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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 ASHGABAT 001307 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2017 
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON EPET ETRD SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN:  "THE DOOR IS OPEN, BUT WE FOLLOW 
OUR OWN PATH" 
 
Classified By: CHARGE SYLVIA REED CURRAN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B), (D) 
 
¶1.  (C)  SUMMARY:  In a wide-ranging discussion with SCA PDAS 
Mann on November 16, Foreign Minister Meredov: 
 
-- reaffirmed Turkmenistan welcomes proposals from 
world-class energy companies; 
 
-- agreed more work needs to be done to reform the economy 
and improve the business climate; 
 
-- touted the planned Avaza Free Tourist Zone as a model for 
national development; 
 
--confirmed Turkmenistan wants bilateral Caspian Sea 
delimitation with Azerbaijan; 
 
-- expressed cautious optimism about some forms of 
educational cooperation; and 
 
-- remained non-committal about himself visiting Washington 
any time soon. 
 
Meredov is more sophisticated than many senior officials in 
Turkmenistan, and we need to trust that with our regular 
repetition of our views, he will take some on board.  He is a 
key interlocutor because he is one of President 
Berdimuhamedov's closest advisers.  END SUMMARY. 
 
TIOGE A GREAT SUCCESS 
 
¶2.  (C)  Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Rashit 
Meredov welcomed SCA PDAS Steven Mann on November 16, noting 
the meeting was a good opportunity to strengthen the 
bilateral relationship.  Mann congratulated Meredov on the 
success of the just-ended International Oil and Gas 
Exhibition. He told Meredov that he had spoken briefly with 
State Agency for Hydrocarbon Resources Director Muradov 
before Muradov's unexpected departure for Moscow, and knew 
that Chevron representatives had presented a serious and 
detailed proposal to the Turkmen government for 
consideration.  He said, "Our hope is that Turkmenistan will 
choose our companies."  Mann added every foreign business 
person he'd talked to had raised the difficulty of getting 
Turkmen visas, which is a structural, not Foreign Ministry, 
problem. 
 
¶3.  (C) Meredov thanked Mann for his positive evaluation of 
the conference, noting it had opened new avenues for 
cooperation with world-class companies.  The next step is 
that they should present serious proposals.  Meredov said he 
was aware of how much there is to do to improve the business 
and investment climate for companies interested in working in 
Turkmenistan.  "Steps have been taken.  There are more to 
come.  This is a work in progress."  He noted during the past 
10 months, Turkmenistan has opened its doors to the world 
through its interactions with visiting delegations, during 
international trips, and through a growing number of business 
contacts, and diplomatic activity, both bilateral and 
multilateral.  He said that these interactions have created a 
positive atmosphere. 
 
AVAZA AS A DEVELOPMENT MODEL 
 
¶4.  (C)  Following government talking points, Meredov pointed 
to the Avaza Free Tourist Zone project as a key element of 
Turkmenistan's effort to build a positive business 
environment.  Visa and economic reform will occur first in 
Avaza, then spread to the rest of the country.  After Avaza, 
Turkmenbashy city and port will be modernized, then the 
entire Caspian zone.  He cautioned, however, such broad 
development would not happen in a year, so expectations 
should be moderated. 
 
ASHGABAT 00001307  002.2 OF 004 
 
 
 
¶5.  (C) PDAS Mann admitted there is skepticism about Avaza, 
especially if it doesn't have a solid business plan.  He 
cited visa problems for prospective tourists and the fact 
that business people feel constrained by Ministry of National 
Security (MNB) interference and surveillance.  Meredov did 
not reply directly.  He said Turkmenistan must consider 
"macro-components" of reform.  Economic reform is not a 
one-day process.  It needs broad consultation with 
international organizations and international financial 
institutions. 
 
¶6.  (C) Mann persisted, "The key question is this:  Is 
Turkmenistan Soviet or Modern?" 
 
