Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ASHGABAT581
2006-06-02 13:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER AGREES TO CONSIDER
how-toVZCZCXRO6157 PP RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHKUK DE RUEHAH #0581/01 1531346 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 021346Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7397 INFO ALNED/ALNED COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0354 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY 0026
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000581
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/IR AND SCA (FRESE)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2016
TAGS: PREL AORC IAEA KNNP UNSC IR TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER AGREES TO CONSIDER
PUBLIC STATEMENT URGING IRAN TO FOREGO
ENRICHMENT/REPROCESSING PROGRAMS
REF: A. (A) STATE 87682
B. (B) ASHGABAT 00579
C. (C) STATE 089324
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 SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000581
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/IR AND SCA (FRESE)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2016
TAGS: PREL AORC IAEA KNNP UNSC IR TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER AGREES TO CONSIDER
PUBLIC STATEMENT URGING IRAN TO FOREGO
ENRICHMENT/REPROCESSING PROGRAMS
REF: A. (A) STATE 87682
B. (B) ASHGABAT 00579
C. (C) STATE 089324
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Jennifer L. Brush, for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Charge met with Turkmenistan's Foreign Minister
Rashit Meredov to thank him for Turkmenistan's public
statement in support of the U.S. initiative on Iran and to
urge him to issue an additional public statement requesting
Iran to do the right thing and also to follow up with Iran
through diplomatic channels. Meredov congratulated the
United States on the initiative and agreed that as a neighbor
to Iran and a country with a spotless record on
nonproliferation, Turkmenistan would do what it could to
support the initiative. End Summary.
Public Support
--------------
2. (C) As reported ref B, Charge notified the MFA of the ref
B initiative on May 31 and requested a meeting with Foreign
Minister Meredov to discuss the initiative in greater detail
on June 1. Though unable to meet, the Ministry issued a
press statement on June 1 supporting the U.S. initiative.
Begin Text of Press Statement:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, on behalf of
the Government of Turkmenistan, is authorized to declare that
Turkmenistan supports the offer of the United States of
America to conduct negotiations with Iran concerning ceasing
its nuclear program. This offer can promote strenthening of
regional and international stability and security, and help
contain the crisis situation in the region.
End Text of Press Statement.
More Support Needed
--------------
3. (C) Charge thanked Meredov for the statement when they
met on June 2, saying that was only the first of three steps
the United States hoped Turkmenistan would undertake in
support of the initiative. Meredov wrote down word for word
the additional two steps the United States proposed. On the
second point, to publicly encourage Iran to do the right
thing, Meredov said Turkmenistan would consider an additional
press release. On the third point, to keep the spotlight on
Iran's choice, Charge recommended that Turkmenistan use its
well-established diplomatic channels with Iran to urge Iran
directly to make the right choice and cease enrichment and
reprocessing. In this light, Charge noted that Meredov had
regular contact with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr
Mottaki and that President Niyazov had had contact over the
telephone with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Charge also
noted that both as a neighbor to Iran and as country with
solid nonproliferation credentials, Turkmenistan had an
important role to play in supporting this initiative.
4. (C) Meredov agreed with Charge's points and said that
Turkmenistan would do what it could.
No at Non-Aligned Ministerial
--------------
5. (C) In response to Charge's question about Turkmenistan's
participation at the ref C Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial,
Meredov said the Turkmenistan Ambassador to India had
attended but did not/not sign the statement in support of
Iran.
Comment
--------------
6. (C) The Government of Turkmenistan's swift and positive
response to the U.S. initiative is significant given
Turkmenistan's position on Iran's border. President Niyazov
himself will decide on how much further Turkmenistan will go
in support of the initiative. Meredov told Charge that
President Ahmanadinejad is scheduled to visit Turkmenistan
ASHGABAT 00000581 002 OF 002
July 24-25. Turkmenistan's relations with Iran have been
almost exclusively commercial - shuttle trade and gas.
