Turkmenistan president Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov publishes his own “Ruhnama”

©  Reflections on the Ruhnama
By Steve in Wisconsin
Publication date:  May 28, 2010

[Blogmaster note:  I encourage my readers to visit the webpage associated with this article to view the photos. Click here for original article.]

The following article is reprinted with permission from Ferghana.ru, Moscow.

Great ordinary person:  The book about the president is published in Turkmenistan
©  Ferghana.ru
By Mariya Yanovskaya
May 28, 2010

It has been many years since I last read such books. “The true fact is that foundations of all current reforms and achievements have been built by skillful manager, talented organizer and the initiator of current development phase, deep public reforms – the Son of his nation – Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov”.

“The grandson, materializing the dream of the grandfather”, was published by Turkmen state publishing service in 2010 with 10.5 thousand copies. The book includes 22 articles of Tachmamed Djurdekov, written in October 2007-November 2009 period, plus introduction and conclusion. All articles are dedicated to brightest son of Turkmen people, the leader of Turkmen Renaissance, great person, responsible for his nation – the Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov.

“5000 year old Turkmen people have always been reading. Everyone knows this fact; and now, it is obvious to the entire world”, Djurdekov writes. “I know what the book is all about. I am holding it.”

Not a single word about Niyazov

In the previous period Rukhnama was the book, loved by Turkmens. The new book says no word about Rukhnama or Saparmurat Turkmenbashi the Great… as if they never existed… All actions in Turkmenistan are approved by Berdymukhammedov that materializes the dream of his grandfather, but not some Niyazov: “Thank God the current president is the Grandson, materializing the dream of his grandfather. There are no unmanageable tasks for him”.

The international neutrality of Turkmenistan is also the achievement of President Berdymukhammedov. “Empowered by God and having 5000 thousand years of history, Turkmens, recently electing Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov as the President, made the right choice. Turkmenistan is the center of stability, prosperity, unity and peace in our planet. Our respected President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, the envoy of God and the son of his nation, is the leader of this distinguished effort that within short terms brought the universal recognition, respect and popularity”.

None of Nyazov’s initiatives, picked up or stopped by Berdymukhammedov, is referred to Turkmenbashi. “Thanks to outstanding efforts of our wise President the circus culture is reviving after years of non-existence”. The context implies that the stagnation of Turkmen circus culture is reasoned by Soviet rule that produced horse meat sausages.

According to the book, the Renaissance is the renaissance not after Niyazov’s rule, as it was taken by the world community, but after Soviet rule. Djurdekov does not specify what has been done in 15 years of independence since 1991.

Sometimes Tachmamed Djurekov mentions the facts of his own biography. In 1964 he graduated from library department of Moscow State University of culture and worked in the state library of Turkmenistan (today’s National Library). Djurdekov also worked in the Turkmenistan’s Communist party central committee cultural affairs department. Supernormal adoration of management was never a sin in Turkmenistan but the written adoration statements became popular only since gaining independence.

Love the book, the source of knowledge

So what is his grandfather’s dream is all about? The grandfather was the teacher and loved reading. His son also worked in the secondary school and loved reading. The wife of his son also loved reading. The grandson-president, no doubt, loves reading and wants all Turkmen study hard.

“There are many books he read while a child. He was thinking about them and dreaming for many years”. This is another author writing about another national leader. But the main focus is the same.

“The president of our country is not only the doctor, but also great Person, bearing full responsibility for his nation and, most importantly, for public health. This unique thing impressed everyone”. “I felt breathtaking moments while reading the photocopy of the decree”.

The president for Djurdekov is god, tsar, unachievable ideal, whose footprints he is ready to kiss. Any word by Berdymukhammedov impresses Djurdekov. “He (president – editorial note) says the following about literature: “…I believe the fiction has important meaning not only for the health of certain people, but also healthy development of entire society”. Literature, book, the public health! Can you see the harmony and integrity!”, Djurdekov emphasizes.

Today, such obvious flattery and adoration by the ruler can be found only in the anecdotes and at Djurdekov’s works. In the entire books Djurdekov is describing the truth, one after another. “No one felt disappointed after reading books. The book enriches the spiritual world of the person”. “Today this spiritual woman became sacred mother for all Turkmen. Acknowledgment of this woman means the acknowledgement of holiness” (about President’s mother).

