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P 220543Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0325
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 3421
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1239
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RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1397
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2254
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0739

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000264 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, G/OES 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL SENV TSPL KTIA TX
SUBJECT:  TURKMENISTAN'S PARLIAMENT RATIFIES MONTREAL 
PROTOCOL 
 
 
¶1.  (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for public Internet. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  Turkmenistan's Mejlis (Parliament) on 
January 22 adopted a resolution on Turkmenistan's accession 
to the Montreal Protocol, apparently so that the Ministry of 
Nature Protection will be eligible for additional donor 
funds.  The Ministry of Nature Protection has an ambitious 
list of education and public awareness projects for students 
and adults that it would like to undertake, but for which it 
lacks sufficient funds.  This ministry is doing its best to 
promote sound ecological practices in Turkmenistan with 
limited resources.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) On January 22, Turkmenistan's Parliament adopted a 
resolution regarding Turkmenistan's accession to the 
Copenhagen, Montreal, and Beijing amendments to the Montreal 
Protocol for the Protection of the Ozone Layer.  According to 
National Ozone Center Coordinator Vladimir Vervedo and 
Department of Ecological Program Coordination Head Bekmurad 
Eyeberdiyev, the Ministry of Nature Protection is responsible 
for implementing the Montreal Protocol, in cooperation with 
the Ministry of Power Engineering and Industry, State Customs 
Service, and Ministry of Agriculture.  The Ministry of Nature 
Protection's National Ozone Unit (NOU) monitors the phasing 
out of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) and collects ODS 
consumption data.  The Ministry sends documentation declaring 
Turkmenistan's imports and consumption of ozone depleting 
substances, certified by "Gosstandart" and "Turkmenchemie," 
to the Montreal Protocol authorities on a yearly basis. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) The Ministry's Center for Ecological Observation 
currently operates four labs, but used to have six.  It also 
has a Center for the Control of Atmospheric Air.  Each 
province has its own nature protection department.  The 
Ministry approves new building projects for ecological 
soundness, and checks documentation of existing buildings for 
leaks.  If the Ministry finds problems, it will insist that 
the building be rebuilt.  Vervedo explained that the Ministry 
closed one small private construction firm that used R-12 
refrigerent (found in old refrigerators and air conditioners) 
in 2007. 
 
MOTIVATION TO SIGN MONTREAL PROTOCOL:  MONEY 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Vervedo and Eyeberdiyev said that Turkmenistan's 
Parliament decided to sign the Montreal Protocol in January 
in order for Turkmenistan to advance its work in this sphere. 
 They added that only Montreal Protocol signatories are 
eligible for funds distributed by the Multilateral Fund for 
the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol.  Turkmenistan 
also wants to receive funds from the Global Environment 
Facility (GEF), an independent financial organization that 
provides grants to developing countries for projects that 
benefit the global environment.  (NOTE:  According to 
Ministry documentation, Turkmenistan has received assistance 
from GEF for various projects since 1998.  END NOTE.) 
 
CHALLENGES TO RIDDING TURKMENISTAN OF ODS 
 
¶6.  (SBU) A group of Ministry of Nature Protection experts 
are working on the "National Environmental Action Plan" 
project, which aims to bring Turkmenistan's legislation to 
international norms.  Vervedo said that the Montreal 
Protocol's Enclosure A takes effect in 2010, at which time 
R-12 refrigerant will be illegal, according to the Protocol's 
guidelines.  Citing illegal sales of Mexican ODS products in 
the United States, Vervedo said that the Government of 
Turkmenistan is concerned about illegal sales of these ODS 
products within its borders as well.  Certain asthma inhalers 
are of particular concern, as these products are used 
primarily by the elderly, who cannot afford more expensive, 
environmentally friendly inhalers.  The Ministry is also 
 
ASHGABAT 00000264  002 OF 002 
 
 
paying close attention to large industrial refrigerators 
typically used to store milk products in order to get a sense 
of how much equipment will need to be replaced. 
 
OUTREACH TO YOUTH 
 
¶7.  (SBU) The NOU has produced an 18-minute film in Russian 
and Turkmen, as well as 200 CDs on ozone depletion.  They 
speak to school and university groups, and sponsor art 
exhibitions based on this theme. 
 
NATIONAL OZONE CENTER'S WISH LIST 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Vervedo said that his office could accomplish more, 
if additional funds were available.  He mentioned the 
following: 
 
-- The NOU asked the United Nations Environment Programme 
(UNEP) for a gas and liquid chromatographer in order to 
identify chemical content, but UNEP refused. 
 
-- The NOU wants to publish educational materials on the 
ozone layer for youth such as booklets, books, and brochures. 
 UNEP financed the translation of a comic book on ozone 
issues into Russian, and the NOU is looking for financing for 
a Turkmen version. 
 
-- The NOU wants to translate technical literature into 
Turkmen for repairmen of refrigerators or equipment using 
refrigerants. 
 
-- The State Customs Service needs a laboratory to verify 
chemical composition of substances. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) COMMENT:  In hydrocarbons-rich Turkmenistan, the 
Ministry of Nature Protection occupies a unique niche role. 
Most of its personnel are committed ecologists trying to do 
good work for their country, but they face an uphill battle, 
given the country's overwhelming dependence on hydrocarbon 
production as a source of revenue.  However, the president's 
decision to try to meet world standards -- including on ODS 
reduction -- is giving the Ministry a fresh purpose, even if 
there is no new or additional funding.  END COMMENT. 
HOAGLAND