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OO RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHLA
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DE RUEHAH #0845/01 2321037
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 201037Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9195
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNOSC/OSCE POST COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 2653
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0480
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0350
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASHGABAT 000845 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL/IRF, H 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KIRF TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN:  PRESIDENT TO USCIRF:  "DID I PASS 
MY EXAM?" 
 
REF: ASHGABAT 0827 
 
¶1.  (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for public Internet. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  The USCIRC meeting with President 
Berdimuhamedov was an honest give and take.  The president 
told the delegation, "Take your time to meet whomever you 
want in Turkmenistan.  Learn all you can.  You'll probably 
find short-comings.  If you mention them to us, we will fix 
them."  In their lobby interview with state media following 
the meeting, all three commissioners described the meeting as 
"productive and encouraging."  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶3.  (U) The U.S. Commission on International Religious 
Freedom (USCIRF) met with President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov 
for 45 minutes on August 20.  Deputy of the Cabinet of 
Ministers/Foreign Minister Rashit Meredov sat in.  The U.S. 
delegation members participating were head of delegation 
Commissioner Michael Cromartie, Commissioner Imam Talal Eid, 
Commissioner Dr. Don Argue, and USCIRF Senior Policy Analyst 
Catherine Cosman. 
 
USCIRF'S RAISON D'ETRE 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Commissioner Cromartie, noting it was a great honor 
to meet with the president, explained the U.S. Congress 
created USCIRF to monitor religious freedom and freedom of 
thought and conscience around the world, as defined by the 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and many other 
international documents, to ensure respect for religious 
freedom is an integral part of U.S. foreign policy.  He 
emphasized the USCIRF role is not to engage in diplomacy but 
to act as fact-finders. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Cromartie said he highly commended Berdimuhamedov 
for the August 9 release of 11 prisoners of the Niyazov era, 
including former Chief Mufti of Turkmenistan Ibadullah 
(reftel).  He emphasized USCIRF does not seek to impose U.S. 
values and principles on other countries, but simply wants to 
encourage living up to international commitments.  He added 
USCIRF is delighted with Berdimuhmedov's announced 
educational reforms and plans for Internet cafes.  He asked 
for the president's thoughts on religious freedom for all 
citizens of Turkmenistan. 
 
THE TURMEN VERSION OF RECENT HISTORY OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Berdimuhamedov, initially seeming a bit bored, 
rattled through his briefing paper.  Turkmenistan is party to 
some 80 international agreements and conventions, including 
on human rights, and continues to work to implement its 
obligations.  The constitution guarantees freedom of 
conscience and freedom of religion.  In Turkmenistan, 
religious organizations are not run by the government.  In 
2003, parliament passed laws protecting human rights and 
ensuring freedom of religion and conscience, including the 
right of religious organizations to exist.  In 2004, more 
legislation strengthened citizens' rights, and registration 
of religious groups began.  Four "non-traditional" religious 
groups were registered:  Baptists, Adventists, Hari Krishnas, 
and Bahais 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Cromartie interrupted, "But what about the 
unregistered groups?" 
 
¶8.  (SBU) President Berdimuhamedov replied, "Be patient.  I'm 
coming to that."  More Protestant groups were registered. 
2004 also saw new legislation to stop the prosecution of 
unregistered groups.  To implement all these commitments, in 
2005 parliament created the Commission on Human Rights, and 
several people were released from prison at that time. 
 
ASHGABAT 00000845  002 OF 003 
 
 
Looking up from his briefing paper, the president said, 
"Maybe I haven't said enough yet.  The Ministry of Justice 
has registered 90-plus Islamic groups, 15 Christian groups, 
and some others, including, specifically, evangelical groups." 
 
AMNESTIES WILL CONTINUE 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Cromartie thanked the president for his "fine 
presentation" and said he wanted to underline how delighted 
USCIRF was with the release of 11 prisoners on August 9.  But 
he suspects there are more who will need clemency. 
 
¶10.  (SBU) Berdimuhamedov responded that one of his earliest 
acts as president had been to establish a commission to 
review such cases.  The 11 were the first.  Amnesty will not 
just be an annual event corresponding to national holidays, 
but will be an on-going process.  But it's important to 
understand it's a relatively sensitive process.  Cromartie 
guaranteed USCIRF would broadly publicize every amnesty. 
 
THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS MAKE POSITIVE PRESENTATIONS 
 
¶11. (SBU) Commissioner Argue thanked the president for the 
meeting.  He said the spirit of openness was a positive 
indication for the future.  He said, "Thank you for your 
commitment to diversity.  You can build a great state on the 
foundation of diversity.  We understand that change does not 
happen overnight.  A journey of a thousand miles starts with 
the first step.  We want to see your journey continue, and we 
will publicize your successes." 
 
