VZCZCXRO6842
OO RUEHAG RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV
DE RUEHAH #0034 0081222
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 081222Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0020
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 3213
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 1028
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0902
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL PRIORITY 1476
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 2081
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0665

S E C R E T ASHGABAT 000034 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB (AMB. MANN) 
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN 
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON 
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2018 
TAGS: PGOV PREL EPET AZ TX
SUBJECT:  TURKMENISTAN:  FOREIGN MINISTER WANTS DETAILED 
CONSULTATION WITH EEB AMBASSADOR MANN ON AZERBAIJAN 
 
Classified By: CHARGE RICHARD E. HOAGLAND FOR REASONS 1.4 (B), (D) 
 
¶1.  (S) SUMMARY:  Charge met for an hour January 8 with 
Foreign Minister Rashit Meredov (other issues reported 
septel).  Meredov dismissed his notetaker and said he wanted 
to have a totally frank conversation.  He intimated relations 
with Azerbaijan -- including the issue of bilateral Caspian 
delimitation -- are improving at a deliberate pace.  He said 
he would welcome "detailed discussion" with EEB Ambassador 
Steve Mann how the United States can facilitate 
Turkmenistan's outstanding issues with Azerbaijan, including 
delimitation.  END SUMMARY. 
 
AZERBAIJAN:  UNITED STATES CAN HELP 
 
¶2.  (C) Meredov averred relations with Azerbaijan continue to 
improve.  The Bilateral Economic Commission will meet for the 
first time in late January or early February, and the agenda 
will include educational and cultural issues.  When Charge 
encouraged Turkmenistan to re-open its embassy in Baku and 
send a strong and active ambassador, Meredov responded 
President Berdimuhamedov has already approved this.  "We 
fully understand it would be good in itself and would send a 
strong signal to the region."  He noted, however, the wheels 
of bureaucracy grind slowly. 
 
¶3.  (C) Most important in renewing Turkmenistan's 
relationship with Azerbaijan is that the bilateral Caspian 
delimitation working group has met three times since July 
2007, and will meet again at the end of January or early 
February.  "These meetings are without emotion or politics -- 
just lawyers and geologists with maps.  This is very 
positive, in my view.  I think we are making progress." 
 
¶4.  (S) In an important development, Meredov said he had not 
forgotten the Charge's offer last Fall for the U.S. to 
facilitate Caspian bilateral delimitation, "But the time was 
not right."  Meredov said he would welcome a visit by EEB 
Ambassador Steve Mann, and would be prepared "to discuss in 
detail" how the United States could play a helpful role 
between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. 
 
¶5.  (C) COMMENT:  Post would welcome a visit by Ambassador 
Mann to follow up on this opening Meredov seems to be 
providing.  END COMMENT. 
HOAGLAND