Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ASHGABAT326
2006-03-29 13:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:  

TURKMENISTAN LIKELY TO GAME VOTE ON GUATEMALA VS

Tags:  GT PREL TX UNGA VE UNSC 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5679
PP RUEHDBU
DE RUEHAH #0326 0881316
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 291316Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7138
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0014
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0050
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0013
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1657
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0375
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0015
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0459
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0331
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000326 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA A/S BOUCHER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2016
TAGS: GT PREL TX UNGA VE UNSC
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN LIKELY TO GAME VOTE ON GUATEMALA VS
VENEZUELA

REF: A. (A) STATE 49445

B. (B) STATE 20173

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

SUMMARY
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000326

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA A/S BOUCHER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2016
TAGS: GT PREL TX UNGA VE UNSC
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN LIKELY TO GAME VOTE ON GUATEMALA VS
VENEZUELA

REF: A. (A) STATE 49445

B. (B) STATE 20173

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

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) Turkmenistan's vote on the GRULAC seat for the UNSC
is likely to depend more on GAZPROM negotiations and U.S.
sponsorship of a UNGA Turkmenistan resolution than it will on
Latin American politics. With the United States pushing so
hard for Guatemala, GOTX likely will use its vote to
punish/reward us as it sees fit. Minister of Foreign Affairs
Meredov told Charge on March 27, "we will make our decision
closer to the vote, we do not need any additional information
in order to make our choice." End Summary.

DEMARCHE DELIVERED
--------------


2. (C) Embassy delivered ref B demarche on February 8 and
both Ambassador and DCM have raised the issue at frequent
intervals with Minister of Foreign Affairs Meredov and
Americas Desk Chief Bashimov. During a March 27 meeting on
another subject, Meredov told Charge, "we will make our
decision closer to the vote, we do not need any additional
information in order to make our choice." At a March 29
meeting Americas Desk Chief Bashimov told Charge to stop
asking about this, the GOTX would formulate its answer at a
later date, closer to the actual vote. In response to
Charge's comment that though she had no instructions to this
effect, she wondered if the Russians would support Venezuela
and whether Russian support for Venezuela would have any
effect on Turkmenistan's vote, Bashimov said, "well you know
the Venezuelans want to build that big pipeline and wherever
there are pipelines you'll find Russian interest."

COMMENT
--------------


3. (C) Unfortunately post has no knowledge of
Venezuelan/Russian pipeline potential, but it is interesting
that Bashimov agreed without hesitation that Russia was
likely to support Venezuela. In this context, GOTX is likely
to see the Guatemala-Venezuela contest as a classic Cold War
confrontation, this time with Turkmenistan in a neutral role.
We can expect Turkmenistan to use its vote to get whatever
leverage it thinks it needs with either Russia or the United
States as the actual vote approaches. GOTX will be watching
to see whether the United States again co-sponsors a
Turkmenistan-specific UNGA resolution, for example. Likewise
it may use the vote as leverage if GAZPROM negotiations reach
a peak as they tend to do during the UNGA season.
Speculation aside, GOTX is unlikely to commit to either
Guatemala or Venezuela until it sees an opportune time to do
so. End Comment.
BRUSH