Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ASHGABAT684
2006-06-29 10:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ashgabat
how-toVZCZCXYZ0015 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHAH #0684 1801059 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 291059Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7494 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC//DHO-2/REA/NMJIC-J2// RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ2/HSE/CCJ5// RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J5/RUE//
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000684
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN (MUDGE)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR TX
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: ASHGABAT REQUESTS DOD
COUNTERNARCOTICS SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING FOR CENTRAL ASIA
REF: ASHGABAT 219
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000684
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN (MUDGE)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR TX
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: ASHGABAT REQUESTS DOD
COUNTERNARCOTICS SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING FOR CENTRAL ASIA
REF: ASHGABAT 219
1. This is an action request, please see paragraph 4.
2. Turkmenistan was zeroed out for country-specific
U.S. Department of Defense supplemental FY 06
counternarcotics funding, and post requests funding from
the Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities
Defense for Central Asia and Afghanistan portion of the
supplemental bill. Post emphasizes the fact that
failure to recognize the Afghanistan - Turkmenistan
border in a regional context undermines all U.S.
government efforts to contain and stem the trafficking
of precursor chemicals into Afghanistan and the
consequent outflow of narcotics from Afghanistan.
3. Turkmenistan is geographically situated as a
narcotics transit route from Afghanistan directly and a
diversionary route of narcotics transiting through Iran.
Using U.S Central Command 2005 supplemental funds, the
U.S. government is building two border-crossing
checkpoints to upgrade vital border areas through which
cargo and people must pass in order to transit
Turkmenistan. Person-to-person contact is a direct by-
product of the border-crossing checkpoint project that
cannot be overlooked in an environment where access to
foreigners is restricted and most law enforcement
information is guarded as a state secret. This project
is not just about buying equipment and building
infrastructure; the project has been about establishing
vertical and horizontal connections with the government
of Turkmenistan that gives the U.S. government access to
making a broader, deeper and greater impact in stemming
the flow of narcotics. This is the ultimate U.S.
government regional objective.
4. Action Request: Post requests that U.S. Central
Command restore at least $3 million in supplemental
funds to continue a project that has established new
links to the law enforcement and border management
communities for the U.S. government with the goal of
stemming the trafficking of narcotics throughout the
region.
5. COMMENT: The border-crossing checkpoints complement
existing INL counternarcotics programs that address
improved law enforcement capabilities to realistically
address counternarcotics trafficking. Failure to
continue this project could result in reduced GOTX
participation in other regional counternarcotics
programs of interest to the U.S. Department of Defense.
End Comment.
JACOBSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN (MUDGE)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR TX
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: ASHGABAT REQUESTS DOD
COUNTERNARCOTICS SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING FOR CENTRAL ASIA
REF: ASHGABAT 219
1. This is an action request, please see paragraph 4.
2. Turkmenistan was zeroed out for country-specific
U.S. Department of Defense supplemental FY 06
counternarcotics funding, and post requests funding from
the Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities
Defense for Central Asia and Afghanistan portion of the
supplemental bill. Post emphasizes the fact that
failure to recognize the Afghanistan - Turkmenistan
border in a regional context undermines all U.S.
government efforts to contain and stem the trafficking
of precursor chemicals into Afghanistan and the
consequent outflow of narcotics from Afghanistan.
3. Turkmenistan is geographically situated as a
narcotics transit route from Afghanistan directly and a
diversionary route of narcotics transiting through Iran.
Using U.S Central Command 2005 supplemental funds, the
U.S. government is building two border-crossing
checkpoints to upgrade vital border areas through which
cargo and people must pass in order to transit
Turkmenistan. Person-to-person contact is a direct by-
product of the border-crossing checkpoint project that
cannot be overlooked in an environment where access to
foreigners is restricted and most law enforcement
information is guarded as a state secret. This project
is not just about buying equipment and building
infrastructure; the project has been about establishing
vertical and horizontal connections with the government
of Turkmenistan that gives the U.S. government access to
making a broader, deeper and greater impact in stemming
the flow of narcotics. This is the ultimate U.S.
government regional objective.
4. Action Request: Post requests that U.S. Central
Command restore at least $3 million in supplemental
funds to continue a project that has established new
links to the law enforcement and border management
communities for the U.S. government with the goal of
stemming the trafficking of narcotics throughout the
region.
5. COMMENT: The border-crossing checkpoints complement
existing INL counternarcotics programs that address
improved law enforcement capabilities to realistically
address counternarcotics trafficking. Failure to
continue this project could result in reduced GOTX
participation in other regional counternarcotics
programs of interest to the U.S. Department of Defense.
End Comment.
JACOBSON