Who rules Turkmenistan?
The 10 and 11 December news from Turkmenistan were dominated by the information about the UN centre for preventive diplomacy being opened in Ashgabat. However, this will not be the main topic of my post, because it would be difficult to make a longer comment on the fact that new positions were created for UN officials.
The opening ceremony was attended by many guests from abroad who - as it usually is the case - made use of the occasion to meet the host and discuss current issues in mutual relations. In a democratic or even a bit authoritarian country, such meetings would be held at various levels with counterparts corresponding the guest’s rank. But this is not the case in Turkmenistan. As the turkmenistan.ru website informed on 11 December:
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received first deputy foreign minister of the Russian Federation Andrei Denisov; minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Vladimir Norov; minister of foreign affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Rangin Dadfar-Spanta, minister of foreign affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran Manuchehr Mottaki; minister of foreign affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Nizar bin Obaid Madani; deputy minister of foreign affairs of Italy, senator Janni Vernetti; minister of foreign affairs of the Kingdom of Belgium Karl De Gucht; minister of state for foreign affairs of the UAE Mohammed bin Hussein Al Sha’ali.
The gundogar.org website adds to this list: the NATO Special Representative to Caucasus and Central Asia Robert Simons and the OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut. It is worth noticing that these were not one-man delegations. They were mostly made up of businessmen, corporation representatives and other less important officials.
It is possible that they also met with other Turkmen officials (although there is no mention of that in official sources), but the fact is that in just one day Berdymukhammedov had 10 important international meetings. Let me note that the Turkmen leader apart from representing the country in external relations also heads the government, presides over the Halk Maslahaty (National Assembly) and is the leader of the only political party.
This makes an impression that the president controls and manages everything and is the only person ruling the country. But would one man be physically capable of doing all that? I doubt it. The existing situation substantially increases the role of the president’s advisors and other people in his entourage. It is them who prepare documents for his signature, plan his daily schedule, decide about audiences, make suggestions, etc. The fact that all final decisions in Turkmenistan are taken personally by the president gives those people more power than any minister or other high-ranking official may ever have. It is a pity that we do not know and probably never will get to know their last names or functions. This would make analysing the situation in Turkmenistan much easier.
But one thing is certain. The answer to the question who rules Turkmenistan is not at all a simple one.
on December 17th, 2007 at 5:06 am
This is ridiculous.Of course he has the advisors which is crucial for each and every leader in the world. Do you think that all other presidents act on their own, never. They have their advisors. The true leader is not the who does everything himself alone but who makes others do and controls them. So no need to discuss about Who Rules Turkmenistan? The answer is simple Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedow does.
on December 17th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
Understanding that the world society is unpower in Turkmenistan bedlam, I think, one of the corestone reasons is the links between the oil resourses of this country and the world’s leaders’ life prosperety.
on December 17th, 2007 at 10:31 pm
to Gurban:
I agree with you that every leader has many advisers who help him curry out his duties. The difference between Turkmenistan and democratic countries is that in a democracy various areas of state policy are divided between appriopriate state organs, advisors, etc. They know their duties as does the public opinion. In a totalitarian state like Turkmenistan president is FORMALLY the only person who makes almost all decisions (and in this respect you are right - it is him who rules Turkmenistan). But the problem is that the whole political system of Turkmenistan is completely untransparent. So how do you know that it is Berdymukhammedov and not people around him who make all the decisions? Do you think so just because they show him on TV all the time like Brezhniev in USSR? I don’t say that Berdymukhammedov doesn’t rule Turkmenistan, I’m just not sure about it and ask myself a question.
on December 19th, 2007 at 5:49 am
Some points:
*That’s what, manies are not aware/sure of what they are writing and create problems. Esp. reporters, media,etc.
*You didn’t mention that you were ‘just not sure about it and ask myself a question.’ in your article. You spoke as if you were 100% sure.
*My answer to you is he decides everything.Everything comes out of his hands only.
*You can’t fit a democratic system which used in some another country in one another country. You’ll have to develop a democratic system, taking into consideration the culture, people, etc. of particular country. And that’s what is being done in Turkmenistan. You can’t or let’s say don’t have to use dem. system of US because their culture is different than Turkmeistan’s.