VZCZCXRO4139
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ
RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHAH #1351 2850813
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 110813Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1699
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4392
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2204
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2069
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 2640
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2965

UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001351 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB 
COMMERCE FOR STARKS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OEXC PREL TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S SABIT ALUMNI ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT 
EXPERIENCE IN U.S. 
 
¶1.  (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for public Internet. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Alumni of the Special American Business Internship 
Training (SABIT) program said at a reception held during the 
visit of U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for 
Europe and Eurasia Paul Dyck on September 29 that they 
appreciated the exposure to international-level technology 
and the networking opportunities that they were able to take 
advantage of as a result of their participation in the SABIT 
program.  One participant mentioned that, due to other 
Central Asian contacts made during her program, she was able 
to import cheaper juice concentrate from the region instead 
of Israel.  Another professional from the gas industry said 
that his SABIT experience enabled him to travel to Ukraine to 
close a contract -- in effect making him an international 
businessman.  Many SABIT alumni mentioned that they value 
continuing friendships with others from other former Soviet 
republics.  Participants across the board also found it 
useful to interact with fellow Central Asians.  (COMMENT: 
Continuing the Soviet tradition, Turkmenistan has maintained 
since independence a very restrictive visa regime, even with 
its neighbors.  END COMMENT.) 
 
¶3. (SBU)  The group agreed that SABIT programs are 
well-organized and intensive, cramming in many activities in 
a short period of time.  The alumni suggested publicizing 
future SABIT programs in Turkmenistan's newspapers and via 
UNDP.  One alumnus suggested holding an additional mining 
program.  Finally, alumni enthusiastically welcomed any 
additional training programs in business and financial 
management. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) COMMENT:  SABIT fulfills a great need in 
Turkmenistan:  to expose citizens to places that function 
differently, allowing them to imagine how life is different 
in other countries, which thus gives them the ability to 
envision change.  At a time when it is still a challenge to 
work towards progress in various areas with Turkmenistan, 
exchange programs -- to the extent that Turkmenistan's 
citizens are allowed to take part in them -- are at the top 
of post's most valuable activities.  END COMMENT. 
 
¶5.  (U) DAS Dyck has cleared this cable. 
CURRAN