Sacred Gurbanguly

Little Gurbanguly loved reading. “Despite being a student he had to live home early in the morning he did not feel tired. He spent 8 hours in the university, listening and writing down the notes.

“He absorbed all scientific viewpoints, analyzed and accepted them. His favorite hobby was reading. He enjoyed visiting the library, the source of spiritual wealth. He could not see his life without books”.

And now the great leader and teacher – “by the will of God” – is leading the republic. “Berdymukhammed aga (grandfather – editorial note) could not even think that his grandson will become the president”.

The book was published in three languages: Turkmen, Russian and English. Allegedly, there are also copies in German and Chinese, but this has not been verified. However, nothing prevents Germans and Chinese to publish this book because of the potential preferences.

The personality cult

“The grandson, materializing the dream of the grandfather” is de facto “The literature in the ear of the personality cult”. After publishing this book we can forget about pre-election promises of Berdymukhammedov and our own hopes for regime liberalization in Turkmenistan.

Turkmenistan established the cult of personality and oriental despotism. The editor of the book is Victor Khramov, the deputy head of President’s office, “the mastermind” and ideologist of Niyazov’s cult. The same expert is building the personality cult of Berdymukhammedov. Ferghana.Ru sources report that the book about great grandson will be studied in schools and university, just as Rukhnama.

“The successes of our country, led by respected President, attract the world attention to Turkmenistan”, writes Djurdekov.

This is true. MSF already produced killing report about healthcare system in Turkmenistan. UN already started learning the situation with secret jails in Turkmenistan.

Nonetheless, the world community will be better off taking a closer look to Ashkhabad and feel sorry for those who have to live “under major patron of independence”.

[End.]

Ruhnama – Home

Turkmenistan: Multi-party politics as a means of strengthening President Berdymukhammedov’s regime

©  Reflections on the Ruhnama
By Steve in Wisconsin
Publication date:  May 15, 2010

President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov is advocating the formation of a second political party in Turkmenistan, which, in effect, would make the country a “multi-party democracy” – at least on paper. Addressing the Council of Elders yesterday in the town of Dashoguz he said that Turkmenistan is ready for a multi-party system, reports the Turkmen service of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty.

President Berdymukhammedov, perceived by many as a pro-Western stooge, illegally assumed the presidency after the mysterious death of Saparmyrat Niyazov (Turkmenbashy the Great), the country’s first president and author of Ruhnama. Speculation is rife that Niyazov was poisoned in retaliation for shifting natural gas exports towards the East, notably China, and his disinclination to support Western ventures – everything from criticism of the proposed Trans-Caspian pipeline project to refusing to allow Afghanistan-bound military hardware and “coalition” troops to use his country as a staging and transit hub. Niyazov’s alleged assassination paved the way for “regime change” whereby Berdymukhammedov, the Minister of Health, became president after having the rightful successor, Ovezgeldy Atayev (the Speaker of Parliament), imprisoned immediately after Niyazov’s fatal “heart attack”.

The Halk Maslahaty (People’s Council consisting of elders and representatives from throughout Turkmenistan – and loyal to Niyazov) confirmed Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov’s presidency after he kissed the Ruhnama and promised to stay the course. After receiving confirmation, however, he disbanded the Halk Maslahaty. He then wrote a new constitution (because his actions were illegal under the original constitution) and began belittling the importance of Ruhnama (which says that any actions that violate the original constitution – such as the presidency passing to someone other than the Speaker of Parliament under these circumstances – are also illegal).

Berdymukhammedov’s presidency has been characterized by purging government of any officials who may, however remotely, be “suspected” of disloyalty. His predecessor’s appointees are no longer there – including numerous “career employees” whose only fault was being hired during Niyazov’s administration. Whereas the president tolerates no opposition, it is foolish to think he is committed to multi-party democracy. Rather, a second political party would serve as a means of identifying those individuals who are not 100% supportive of his rule.