¶7.  (C) Meredov said Turkmenistan is in the midst of 
reviewing its visa regime but will need more time.  He 
pointed out Turkmenistan has long borders with Iran and 
Afghanistan it needs to protect and needs to consider changes 
to visa procedures very carefully as a result.  Mann riposted 
that Turkey and Azerbaijan also have long borders with states 
of concern, but a traveler can easily get a visa at the 
airport.  It would be a great improvement if entry to 
Turkmenistan were more easily accessible for legitimate 
travelers.  "You need to simplify the system, not weaken it." 
 
ECONOMIC REFORM 
 
¶8.  (C)  Meredov said that the country's reform plan was 
developing, but it's not done yet.  Development and reform of 
the economy is key, and Turkmenistan is engaged in talks with 
international financial institutions to develop a road map, 
but they are seeking a realistic and pragmatic approach. 
 
CASPIAN DELIMITATION 
 
¶9.  (C)  Mann raised the issue of Caspian Sea delimitation. 
He asked if on this sensitive issue Turkmenistan wants the 
United States to be helpful or keep its distance.  Turning 
professorial, Meredov said the issue has a long history and 
has been vexatious in many parts of the world.  He recognized 
the potential contribution of "U.S. or UK legal experts" and 
would always welcome advice on methodology," 
 
¶10.  (C) Mann conveyed Azerbaijani views, which he had 
received on his recent visit to Baku.  He suggested a 
median-line approach could be agreed relatively simply, and 
then bilateral commercial agreements to mutually exploit the 
resources would naturally follow.  He said, in his view, the 
issue is not solely legal, but requires bilateral good-faith 
negotiations.  Meredov pointed out Turkmenistan and 
Azerbaijan have met three times in the last six months to 
consider delimitation, and will continue to meet, but did not 
otherwise agree or disagree. 
 
¶11.  (C) In a private pull-aside at the end of the meeting, 
Meredov told Mann, "We want a delimitation agreement and can 
reach it, but we have to have part of "Azeri Chirag" (NOTE: 
The disputed natural-gas field that is the main bone of 
contention for Turkmenistan.  END NOTE).  Mann said he is 
convinced Turkmenistan can reach a solution with Azerbaijan. 
He pointed out Baku needs Ashgabat to achieve a fully stable 
situation in the Caspian.  Baku needs Ashgabat as a counter 
to Teheran.  He then noted, "Your weakness is a methodology 
that no one else uses."  He urged Meredov to agree on a 
median-line solution that includes commercial arrangements 
with Azerbaijan.  Meredov replied, "I understand that." 
 
CASPIAN ENERGY DEVELOPMENT 
 
¶12.  (C)  Mann said the United States respects Turkmenistan's 
independence.  He said that recent talks with the President 
had also included discussion on new gas projects. 
 
ASHGABAT 00001307  003 OF 004 
 
 
Turkmenistan is currently determining where companies will 
come in and do exploratory and developmental gas-field work. 
Meredov said Turkmenistan has to evaluate companies closely 
because "Mobil was here in the 1990s but 'ran away.'"  Mann 
explained that when Exxon and Mobil merged, the new 
management didn't much like Mobil's PSA, and that was why the 
newly merged company pulled out.  Mann then noted Chevron's 
desire to be the main operator for the block at Serdar.  He 
emphasized the world is now a different place than it was in 
the 1990s, and that includes the price of oil. 
 
¶13.  (C)  Mann raised the question of how Turkmenistan's gas 
can be transported westward and, thus, provide maximum 
benefit to the country.  Selling gas at the border is the 
Gazprom model.  Turkmenistan has the capacity to be a 
significant supplier to the West.  The country would more 
greatly benefit if it became a partner in transport 
infrastructure as well.  Turkmenistan would have the ability 
to develop an international reputation as a stable and 
long-term business partner as well if it engaged in such 
activity.  Meredov again did not agree or disagree, but said 
that there were indeed great opportunities on the Caspian 
shelf.  "If anyone has proposals, Turkmenistan is open to 
hear them, he said." 
 
¶14.  (C)  Mann pointed to Kazakhstan as a model for turning 
partnership into national development.  In Kazakhstan, 
modern, extreme-high-pressure technology is being used, and 
would be very useful in Turkmenistan as well where sub-salt 
gas will be difficult to extract.  KazMunaiGaz took advantage 
of partnership with major foreign companies and profited from 
their training and expertise.  KazMunaiGaz is now an 
international company in its own right.  Turkmenistan could 
achieve the same, but it will need powerful partners. 
Full-stream partnerships are much more profitable than 
selling gas at the border.  Meredov mused, "The opportunities 
are huge," then added, "But China is paying for its own 
pipeline -- your big companies should build our pipeline." 
 
