VZCZCXRO8712
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ
RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHAH #0048/01 0101224
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 101224Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0045
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 3228
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1043
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0914
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 1491
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2093

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000048 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV EAGR ECON ETRD TX
SUBJECT:  TURKMENISTAN:  BAN ON IMPORTED CHICKEN 
PROTECTIONIST, NOT FEAR OF AVIAN FLU 
 
REF: 07 STATE 169243 
 
¶1.  (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for public Internet. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  Charge conveyed to Turkmenistan's 
Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations on January 9 
the reftel demarche requesting Turkmenistan lift its ban on 
importating U.S. poultry products.  The officials did not 
promise to rescind the ban but also did not close the door to 
future imports of U.S. poultry products, including chicken -- 
and, in fact, had recently ordered 6,300 tons.   The Turkmen 
officials stated that the reason for the ban was to encourage 
local production of poultry and repeated several times that 
this remains their priority.  Charge presented the same 
demarche to Minister of Health Ata Serdarov on January 10. 
He confirmed the ban is protectionish, not phytosanitary. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) On January 9, Charge conveyed refetl demarche to 
Turkmenistan's Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic 
Relations requesting Turkmenistan lifts its ban on 
importating U.S. poultry products, and gave Minister 
Nokerguly Atagulyev talking points in the form of a non-paper. 
 
U.S. CHICKEN IMPORTS HALTED TO ENCOURAGE LOCAL PRODUCTION 
 
¶4.  (SBU) The Trade Ministry officials stated that 
Turkmenistan stopped importating U.S. poultry products in 
2006 to "encourage local production" -- essentially by doing 
away with foreign competition.  (COMMENT:  Previously, we had 
been told that a ban on imported poultry was in response to 
the fear of avian flu.  END COMMENT.)  Minister Atagulyev 
said that Turkmenistan would ensure the availability of 
chicken in Turkmenistan, both locally-produced and imported 
from the U.S.  Annamuhamed Valiyev, the Ministry's 
international liaison, said that Turkmenistan remained open 
to the Charge's offer to assist with future import needs, and 
would work with Turkmenistan's embassy in Washington and with 
the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat. 
 
TURKMENISTAN ADMITS TO RECENT IMPORT OF AMERICAN CHICKEN 
PRODUCTS... 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Valiyev admitted that Turkmenistan imported 
American chicken-leg quarters for the New Year's holliday. 
(NOTE:  Embassy employees heard from Ministry of Trade and 
Foreign Economic Relations sources that Turkmenistan bought 
4,500 tons of chicken quarters for the New Year, and 1,800 
tons for Flag Day (in February).  The Ministry of Trade 
reportedly bought the chicken for $2 per kilo, and then 
resold the chicken legs at the market with a very hefty 
mark-up.  END NOTE.)  Valiyev stated that the Turkmeninstan 
Embassy in Washington contacted chicken producers.  He said 
although the contract with an American company or companies 
is substantial, Turkmenistan still prioritizes encouragement 
of local production. 
 
...BUT PROTECTING LOCAL PRODUCERS REMAINS A PRIORITY 
 
¶6.  (SBU) In response to the Charge's comment that the 
American chicken imported for the New Year's holiday sold out 
immediately, Valiyev claimed that people bought it quickly 
because they hadn't seen American chicken in a long time and, 
thus, "satisfied their initial taste," but have already lost 
interest.  He averred 70% of the order remains unsold to the 
public, in storage.  (COMMENT:  We'd say this is a bunch of 
hooey.  The government strictly regulates local markets and 
imposed a limit on the number of kilos any one individual 
could buy.  Rather than lack of demand by consumers, we 
suspect Gosplan traditions are at work.  As further evidence 
of state control of commerce, the Trade Ministry confirmed a 
 
ASHGABAT 00000048  002 OF 002 
 
 
private Turkmen firm imports 300 tons of chicken annually, 
but we are told the firm's sales are limited strictly to 
hotels and restaurants.  END COMMENT. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Charge presented the same reftel demarche to 
Minister of Health Ata Serdarov on January 10.  The minister 
readily confirmed the so-called ban on imported chicken is 
not in response to fears of avian flue.  He explained 
Turkmenistan has adequate monitoring controls to prevent 
dangerous imported food products from reaching the market. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) COMMENT:  Although Trade Minister Atagulyev did not 
promise to rescind the ban, the door remains open to future 
imports of U.S. poultry products.  Embassy will provide a 
list of U.S. poultry exporters to the Ministry of Trade and 
Foreign Economic Relations and continue to monitor the local 
markets.  END COMMENT. 
HOAGLAND