A presidential declaration advocating a second political party is, however, not without an ulterior motive. To make such a statement and then fail to implement it would be counter-productive to Berdymukhammedov’s pro-Western image. Therefore, it is likely that a second political party will be formed (with members’ names on file with the government) as:

1)  a public-relations stunt for foreign consumption

2)  a justification for NATO and Western intervention to rescue President Berdymukhammedov’s fledgling “democracy” should Turkmenistan (and her vast natural gas reserves) be under threat, and

3)  to prevent a Kyrgyzstan-style people’s revolution by identifying and neutralizing potential individual and group (associative) threats in advance.

Absent from the president’s multi-party plan, however, is how to address the issue of Islamic fundamentalism. Just like Afghanistan’s puppet Karzai administration – which held “national elections” without the participation of the Taliban – President Berdymukhammedov is laying the groundwork for a home-grown insurgency by establishing a multi-party “democracy” through which change can never occur. Sham democracy is theatrics designed to placate foreign interests; to justify global investment and military intervention under the guise of “public good” whenever strategic locations or exploitable natural resources are under threat.

But even a sham democracy needs a measure of credibility. Afghan president Hamid Karzai, for example, was not about to repeat the mistake made by Algeria in 1991 when the pro-Western government allowed the Islamic Party to participate in – and WIN – the election, only to have the military seize power within days and nullify a legitimate Islamic victory.

President Berdymukhammedov was likely wiping perspiration from his forehead (and not caused by the heat) as he made his call for a multi-party system while in Dashoguz – near the border with Uzbekistan, a nation with an established Islamic insurgency and a corrupt president. Contrary to most analysts I believe that Turkmenistan already has a radical Islamic element, small and unorganized perhaps, but there just the same. Saparmyrat Niyazov kept this element “in check” through his neutralist foreign and trade policies (as set forth in Ruhnama) – but this cannot be said of President Berdymukhammedov who is moving closer to the West, which is perceived in Central Asia as an enemy of Islam. Mohammad Mohaddessin, in his book Islamic Fundamentalism, mentions that “Turkmen youths were reported especially vulnerable to Tehran’s fundamentalist propaganda.” That said, merely creating a sham multi-party democracy is insufficient to stem the potential for religious-fueled violence.

It is this writer’s opinion that President Berdymukhammedov is hoping to “buy time” by re-branding his illegal regime as a democratic government (in a limited sense) – and aligning himself with foreign military muscle – while ignoring a root cause that motivates jihad: collusion with nations, businesses and individuals believed to be detrimental to the cause of Islam.

[End.]

Ruhnama – Home

A Story from Ruhnama: Befriending Ants

The event which happened to Mane Baba (Ebu Said Mehnevi), who is one of the great persons of the world of meaning, proves that faith in God has an absolute effect on neighbor relations. Mane Baba had a poor neighbor, who barely maintained his living. As a believer of God, he was giving a part of his income to his neighbor.

One day, when the neighbor visited the believer of God, he was shocked to see him dispersing wheat to ants. The believer of God responded like this, seeing the surprised look of his neighbor: “These are my neighbors like you. I should concede the right of neighborhood to them.”

__________

Excerpt from:

Ruhnama (Book 2): The Spiritual Wealth of Turkmen
Saparmyrat Niyazov (Turkmenbashy the Great),
The State Publishing Service
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, 2004.

[End.]

Ruhnama – Home

A Story from Ruhnama: The Good Neighbor

Human relations begin with your neighborhood. Nobody can be a guarantor to a person who is not in terms with his neighbors. Sultan Sanjar Abiverdli recruited the great scientist and poet, Enveri, to his palace, and gave him a house in the most beautiful part of the city.

Enveri moved into his place. He carried all his stuff within two to three days, settled in and put his life in order. Later, he found the conduct of his neighbor weird and invited him over for tea; and asked him:

“Neighbor, every day, you come from work when dark falls and scream as soon as you enter into the courtyard; screaming again when you enter your house and again when you are on the second floor; what is the meaning of this?”

