TURKMENISTAN'S MI-8 DOWN IN AFGHANISTAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000107 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA (PERRY),SA DAS (GASTRIGHT) E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2016 TAGS: MASS MOPS PREL AF PK TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S MI-8 DOWN IN AFGHANISTAN REF: ASHGABAT 44 Classified By: Ambassador Tracey Ann Jacobson, for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) The GOTX fumbled for three days -- January 21-23 -- before it could come up with a formal request for Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) Coalition Forces' assistance in a search for a GOTX relief helicopter -- probably crashed with seven crewmembers in the mountains in Afghanistan -- which had been on loan to the International Committee of the Red Cross. The GOTX likely delayed making the request because President for Life Niyazov was in Moscow negotiating gas prices with Russian President Putin (reftel) and nobody else in the GOTX was authorized to make a decision. There has been no local press coverage of the missing helicopter, but satellite dishes are ubiquitous and the odna babushka skazala (an old lady told me) network is quick and generally accurate, i.e, the public will surely learn of this incident. We have seen many examples of incredible government gridlock engendered by Niyazov's insistence on making all important decisions, but this example is particularly egrigious in that it may have delayed finding -- and possibly saving -- the helicopter crew. End Summary. MI-8 Down -------------- ¶2. (U) On January 21, embassy's DAO received a request from CJTF 76 (Combined Joint Task Force) in Bagram Afghanistan to confirm with GOTX that a Turkmenistan civilian airliner call sign RED 144 en route from Peshawar to Turkmenabat was missing. DAO called Turkmenistan Howayollary (Turkmenistan Airlines)/ Civil Aviation who confirmed that a helicopter and not an airliner was missing and then asked DAO in English, "can you help?" ¶3. (C) Upon investigation, DAO learned from OEF that ICRC had reported a MI-8 with seven crewmembers as missing. The helicopter had been on loan to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) following the October 8 earthquake in Pakistan and was on its way home to its base in Turkmenabat flying a route from Pakistan through Afghanistan. DAO reached Civil Aviation later in the day on the 21st and stated that a written GOTX request for assistance was necessary to devote OEF assets to the search had to be in writing on behalf of the GOTX DCM notified MFA's Americas Desk Head Serdar Bashimov that the request was being handled in mil-to-mil channels and Bashimov agreed to this approach. On January 22, news of the missing MI-8 and its Turkmenistani crew was released to the media by ICRC in Pakistan and it was quickly picked up by AP, BBC, AFP, Reuters, RIA Novosti (Russia) and others. DCM called Bashimov on January 22 to say the news had hit the wire services and to inquire about the status of the GOTX request for assistance. Through its channels DAO learned the request had been prepared January 21 but required the signature of the head of civil aviation who was "unavailable." DCM called Bashimov repeatedly through the day and evening of January 22 to say that time was of the essence and that OEF could not offer assistance without the GOTX request. During one phone call Bashimov said it had unconfirmed reports that the helicopter had landed in the Afghanistani town of Turgun (sic). Through the evening DAO worked with OEF JOC (Joint Operations Center) to confirm this report, but was unsuccessful. DCM offered to go in to MFA at any time to speed up the process. Bashimov said the issue could "wait" until Monday morning, January 23. DCM repeated that lives were at stake but Bashimov held firm to meeting on January 23. MFA Meeting - Niyazov in Moscow and Russians Blaming OEF -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Bashimov called in DCM and DATT at 0900 on January 23 and delivered a formal request for assistance which DATT immediately forwarded to Embassy Kabul. Bashimov said the GOTX was "very very concerned" about the fate of the helicopter and its crew and welcomed any information the embassy could provide. Bashimov said the GOTX embassies in Islamabad and Kabul also were assisting with the request. ASHGABAT 00000107 002 OF 002 ¶5. (C) Bashimov noted that Foreign Minister Meredov was in Moscow with President Niyazov but that he would want a "full report" upon his return from Moscow on January 24. Bashimov also noted that "the Russians" already were imploying that OEF had something to do with the helicopter's disappearance. Bashimov said no to both of DCM's questions regarding whether there would be any local press coverage or if crewmembers' families had made any inquiries to the GOTX. At 1600 Civil Aviation requested that DAO arrange transportation for two officials to travel to Afghanistan to assist with the search, DAO advised them to make their request through the GOTX Embassy in Kabul, but that the USG had no assets to assist with the transportion. Still Missing -------------- ¶6. (U) As of 1800 local time, the helicopter has not been located. Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) The most likely explanation for GOTX fumbling on submitting a formal request was Niyazov's absence. It is clear evidence that in Niyazov's culture of fear, bureaucrats would rather stay silent, delaying potentially lifesaving international assistance, than risk being the bearer of bad news or making an independent decision. The public surely will learn of the missing MI-8, but the event is unlikely to develop into a massive outpouring of frustration with the government as was the case during the 2000 sinking of the Russian submarine the Kursk, when Putin waited five days before requesting international assistance. End Comment. JACOBSON