BUILDING THE SOCIALIST PARADISE 
 
¶15.  (C)  Linking partnership with foreign companies, Meredov 
noted pointedly that Kazakhstan and Russia went through 
economic collapse and the rise of oligarchs.  Turkmenistan 
must control its economy to prevent the impoverishment of its 
citizens during systemic change.  He rhapsodized, "We are 
rebuilding Ashgabat, then we will rebuild our other cities. 
We have to modernize our villages.  We need schools, 
hospitals, running water.  We've already spent $4 billion on 
this.  Foreign companies can harm our people.  The President 
has a plan to improve the social conditions of our people." 
 
EDUCATION 
 
¶16.  (C) Meredov added that the country is investing heavily 
in education -- many students are being sent to Russia and 
China for higher education.  Petronas provides education. 
"Let your companies do the same, within the structure of our 
plan.  We don't want foreign companies to harm our people. 
Turkmenistan must balance the need to develop 
socio-economically with the need to open up to international 
investment."  Meredov added that Turkmenistan would be very 
receptive to domestic, business-related educational programs 
paid for by companies who come to invest in Turkmenistan. 
"This would be easy to support and approve."  He added that 
the government is doing a great deal behind the scenes to 
improve the skill base of the labor force, and the education 
system has a good base. 
 
¶17.  (C)  Mann said some of the foreign businessmen at the 
oil and gas conference had commented they want to hire young 
Turkmen lawyers, but can't find any because law students have 
been studying "Ruhnama" for the last five years.  Meredov 
 
ASHGABAT 00001307  004 OF 004 
 
 
protested, "Steve!  We have lots of young experts!  We have 
lots of schools and institutes!  We're starting 
English-teaching on television with your help.  When the 
President was at Columbia University, he invited Professor 
Katherine Nepomnyashi for the Harriman Institute to come here 
to consider a Harriman Institute in one of our universities. 
Give us any proposal, and we will approve those appropriate 
for our system." 
 
¶18.  (C) Mann said the United States would welcome more 
Turkmen experts visiting the United States.  Meredov replied, 
"We sent delegations to the United States and United Kingdom 
in the mid-1990s.  But lots of time has passed since then. 
Where are the results today?" 
 
NEW OPPORTUNITIES 
 
¶19.  (C)  Mann said the United States would like to look at 
new opportunities with Turkmenistan.  For example, the U.S. 
Trade and Development Agency could consider sending teams to 
evaluate possibilities in the petrochemical industry, and 
possibly in telecommunications and agriculture.  He asked, 
"Concretely, in the next 12 months, how can we best 
cooperate?"  Meredov replied, "We're on different paths, but 
this is a promising moment.  Let's see what develops." 
 
¶20.  (C) Alluding to the U.S. draft of the Meredov-requested 
12-month work plan, to which Turkmenistan has not responded, 
Mann reminded Meredov that Secretary Rice has invited him to 
visit the United States.  Meredov replied that the past year 
has been very intense.  "But let's see what develops," he 
said again. 
 
¶21.  (C) COMMENT:  This meeting was important for more 
clearly revealing the current Turkmen government world view 
-- especially the reluctance to take risks, including 
economic and social ones, that could, in their view, 
challenge their tightly controlled version of stability.  The 
fairly regularly voiced lingering resentment that foreign 
projects from the mid- to late-1990s mostly came to naught 
almost willfully ignores the realities of the late Niyazov 
era, when Turkmenistan sealed itself off.  However, Meredov 
is more sophisticated than many senior officials in 
Turkmenistan, and we need to trust that with our regular 
repetition of our views, he will take some on board.  He is a 
key interlocutor because he is one of President 
Berdimuhamedov's closest advisers.  END COMMENT. 
 
¶22.  (U) PDAS Mann has cleared this cable. 
CURRAN