TURKMENISTAN: A COMPETENT BUREAUCRAT REMAINS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001192

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: A COMPETENT BUREAUCRAT REMAINS

REF: ASHGABAT 1182

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Jennifer L. Brush for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).

Summary
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1. (C) Newly appointed hakim (governor) of the oil-rich
province Balkan Welayat, Orazmyrat Niyazlyev, impressed
Charge with his competence, experience and confidence two
weeks into his tenure. Although he has a background in the
oil and gas industry, his foci for the future of Balkan is an
extension of his perceived successes as hakim of Turkmenabat
city in Lebap Welayat, and his crosscutting plans for the
welayat weave through the social, economical and political
spheres. During a November 9 introductory meeting, Niyazlyev
spoke about his plans to bring potable water to Balkan's
major cities and improve the underdeveloped agricultural
sector. Niyazlyev's appointment contrasts with Niyazov's
current trend of promoting young security or law enforcement
agents to senior leadership positions, and could bring real
development, not just the extraction of petro dollars, to the
region. End Summary.

Experienced
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2. (C) Promoted by Niyazov to the position of Balkan Welayat
Hakim during an unscheduled early morning meeting on October
25 (reftel),Niyazlyev did not need to begin his first
meeting with the embassy by establishing his bona fide to
oversee the important oil industry that dominates his area of
responsibility. Niyazlyev spent 17 years working in the
Turkmenistan division of the Ministry of Oil and Gas
Construction of the Soviet Union before spending almost
another decade working in the successor division in
independent Turkmenistan. Included in his oil and gas
portfolio was a three year posting as Deputy Minister of Oil
and Gas Industry and Mineral Resources of Turkmenistan.
Acknowledged by Niyazov as a successful mayor of Turkemenabat
for five years, Niyazov also described him as a humble man,
using the example that Niyazlyev has been seen carrying his
own groceries from a local bazaar. (Comment: Humility in
this sense connotes a description of an honest person who has
not been tempted by corruption, a characteristic the
president seems to continue to search for in his recent
appointments. End Comment.) Confident and poised, Niyazlyev
agreed to a Russian-language meeting, vice Turkmen in
translation, and did not once feel obliged to make a
gratuitous reference to the Ruhnama or the "Great Leader," as
is the case with less experienced officials.

Primary Agenda Items: Agriculture and Water
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3. (C) Niyazlyev was comfortable discussing his future plans
for the region within the confines of his area of
responsibility. When asked about education he argued that
quality of schooling years, not quantity, was the hallmark of
a good system. He also deferred to the national education
plan which included teacher salaries and curriculum decisions
and plans to build a new modern "Super School" with
presidential money in the provincial capital Balkanabat. He
mentioned the national highway improvement plan and the $20
million that was slated for Balkan Welayat. He specifically
noted a Balkanabat city development plan for 2007, which
included construction of additional white marble buildings.
The fulcrum of Niyazlyev's plans for Balkan Welayat hinged on
local social and economic development. Notably, he zealously
spoke of bringing potable water to the major Balkan Welayat
cities: Turkmenbashy, Gumdag, Hazar and Balkanabat. He also
sidestepped the issue of how he got his job -- the firing of
the previous hakim for a failed cotton harvest (reftel) --
and concentrated on his plans to develop the agricultural
sector. Specifically, he noted that people were willing to
move from Lebap Welayat, where he was previously a resident,
to Balkan Welayat where they had the opportunity to work on
larger land holdings He said that agriculture in Balkan only
arrived with independence, and he wanted to encourage the
growth of the non-cotton and non-wheat agricultural sectors
in areas of fertile land. He argued that Balkan Welayat
residents should grow their produce locally to avoid extra
transportation costs associated with bringing in products

ASHGABAT 00001192 002 OF 002


from other welayats.

Avian Influenza, the Internet and Drug Use
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4 (C) In a more generalized discussion, Niyazlyev noted the
threat of Avian Influenza in the littoral part of Balkan that
bordered the Caspian Sea, but also made reference to the
national commission that was established to manage the threat
and any potential outbreak. He saw no issue with the lack of
Internet access in the region and said that citizens only
needed to apply to Balkan Telecom to receive an account. On
the issue of drug use, Niyazlyev noted that it existed among
a few individuals but said it was not a major issue for the
region.

Comment
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5. (C) This introductory meeting with a new welayat hakim
was surprisingly refreshing. Prior experience with the
international community during his oil and gas days was
apparent by his cool demeanor and comfort while talking to a
senior level U.S. diplomat. He was open and frank, and knew
how to strike a balance between the "party line" where
necessary and his own space where appropriate. An
intelligent Soviet trained technocrat at the helm could prove
beneficial to the people of Balkan during what has been years
of revolving door personnel changes. Niyazlyev's objectives
are not self-aggrandizing, unlike his boss, and have the real
potential to make a positive contribution to the future of
the region. It is unlikely he will be dismissed by Niyazov
for embezzlement or any other moral or legal crime, more
likely his tenure will be curtailed if and when Niyazov
begins to see him as a threat and/or too successful.
Niyazlyev will have to defend his seat in the upcoming
welayat elections in December 2007, where he will have to run
for the welayat halk maslahaty (people's council) and then be
selected from among its members to serve as governor.
Niyazlyev was coy when Charge inquired about his campaign
plans. End Comment.





BRUSH