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30/07/2005 NIYAZOV, POOR SAINT AMONGST THUGS AND THIEVES?
Only a few months ago, Vice Prime Minister Yolli Gurbanmuradov, who had been in charge of oil and gas and Niyazov’s personal needs for so many years was dismissed for allegedly taking bribes and working as a foreign spy. Now it was Rejep Saparov’s turn, and I must say that the timing of his dismissal came as a surprise for me at least. Saparov was after all besides Gurbanbibi Atajanova the longest serving prominent high ranking official in Niyazov’s cabinet after the 25 November shake-up. He was heading the President’s administration and was a PHd holder in bootlicking. That he is joining so soon his predecessor as head of the President’s administration Yazgeldi Gundogdiev, an alleged alcoholic and drug addict in jail was a real surprise for me. Unfortunately I don’t know if Gundogdiev will be surprised, too, nor if Saparov would be welcome as his cell mate, but I want to share with you in this context a conversation I had with Gundogdiev a few years ago, when he told me the following story about Saparov:
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A day before travelling with Saparov and Niyazov by helicopter for a factory opening, Saparov had phoned him and asked him how many people would be present during that ceremony. He reportedly told Saparov that he would assume the number to reach approximately 500. “Are you crazy”, Saparov shouted over the phone. “If Niyazov asks you”, tell him “5000 would be attending”. The next day, all three of them, Niyazov, Saparov and Gundogdiev were indeed travelling by helicopter for the plant opening. Shortly before landing, Saparov got suddenly extremely busy with cleaning the shoes of Niyazov with his own handkerchief, so that Niyazov decided to address Gundogdiev. “Yazgeldi, tell me, how many people will be attending the festivities?” Niyazov asked. Gundogdiev remembered what Saparov had told him the day before. “Approximately 5000 Mr.President”, he replied, to be immediately corrected by Saparov: “Nonsense, Mr.President. I am sure that there will be more than 12’000 “. After that Saparov continued with his shoe cleaning job until touch-down of the plane.
End of story / Unquote
I, the undersigned had the privilege of meeting all of actors in the above story in person including Niyazov. I must say that I feel today especially sorry for Niyazov, who seems to have no talent or luck in picking the right people for his administraton. All people he selects sooner or later allegedly turn out to be crooks. Maybe Niyazov should therefore seriously consider to step down himself and emigrate as long as there is time and let the people of Turkmenistan instead pick a leadership through free and fair elections. The people of Turkmenistan might well be more lucky and have more talent in picking the right candidates. I have one more advice for the newcomers in Niyazov’s administration: Don’t even try to copy Saparov. You can never become better bootlickers than him. And even if you can and succeed, it still won’t spare you Saparov’s fate.
TURKMEN TUR!
Bill Fox
Adviser to the Republican Party of Turkmenistan in exile
July 30, 2005
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Copyright 2004 Republican Party of Turkmenistan |
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