Cablegate: President Offers Up New Reforms During Half-Year

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DE RUEHAH #0711/01 1991241
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 181241Z JUL 07
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 ASHGABAT 000711

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, EEB, DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR ECON EFIN EPET TX
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT OFFERS UP NEW REFORMS DURING HALF-YEAR
GOVERNMENT REVIEW

SUMMARY

1. (SBU) A July 13 meeting of Turkmenistan's Cabinet of
Ministers, a half-year review of government activities,
delivered major personnel overhauls and a series of
significant new initiatives, many of which Turkmenistan's
citizens will welcome. In the meeting, President
Berdimuhamedov not only instructed his cabinet to recognize
academic degrees from foreign countries (septel), but also
announced that, henceforth, the government will provide
free-of-charge sewage services and eliminate for
Turkmenistan's citizens the travel permit requirement for
visits to the country's border regions. He established a new
"Supreme Auditing Chamber," which will be responsible for
auditing the International Fund of Saparmyrat Turkmenbashy
(Niyazov) -- soon to be dissolved -- and for oversight and
analysis of state appropriations. Berdimuhamedov also
replaced the ministers of textiles and of oil and gas, and
fired the Chairman of the Supreme Court. While the session
resulted in the largest cabinet reshuffle since former
President Niyazov's death and strengthens Berdimuhamedov's
control within his cabinet, it was accompanied by none of the
bombastic drama that was common under Niyazov. To ensure
that Turkmenistan's citizens were aware of who is responsible
for their free sewage and new freedom of movement within the
country, the evening news replayed a tape of the session,
rather than reporting the news via voice-over. End summary.

2. (U) Government agencies reportedly have been preparing
for the half-yearly review for weeks. Berdimuhamedov, who
has been inspecting sites around the city and in the province
over the past weeks to prepare, reportedly declined a June 12
meeting with a visiting U.S. delegation so that he could do
some last-minute cramming. The session involved not only the
Cabinet of Ministers -- Turkmenistan's executive-branch
cabinet -- but also provincial and legislative officials.
The results, delivered in a less dramatic fashion than any
similar session during Niyazov's time, did not disappoint.

PRESIDENT CALLS FOR CLEANER UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS PROCEDURES

3. (U) One by one, heads of ministries and provincial
governors all reported that economic growth and production
were on track. Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers
for Education, Health, Science and Culture Saparlyev reported
that Turkmenistan's universities are planning on increasing
enrollment, especially in agricultural and hydrocarbon
fields, and in creating new specialties, including "English
language and literature" at the Turkmenistan State
Pedagogical Institute. In addition to calling for
recognition of foreign academic degrees, Berdimuhamedov
stressed that admissions this year should be conducted "very
honestly." As Saparlyev's predecessor, Berdimuhamedov said,
he knows all the "peculiarities" surrounding admissions;
wrongful actions will be investigated, and responsible
persons will be fired and prosecuted. Berdimuhamedov also
warned government officials not to influence-peddle -- and
Minister of Education Annaamanov, who had been sharply
rebuked the day before, to see that admissions were conducted
according to the law.

OTHER CHANGES: FLOUR MILLS, FREE SEWAGE SERVICES AND FREER
MOVEMENT

4. (U) Berdimuhamedov announced a number of other
initiatives, some directed toward gaining public support.
These include:

-- Construction of eight grain elevators and four flour mills
to promote grain and flour distribution in the countryside;

-- Free sewage services;

ASHGABAT 00000711 002 OF 005

-- Elimination of the requirement for Turkmenistan's citizens
to get permits for travel to border regions.

This last initiative has been rumored for months, following
the president's decision to eliminate police checkpoints
along major highways, and will be especially welcome. The
border permit regime has been in place since 2002 (and in
many places since the Soviet era). It has created
substantial hardship for families living in border areas,
since obtaining permits for family members wanting to visit
takes at least a month. It has also blocked normal tourist
travel to and trade with these regions.

THE SUPREME AUDITING CHAMBER: CRACKING DOWN ON APPROPRIATIONS

5. (U) President Berdimuhamedov criticized the Ministry of
Economy and Finance, noting that it has been unable to give a
complete picture of how financial resources have been spent.
As a result, he announced creation of a new 64-person
government agency -- the Supreme Auditing Chamber -- directly
under the president which will address this gap.
Specifically, the Chamber will be responsible for offering
assessments of macro-economic policy, controlling
implementation of economic and financial regulations,
providing oversight and analysis of state financial
appropriations, and undertaking an audit of the
soon-to-be-defunct International Fund of Saparmurat
Turkmenbashy. The president appointed Hojamuhammet
Muhammedov, former Chairman of the State Commodity and Raw
Materials Exchange, to head the chamber (bio para 7).

