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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000170 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB 
ANKARA FOR AGRICULTURE COUNSELOR 
USDA FOR GERARD AND FREITAS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV EAGR ECON SOCI TX
SUBJECT:  FACULTY EXCHANGE PROGRAM: MEETING WITH THE RECTOR OF 
TURKMEN AGRICULTURE UNIVERSITY 
 
REF: (A) 08 Ashgabat 787  (B) 08 Ashgabat 1648 
 
¶1.  (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for public Internet. 
 
¶2.  (U) ACTION REQUEST:  THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST.  See para. 8. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  Agriculture University Rector, Gurbandurdy 
Mammedgulyev, agreed to arrange classes for Faculty Exchange 
Program-sponsored University of Nevada, Reno professors due to 
arrive in Turkmenistan in mid-February.  The Rector recommended that 
the seminar series begin with an introduction to the U.S. 
agriculture sector, economy, and even the current political 
situation and the new administration.  Mammedgulyev showed interest 
in other U.S. programs that his students and staff could take part 
in.  Post would be grateful for guidance on technology and equipment 
needed by the professors for their presentations during their visit. 
 END SUMMARY. 
 
CLARIFICATION OF THE SEMINAR SCHEDULE 
 
¶4.  (SBU) On January 30, Rector of Turkmen Agriculture University, 
Gurbandurdy Mammedgulyev, agreed to the proposed dates of February 
13-25 for the visit of University of Nevada, Reno College of 
Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources professors, Stanley 
Johnson and Rangesan Narayanan.  Mammedgulyev noted that February 19 
is a non-working day because Flag Day is a national holiday.  The 
Rector assigned Deputy Rector, Dovlet Muradov, to draft a schedule 
of lectures based on Post's proposal of a combination of 
morning/afternoon/evening classes, which will not exceed six hours 
per day.  The rector offered to arrange a small class of about 50 
people or a big class consisting of up to 200 people.  The Rector 
noted the need for advance notice of equipment or technology needs 
-- other than a blackboard -- that would be used to make 
presentations. 
 
RECTOR RECOMMENDS INTRODUCTORY SEMINAR ON U.S. POLICY 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Mammedgulyev recommended that the professors begin the 
lecture series with an introduction to the U.S. agriculture sector, 
economy, and even the current political situation and the new 
administration.  He also expressed interest in having a question and 
answer session.  The Rector himself wanted to ask some questions 
about U.S. plans to engage with Afghanistan and its implications on 
relations between United States and Turkmenistan. 
 
RECTOR SHOWS INTEREST IN USG EXCHANGE PROGRAMS 
 
¶6.  (SBU) The Rector said that the University will nominate 
economics teachers with no English language skills, and teachers in 
other fields with some English skills, for the Faculty Exchange 
Program (FEP).  U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Program 
Specialist, Edward Gerard, will interview the nominees during his 
visit on March 25-27.  In response to Mammedgulyev's question about 
other USG-sponsored programs with pertinence for the University, 
Economic Officer described the Cochran Fellowship and U.S. 
Department of Commerce Special American Business and Internship 
Training (SABIT) program.  The Rector also asked about various 
majors offered at the University of Nevada, Reno, College of 
Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) COMMENT:  Turkmen, like people in most places, are proud 
of their country and culture.  In that light, the Rector's comment 
"when foreigners come here, they expect it to be like Africa" 
reflected a sense of wounded pride, perhaps associated with past 
visits by foreign guests.  Given this sensitivity it would be best 
to avoid any comments that suggest deficiencies in Turkmen 
abilities, practices and knowledge.  A point of contention in future 
discussions concerning Turkmen participation in the Faculty Exchange 
Program will certainly be the length of the Turkmens' stay in the 
U.S.  In the past Ministry officials have insisted that participants 
can stay in the U.S. for three months at the very most (reftels). 
END COMMENT. 
 
 
ASHGABAT 00000170  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶8. ACTION REQUEST:  Please approach USDA for guidance on equipment 
needs of Professor Johnson and Narayanan. 
 
MILES