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U.S. Embassy Ashgabat Cable: Turkmenistan Civil Society and UFOs, Union of UFOlogists of Turkmenabat
Prepared summary.
On November 5, 2004, the U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission and USAID Director met with the Board of the Union of UFOlogists of Turkmenabat in Lebap Welayet, Turkmenistan. UOU President Ovezberdy Muradov stated that Turkmen military and government authorities had consulted him about mysterious occurrences in Turkmen airspace, but said there had been no confirmed sightings of UFOs in Turkmenistan. The cable, transmitted November 12, 2004 and signed by Jacobson, describes the UOU as a USAID grant recipient and the first independent NGO registered in post-Soviet Turkmenistan.
Turkmenabat, Lebap Welayet (province), TurkmenistanUSAID Director (U.S. Embassy Ashgabat)Ovezberdy Muradov (UOU President)DCM (Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy Ashgabat)Board members of the Union of UFOlogists of TurkmenabatUSAID $8,532 grant to Union of UFOlogists for NGO registration assistanceUSAID $30,000 grant proposal for UOU newsletter printing equipmentUOU NGO registration assistance program under 2003 Turkmenistan NGO lawUOU small and medium business registration assistance (1990s)UOU independent newsletter initiativeUnknown object
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[page 1] UNCLASSIFIED SBU # UNCLASSIFIED SBU DEPARTMENT OF STATE STAR FAMERA | MRN: | 04 ASHGABAT 1028 | |-|-| | Date/DTG: | Nov 12, 2004 / 1208512 NOV 04 | | From: | AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT | | Action: | RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC ROU TI NE | | E.O.: | 12958 | | TAGS: | AORC, TSPA, PREL, PGOV, EAID, OSC I,TX | | Captions: | srnSITl'o'E | | Subject: | TURKMENISTAN, CIVIL SOCIETY AND UFOS | R 1208512 NOV 04 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5085 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1267 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0905 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEAI IA/CIA WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC//DHO-2/REA/NMJIC-J2// RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUCAACC/USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL // CCJ2/HSE/CCJ5// RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC // J5 /RUE// BT UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001028 [page 2] UNCLASSIFIED SBU # UNCLASSIFIED SBU (cont.) ## SENSITIVE (cont.) UFOiogists of Turkmenabat has established a reputation as areliable NGO partner for a variety of activities from assisting with small and medium businesses, to distributing humanitarian assistance, to assisting NGOs with registering under the 2003 NGO law. The UFOiogists have developed a good rapport with local authorities, they say, and are able to accomplish their tasks because "everyone is interested in UFOs." The UFOiogists next initiative is to publi sh an independent newsletter, the first in independent Turkmenistan. 2. ~ In the appearances-are-deceiving world of Turkmenistan, it almost seems fitting that one of the USG's most reliable implementers is equally committed to looking for life on another planet. End Summary. UFOs in Turkmenabat # UNCLASSIFIED SBU (cont.) ## SENSITIVE (cont.) 3. ~ On November 5, DCM and USAID Director met with the Board and interested members of the Union of UfOlogists (UOU) of Turkmenabat, Lebap Welayet (province). The Union of UFOiogists is working on an $8,532 grant to assist other local NGOs navigate the NGO registration process of the new NGO law (reftels). The UOU was the first NGO to register after independence in 1992 and was the first independent NGO to reregister successfu ll y under the new 2003 NGO law. 4. ~ Though the Union first was established to pursue the study of life on other planets, over time its activities became more "practical," Board members told the DCM. Members of theUnion have attended international UFO fora and published on the subject, but most members assured the DCM, they had limited or no interest in the subject at all. UOU President Ovezberdy Muradov said the Turkmen military and government authorities had consulted him about mysterious occurrences in Turkmen airspace, but he said there had been no confirmed sightings of UFOs in Turkmenistan. [page 3] UNCLASSIFIED SBU activities from sport, to youth, to business consulting. The Union has over 1000 members including some individual members from other welayets. Registering Sma ll and Medium Businesses # UNCLASSIFIED SBU (cont.) ## Peace on Earth (cont.) 6. ~ Members told the DCM they first started the "practical" si de of their work shortly after independence by assisting small and medium-sized businesses register with local authorities. According to the UOU President, during the '90's the Union assisted 187 enterprises in registering ranging from farmers unions to joint enterprises to a shoe factory. The UOU told the DCM all ASHGABAT 00001028 002 OF 002 this consulting was done pro bono. The Union made money over the years, however, by running for-fee computer, accounting and other "non-traditional" courses such as UFOiogy and massage. 7. ~ UOU President Muradov told the DCM the Union had been successful in this effort because it had the respectof local authorities. According to Muradov, "everyone is interested in UFOs" and local authorities were eager to assist and also learn more about UFOs. The Union also regularly ran UFO-related seminars and talks, which were well attended. [page 4] UNCLASSIFIED SBU # UNCLASSIFIED SBU (cont.) ## Assisting NGOs (cont.) 10. ~ USAID was presented with a grant proposal by the UOU for a $30k grant for pr inting equipment for the UOU to establish its own newsletter. Though printing of independent media is il legal in Turkmenistan, the UOU assured DCM it already had advance approval from local authorities because a license was needed for anything over 1000 copies and the UOU only planned to publish 999 copies. UOU members said the content of the newsletter would be nonpolitical and only would describe the activities of the Union. If members wanted to make additional copies, the UOU told DCM, "that is up to them." Eventually subscribers would be charged for the newsletter, which would then become self-sustaining, according to the UOU plan. USAID has requested that the UOU submit a stronger, more cost-effective proposal. 11. ~ The UOU also is considering opening chapters in other welayets because "our services are in so much demand." Comment 12. ~ Crazy? Like a fox; and worthy of USG attention and support. End Comment. 13. (U) Minimize considered. JACOBSON BT #1028 [page 5] UNCLASSIFIED SBU UNCLASSIFIED SBU Released in Full UNCLASSIFIED SBU Page 5 of 5