farsi, and Arabic. 
Language and political barriers have prevented the merging of these 
streams into a shared debate and even access to some of the author's 
works.  The host government stated a desire for Turkmenistan to act 
as a neutral nexus point for future scholarship; it was unclear if 
this meant scholarship in Turkmen language should take priority. 
End Comment.)  Annagurban Ashyrov admitted that Turkmen scholarship 
in this area was very weak because of Soviet suppression of 
non-Russian culture, and acknowledged the importance of working with 
international researchers to gain ground. 
 
¶5. (U) Scholars and local authorities had an overwhelmingly positive 
impression of the conference and excitedly traded business cards and 
contact information for future work in or about Turkmenistan. 
Several stated that the range of scholars present was unique and 
allowed them to connect with others doing parallel research in 
different countries.  An American scholar, Victoria Clement, who has 
attended other, similar host government-sponsored conferences, 
professed to be shocked at the comparative quality of this event. 
However, attendees remarked that presentation time and technological 
support (televisions, projectors, power point, etc) were 
insufficient, and that the lack of air-conditioning in 
government-provided transport was exhausting. 
 
OLD HABITS 
 
ASHGABAT 00000661  002 OF 002 
 
 
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¶6.  (U) Many aspects of the conference reminded participants that 
they were still in Turkmenistan.  Each major event or site movement 
in the conference was greeted with a grandiose display of "Turkmen 
culture," including bread-giving and dancing, neither of which is 
authentically Turkmen, but more a relic of Soviet times.  The main 
conference hall during opening and closing ceremonies was filled 
with what appeared to be carefully conscripted observers.  Men in 
black suits with ambiguous roles prowled around, keeping curious 
locals away.  Diplomats and scholars alike were subtly discouraged 
from deviating from approved areas even during breaks and site 
tours.  However, participants did manage to sneak off and could be 
seen exploring the bazaars and streets of Dashoguz with great 
curiosity.  (Note:  Embassy's representative was followed by 
security personnel when he left the hotel to visit the local 
American Corner, according to a non-U.S. member of the diplomatic 
corps.) 
 
¶7. (U) Displays, quotations on billboards, and propaganda speeches 
highlighted Berdimuhamedov.  While pictures of Niyazov could still 
be found on numerous buildings in Dashoguz, all restaurants, buses, 
roads, and rooms used for the event featured gigantic pictures of 
Berdimuhamedov.  (Comment:  The attending representative visited 
Dashoguz four days prior for another event, during which he noted 
the absence of the new president's picture.  Locals stated that 
there was a flurry of activity May 21 as local government workers 
replaced Niyazov photos with those of Berdimuhamedov across the 
welayat.  End Comment.)  Turkmenistan's Democratic Party Chairman 
Onjuk Musayev closed the conference with a brief, flattering 
presentation of Berdimuhamedov's recently released book on 
healthcare reform. 
 
IRANIAN CULTURAL INITIATIVES 
---------------------------- 
 
¶8.  (SBU) The Iranian mission's high profile presence included 
keynote speaking roles in this conference, the May 16 Constitutional 
Conference, and the May 21 Magtymguly Scholarly conference.  The 
Iranian ambassador and at least one other Iranian diplomat were 
present at each event.  The Iranian ambassador and cultural attach 
attended the Zamahshary Conference, whereas most missions sent at 
most their deputy chief of mission or a junior level officer. 
Iran's scholarly delegation was second only to that of 
Turkmenistan. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶9.  (SBU) The freer debate within the conference does not challenge 
the regime, and is thus a weak indicator of the host government's 
commitment to greater academic openness.  Nonetheless, the 
conference provides a valuable networking opportunity that 
encourages local officials to press for more scholarly exchange. 
The aesthetic and rhetorical references to President Berdimuhamedov 
suggest that he aping Niyazov's style, perhaps out of a lack of 
experience with alternatives.  Nonetheless, the new order leaves 
gaps for criticism of current and past practice, a first step toward 
greater openness in the field of scholarly historical research.  End 
Comment. 
 
BRUSH