VATICAN CITY, JUL 10, 1996 (VIS) - The Holy See and the Republic of Turkmenistan, desirous of developing friendly relations, have decided of common accord to establish diplomatic relations between them, on the level of apostolic nunciature for the Holy See and of embassy on the part of the Republic of Turkmenistan.
A note accompanying today's announcement explained that "the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the Republic of Turkmenistan is inserted within the context of diplomatic relations established with the former Soviet republics, in particular those of Central Asia: Kyrghzstan on August 27, 1992; Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on October 17, 1992 and Tadgikistan on June 15, 1996."
This same note outlined the presence of the Church in Central Asia.
"On April 13, 1991, the Holy Father erected the apostolic administration of Kazakhstan, with its seat in Karaganda, whose territory includes the five Central Asian republics, naming Fr. Pavel Lenga of the Marian Clerics as apostolic administrator. (He was) ordained a bishop on May 28, 1991. On April 9, 1994, Archbishop Marian Oles was named apostolic nuncio in Kazakhstan, Kyrghyzstan and Uzbekistan, with his residence in Almaty."
Kazakhstan has an area of 2,717,300 square kilometers and a population of 17 million people. The capital is currently Almaty - with more than 2 million people - while awaiting the transfer in the year 2000 to the new capital of Akmola (currently Tselinograd). Most of the population is Sunnite Muslim, with about 30 percent Russian Orthodox. There is a community of 5,000 Jews in Almaty. Catholics number about 300,000 and are found mainly in 10 pastoral centers. There are 40 priests, 68 religious and 30 seminarians.
The Republic of Kyrghyzstan is 198,500 square kilometers in size and has 4,750,000 million people, of whom 20 percent are of Russian origin. The capital of Biskek has 641,000 inhabitants. Most of the people are Sunnite Muslim. A small Catholic community is assisted by one priest who lives in the capital.
The Republic of Tadgikistan covers an area of 143,100 square kilometers and has just over 6 million people. Muslims are the great majority but there is a small Catholic community of German origin, though it is constantly diminishing as they return to Germany or the Volga Region of the Russian Federation.
With an area of 488,100 square kilometers, the Republic of Turkmenistan has 4,100,000 inhabitants. The capital is Asgabad, with 420,000 people. There are very few Catholics and they are in the care of Franciscans in Asgabad.
The Republic of Uzbekistan is 447,400 square kilometers in area and has 22 million people. The capital, Tashkent, has over 2 million inhabitants. The overwhelming majority are Sunnite Muslims. Today there is a moderate number of Catholics in Tashkent where the Church has been restructured. There is only one priest at the moment.