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FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2242
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4777
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2568
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2433
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 3023
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3295

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ASHGABAT 000162 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2019 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ADPM TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: FOREIGN MINISTER PROVIDES POSITIVE 
OUTLOOK FOR U.S.-TURKMEN BILATERAL RELATIONS 
 
REF: ASHGABAT 152 
 
Classified By: Charge Richard Miles, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY.  On February 2, the Charge met with the 
Foreign Minister, Rashid Meredov, to discuss a list of 
pending bilateral issues, including the present imbroglio 
over the diplomatic bags.  The Foreign Minister took the 
opportunity to recap 2008 achievements in the bilateral 
relationship, singling out the impetus generated by the 
Bush-Berdimuhamedov meeting in Bucharest.  He more than once 
mentioned the Turkmen government's desire to see a White 
House visit by President Berdimuhamedov during 2009, perhaps 
in conjunction with a meeting of the U.S.-Turkmenistan 
Business Council.  FM Meredov expressed interest in the new 
Adminstration's foreign policy priorities, especially 
Afghanistan, and would welcome a visit by Special 
Representative Holbrooke.  The Charge raised a number of 
human rights concerns -- allowing ICRC prison visits, status 
of political prisoners, and registration of NGOs and 
religious groups.  FM Meredov advocated gradual engagement 
with ICRC, showed no inclination towards leniency for those 
who break the law, and was noncommittal on registration of 
NGOs and religious groups.  END SUMMARY. 
 
FM: BILATERAL RELATIONS DEVELOPING IN POSITIVE DIRECTION 
 
¶2. (C) FM Meredov began by noting that the meeting was an 
opportunity to exchange opinions on a range of issues.  He 
characterized 2008 as a year during which relations between 
the United States and Turkmenistan became more active, 
following the impetus given by the meeting between President 
Berdimuhamedov and former President Bush.  He noted that 
political relations became closer as the result of visits by 
State Department delegations.  Security assistance also 
developed, with military delegations including the visit of a 
Deputy Minister of Defense to the United States.  Overall, FM 
Meredov thought relations were developing in a positive 
direction, and he looked forward to further developments in 
the areas of economics, energy, security (he emphasized 
counter-narcotics activities) and in the 
cultural/humanitarian sphere.  He noted that the MFA is 
actively involved in maintaining relations between our 
countries, saying the MFA supports nearly all the Embassy's 
initiatives.  "U.S. proposals are realistic and reflect an 
understanding of conditions in Turkmenistan." 
 
ECONOMIC RELATIONS NEED NEW IMPETUS: BUSINESS COUNCIL 
 
¶3. (C) In the area of economic relations, FM Meredov said 
ties consist largely of trade relations, particularly 
aircraft and agricultural machinery.  While he expected these 
ties would continue, in his view, it was time for a new 
impetus to economic relations in the form of a meeting of the 
U.S.-Turkmenistan Business Council.  FM Meredov said he'd 
been in contact with the Council, and that there was "a need 
to gather the Council together and have a meeting."  While 
not certain about when and where to best convene the group, 
he wanted it to be "on the agenda" in 2009.  Representatives 
from Council member companies had offered to conduct a 
meeting in the U.S.  The Foreign Minister said that if a 
Berdimuhamedov visit to the U.S. would be possible, that 
would be a logical time for the first Council meeting. 
 
¶4. (C) In the areas of cultural and humanitarian cooperation, 
FM Meredov commented favorably on the implementation of our 
science education program, as well as various seminars and 
workshops.  Concerning the registration of the international 
school in Ashgabat, he mentioned that the MFA had been 
working on the issue, but then the tempo had fallen off.  He 
was confident that the matter would be resolved.  The Foreign 
Minister praised the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural 
Preservation, saying that the program showed that the Embassy 
is working to preserve Turkmen cultural objects.  He welcomed 
participation in this program during 2009. 
 
ASHGABAT 00000162  002 OF 003 
 
 
 
2009 PRIORITY: U.S. VISIT FOR BERDIMUHAMEDOV 
 
¶5. (C) Looking ahead to 2009, FM Meredov stated that the 
Turkmen government would like to see a trip to the U.S. 
organized for President Berdimuhamedov.  Such a visit, which 
is "on the (Turkmen) agenda for 2009," would elevate and give 
impetus to bilateral political relations.  In the area of 
security assistance, the Turkmen government would continue 
its cooperation in the areas of border security, 
counternarcotics trafficking and drug demand reduction. 
 
FM'S INTEREST IN NEW U.S. FOREIGN POLICY PRIORITIES 
 
¶6. (C) The Foreign Minister remarked that, while he had seen 
the general priorities of the new U.S. Administration's 
foreign policy described in the media, he would welcome more 
details.  The Charge mentioned the Administration's greater 
focus on Afghanistan, as evidenced by Richard Holbrooke's 
appointment as Special Representative for Afghanistan and 
Pakistan.  FM Meredov commented that Holbrooke is a very 
experienced diplomat and said that after his initial visit to 
Afghanistan and Pakistan, he could usefully return for a 
broader visit within the region.  He thought it would be a 
good idea for Holbrooke to visit Turkmenistan, given that it 
is Afghanistan's neighbor.  More generally, the Charge 
mentioned that State Department officials dealing with 
Turkmenistan and Central Asia remained in place for the time 
being.  Concerning the appointment of a U.S. Ambassador to 
Turkmenistan, Meredov said he understood that the appointment 
fell at a time of change of administrations and that final 
approval needed Senate action.  "We will work with you," he 
offered. 
 