Turkmenistan also has a border dispute with Iran over Caspian
delimitation. Furthermore, in our collective memory,
Turkmenistan has never publicly commented on the internal
politics of another nation. It would be an historic step,
therefore, for Turkmenistan to go further than the June 1
statement in encouraging Iran to cease its enrichment and
reprocessing program. End Comment.
BRUSH
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/IR AND SCA (FRESE)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2016
TAGS: PREL AORC IAEA KNNP UNSC IR TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER AGREES TO CONSIDER
PUBLIC STATEMENT URGING IRAN TO FOREGO
ENRICHMENT/REPROCESSING PROGRAMS
REF: A. (A) STATE 87682
B. (B) ASHGABAT 00579
C. (C) STATE 089324
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Jennifer L. Brush, for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Charge met with Turkmenistan's Foreign Minister
Rashit Meredov to thank him for Turkmenistan's public
statement in support of the U.S. initiative on Iran and to
urge him to issue an additional public statement requesting
Iran to do the right thing and also to follow up with Iran
through diplomatic channels. Meredov congratulated the
United States on the initiative and agreed that as a neighbor
to Iran and a country with a spotless record on
nonproliferation, Turkmenistan would do what it could to
support the initiative. End Summary.
Public Support
--------------
2. (C) As reported ref B, Charge notified the MFA of the ref
B initiative on May 31 and requested a meeting with Foreign
Minister Meredov to discuss the initiative in greater detail
on June 1. Though unable to meet, the Ministry issued a
press statement on June 1 supporting the U.S. initiative.
Begin Text of Press Statement:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, on behalf of
the Government of Turkmenistan, is authorized to declare that
Turkmenistan supports the offer of the United States of
America to conduct negotiations with Iran concerning ceasing
its nuclear program. This offer can promote strenthening of
regional and international stability and security, and help
contain the crisis situation in the region.
End Text of Press Statement.
More Support Needed
--------------
3. (C) Charge thanked Meredov for the statement when they
met on June 2, saying that was only the first of three steps
the United States hoped Turkmenistan would undertake in
support of the initiative. Meredov wrote down word for word
the additional two steps the United States proposed. On the
second point, to publicly encourage Iran to do the right
thing, Meredov said Turkmenistan would consider an additional
press release. On the third point, to keep the spotlight on
Iran's choice, Charge recommended that Turkmenistan use its
well-established diplomatic channels with Iran to urge Iran
directly to make the right choice and cease enrichment and
reprocessing. In this light, Charge noted that Meredov had
regular contact with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr
Mottaki and that President Niyazov had had contact over the
telephone with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Charge also
noted that both as a neighbor to Iran and as country with
solid nonproliferation credentials, Turkmenistan had an
important role to play in supporting this initiative.
4. (C) Meredov agreed with Charge's points and said that
Turkmenistan would do what it could.
No at Non-Aligned Ministerial
--------------
5. (C) In response to Charge's question about Turkmenistan's
participation at the ref C Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial,
Meredov said the Turkmenistan Ambassador to India had
attended but did not/not sign the statement in support of
Iran.
Comment
--------------
6. (C) The Government of Turkmenistan's swift and positive
response to the U.S. initiative is significant given
Turkmenistan's position on Iran's border. President Niyazov
himself will decide on how much further Turkmenistan will go
in support of the initiative. Meredov told Charge that
President Ahmanadinejad is scheduled to visit Turkmenistan
ASHGABAT 00000581 002 OF 002
July 24-25. Turkmenistan's relations with Iran have been
almost exclusively commercial - shuttle trade and gas.
Turkmenistan also has a border dispute with Iran over Caspian
delimitation. Furthermore, in our collective memory,
Turkmenistan has never publicly commented on the internal
politics of another nation. It would be an historic step,
therefore, for Turkmenistan to go further than the June 1
statement in encouraging Iran to cease its enrichment and
reprocessing program. End Comment.
BRUSH