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RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ
RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHAH #0114/01 0231212
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 231212Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2197
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4739
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2537
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RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 2987
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0942
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3272
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000114 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV TX
SUBJECT:  TURKMENISTAN: PRESIDENT SACKS DEFENSE OFFICIALS; ANNOUNCES 
"NEW" MILITARY DOCTRINE 
 
REF: ASHGABAT 81 
 
¶1. (U) Sensitive but Unclassified.  Not for Internet Distribution. 
 
¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY:  At a recent session of the State Security 
Council, President Berdimuhamedov fired the Defense Minister and the 
heads of the border and migration services.  He also reprimanded the 
Interior Minister.  Their replacements are officials who have viewed 
cooperation with the United States favorably in the past.  The 
President also announced a new military doctrine that hews to the 
existing neutrality policy, but aims at strengthened, more modern 
armed forces.  END COMMENT. 
 
¶3. (SBU) On January 21, President Berdimuhamedov held an expanded 
session of the State Security Council that included a broad 
assemblage of government officials, representatives of public 
organizations and the media, senior commanders of military and 
law-enforcement officials.  On the agenda were an assessment of the 
work done by law-enforcement and military agencies in 2008, 
consideration of a presidential decree "On the Military Doctrine of 
Turkmenistan" and instructions for law-enforcement and military 
organizations.  Chiefs of law-enforcement and military agencies 
reported on their respective areas of responsibility and on the 
implementation of scheduled plans for military reform. 
 
UNDERPERFORMING AGENCIES TARGETED; CHIEFS REPLACED 
 
¶4. (SBU) The first official to make a presentation was Niyazov-era 
holdover Minister of Defense, Agageldi Mammetgeldiyev, who reported 
in particular about progress on the construction of military 
townships.  Following the report, President Berdimuhamedov relieved 
Mammetgeldiyev from his position due to health reasons, reportedly 
at the minister's own request, and thanked him for loyal service to 
the country.  Berdimuhamedov then gave the floor to Prosecutor, 
General Chary Hojamyradov, who reported on serious violations in the 
Ministry of Defense revealed in the course of a special inspection. 
Supreme Court Chief Justice, Yaranmyrat Yazmuradov, also made a 
statement concerning the investigation of some Ministry of Defense 
officers. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Next on the agenda was the report by State Border Service 
Chief, Bayram Atayevich Alovov.  He was followed by Prosecutor 
General Hojamyradov, who gave a detailed description of shortcomings 
in the Border Service uncovered during his investigation. 
Berdimuhamedov remarked that the activity of the Border Service had 
not fully met its responsibilities, noting prevalent instances of 
mismanagement.  Alovov was dismissed from his post and demoted in 
military rank from General Major to Colonel. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Following a report about weak management in the State 
Migration Service, Berdimuhamedov relieved the acting Chairman, 
Yaran Sadykov, from his position.  The President also "gravely 
reprimanded" the Minister of Internal Affairs, Orazgeldi 
Amanmyradov, and required him to correct his shortcomings. 
 
NEW CHIEFS NOTED FOR MANAGEMENT SKILLS 
 
¶7. (SBU) Berdimuhamedov wasted no time in announcing replacements 
for the vacant posts.  Noting his professional qualities and 
organizational skills, the President appointed the current Customs 
Service Chief, Yaylym Yagmyrovich Berdiyev, to the position of 
Minister of Defense and Secretary of the Security Council. 
Orazgeldi Taganmuradovich Esenov was appointed Acting Customs 
Service chief.  Berdimuhamedov also tapped State Counternarcotics 
Service (SCNS) Chief, Murad Yslamov, to become the head of the State 
Border Service.  In so doing, the President noted his achievement in 
organizing the work of the recently-established agency.  Serdar 
Gurbangulyevich Batyrov was appointed the Acting Chief of 
Counternarcotics Service and Seyitniyaz Gurbanmammedovich Ballyev 
the Acting Chairman of Migration Service. 
 
PRESIDENT APPROVES "NEW" MILITARY DOCTRINE 
 
ASHGABAT 00000114  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶8. (SBU) On the heels of this latest personnel reshuffling, 
Berdimuhamedov signed a decree "On the Military Doctrine of 
Independent, Permanently Neutral Turkmenistan."  The doctrine 
highlights Turkmenistan's "internationally accepted" neutral status 
and its role as the "center of peacemaking and prosperity in the 
region."  In his remarks, the President cited the establishment of 
the Ashgabat-based UN Center on Preventive Diplomacy in Central Asia 
as confirmation of Turkmenistan's neutrality policy.  Berdimuhamedov 
went on to point out that Turkmenistan fully supports the efforts of 
Q UN to transform Central Asia into a nuclear-free and WMD-free 
area, affirming that the country rigorously observes its 
international commitments to prohibit these kinds of weapons. 
 
¶9. (SBU) In accordance with the Constitution and the Law "On the 
Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan," the new military doctrine 
provides for non-alignment with military alliances and blocks, 
prohibits the deployment of international military bases on its 
territory, and prohibits nuclear weapons and other WMD from crossing 
its borders.  In general, the doctrine has a defensive character, to 
ensure peace, territorial integrity and national unity.  It also 
provides for further strengthening of the military forces, equipping 
them with up-to-date armaments and defense technology.  In closing, 
Berdimuhamedov set goals for each military and law enforcement 
agency for the practical implementation of the new doctrine. 
 
¶10. (SBU) COMMENT: Post has worked with a few of the newly-promoted 
officials in the past.  While he was SCNS chief, new Border Service 
Chief Yslamov was not only willing to allow U.S. training in 
Turkmenistan, but was enthusiastically supportive of it.  He said 
his goal was to bring the SCNS to "modern international standards" 
and that he needed cooperation with foreign donors to do that.  He 
recognized that Turkmenistan does not have the experience necessary 
to develop its own counter-narcotics service and was willing to do 
what was needed in order improve the efficiency of the service. 
Acting SCNS Chief Batyrov was Yslamov's deputy and participated in a 
CENTCOM-sponsored trip to the United States in November 2008 for 
consultations on counternarcotics cooperation.  Finally, earlier in 
his career, newly-appointed Defense Minister Berdiyev had positive 
contact with U.S.-funded programs and while at Customs had said that 
he saw the U.S. as a "valuable partner."  END COMMENT. 
 
MILES