NO LENIENCY FOR LAW BREAKERS 
 
¶7. (C) The Charge then raised a number of human rights issues 
with the Foreign Minister.  He mentioned the cases of 
detained political prisoners Mukhametkuli Aimuradov and Batyr 
Berdiev.  FM Meredov responded that these are people who 
committed serious crimes and were punished according to the 
law.  "If a person commits a crime, he must be punished." 
The Charge suggested that, apart from the imprisonment issue, 
the lack of information about their health and treatment is 
of great concern to their families and to those concerned 
with human rights issues in the United States and elsewhere 
in the world.  This situation could be improved, said the 
Charge, by allowing the International Committee of the Red 
Cross (ICRC) to conduct prison inspections.  FM Meredov said 
the Turkmen government has been in discussions with the ICRC, 
but the ICRC's insistence on meeting with prisoners 
one-on-one has been a point of contention.  The government 
wanted its representative to be present at meetings with 
prisoners, arguing that it is a sign of reciprocal confidence 
and trust to include them.  FM Meredov said the ICRC had 
conducted a seminar for prison, law enforcement and judicial 
officials in November last year, and that such activities 
were part of step-by-step confidence building process.  In 
his view, cooperation with the ICRC did not have to begin 
immediately with prison visits.  The Foreign Minister briefly 
described Turkmenistan's loan of two helicopters to the ICRC 
for emergency relief following an earthquake in Pakistan. 
After several months of service, one of the helicopters 
crashed in Afghanistan en route home to Turkmenistan.  U.S. 
forces eventually located the crash after five months and 
recovered the crew remains for Turkmen authorities. 
 
NONCOMMITTAL ON REGISTRATIONS 
 
¶8. (C) The Charge also raised the cases of several churches 
and non-governmental organizations that have not been able to 
register.  FM Meredov said he was aware of our 
recommendations and would look into this. 
 
¶9. (C) On the issue of permitting the Embassy to operate a 
 
ASHGABAT 00000162  003 OF 003 
 
 
surveillance detection team to supplement Embassy security, 
the Foreign Minister said the disbanded SD team had been 
setup without informing the government.  Turkmen law has 
provisions about who can conduct surveillance operations. 
For the Turkmen, the lack of agreement in advance, and the 
implied failure to respect the government, were unpleasant. 
Also, there were cases of average people being stopped and 
questioned by the SD teams, which was unacceptable.  FM 
Meredov said that Turkmenistan is a "friendly country" and 
will do everything for Embassy security, but the Embassy 
needs to consult with the government first before engaging in 
such operations. 
 
FM WILL LOOK INTO DIPLOMATIC BAGS ISSUE 
 
¶10. (C) The Charge raised the issue of the the Turkmen 
Customs Department's recent insistence on diplomatic notes in 
order for the Embassy to receive and dispatch its diplomatic 
bags.  He noted that he had informed Washington and the issue 
was being reviewed by the State Department as a possible 
violation of the Vienna Convention as interference with 
diplomatic bags.  FM Meredov said he would go over the issue 
with his Protocol Department today.  He added that the 
Turkmen government would not want to violate an international 
convention. 
 
¶11. (C) COMMENT: The Charge pressed the issue of the 
diplomatic bags very strenuously and urged a quick resolution 
of the problem.  The Minister seemed to understand the 
seriousness of the matter.  END COMMENT. 
 
¶12.  (C) The Charge urged the resumption of the refueling 
operation at Ashgabat airport for U.S. humanitarian flights 
en route to Afghanistan.  The operation has been interrupted 
pending Turkmen authorization to complete needed repairs. 
(Note: General Petraeus raised this issue with President 
Berdimuhamedov and Deputy Chairman for Foreign Relations 
Meredov during his recent visit to Ashgabat.  End Note)  The 
Foreign Minister said his Ministry is now working on the 
issue. 
 
¶13. (C) COMMENT: While appearing open and friendly, FM 
Meredov's willingness to engage was more evident in areas 
that touched on external affairs, less so in the area of 
human rights.  It was clear the Foreign Minister's priority 
item was to promote a visit by Berdimuhamedov to the United 
States this year.  He also seemed satisfied with and 
appreciative of U.S. assistance in the security and cultural 
areas.  As we've heard before, he would like to see more 
activity in trade and economic relations.  While he was 
clearly familiar with the human rights issues, he showed 
little flexibility.  He did, however, leave the door open to 
progress on the registration of some organizations, together 
with gradually increasing engagement with the ICRC.  There 
will be several opportunities in coming months to gauge the 
government's intentions in these areas.  END COMMENT. 
MILES