“When I come back from work as an exhausted man and enter into the courtyard, my horse welcomes me by neighing and touring around the stick. I yell of happiness since God has endowed me with a beautiful horse like this. When I go into my house, my wife welcomes me with her smiley face; opens her arms and welcomes me with a well-prepared, rich and affluent table. I then scream of happiness since God gave me such a loyal and beautiful wife as well as this food and richness. When I go up to the top floor, my sons say:

‘Daddy, Daddy!’ and jump into my arms. This time, existence of my children bestowed to me makes me happy and I scream again.”

Enveri smiled and said:

“Then, it will be beneficial for you to scream a fourth time. Because you have a very good neighbor.”

The more relations increase, the more friendship and fraternity improves. As the relations increase, your horizon broadens and your subsistence and richness increase.

__________

Excerpt from:

Ruhnama (Book 2): The Spiritual Wealth of Turkmen
Saparmyrat Niyazov (Turkmenbashy the Great),
The State Publishing Service
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, 2004.

[End.]

Ruhnama – Home

A Story from Ruhnama: The Story of the Thief

Once, a number of people were talking about a thief in a village. During the conversation Dovletmammet Azady spoke of the good manners of the thief. As if they had agreed in advance, all the sufis started saying good things about the thief. Other participants in the conversation thought that the thief was being treated like an angel, although he was clearly far from being one.

Days and months pass by, and the thief visits Azady in his home.

“Azady, Your Highness, I am enchanted by your power, look where you’ve placed me,” he cries out. “I heard of your remarks in that coversation praising me. I felt elevated and immediately gave up stealing. Even when I engage in any minor deed that might be improper, I always question myself as to what Azady His Highness would say in such a case. You really won my heart.” Azady says in reply:

“You have faith in your heart, so your conscience awoke.”

In another exchange some people said to Azady, “Your Highness, you knew that so-and-so was a thief, but you praised him. Why?”

“If you say good things about a man, and if I do the same and so do others, then the good aspects of that person will come out. But if you say bad things about that man, and if I do the same and so do others, then it will be as if that person were coated in black pitch. If possible, talk about the good qualities of a man, and not the bad ones. This is what wisdom tells you to do.”

__________

Excerpt from:

Ruhnama (Book 1): Reflections on the Spiritual Values of the Turkmen
Saparmyrat Niyazov (Turkmenbashy the Great)),
The State Publishing Service
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, 1997-2001.

[End.]

Ruhnama – Home

A Story from Ruhnama: Fate and Fortune

Let me tell you a story about fate and fortune.

In a village there used to live three siblings. These three siblings always wanted to live happily ever after. However, the thoughts and wishes of the three were different. An elderly person took them to the desert since they were acquainted.

While the eldest sibling was talking to himself, walking in the desert, he saw a cave. When he looked carefully, he saw Fortune in it. Fortune asked the eldest sibling:

“What is your wish?”

“I want to have a garden like that of a palace!”

The eldest sibling, seeing a garden as big as a palace garden in the desert, ran to his garden.

Later, the second younger brother came. He sees Fortune in a big cave. Fortune asked him:

“What do you want?”

“A garden like a palace garden and a saddlebag of gold.”

The younger brother saw a garden appearing next to his elder brother’s and, of course, a saddlebag of gold in it. He just grabbed his saddlebag of gold and ran to his garden.

Later, the youngest sibling reached this cave.

What he saw was Fortune sitting in the cave.

Fortune said to the youngest sibling:

“Tell me your wish? What do you want?”

“What do you want for yourself?” asked the youngest brother.

“I want to get out of this cave” replied Fortune.

As soon as the youngest one released Fortune from the cave, he set out on his own.

Do you know what Fortune did?

Yes, Fortune ran after the youngest brother.

__________

Excerpt from:

Ruhnama (Book 2): The Spiritual Wealth of Turkmen
Saparmyrat Niyazov (Turkmenbashy the Great),
The State Publishing Service
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, 2004.

[End.]

Ruhnama – Home

A Story from Ruhnama: The Parable of the Flowers

Believing in God is to believe in God’s presence and uniqueness. This belief saves the person from meaninglessness and from being errant. Assuming that lies would make a person happy is to go after a dream that will never come true. Reality is God’s consent.