FINDING THE RIGHT PEOPLE FOR THE JOB

6. (U) Finally, in the largest personnel overhaul since
Niyazov's death, the president made a number of personnel
changes. These include:

-- Maysa Yazmuhammedova was appointed to a newly created
Deputy Chairmanship of the Cabinet of Ministers, and will be
responsible for culture and media (septel).

-- Yagshygeldi Esenov was dismissed from the position of
Chairman of the Supreme Court of Turkmenistan for his failure
to manage the State Commission for Reviewing Complaints on
the Work of Law Enforcement Bodies (established February 19,
2007), allowing numerous violations in judicial issues and
failure to review organizations issues. The president
claimed that Esenov failed to resolve properly any complaints
from citizens. He recommended that Chary Hojamuradov, an
Ashgabat City judge, replace Esenov, subject to confirmation
by the Mejlis.

-- Gurbanmyrat Atayev, Minister of Oil and Gas, was
transferred to head a new directorate to be created at the
Dovletabat gas production administration to oversee the
construction of a sulphur-purification and gas dewatering
facility at the Garabil-Gurrukbil gas fields. The president
noted that Atayev had done a lot, but noted that a minister
of oil and gas needed to be more philosophical and a better
trader. He appointed Baymyrat Hojamuhammedov, a
Moscow-trained geologist with extensive geological and
petroleum sales experience (bio para 8) to replace Atayev as
minister.

-- Yklymberdi Paromov, Minister of Textile Industry, was
transferred to an administrator position at the Presidential
Apparatus, where he will serve as Chief of the General
Department of the Cabinet of Ministers. Berdimuhamedov
described Paromov as clean and honest, but unfit for the
ministerial job. He appointed Jemal Goklenova, previously
State Minister and Chairman of the "Turkmen Carpets"
("Turkmenhaly") State Joint Stock Corporation to replace

ASHGABAT 00000711 003 OF 005

Paromov (bio para 9).

-- Minewar Belliyeva, previously director of the
wool-spinning enterprise "Argach," was appointed to replace
Goklenova as Chairman of the Turkmen Carpets State Joint
Stock Corporation (bio para 10).

-- Gurbanguly Aytgulyev, Chairman of the "Turkmen
Fertilizers" ("Turkmendokun") Joint Stock Association, was
dismissed for failure to meet the plan. He was replaced by
Myratgeldi Kurayev.

-- Yagmyrgeldi Myratlyev was appointed to replace
Hojamuhammedov as Chairman of the State Commodity and Raw
Materials Exchange. He previously served as a deputy
chairman of the exchange.

-- Agasapar Garayev was dismissed as Chairman of the Turkmen
State Publishing Service because he "could not manage two
jobs at a time" and he is "more a printing specialist than an
intellectual." Garayev retained his position as director of
the paper mill in Yashlyk, Ahal Province. Tachmammet
Hurmenov (bio para 11) replaced Garayev as State Publishing
Service Chairman.

-- Hallyberdi Bayramov was appointed Rector of the Turkmen
Institute of National Economy, a position that had been empty
since April, when Berdimuhamedov appointed the former rector,
Muhammetgeldi Annaamanov, Minister of Education.

-- Bayramgeldi Annaorazov, a vice-rector of the Turkmenistan
Medical Institute, was appointed Rector of the Turkmenistan
National Institute of Sports and Tourism.

-- Turkmenistan's Ambassador to France, Chary Niyazov, was
appointed Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UNESCO.

-- Ogulhajat Ishangulyevar was appointed Chairman of the
National Center of Trade Unions and the Women's Union named
after Gurbansoltan Eje.

-- Toydurdy Durdyev was appointed a deputy chairman of the
"Turkmen Oil" ("TurkmenNebit") State Concern.

BIO INFORMATION -- HOJAMUHAMMET MUHAMMEDOV

7. (SBU) Hojamuhammet Muhammedov was born in 1966 and
received a degree in economics from Turkmenistan National
Economic Institute in 1993. From 1983 to 1998, in addition
to studying, he worked as an expeditor for the Ministry of
Commerce and Consumer Products' Light Industry and Food
Production Association, then as a construction expert and
engineer in the Turkmenistan Chemical Supplies' delivery
administration, then as head of the State Administration for
Material-technical Supplies warehouse. Between 1998 and
2005, he was first deputy director, then director of the
"Haritimpeks" firm at the Minister of Trade and External
Economic Contacts, followed by a stint as Director of the
State Trade Center "Gulistan" (Ashgabat's Russian Bazaar).
In 2005, he was named deputy chairman and, in 2006, Chairman
of the State Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange.