¶12.  (SBU) Commissioner Eid noted it was a special honor to 
meet the president.  He explained his background -- born in 
Lebanon and a graduate of al-Ahzar University in Cairo and 
Harvard University.  He noted the United States has about 
1,400 mosques and about 500 full-time Islamic schools. 
Muslims enjoy a comfortable life in the United States.  When 
difficult issues arise, they solve them through dialogue with 
the law-enforcement agencies.  In U.S. life, Muslims, 
Christians, and Jews live together peacefully and 
productively, and the U.S. government encourages dialogue 
among all people of faith.  The days immediately following 
9/11 had been difficult for U.S. Muslims, but within five 
days President Bush went to the main Islamic Center in 
Washington, DC, and declared Muslims a full part of American 
society and the need to distinguish that all Muslims are not 
terrorists.  Thereafter, Muslims felt safe again.  The Imam 
said, "We are delighted you encourage openness among faiths 
in Turkmenistan.  You have our support." 
 
WHO CAN GO ON HAJJ?  ANYONE WHO CAN AFFORD IT 
 
¶13.  (SBU) President Berdimuhamedov noted his thanks for the 
expression of support.  He noted his first foreign trip had 
been to Saudi Arabia where he had performed the Minor Hajj 
and where he had "prayed to the Almighty for the happiness 
and prosperity of all citizens of Turkmenistan." 
 
¶14.  (SBU) Cromartie asked, "Will you let more citizens go on 
hajj next time?" 
 
¶15.  (SBU) President Berdimuhamedov chuckled and replied, 
"The government pays for one planeload of citizens to go on 
hajj, but we don't prevent private citizens from organizing 
their own trips.  We have numerous travel agencies in touch 
with agencies in Saudi Arabia for this very purpose.  The 
state funds a small number and wants to ensure they come from 
all levels of society, but we do not interfere in private 
plans 
 
¶16.  (SBU) Cromartie interjected, "Could I go on hajj if I 
 
ASHGABAT 00000845  003 OF 003 
 
 
couldn't afford it?" 
 
¶17.  (SBU) Senior Researcher Cosman interjected, "What about 
freedom of movement problems?"  Imam Eid intervened, "The 
president has stated clearly any citizen can go on hajj, but 
the state will fund only a relatively small number." 
 
OTHER ISSUES 
 
¶18.  (SBU) Cromartie asked if there are aspects of the law on 
religion that might need further revision to meet 
international standards.  Berdimuhamedov decided to reply by 
listing the number of mosques the state is building 
throughout the country.  He added Turkmenistan would not 
reject any opportunity to participate in international 
conferences on religious heritage and freedom.  He also noted 
that the government had recently donated land to the Russian 
Orthodox Church for a fourth church in Ashgabat. 
 
¶19.  (SBU) Cromartie asked if Baptists would be allowed to 
build a new church.  Berdimuhamedov replied, "Yes, if they 
are properly registered."  Cromarite:  "Why do they have to 
be registered?"  Berdimuhamedov:  "Because it's our law." 
Cromartie:  "What if I have a church and don't want to 
register?"  The meeting briefly broke down into multiple 
voices cross-talking.  Cromartie:  "Your 2003 law on 
registration is too restrictive.  It requires too much 
information."  "Nope," the president said, "that's how it 
is."  Then he added, "But if changes to the law are needed, 
we'll listen to the people and make the changes.  We want to 
be a democratic state without restrictions.  I do not hand 
down orders from the top.  I want full discussion and 
consensus on important issues like this." 
 
¶20.  (SBU) Cosman asked, "Would you consider a law allowing 
alternative service for conscientious objectors?"  The 
president replied, "All issues can be considered.  In fact we 
don't yet have statistics on this, but I think the situation 
must be fairly rare." 
 
"DID I PASS MY EXAM?" 
 
¶21.  (SBU) Cromartie once again expressed his pleasure 
meeting the president and asked, "Do you have any questions 
for us?" 
 
¶22.  (SBU) Berdimuhamedov laughed, "Did I pass my exam?" 
Then he added, "Seriously, take your time to meet whomever 
you want in Turkmenistan.  Learn all you can.  You'll 
probably find short-comings.  If you mention them to us, we 
will fix them." 
 
¶23.  (SBU) In their lobby interview with state media 
following the meeting, all three commissioners described the 
meeting as "productive and encouraging."  (COMMENT:  We 
agree.  END COMMENT.) 
HOAGLAND