In old times, there was a sagacious emperor, and his people loved him. But the emperor was enduring an absence; he did not have a son or a daughter. After a while, the emperor decided to adopt a child.

Public criers shouted, “Listen to me people! On Friday our emperor will adopt a child. This child must be a ten year-old boy; our emperor will leave his throne to his foster son, and he will rest. The people who want to give their sons to the emperor should gather in front of the palace on Friday.”

Before the crier finished talking, the public square in front of the palace became full of ten year-old boys.

The emperor gave flower seeds to each boy, and declared his condition: “After sowing these seeds and growing them, you should bring me a bunch of flowers. Of whose flowers that I become fond of, that boy will become my adopted son. You have three months; after this period it is our decision to gather in this same place.”

Three months passed. The emperor went to the square and saw that the square was full of beautiful flowers with different colors. The boys who had taken the seeds were waiting for the happy moment.

The emperor looked attentively at the boys while passing near them without stopping.

At another corner stood a boy crying who had no flowers in his hands. The emperor went near the boy, and stopped. He asks:

“Why are you crying?”

The boy spoke of his trouble:

“My emperor, the seeds that your Excellency has given me did not grow despite my efforts. I tried everything, but in vain. I am weeping because you will not adopt me since I do not have any flowers.”

The emperor replied, “Do not cry because of that, because I will adopt you as my son. Your seeds did not become flowers because I boiled them before giving them to you. These people who have brought flowers think that they can deceive me. Their flowers are not from my seeds. They found them somewhere else” said the emperor and hugged the boy.

“You told me the truth; you did not lie to me. Listen carefully, it is the person who accepts the truth, not the liar, who will become happy in the end.”

__________

Excerpt from:

Ruhnama (Book 2):  The Spiritual Wealth of Turkmen
Saparmyrat Niyazov (Turkmenbashy the Great),
The State Publishing Service
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, 2004.

[End.]

Ruhnama – Home

Vremya novostei: “Ashgabat shifts the focus from Europe to America”

©  Reflections on the Ruhnama
By Steve in Wisconsin
Publication date:  June 22, 2009

Russian news agency Feghana.ru reports today that Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister, Rashid Meredov, is making an urgent trip to Washington, D.C. The purpose of the trip is to “awake the interest of such American energy companies as Shell, Exxon-Mobil and Chevron in accessing [the] Turkmen market with their investment and technologies. Ashgabat hopes that Americans will help Turkmenistan sign the agreement on division of the Caspian Sea as well as provide support at the negotiations on financial conditions of Turkmen participation in Nabucco project and construction of TransCaspian gas pipeline.”

Ferghana.ru quotes Russian newspaper Vremya novostei noting that “Ashgabat shifts the focus from Europe to America” because of new “cash inflow transparency requirements” in Europe that require gas revenues be redistributed within Turkmenistan’s budget. This European action is in response to information that former Turkmen president, Saparmyrat Niyazov (Turkmenbashy the Great), diverted a sizeable amount of gas revenue into a personal account at Deutsche-Bank. The Ferghana.ru article states that Arkadiy Dubnov, who monitors Vremya novostei, writes that “the conditions, set up by the European Commission, threatened the main secrets of Turkmen regime. The point is that [the] defunct ‘father of all Turkmens’ explained [to] his Turkmen children that all gas revenues will be safer in his own treasure rather than state treasury due to protective reasons…”

Needless to say, the global media had a field day when this bank account came to light.

But the phrase “protective reasons” should not be construed as dishonest motives. I find no evidence that Turkmenbashy used any of these funds to buy or maintain personal properties in foreign lands. Rather, the Deutsche-Bank account appears to have been ‘insurance’ against a future coup by placing significant funds outside the reach of whomever assumed power under such circumstances. Turkmenbashy’s suspicious death, which I believe was assassination by poison, was, of course, unexpected and thus the funds remained at Deutsche-Bank. After his death, however, it is my understanding that none of his family attempted to withdraw any of these funds – thereby supporting my assertion that this money was banked in Germany mostly to keep it out of Turkmenistan.

