Internet Cafes Tie Turkmenistan to World

Turkmenistan's first Internet cafes opened in the capital Ashgabat, Friday, Feb. 16, 2007. Days after Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov was sworn in as Turkmenistan's first new leader since the Soviet era amid hints of greater openness following the death of Saparmurat Niyazov, the poor Central Asian nation's first Internet cafes opened to the public Friday. (AP Photo/Alexander Vershinin) (Alexander Vershinin - AP)

ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan -- For one of the world's most reclusive countries, the computers on shabby desks with cheap plastic chairs represent a small crack in two decades of isolation.

Days after Turkmenistan's first new leader since the Soviet era was sworn in _ following the death of the eccentric autocrat Saparmurat Niyazov _ the poor Central Asian nation's first Internet cafes opened to the public Friday.

Whether residents of a country will be able to surf the Web like people elsewhere remains an open question.

"We have opened Internet cafes in Ashgabat, and similar ones in regional centers will follow," said the new president, Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov, in televised remarks at a government session. "Soon each public school will have Web access."

There are two cafes in downtown Ashgabat, the capital, one in the solemn Soviet-era Central Telegraph building and the other in a dilapidated telephone exchange station. Each is located in a small room equipped with five computers, as well as rudimentary desks and chairs.

The cafes sat empty most of the day Friday, said cafe administrator Jenet Khudaikulieva, since few had heard about them. But she insisted that no Web sites would be blocked, and there was no visible attempt to register visitors or log the sites they were surfing.

An Associated Press reporter was able to easily read the Web sites of international news organizations as well as political opposition sites.

Previously, Web access was restricted to a limited few and independent online publications were blocked by government filters.

One hour of computer time costs about $4 _ a princely sum in a country where two-thirds of the population live below the poverty line and the average monthly income is less than $100.

"The connection speed is fantastic but the price stinks," said Gulsar Berdyklycheva, a third-year university student who dropped in to check e-mail.

Tatyana Strigina, a street vendor, said she could not afford Web access at current prices.

"It's way too expensive," she said.