BIO INFORMATION -- BAYMYRAT HOJAMUHAMMEDOV

8. (SBU) Baymyrat Hojamuhammedov studied hydrogeology at the
Oil Department of Turkmen Polytechnic Institute from 1979 to
1984, then worked at the Scientific Research and Exploration
Institute from 1984 to 1987. Between 1987 and 1990, he
studied at Moscow Geological-Exploration Institute, and then
worked as chief hydrogeologist at "Turkmengeology." From
1996 to 2005, he held various positions in the now-defunct
Turkmennebitgaz (Turkmen Oil and Gas) Trade Corporation.

ASHGABAT 00000711 004 OF 005

From 2003 to 2005, Hojamuhammedov worked as a deputy at the
National Barter Center -- the implementing organization for
all barter deals in Turkmenistan. Hojamuhammedov's last job
was as Chief of Procurement of Turkmengaz. The embassy met
Hojamuhammedov during SCA DAS Mann's visit in March 2007,
when he assisted a member of the Mann delegation requesting
assistance in locating parts for Afghanistan oil rigs.

BIO INFORMATION -- JEMAL GOKLENOVA

9. (SBU) Jemal Goklenova was born in Ashgabat in 1959. She
graduated from the Turkmenistan National Economic Institute
with an economics degree in 1982. After serving three years
as a senior engineer at the Ministry of Domestic Industry,
she transferred to the Ashgabat City Executive Council, where
she headed the planning and economic department until 1991.
From 1991 to 1994, Goklenova served as director of economics
and industrial management of the "Ahal" Sewing Association,
then she worked as director of the "Bahar" Sewing Factory
until 1995. In 1995, she was appointed First Deputy Minister
of Textile Industry, a post she held until she was promoted
to minister in 1997. Goklenova was promoted to the position
of Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers -- a deputy
premier position -- responsible for textiles in 1999, and, in
2000, was also named Executive Director of the Textile
Industry Development State Fund. In August 2002, she was
transferred from those positions to work as Counselor in
Turkmenistan's Embassy in Moscow. Following the November
2002 assassination attempt against Niyazov, she disappeared;
she is widely rumored to have been recalled and unemployed.
On February 20, 2007, Berdimuhamedov rehabilitated her when
he appointed her as State Minister and Chairwoman of the
Turkmen Carpet ("Turkmenhaly") State Joint Stock Company.

BIO INFORMATION -- MINEVER BELLIYEVA

10. (SBU) Minever Belliyeva was born in 1959 in Talhan-Bazar
Village, Sakar District, Lebap Province. She received an
engineering and economics degree from Moscow Technological
Institute in 1983. From 1983 to 1989, she served as a senior
engineer at the Ministry of Consumer Services, then was
promoted to the position of senior economist at the Ashgabat
City Consumer Services Administration, where she worked until
1994. From 1995-2000, she worked in a number of positions at
the "Bahar" Sewing Factory, including chief accountant,
deputy director, and director. From 2000 to 2006, she worked
as deputy director of the Turkmenbashy Textile Complex in
Ashgabat, deputy director of the Turkmenbashy Textile Complex
in Geoktepe, deputy director of the Ashgabat Fashion House,
and deputy general director of the "Gap Insaat" firm (a
Turkish-owned company) in Ashgabat. In early 2007, she was
appointed director of the "Argach" wool-spinning enterprise.

BIO INFORMATION -- TACHMAMMET HURMENOV

11. (SBU) Tachmammet Hurmenov worked as a local reporter in
Balkan Province for many years, then became Editor-in-Chief
of the "Balkan" regional newspaper. Most recently, he has
served as Editor-in-Chief of the Revival ("Galkynysh")
newspaper. He was elected a deputy of the Mejlis,
Turkmenistan's parliament, in December 2004. An embassy
officer tried to meet with him during the December 2004
parliamentary election campaign without first requesting the
meeting by diplomatic note. Although Hurmenov initially
agreed to meet the emboff, he subsequently said he was told
that he could not meet with embassy personnel without
approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Nonetheless,
the embassy officer noted that Hurmenov seemed to be
down-to-earth.

COMMENT

12. (SBU) We need to wait to see results, but it appears

ASHGABAT 00000711 005 OF 005

Berdimuhamedov's personnel moves were geared to getting more
competent people in place. If so, that would be a welcome
development. End Comment.
HOAGLAND

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