The point of my blog post today is to comment that this “urgent trip to the United States” by Rashid Meredov – for the purpose of toadying up to U.S. oil companies – is yet one more example of Turkmenistan’s shift into the Western orbit. It is abandonment of Turkmenbashy’s neutral policies as written in Ruhnama.

See my earlier post:
Is Turkmenistan shifting to the West?, Jan. 16, 2009

[End.]

Ruhnama – Home

Turkmenistan government shake-up with ties to ‘defense’ and ‘security’

©  Reflections on the Ruhnama
By Steve in Wisconsin
Publication date:  January 22, 2009

A purge is occurring within Turkmenistan’s government – and at least some of the changes have links to ‘defense’ and ‘security’ matters.

An article yesterday on the Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty website reads:

Turkmenistan’s Top Military Officials Dismissed
©  REF/RL
January 21, 2009

ASHGABAT – Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov has dismissed Defense Minister Agageldi Mammetgeldiev and the head of the State Border Agency, Bayram Alovov, RFE/RL‘s Turkmen Service reports.

They were replaced, respectively, by the former chief of Turkmenistan’s Customs Agency, Yaylim Berdiev, and the former chief of the State Agency Against Drug Trafficking, Islam Orazov.

The moves came after Berdymukhammedov harshly criticized the activities of the Defense Ministry and the State Border Agency at a televised session of the nation’s Security Council.

Last week, Berdymukhammedov fired one-third of the country’s government, as well as the head of the state oil company.

[End.]

This follows an earlier report last week:

Turkmen President Sacks Cabinet Members, Oil Company Director
©  REF/RL
January 16, 2009

ASHGABAT – Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov has fired one-third of the country’s government, as well as the head of the state oil company, RFE/RL‘s Turkmen Service reports.

Berdymukhammedov was shown on TV late on January 15 accusing top officials of “committing unforgivable mistakes and miscalculations.”

He then fired the ministers of energy, communications, sports and tourism, and the heads of the Turkmenneft state oil company and the state geological agency.

The dismissals were the biggest changes made in the government by Berdymukhammedov since he came to power in December 2006.

[End.]

Interestingly, Russian information agency Ferghana.ru reports today:

Turkmenistan:  New military doctrine allows for no foreign military bases on the territory of the country
©  Ferghana.ru
January 22, 2009

President of Turkmenistan Gurbankuly Berdymuhammedov signed the new military doctrine on January 21.

The new military doctrine proclaimed non-alignment and banned establishment of foreign military bases on the territory of Turkmenistan. Neither does it stand for procurement, production, proliferation, or transit of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction across the Turkmen borders.

Defensive in nature, the military doctrine is centered around maintenance of peace in the country, inviolability of its borders, solidarity of the people, protection of its peaceful prosperity, strengthening of the Armed Forces, improvement of the image of [Turkmenistan] in the eyes of the international community, and advancement of friendship with neighbors.

Berdymuhammedov sacked the defense minister that same day. Web site Turkmenistan – Golden Age reported Defense Minister Mammetgeldiyev relieved of his duties with the president’s thanks for service to the Motherland.

[End.]

Central Asian News Services quotes the State News Agency of Turkmenistan (TDH) and reports the following new appointments:

Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov appoint high ranking officials
©  CA-NEWS
22 January 2009, 15:39

CA-NEWS (TM) – In accordance with the Decree of President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov following appointments were made:
- Yaylym Yagmyrovich Berdiev is appointed Minister of Defence of Turkmenistan, Yaylym Yagmyrovich Berdiev is appointed Secretary of the State Security Council of Turkmenistan;
- Myrat Yslamov is appointed Chief of the State Border Service of Turkmenistan, Commander-in-Chief of Frontier Forces of Turkmenistan
- Serdar Gurbangulyevich Batyrov is appointed Acting Chief of the State Agency for Drugs of Turkmenistan and relieved him from the post of First Deputy of Chief of the State Agency for Drugs of Turkmenistan
- Seyitnyyaz Gurbanmammedovich Ballyev is appointed Acting Chairman of the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan
- Orazgeldi Taganmyradovich Esenov is appointed Acting Chairman of the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan, reports the Turkmen State News Agency (TDH).

[End.]

