VZCZCXRO1327
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHAH #1074/01 2381022
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 261022Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3353
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 5585
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3304
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3168
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 3828
RHMCSUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3836

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001074 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL, H 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KIRF PHUM PREL SOCI SCUL TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN RESPONDS TO LETTER FROM 
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPH PITTS 
 
REF: HEWITT - ECKSTROM E-MAIL 8/21/09 
 
¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Nor for public Internet. 
 
¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY:  Deputy Foreign Minister Hajiyev called in 
DCM on August 26 to discuss a letter Representative Joseph 
Pitts had sent to President Berdimuhamedov on the topic of 
religious freedom in Turkmenistan.  Hajiyev said that while 
they respect the opinion of Representative Pitts, they do not 
agree with the letter.  Hajiyev said that one religious group 
had been registered and two others had been reregistered in 
September 2008.  He also said that Turkmenistan is 
considering adopting those recommendations by the UN Special 
Rapporteur on Religion "that do not contradict Turkmen law" 
and will not implement alternative service for just one 
group.  DCM took the opportunity to raise the issue of the 
American University of Central Asia (AUCA) students and 
stressed that while we want them to be able to study in 
Kyrgyzstan, we are prepared to help them attend American 
University of Bulgaria instead.  We hope that the students 
would be able to travel to Bulgaria.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶3. (SBU)  On August 26, Deputy Foreign Minister Wepa Hajiyev 
called in the DCM to discuss a letter received from 
Congressman Joseph Pitts, addressed to President 
Berdimuhamedov, and dealing with religious freedom in 
Turkmenistan.  Hajiyev said his country values its good 
relations with the United States and our active cooperation. 
He said there were productive contacts between the MFA and 
the Embassy, as well as with the State Department.  He 
regretted that ties between the parliaments of the two 
countries were not as developed and hoped that would be 
rectified. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Turning to the letter, Hajiyev said that the Turkmen 
side had carefully studied it.  While Turkmen officials have 
respect for Representative Pitts' opinion, they do not agree 
with the content of the letter.  He said everyone has a right 
to express their opinion, but views should be based on 
objective information.  Furthermore, diplomacy should not be 
conducted through letters.  They are not official (unlike 
diplomatic notes) and could cause misunderstandings.  He 
cautioned against resorting to "stereotypes" (such as there 
is no religious freedom in Turkmenistan). 
 
¶5. (SBU) He noted that more than 100 religious groups are 
currently registered in Turkmenistan, including 11 
non-traditional (non-Islamic and non-Orthodox Christian) 
groups.  In September 2008, one religious group was 
registered and two were re-registered.  Hajiyev said he sits 
on a panel that reviews registrations, and they are currently 
reviewing the applications of two churches, whose cases the 
Embassy had raised, the Light of Life and Path of Faith 
churches.  If a group has a minimum of five members, it can 
be registered as a religious group.  Nevertheless, 
organizations need to present documentation, and Turkmen 
officials need to take decisions that preserve security. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Regarding the recommendations made by the UN Special 
Rapporteur for Religious Freedom, who visited Turkmenistan 
last fall, Hajiyev said they are considering those 
recommendations that do not contradict Turkmen law.  They 
will not be implementing those that contradict Turkmen law. 
He also said that the government could not provide 
alternative service to members of just one group. 
 
¶7. (SBU) DCM pushed back and said that the United States has 
three, independent branches of government, and Congress has 
an important and powerful role.  While each congressman has 
his or her opinion, it is the policy of the U.S. Government 
to support religious freedom.  Furthermore, we hope that the 
Turkmenistan Government will register additional religious 
groups. 
 
 
ASHGABAT 00001074  002 OF 002 
 
 
AUCA 
 
¶8. (SBU) DCM then took the opportunity to raise the American 
University of Central Asia (AUCA) students.  She noted that 
the U.S. strongly supports allowing the students to travel to 
Kyrgyzstan for their studies.  However, if they are unable to 
study there, we would like them to study in Bulgaria at the 
American University of Bulgaria (AUBG).  We are aware that 
Migration Services has a list of AUCA students, and we do not 
want them to be prevented from flying to Bulgaria because of 
that list.  Hajiyev said they were working on trying to 
resolve the issue of the students by September 1, but had no 
substantive comment about study at AUBG. 
 
¶9. (SBU) COMMENT:  Hajiyev showed no flexibility regarding 
the issues raised by Representative Pitts, which illustrates 
the importance of also covering religious freedom and human 
rights, more broadly, in the bilateral forum.  It will 
provide an opportunity for both sides to speak frankly and 
promote reform. 
 
¶10. (SBU) COMMENT CONTINUED: In recent days, from various 
sources, we had heard that some resolution may be in the 
works for the students who wanted to study in Kyrgyzstan, and 
this would be revealed around September 1.  The likely 
resolution (rather than permitting students to go to 
Kyrgyzstan) will be to give them some preference for study in 
Russia.  We have heard Russia study mentioned from two 
different Ministry of Education officials, and every Turkmen 
official with whom we have spoken insists that study in 
Kyrgyzstan is not possible. END COMMENT. 
MILES