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P 041225Z MAR 08
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UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000301 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, INR/B 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV EAGR EPET MARR TX
SUBJECT:  TURKMENISTAN:  PRESIDENT FIRES PROSECUTOR 
GENERAL, GREEN-LIGHTS MILITARY REFORM 
 
¶1.  (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for public Internet. 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  SUMMARY:  During a series of three meetings -- a 
meeting of the National Security Council, an expanded meeting 
of the National Security Council and a Cabinet of Ministers 
meeting -- on March 3, Turkmenistan's President 
Berdimuhamedov fired Turkmenistan's Prosecutor General for 
grave shortcomings, and initiated a new stage of military 
reform, including development of a new military doctrine and 
a fresh focus on training and motivation.  While the cabinet 
meeting that followed was calm by comparison, the president 
instructed the Ministry of Agriculture to buy only foreign 
agricultural equipment that had proven its ability to 
withstand Turkmenistan's soil and climate conditions 
(possibly a good sign for U.S. company Case-New Holland, 
which has bid on a high-value tender) and instructed that 
Vice Chairmen Meredov and Saparlyev travel to Baku March 5 to 
recover nearly $45 million worth of outstanding Azeri debts. 
Turkmenistan's military, like other sectors, suffered badly 
from neglect under former President Niyazov, and conditions 
and morale are reportedly poor.  Although there are no 
indications that Turkmenistan's leaders plan to eliminate the 
country's compulsory military conscription, they seem at 
least to be starting to focus on the real issues of 
complaint.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶3.  (U) During a series of three meetings -- a meeting of the 
National Security Council, an expanded meeting of the 
National Security Council and a Cabinet of Ministers meeting 
-- on March 3, Turkmenistan's President Berdimuhamedov fired 
Turkmenistan's Prosecutor General for grave shortcomings, and 
initiated a new stage of military reform, including 
development of a new military doctrine and a fresh focus on 
training and motivation.  While the National Security Council 
meeting was closed, the expanded council meeting held 
afterwards in the auditorium of the Military Academy -- which 
included the Cabinet of Ministers, and leaders of 
Turkmenistan's Mejlis (Parliament), ministries, agencies, and 
provincial and district governments -- apparently covered 
much of the same ground as the earlier meeting.  The heads of 
each of the "power ministries" reported on the situation in 
their agencies.  In particular, Minister of Defense Agageldi 
Mammetgeldiyev presented a generic design for a new, modern 
military base, and the Chief of the State Border Service, 
Bayram Alovov, presented a design for a new, modern border 
outpost.  The chief of the State Customs Service, Muradberdi 
Annaliyev, reported that his agency had just turned a new 
draft Customs Code over to the Mejlis.  According to press 
reports, all speakers spent substantial time during their 
presentations praising the president's reform policy. 
 
PROSECUTOR GENERAL OGSHUKOV FIRED FOR SHORTCOMINGS 
 
¶4.  (U) In a scene reminiscent of Niyazov-era meetings, a 
visibly frightened Prosecutor General Muhammet Ogshukov took 
the podium and proceeded to acknowledge his personal guilt in 
the shortcomings of the State Prosecutors' office. 
Reportedly, the president had discussed at length the 
"selfishness and messiness" of prosecutors, including 
military prosecutors, at the earlier meeting, accusing 
prosecutors of using their authority for personal gain and 
engaging in corruption.  He cited as an example a prosecutor 
who owned restaurants and bars in Abadan City, a town just 
outside Ashgabat.  Stating that Ogshukov had not cleaned up 
the prosecutor's office, the president publicly fired him, 
then appointed the Chairman of the Supreme Court, Chary 
Hojamuradov, to replace him.  He nominated the Chairman of 
the Ahal Provincial court, Yaranmurad Yazmuradov, as the new 
Supreme Court Chairman (bios for both contained in paras 
8-9.). 
 
PRESIDENT CALLS FOR NEW MILITARY DOCTRINE 
 
¶5.  (U) Reading from a script, the president then started 
discussing the need for military reform, as well as 
democratic and economic change.  Turkmenistan's military must 
be able to oppose all security threats, as well as protect 
the country's vital interests.  And, the president stressed, 
although the country will give priority to political and 
diplomatic solutions, its military must maintain a defense 
capability.  Reaffirming Turkmenistan's policy of neutrality, 
Berdimuhamedov called for development of a new military 
doctrine and qualitative improvement of the military and 
civil armed forces and for stronger preparedness through a 
new focus on training and motivation.  To help improve the 
military's prestige, he ordered construction of fully 
equipped military bases, as well as establishment of 
construction battalions.  The president rebuked the deputy 
minister of defense and deputy chief of the State Border 
Service responsible for equipping their respective services 
for failure to provide adequate food and clothing.  He also 
signed a law reducing military service for college graduates 
from 18 to 12 months. 
 