Some of these changes are likely related to the Ruhnama Day 2008 shootout in Ashgabat which may have been a coup attempt against President Berdymuhamedov’s illegal rule – possibly orchestrated either by internal elements within government or Islamic fundamentalists. Skeptics deny the official story that the incident involved an encounter with ‘drug traffickers’.

Although Berdymuhamedov’s predecessor, Saparmyrat Turkmenbashy the Great, also ‘replaced’ government officials as deemed necessary, this was not done on the scale that it has occurred under the new president. While Gurby may believe that he is purging his administration of rogue, incompetent or untrustworthy elements he is simultaneously creating uncertainty in the minds of those who remain in place. This presents its own set of problems as career military, police and other officials become edgy wondering if “they’re next” on the president’s hit list. This type of underlying fear – particularly if some of the discharged employees did nothing to deserve termination – breeds contempt for the Head of State.

As Saparmyrat Turkmenbashy the Great penned in Ruhnama:

Mankind is not always full of virtue or conscious of virtue; arrogance may triumph sometimes. Why does arrogance lead to calamity?

Ruhnama I, p. 192
(English hardcover edition.)

[End.]

Ruhnama – Home

Is Turkmenistan shifting to the West?

©  Reflections on the Ruhnama
By Steve in Wisconsin
Publication date:  January 16, 2009

The following article was published this date on Bishkek’s CA News website:

The new commander of U.S. Central Command visits Turkmenistan
©  Central Asian News Service
16 January 2009, 11:11

CA-NEWS (TM) – Yesterday, 15 January, General David Petraeus began his first official visit to Turkmenistan in the new post of head of the Central Command of the United States, informed the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat.

General Petraeus is planning to meet with representatives of the Government of Turkmenistan to discuss issues of mutual interest in maintaining peace and security throughout the region of Central Asia. General Petraeus arrived in Turkmenistan immediately after the official visit to Kazakhstan.

This is the first visit of General Petraeus to Central Asia, as a part of overall assessment, knowledge and responsibility associated with the new post, informed the General’s press secretary. General Petraeus hopes for constructive meeting with the President of Turkmeniatan.

General Petraeus took a post of commander of U.S. Central Command in October 2008, after serving as Commander of Multi-National Force troops in Iraq for 19 months. U.S. Central Command headquarters are located in Tampa, Florida. U.S. Central Command is responsible for the U.S. Army coordination in the Middle East and Central Asia.

[End full text.]

I titled this post “Is Turkmenistan shifting to the West?” – not because of General Petraeus’ visit to Turkmenistan (which in itself has only limited significance) but in view of this recent visit being another piece of a perceived ‘larger puzzle’.

Prior to Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov’s illegitimate succession to the presidency there was little doubt about Turkmenistan’s status as a ‘neutral’ country. Gurby’s predecessor, Saparmyrat Turkmenbashy the Great, cherished his country’s neutrality enough to secure United Nation’s recognition for Turkmenistan as the world’s only officially neutral state. He shunned military alliances, entered into business deals with a variety of parties (Russia, China, the West, Iran, etc.) and restricted the use of Turkmen airbases to Western forces operating in Afghanistan to “humanitarian aid” only.

Saparmyrat Turkmenbashy’s suspicious death in December 2006 ultimately led to Berdymukhammedov’s ascension to the presidency after imprisoning the rightful successor, Ovezgeldy Atayev. As mentioned in earlier Reflections’ reports, aside from ‘lip service’ the new president has not demonstrated a sincere commitment to his country’s continued neutrality – even going so far as to direct the dismantling of “Neutrality Arch” (a prominent Ashgabat landmark) and ordering its relocation to the outskirts of the city. Surely the symbolism associated with this directive is not lost on analysts.

In April 2008, President Berdymukhammedov attended the NATO Summit in Bucharest – something unimaginable under Turkmenbashy’s leadership – and this visit also included a personal meeting with U.S. president George W Bush. Russian news agency, RIA Novosti, quoted the Gazeta newspaper in its issue of April 7, 2008 as reporting:

Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov has proposed opening NATO training camps and deploying NATO stores and logistics bases in Turkmenistan.

