61ST UNGA: TURKMENISTAN'S ATTENDANCE/SUPPORT FOR UNSC

UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000875 SIPDIS SENSITIVE, SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY),SCA/RA (LEE),IO/UNP (HARRIS),USUN (OLSON),NSC (WILLIAMS-MANIGAULT) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL OTRA OVIP KSEP UNGA TX SUBJECT: 61ST UNGA: TURKMENISTAN'S ATTENDANCE/SUPPORT FOR UNSC ELECTION Ref: (A) State 112656 (B) State 20173 ¶1. (U) Embassy officially requested GOTX plans for UNGA attendance on July 17. Post has not received any response from the GOTX, but anticipates, based on prior precedence, that Foreign Minister Rashit Meredov will attend the UNGA high-level events. Post will communicate any additional information regarding GOTX plans upon receipt. ¶2. (SBU) In terms of support for Guatemala versus Venezuela for the Security Council seat, Charge continues to raise this at every possible opportunity with Foreign Minister Meredov, and did so as recently as August 11. Though the Minister maintains it still is "too early" to make a decision, Charge believes Turkmenistan will decide based on whether or not a Turkmenistan-specific resolution is tabled. If a resolution is tabled, Turkmenistan should be expected to support Venezuela. Turkmenistan has all the information it requires for this issue, pointing out the "negatives" of Venezuela's candidacy is unlikely to have any traction here. BRUSH