Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ASHGABAT741
2006-07-13 06:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
AVIAN INFLUENZA: TURKMENISTAN NEUTRAL ON
how-toVZCZCXRO7356 RR RUEHDBU RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #0741 1940623 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 130623Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7565 INFO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 2561 RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT 4965 RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1664 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 1277 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1181 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0367 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC//DHO-2/REA/NMJIC-J2// RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J5/RUE// RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ2/HSE/CCJ5//
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000741
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR SCA/CEN
ANKARA FOR AGRICULTURE COUNSELOR
TASHKENT FOR ESTH (PUTNAM)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD PGOV KFLU TX
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA: TURKMENISTAN NEUTRAL ON
POULTRY IMPORTS
REFTEL: ASHGABAT 682 AND PREVIOUS
Sensitive But Unclassified; Not for Internet
Distribution.
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000741
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR SCA/CEN
ANKARA FOR AGRICULTURE COUNSELOR
TASHKENT FOR ESTH (PUTNAM)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD PGOV KFLU TX
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA: TURKMENISTAN NEUTRAL ON
POULTRY IMPORTS
REFTEL: ASHGABAT 682 AND PREVIOUS
Sensitive But Unclassified; Not for Internet
Distribution.
1. (U) ON JULY 3 THE EMBASSY RECEIVED A DIPLOMATIC NOTE
FROM THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (MFA) IN RESPONSE
TO THE EMBASSY'S REQUEST FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THE
GOVERNMENT OF TURKMENISTAN'S CURRENT RESTRICTIONS ON
POULTRY IMPORTS. THE FOREIGN MINISTRY REPORTED THAT THE
STATE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SERVICE (SES) OF THE MINISTRY OF
HEALTH AND MEDICAL INDUSTRY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
CERTIFICATION OF POULTRY IMPORTS. HOWEVER, THE MINISTRY
NOTED THAT "SES IS NOT ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE AT THE
PRESENT TIME." ON JUNE 9, A LOCAL U.S. POULTRY
IMPORTER, WHO REQUESTED AN IMPORT PERMIT, RECEIVED THE
SAME NONCOMMITTAL ANSWER FROM SES CHIEF LEYLA
SHAMURADOVA, WHO WROTE THAT "IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A
STABLE ANTI-EPIDEMIC SITUATION IN TURKMENISTAN AND
PREVENT INFECTIOUS DISEASES, THE MINISTRY WOULD NOT
REVIEW AT THIS TIME ANY ISSUES RELATED TO THE
CERTIFICATION OF POULTRY PRODUCTS TO BE IMPORTED INTO
THE TERRITORY OF TURKMENISTAN."
2. (SBU) DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE STATE VETERINARY
SERVICE HUDAIBERDY MUHAMMEDOV TOLD POLECON ASST ON JULY
7 THAT THE CURRENT IMPORT BAN WAS IMPOSED ONLY ON LIVE
BIRDS AND EGGS FROM AVIAN INFLUENZA-INFECTED COUNTRIES,
INCLUDING IRAN, TURKEY, KAZAKHSTAN, RUSSIA AND CHINA.
Muhammedov said there is no restriction on U.S. chicken
quarters; U.S. chicken quarters are available at
Ashgabat food markets.
Comment
--------------
3. (SBU) Embassy staff requested clarification of the
July 3 diplomatic note from the MFA, but were told by
Americas Desk officer Begench Garayev that the
"diplomatic note should be understood as it is written;"
he did not offer a Rosetta stone for interpretation.
The cryptic response is simply another example of
government officials refusing to take responsibility for
policy decisions they either make or enforce. The SES
does not want to leave a paper trail that implicates the
health ministry in allowing possibly tainted food into
Turkmenistan nor a paper trail that blames the health
ministry for insufficient quantities of meat available
to consumers. End Comment.
JACOBSON
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR SCA/CEN
ANKARA FOR AGRICULTURE COUNSELOR
TASHKENT FOR ESTH (PUTNAM)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD PGOV KFLU TX
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA: TURKMENISTAN NEUTRAL ON
POULTRY IMPORTS
REFTEL: ASHGABAT 682 AND PREVIOUS
Sensitive But Unclassified; Not for Internet
Distribution.
1. (U) ON JULY 3 THE EMBASSY RECEIVED A DIPLOMATIC NOTE
FROM THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (MFA) IN RESPONSE
TO THE EMBASSY'S REQUEST FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THE
GOVERNMENT OF TURKMENISTAN'S CURRENT RESTRICTIONS ON
POULTRY IMPORTS. THE FOREIGN MINISTRY REPORTED THAT THE
STATE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SERVICE (SES) OF THE MINISTRY OF
HEALTH AND MEDICAL INDUSTRY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
CERTIFICATION OF POULTRY IMPORTS. HOWEVER, THE MINISTRY
NOTED THAT "SES IS NOT ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE AT THE
PRESENT TIME." ON JUNE 9, A LOCAL U.S. POULTRY
IMPORTER, WHO REQUESTED AN IMPORT PERMIT, RECEIVED THE
SAME NONCOMMITTAL ANSWER FROM SES CHIEF LEYLA
SHAMURADOVA, WHO WROTE THAT "IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A
STABLE ANTI-EPIDEMIC SITUATION IN TURKMENISTAN AND
PREVENT INFECTIOUS DISEASES, THE MINISTRY WOULD NOT
REVIEW AT THIS TIME ANY ISSUES RELATED TO THE
CERTIFICATION OF POULTRY PRODUCTS TO BE IMPORTED INTO
THE TERRITORY OF TURKMENISTAN."
2. (SBU) DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE STATE VETERINARY
SERVICE HUDAIBERDY MUHAMMEDOV TOLD POLECON ASST ON JULY
7 THAT THE CURRENT IMPORT BAN WAS IMPOSED ONLY ON LIVE
BIRDS AND EGGS FROM AVIAN INFLUENZA-INFECTED COUNTRIES,
INCLUDING IRAN, TURKEY, KAZAKHSTAN, RUSSIA AND CHINA.
Muhammedov said there is no restriction on U.S. chicken
quarters; U.S. chicken quarters are available at
Ashgabat food markets.
Comment
--------------
3. (SBU) Embassy staff requested clarification of the
July 3 diplomatic note from the MFA, but were told by
Americas Desk officer Begench Garayev that the
"diplomatic note should be understood as it is written;"
he did not offer a Rosetta stone for interpretation.
The cryptic response is simply another example of
government officials refusing to take responsibility for
policy decisions they either make or enforce. The SES
does not want to leave a paper trail that implicates the
health ministry in allowing possibly tainted food into
Turkmenistan nor a paper trail that blames the health
ministry for insufficient quantities of meat available
to consumers. End Comment.
JACOBSON