In May 2008 an article published by Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty openly speculated on Berdymukhammedov’s pro-Western shift:

Turkmenistan: NATO Finds New Partner In Central Asia
By Bruce Pannier
May 30, 2008

NATO has a new and, some might say, unexpected partner in Central Asia – Turkmenistan. Just two years ago, the country was a reclusive place that few foreigners were allowed to visit, with UN-recognized status as a “neutral” nation.

The country’s strongman leader, Saparmurat Niyazov, used that status as a reason to keep Turkmenistan from participating in any international groupings except those with a purely economic agenda.

Niyazov died in late 2006 and was replaced by Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, whose foreign policy is much more dynamic. But reports of NATO cooperation with Turkmenistan is a huge step away from neutrality, especially given how quickly the new relationship has evolved.

[End excerpt.]

Not surprisingly General Petraeus, during his nomination hearings for reappointment as head of the U.S. Central Command, specifically noted his interest in Central Asia as follows:

“In Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kirghizstan, and Kazakhstan, abundant opportunities exist for building security, political, and economic partnerships, and for pursuing common interests. To varying degrees, we have, in fact, partnered in security efforts in encountering terrorism with these countries in the past, and we will have similar opportunities in the future.

“U.S. partnerships can also help these countries’ efforts to build governmental capacity and continue economic growth, while also reducing the prospects that extremism will gain influence and be exported.”

Gen. David Petraeus,
Statement before the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services
May 22, 2008

The latest ‘spin’ given by the United States and its allies for its interest in Central Asia is establishing an alternate supply route to Afghanistan – one that doesn’t involve Pakistan and its security problems. As Stratfor notes in a recent [members only] analysis:

“With little infrastructure to the east, the Pentagon is forced to go north, into Central Asia. Though some fuel is shipped to Western forces in Afghanistan from Baku across the Caspian Sea, there is little indication that existing shipping on the Caspian could expand meaningfully. Additionally, there would be the challenge of transferring cargo from rail to ship back to rail on top of the ship-rail-truck transfers that are already required in Afghanistan.

“But even if Caspian shipping was not a problem and if there was sufficient excess seaworthy capacity, there remains the problem of Georgia. Though politically amenable at the moment, it is unstable; furthermore, with some 3,700 Russian troops parked in both Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Russian military forces are poised to sever the country’s east-west rail links.

“These realities will likely drive the logistical pathway farther north, through Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and through Kazakhstan to Russia proper (some U.S. transports already utilize Russian airspace).”

[End excerpt. Underlined emphasis added.]

Of course, Turkmenistan’s huge natural gas reserves – and the prospects of an undersea Caspian pipeline to Baku – are important considerations as well. But the bottom line is that all of the ex-Soviet states of Central Asia fall well within Russia’s sphere of influence – and any transit of goods through Russia itself ultimately depends upon Russia’s whims and good graces.

Under the policies of the late president, Turkmenbashy the Great, military and other alliances of the type contemplated under Berdymukhammedov were largely avoided. Turkmenbashy wrote in Ruhnama:

We have no grudge against anybody, and we have no foe burning with a great passion for revenge. So, when the general situation is like that, where is the logic in us entering and founding various political, economic, and military unions?

Ruhnama I, p. 54.

Turkmenistan has been largely unaffected by the troubles in neighboring Afghanistan and Iran, and experienced few problems with Islamic fundamentalism as is increasingly the case in neighboring Uzbekistan and other parts of Central Asia. This relative peacefulness at home is a result of his predecessor’s foreign policy – which was based on neutrality – including a willingness to engage in dialogue with Afghanistan’s former Taliban government.

As I concluded in an earlier Reflections’ report:

Turkmenistan’s shmoozing with the United States and NATO appears likely to continue. With the U.S. and Western allies battling the Taliban in Afghanistan – combined with American criticism of Uzbekistan’s government and threats against Iran – any Central Asian nation cozying up to America becomes an increasingly likely terrorism target.

Turkmenbashy writes:

We ourselves are forming our history, present and future because Allah gave us mind and will.

Ruhnama I, page 66.

Turkmenbashy is reminding us that today’s actions may carry future consequences.

[End.]

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