Documents / Official release
This U.S. Department of State cable from the American Embassy in Ashgabat, dated November 12, 2004, describes a November 5 meeting between embassy officials and the Union of Ufologists of Turkmenabat. The group started out studying life on other planets and became a trusted NGO partner. It helps businesses and NGOs register, has distributed humanitarian aid and is seeking USAID grants, including one for a newsletter. Its president said there had been no confirmed UFO sightings in Turkmenistan.
From the source:Release of 2026-05-08 Incident: 11/5/04, 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.”
“Rapport”1 page
UNCLASSIFIED 51,-tj 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, "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 NNNN Signature: JACOBSON Info: RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE ROUTINE; RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA ROUTINE; RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS ROUTINE; RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC ROUTINE; RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC//DHO-2/REA/NMJIC-J2// ROUTINE; RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC ROUTINE; RUCAACC/USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FU/CCJ2/HSE/CCJ5// ROUTINE; RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC ROUTINE; RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//JS/RUE// ROUTINE; CIS COLLECTIVE ROUTINE XMT: ST PETERSBURG, AMCONSUL Dissemination Rule: Archive Copy IReleased in Fulll UNCLASSIFIED 51,-tj Page 4 of 5
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Official release, from the pursue collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is under it. 5 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.