VZCZCXRO6264
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ
RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHAH #0881/01 1961100
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 141100Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1148
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4015
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1832
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1699
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 2268
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC
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 2685
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC 0077

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000881 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/ACE, INL 
DUSHANBE FOR DEA 
MOSCOW FOR DEA 
ISLAMABAD FOR DEA 
ANKARA FOR DEA 
AID/W FOR EE/EA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID SNAR TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN:  NEW CUSTOMS CHAIRMAN SEES NEW 
POSSIBILITIES FOR COOPERATION WITH THE U.S. 
 
REF: A. ASHGABAT 783 
     ¶B. OSD POLICY MESSAGE DTG 121132Z JUN 08 
 
¶1.  (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for public Internet. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  State Customs Service Chairman Yaylym 
Berdiyev expressed his gratitude for U.S. assistance and 
eagerly discussed with emboffs his ideas for future 
cooperation.  His first priority is to review all training 
programs, equipment purchases and results in the form of 
seizures from the past eight to ten years to analyze cost and 
resource effectiveness.  Berdiyev's officers recently seized 
25 kilograms of narcotics on the Iranian border, thanks to 
facilities and equipment supplied by the United States.  The 
parliament is reviewing a new Customs Code which should cut 
down on the processing time for transiting cargo.  The 
willingness to cooperate is there, and post sees potential 
for other U.S. agencies to assist in devising a framework for 
training topics and a schedule.  END SUMMARY. 
 
EARLY PRIORITIES 
 
¶3.  (SBU) At an introductory meeting with State Customs 
Service Chairman Yaylym Berdiyev on July 10, he mentioned 
several times to emboffs that he has not yet had a chance to 
review his portfolio in its entirety.  (NOTE:  Until June 19, 
Berdiyev was chairman of the State Immigration Service (Ref. 
A).  END NOTE.)  Therefore, he could not fully comment on 
areas for future cooperation.  Emboffs tried to address 
concerns raised by Berdiyev's predecessor  related to the 
border crossing checkpoint construction program, which Nevada 
National Guard manages and CENTCOM/counternarcotics funds 
(Ref. B).  However, Berdiyev also responded that he hadn't 
fully been read-in on this issue (septel). 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Berdiyev said that his first priority is to review 
all training programs, equipment purchases and results in the 
form of seizures from the past eight to ten years to analyze 
cost and resource effectiveness.  He also mentioned that his 
deputy will make a needs-assessment visit next week to the 
Farap border crossing checkpoint, currently under 
construction with support from CENTCOM.  Berdiyev said that 
he will assess the Altyn Asyr Customs Training Center and 
decide if a new facility is necessary.  He added that the 
number of programs carried out at this facility will only 
increase in the future, in part due to the need to constantly 
train officers about new legislation.  Berdiyev told emboffs 
that he has already informed his personnel of his 
expectations that they will be the best English students in 
the joint U.S.-British English Language Training program held 
at the Altyn Asyr Customs Training Center.  After this 
review, he will be ready to discuss with the U.S. and other 
donors desired assistance and cooperation. 
 
BERDIYEV'S INITIAL THOUGHTS ON AREAS FOR FUTURE ASSISTANCE 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Berdiyev suggested several areas for future 
technical assistance: 
 
-- Train/retrain officers at ports of entry to upgrade 
skills, including but not exclusively on equipment such as 
endoscopes and busters; 
 
-- Train-the-trainer programs; and 
 
-- Establishment of a national monitoring center that would 
share and analyze data collected from the provinces on 
 
ASHGABAT 00000881  002 OF 002 
 
 
movement of people and cargo (including narcotics).  Berdiyev 
said that the Ministry of Communications will help to 
establish a fiber optic network for efficient information 
flow. 
 
NEW CUSTOMS CODE IN PROGRESS 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Berdiyev was aware that the Customs Code is being 
revamped, and that the new code would improve operations, 
speeding up cargo processing time resulting in a faster flow 
of goods across borders.  However he seemed unaware that the 
proposed new Customs Code is already undergoing parliamentary 
review. 
 
THANKS TO THE U.S. FOR SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Berdiyev said that law enforcement officers at the 
Altyn Asyr border crossing checkpoint in Balkan Province 
recently seized 25 kilograms of narcotics thanks to equipment 
and training provided by the United States.  He also said the 
EXBS and CENTCOM counternarcotics programs have significantly 
contributed to building a positive relationship with 
Turkmenistan's law enforcement agencies.  Berdiyev said that 
he would coordinate scanner needs with the State 
Counternarcotics Service.  He added that Customs might buy 
some necessary equipment using its own financial resources. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) COMMENT:  Although sacked soon after his return 
from the United States, former chairman Annaliyev was very 
impressed with his visit and Chairman Berdiyev appears just 
as open to a fuller relationship.  Berdiyev was open to 
closer cooperation, and post believes we should build on our 
already good relations with the State Customs Service.  One 
possible avenue is to work with them to produce a framework 
of training topics and a schedule.  It would be important, 
however, to avoid duplication of techinical assistance with 
other donors.  END COMMENT. 
HOAGLAND