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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000193 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN; EUR/ACE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/10/2020 
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID TX
SUBJECT: DFM HAJIYEV HIGHLIGHTS TURKMENISTAN'S ASSISTANCE 
PRIORITIES 
 
Classified By: Charge Sylvia Reed Curran, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (C)  SUMMARY:  During a February 4 meeting with the 
Central Asia Assistance Review delegation, Turkmen Deputy 
Foreign Minister Wepa Hajiyev provided an outline of the 
country's ongoing reform process.  He stressed that potential 
assistance donors needed to coordinate their proposals with 
the Turkmen government's priorities.  He recognized that 
misunderstandings can hold up progress and urged dialogue and 
flexibility to enhance the likelihood for successful 
cooperation.  He suggested that proposed assistance projects 
avoid areas already being addressed by other donors.  Hajiyev 
mentioned the Civil Service Academy, science, agriculture, 
financial monitoring, education and health care as areas for 
expanded cooperation with the U.S.  While Hajiyev stated that 
the Turkmen government would welcome cooperation, he made it 
clear that the government would not accept all offers and 
programs must take into account Turkmen priorities.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (C) During a February 4 meeting with the Central Asia 
Assistance Review delegation, Turkmen Deputy Foreign Minister 
Wepa Hajiyev outlined the country's ongoing reform process. 
Hajiyev described the "active" process of reform in 
Turkmenistan during the past three years.  This was needed to 
create the basis for social and economic change.  He 
emphasized that reform continues, especially in cooperation 
with international partners, in order to reach the country's 
potential.  Hajiyev described the "evolution" of cooperation 
programs in Turkmenistan.  Initially, reform was focused in 
the political and economic spheres and banking sector.  Now, 
the government wants to work in new areas: local self 
governance; building capacity of civil society; improving the 
capacity of government officials; and improved analysis and 
oversight of financial activities. 
 
MORE COORDINATION NEEDED 
 
¶3. (C)  Hajiyev urged greater coordination between donors and 
the Turkmen government on the importance of some assistance 
projects, noting that every country has its own specific 
priorities.  He pointed out that the Turkmen government does 
not accept every assistance program that is proposed, but 
only those it considers useful.  He appreciated that the U.S. 
understands this, commenting that some countries do not 
understand, which puts the brakes on the process.  Hajiyev 
also mentioned that, at times, the Foreign Ministry has 
difficulty explaining requirements or requests of donor 
countries to the relevant Turkmen authorities.  For example, 
he mentioned requests for repeated visits to monitor the use 
of donated equipment in laboratories and in border areas. 
Such requests indicate to Turkmen officials a lack of trust 
or perhaps ulterior motives.  Hajiyev suggested that in such 
situations, the two sides need to appreciate that each has 
its own practices and to reach a compromise.  If each side 
insists on its own approach, it would be difficult to 
continue cooperation.  Hajiyev noted that, while the Turkmen 
government appreciates U.S. support, Turkmenistan has evolved 
since the Freedom Support Act was adopted and has its own 
positions and policies.  Turkmenistan was a different place 
ten years ago, and now has the resources to construct its own 
facilities.  Still, Hajiyev remarked, the United States is a 
leading country with useful experience to share, but that the 
U.S. approach needs to be flexible.  He also noted the 
progress of Turkmenistan's work with the UN, OSCE, and the EU. 
 
AREAS FOR EXPANDED COOPERATION 
 
¶4. (C) According to Hajiyev, the Turkmen government values 
its cooperation with the United States.  Further, it would 
like to look at funding in new areas, such as science, 
agriculture, financial monitoring, education and health care. 
 The Foreign Ministry would give its complete support to such 
efforts, and in the area of scientific and technical 
research, would do its best to create favorable conditions. 
 
ASHGABAT 00000193  002 OF 002 
 
 
As part of Turkmenistan's initial stage of reform, the 
government paid attention to strategic planning and a 
systematic approach to development.  There are three elements 
to its current policy on international cooperation.  First, 
the government wants to study the experience of the world's 
leading countries.  It would welcome a dialogue about its 
current areas of interest for cooperation, and the 
possibilities of partners such as the United States in these 
areas.  Second, the government wants to raise the level of 
preparation of future leaders and officials, and welcomed 
U.S. cooperation in training those at the Civil Service 
Academy, who will work in ministries, as well as helping to 
prepare civil servants for the middle and upper ranks. 
Third, the government wants to strengthen its "democratic 
system," which would lead to a market economy.  Hajiyev said 
the government is ready to start a dialogue on these issues, 
in line with Turkmen interests and the possibilities. 
 
SUCCESSFUL COOPERATION WITH USAID 
 
¶5. (C) Hajiyev cited the relationship between USAID and the 
Turkmen Ministry of Health as an example of good cooperation. 
 He felt that it showed we can work together to reach 
agreement on all issues.  He emphasized the willingness of 
the Turkmen side to carry on a dialogue, saying that as long 
as dialogue continues, any problem can be solved.  Regarding 
possible initiatives on local self-governance, the Turkmen 
government already works with UNDP and the UK Embassy in this 
area.  U.S. cooperation would need to add something new to 
existing efforts or take a new direction.  Hajiyev noted that 
there was an existing mechanism for cooperation between USAID 
and UNDP, pointing to a recent joint USAID-UNDP  conference 
on accounting and auditing reforms.  He also mentioned 
USAID's successful cooperation with the Academy of Sciences 
and suggested that there should be new directions for 
additional cooperation beyond the boundaries of current 
projects. 
 
¶6. (C) Indicating that cooperation on addressing climate 
change would be welcome, Hajiyev noted that the government is 
paying more attention to reducing emissions into the 
atmosphere.  He mentioned efforts to improve water use 
management and new equipment to clean-up the oil and gas and 
agriculture sectors.  Hajiyev said he did not understand why 
Turkmenistan is considered to be among the countries with a 
bad environmental record.  He suggested that other countries 
do not have accurate information about the ecological 
situation in Turkmenistan, and that greater cooperation would 
change their views.  He mentioned the Turkmen Lake project, 
which he said would recycle otherwise wasted drainage water 
for further use in the agriculture sector. 
 
¶7. (C) In the area of security cooperation, Hajiyev thought 
there has been a significant investment to address 
Turkmenistan's security challenges.  While the government 
values such projects, future programs need to include serious 
consideration of Turkmenistan's interests.  The recently 
constructed Farap border crossing checkpoint was an example 
of good cooperation with the U.S.  Professional training 
projects are also useful.  The government views positively 
any programs that increase the counternarcotics and security 
capacity of Turkmenistan. 
 
¶8. (C) COMMENT:  The Turkmen government is open to 
cooperation with the U.S. in a number of fields.  But such 
cooperation will only occur after having taken into account 
the Turkmen government's priorities.  While the Turkmen have 
ample financial resources, they seem to recognize that they 
lack the expertise and experience to use their wealth 
effectively.  Hajiyev's acknowledgment of the value of U.S. 
expertise is a sign that the door could be open to expanded 
cooperation, but only in areas that both sides deem worth 
pursuing.  END COMMENT 
CURRAN