2005 Press Releases

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Laura E. Kennedy Visits Turkmenistan

Feb. 9, 2005

Ambassador Laura E. Kennedy, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, is in Turkmenistan February 9-10, 2005 at the invitation of President Saparmurat Niyazov. At their meeting Wednesday, President Niyazov and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Kennedy discussed human rights, education, child labor, regional cooperation, security issues, and other topics of mutual concern. Ambassador Kennedy's schedule in Ashgabat also includes meetings with Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Gurbanmuradov, Minister of Foreign Affairs Meredov, and Minister of Education Saparlyev. She is also expected to meet with alumni of U.S. Government-sponsored exchange programs and representatives of civil society groups.

Following her talks with President Niyazov, Ambassador Kennedy noted that it was a constructive meeting, useful for both sides. "I thanked the Government of Turkmenistan for some positive steps during the last year and continuing support for international anti-terrorist efforts. I also appreciated the opportunity to discuss some areas of particular concern to the U.S. Government, including religious freedom, the development of civil society, access to prisoners, resumption of Radio Mayak broadcasts and some other issues," said the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State. "The United States is interested in cooperating in a wide range of issues to advance democratic reform, economic prosperity and security in Turkmenistan."

Deputy Assistant Secretary Kennedy's areas of responsibility include countries in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. She assumed her duties as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of State in June 2004. From 2001 to 2003, she served as U.S. Ambassador to Turkmenistan where she focused on promoting civil society and enlisting the government in the war against terrorism in neighboring Afghanistan. Deputy Assistant Secretary Kennedy has previously served in Austria, Armenia, Turkey, and Moscow, and in a variety of Washington assignments. While Director for Central Eurasia and Caspian energy issues, Deputy Assistant Secretary Kennedy visited Turkmenistan from 1995 to 1997. She also traveled through parts of Central Asia with cultural exhibition programs while assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. Deputy Assistant Secretary Kennedy is married to retired Foreign Service Officer John Feeney and has two children, Martin and Patrick Feeney.