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DE RUEHAH #1361/01 3510458
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 170458Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9888
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0927
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RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
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RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2002

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001361 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, ECA/PE/CE, 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PCUL PINR KPAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: REQUEST FOR ECA SPORTS PROJECTS 
 
¶1.  Post has witnessed a slow and gradual opening of Turkmenistan 
since February 2007. Under President Berdimuhamedov, physical 
education was re-introduced into secondary schools and universities. 
 Berdimuhamedov also frequently emphasizes the value of cultural 
exchanges.  Post believes that in this current environment, the 
Sports Envoy Program will be more than welcomed and well supported 
by the Turkmen government.  Post sees the Sports Envoy Program as a 
mechanism to teach leadership and teamwork in secondary schools and 
universities. 
 
THE NEED IS GREAT 
 
¶2.  President Niyazov halted sports and physical education in 
secondary schools.  From 2002 to 2007, the number of years of 
compulsory primary/secondary education went from 10 to 9 years. 
This decline in education, sports and the arts has made creative 
cultural and sports programming an integral part of achieving our 
MSP goals. Post has been able to reach out to Muslim Turkmen 
audiences through cultural and sports events and programming to 
promote concepts such as self-expression, equality and leadership 
where direct programming on such themes is extremely difficult. 
 
REQUEST FOR SPORTS ENVOYS 
 
¶3.  Sports is underdeveloped in Turkmenistan. It lacks financial 
support from the Government and lost many professional coaches and 
trainers during post-Independence liberation in 1992.  Post would 
like to invite Sports Envoys in soccer, basketball, and/or 
volleyball.  Post is planning to organize clinics and speaking 
engagements both at secondary schools and universities to promote 
sports and American values. 
 
¶4. Post would like to invite the Sports Envoy in spring or fall in 
time to organize the programs in schools.  The Turkmen side will 
mostly provide logistical support, as well as in-kind space and 
equipment supply whenever possible.  Ideally, the programs will last 
a week, excluding international travel days. 
 
¶5. Post is also planning to conduct a 5K marathon, around Earth Day 
to promote healthy lifestyles, as well as Turkmen-American 
cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, which will lead to 
greater mutual understanding and will build a more favourable 
attitude towards America.  Post would like to invite one of the 
Envoys during this time to provide support and be a guest athlete, 
who will officially open the marathon. 
 
¶6. Post would also like to invite an appropriate athlete and/or 
coach in volleyball or basketball for summer camps, organized 
annually by the Paralympics of Turkmenistan and the Disabled 
Sportsmen Club for disabled sportsmen. 
 
REQUEST FOR SPORTS VISITORS 
 
¶7.  (U) As a follow up to the Sports Envoy programs, Post would like 
to send two or three groups of selected athletes, managers and 
coaches to the United States to get a first hand experience on how 
professional athletes are trained in the U.S., how sports is used 
for team-building and conflict resolution.  Selection of the kind of 
sports group and their composition will be done during the Envoy 
program, where the best and the most interested groups will be 
identified by the Envoys. 
 
¶7. For all sports programs that will take place, Post will work 
closely with the Ministry of Culture and TV/Radio broadcasting to 
gain the maximum coverage of American athletes/coaches programs 
through TV and Radio interviews, coverage of the clinics and 
speaking events to maximize the public awareness. 
 
POST PREVIOUS SPORTS PROGRAMMING EXPERIENCE 
 
¶8.  Post has enough staffing in the cultural section to play an 
active role in program design and implementation, as well as provide 
necessary support to the Envoys and Sports Visitors.  Post will 
provide housing and transportation support as needed. 
 
¶9.  Post organized a program with an IIP speaker on Sports in 
 
ASHGABAT 00001361  002 OF 002 
 
 
America in 2004, and this program proved to be very useful and post 
was able to reach out to those audiences it cannot reach otherwise, 
such as State Committee for sports and Tourism, National Olympics 
and Paralympics of Turkmenistan, coaches and sportsmen, teachers and 
students from the Sports and Tourism Institute.  All audiences were 
excited to learn about the value of sports in America, American 
athletes and how American football is played. 
 
¶10. Post contacts for sports programs: 
Responsible Officer: Peter Galus 
Title: Cultural Affairs Officer 
Country: Turkmenistan 
Post: Ashgabat 
Telephone: 993-12-361365 
Fax: 993-12-364693 
E-mail Address: galusp@state.gov 
 
Maya Meredova, Cultural Affairs Assistant 
meredovama@state.gov 
 
Andrew Paul, Public Affairs Officer 
paulab@state.gov 
 
CURRAN