State Department UAP Cable 4, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, November 5, 2004
Agency: Department of State
Incident date: 11/5/04
Incident location: Turkmenistan

UFOlogists of Turkmenistan has gained a positive reputation as a reliable partner for the United States in Turkmenistan to the bemusement of the cable’s author in the build up of civil society organizations within the country.  The reputation has become earned because everyone in Turkmenistan, apparently, “is interested in UFOs.”

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MRN: 
04 ASHGABAT 1028 
Date/DTG: 
Nov 12, 2004 / 1208512 NOV 04 
From: 
AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 
Action: 
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC ROUTINE 
E.O.: 
12958 
TAGS: 
AORC, TSPA, PREL, PGOV, EAID, OSCI, 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 
SDISITl',1E 
DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN (RUBIN) 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AORC, TSPA, PREL, PGOV, EAID, OSCI, TX 
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN, CIVIL SOCIETY AND UFOS 
REF: 
A) Ashgabat 989 (NOTAL) 
B) Ashgabat 406 (NOT AL) 
C) Ashgabat 291 (NOTAL) 
D) Ashgabat 234 (NOTAL) 
ODdOITl~E OUT UtdGLAOOIFIED - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY 
Summary 
1. ~ Yes, UFOs. Somehow, over time, the Union of 
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John Powers, Acting-Director 
US Department of State 
2/25/2026 
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UFOiogists of Turkmenabat has established a reputation as 
a reliable 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 
&quot;everyone is interested in UFOs.&quot; The UFOiogists next 
initiative is to publish 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&apos;s most reliable implementers is equally committed to 
looking for life on another planet. End Summary. 
UFOs in Turkmenabat 
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 
successfully 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 &quot;practical,&quot; Board members told 
the DCM. Members of the Union 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. 
Peace on Earth 
5. ~ Instead, the Union has attracted a local brain 
trust of lawyers, scientists, computer experts, 
accountants, teachers and others who had joined together 
to &quot;do good things.&quot; Pointing to their mission statement 
in English, Russian and Turkmen hanging on the wall of 
their office, members assured the DCM that any assistance 
they provided would fit their mission. According to 
their statement, the UFOiogists &quot;help spread the ideas 
about the struggle for peace and human coexistence on 
Earth and in the Universe.&quot; Because of their diverse 
activities, the UOU has become an umbrella organization 
with at least nine member organizations running 
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activities from sport, to youth, to business consulting. 
The Union has over 1000 members including some individual 
members from other welayets. 
Registering Small and Medium Businesses 
6. ~ Members told the DCM they first started the 
&quot;practical&quot; side 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&apos;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 &quot;non-traditional&quot; 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 
respect of local authorities. According to Muradov, 
&quot;everyone is interested in UFOs&quot; 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. 
8. ~ In addition to commercial work, the UOU 
obtained experience in humanitarian goods distribution 
when it became a partner of the State Department funded 
CHAP humanitarian assistance program administered by 
Counterpart International. UOU facilitated humanitarian 
assistance to refugees from the civil war in Tajikistan 
and also with Afghan refugees. Muradov said the Union 
was eager to continue with such work, should the need 
arise. 
Assisting NGOs 
9. ~ Because of their established track record and 
their success in re-registering after the austere 2003 
NGO law was passed, USAID, through Counterpart 
International, is considering a $15,000 grant to assist 
the UOU with internal capacity building. The grant 
passed the local grants committee and has been forward to 
the regional committee for consideration. The UOU 
already has successfully registered an NGO and is working 
on the registration documents of four others. 
Next, an Independent Newsletter 
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10. ~ 
USAID was presented with a grant proposal by 
the UOU for a $30k grant for printing equipment for the 
UOU to establish its own newsletter. Though printing of 
independent media is illegal 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, &quot;that is up to 
them.&quot; 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 &quot;our services are in so much 
demand.&quot; 
Comment 
12. ~ 
Crazy? Like a fox; and worthy of USG 
attention and support. End Comment. 
13. (U) Minimize considered. 
JACOBSON 
BT 
#1028 
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Signature: 
JACOBSON 
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