CABINET OF MINISTERS MEETING FOCUSES ON LAST TWO MONTHS 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Focusing on the accomplishments of the last two 
months, the cabinet meeting that followed was calm and 
relatively uneventful in comparison.  Of particular interest: 
 
-- The Minister of Economy of Finance, Gurbanmyrat 
Gurbanmuradov, acknowledged large losses of livestock and 
poultry and a reduction in egg production as a result of 
January's abnormally cold weather. 
 
-- The president instructed Vice Chairman of the Cabinet of 
Ministers for Oil and Gas Tachberdi Tagiyev to rectify 
lagging indicators.  (COMMENT:  This is quite possibly a sign 
that hydrocarbon production or construction is falling behind 
plan.  END COMMENT.) 
 
-- The president instructed that, while Turkmenistan should 
continue to buy high-yield agricultural equipment from 
overseas, it should only purchase those brands and models 
that have proven themselves capable of withstanding 
Turkmenistan's soil and weather conditions.  (COMMENT: 
Although this may be what the U.S. firm, Case-New Holland, is 
looking for in order to get a large new order from 
Turkmenistan, its Turkmenistan-based distributor, IP 
Consultants, told us March 4 that it had not yet heard 
anything about the company's bid being accepted.  END 
COMMENT.) 
 
-- President Berdimuhamedov announced that Deputy Chairmen of 
the Cabinet of Ministers Rashid Meredov and Hydyr Saparliyev 
would make a working visit to Baku March 5 to discuss issues 
related to recovery of Azerbaijan's $44,800,000 debt to 
Turkmenistan.  Once the Government of Turkmenistan receives 
the funds, it will immediately redirect those funds to pay 
for new computers and multi-media centers in schools. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) COMMENT:  Turkmenistan's military, like other 
sectors, suffered badly from neglect under former President 
Niyazov, and conditions and morale are reportedly poor.  With 
democratic and economic reform underway, Berdimuhamedov seems 
ready to turn his attention to creating a more modern 
military force.  Last autumn, the president instructed that, 
beginning in 2008, soldiers were no longer to work as field 
laborers.  Embassy's DAO reports that Turkmenistan this year 
sent a crop of newly graduated officers to Russia for further 
training and has begun the process of refurbishing or 
replacing worn and broken equipment.  Although there are no 
indications that Turkmenistan's leaders plan to eliminate 
military conscription, they seem at least to be starting to 
focus on the real issues of complaint, including the lack of 
adequate food and equipment, low morale and poor housing. 
 
END COMMENT. 
 
BIO -- CHARY HOJAMURADOV 
 
¶8.  (U) Homamyradov was born in Baharly District, Ahal 
Province in 1962, and graduated with a law degree from 
Turkmen State University in 1984.  From 1984 to 1990, he 
worked as an intern, then as a lawyer, at the Niyazov 
District legal consultations office in Ashgabat.  From 1990 
to 1992, he served as an intern, then as a judge, in various 
districts in Ahal Province, including Abadan City and 
Kopetdag District.  After serving for six years as a Supreme 
Court justice, he was elevated in 1998 to the position of 
Deputy Chairman, then Acting Chairman, then Chairman of the 
Ashgabat City court.  Beginning in 2002, he served for four 
years as Chairman of the Dashoguz Provincial Court, followed 
by a one-year stint as Chairman of the Ashgabat City court. 
In July 2007, the president nominated Hojamuradov to replace 
the Supreme Court Chairman, who had failed to act on 
decisions by the Commission on Complaints of Citizens against 
Law Enforcement Agencies. 
 
BIO -- YARANMURAD REJEPOVICH YAZMURADOV 
 
¶9.  (U) Yazmuradov was born in 1971 in Ahal Province's Abadan 
City.  He graduated from Turkmen State University's Faculty 
of Law in 1996.  From 1992 to 1996, Yazmuradov served as a 
secretary of the Supreme Court Presidium for Civil Judges. 
 
SIPDIS 
Upon graduation from Turkmen State University, he served as a 
judge at the Military Court of the Ashgabat Military 
District.  From 1997 to 2007, he served in various government 
positions, including judge in the Ashgabat City court, 
official in the social services system, Head of Ahal 
Province's Law Enforcement and Military Department, and 
official in Ashgabat's Niyazov District government.  After 
serving as a judge in the Ashgabat City court for a year 
(until 2008), he was appointed Chairman of the Ahal 
Provincial court.  Shortly thereafter, the president promoted 
Yazmuradov to the position of Supreme Court Chairman. 
HOAGLAND