Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ASHGABAT930
2006-09-01 14:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
KAZAKHSTANIS IN ASHGABAT SEND MIXED SIGNALS ON
how-toVZCZCXRO3299 OO RUEHDBU DE RUEHAH #0930/01 2441444 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 011444Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7753 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ALMATY IMMEDIATE 5439 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE 0436 RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK IMMEDIATE 2862 RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE IMMEDIATE 0028 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW IMMEDIATE 2939 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 0326 RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT IMMEDIATE 4973 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0388 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA IMMEDIATE 0030 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 1191 RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC//DHO-2/REA/NMJIC-J2// PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J5/RUE// PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000930
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR ISN/MNSA, SCA/CEN (PERRY)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2016
TAGS: MARR KNNP PARM PREL UN KZ TX
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTANIS IN ASHGABAT SEND MIXED SIGNALS ON
TURKMENISTAN'S PARTICIPATION IN CENTRAL ASIAN NUCLEAR
WEAPONS FREE ZONE
REF: A. STATE 144180
B. ALMATY 03076
C. ASHGABAT 00906
ASHGABAT 00000930 001.2 OF 002
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 000930
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR ISN/MNSA, SCA/CEN (PERRY)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2016
TAGS: MARR KNNP PARM PREL UN KZ TX
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTANIS IN ASHGABAT SEND MIXED SIGNALS ON
TURKMENISTAN'S PARTICIPATION IN CENTRAL ASIAN NUCLEAR
WEAPONS FREE ZONE
REF: A. STATE 144180
B. ALMATY 03076
C. ASHGABAT 00906
ASHGABAT 00000930 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Jennifer L. Brush, for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Representatives of the Kazakhstani Embassy in
Ashgabat gave mixed signals on Turkmenistan's readiness to
sign a Central Asian Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (CANWFZ)
agreement in Kazakhstan on September 8 (reftels).
Kazakhstani DCM Askar Tazhibayev told Charge on August 31
that Foreign Minister Tokayev had not/not secured
Turkmenistan's President Niyazov's agreement to sign the
agreement during the former's August 30-31 visit to Ashgabat
(more on the visit septel). During a September 1 meeting,
Kazakhstani Ambassador Murat Atanov told Charge the
Turkmenistan MFA had sent a diplomatic note on August 30
saying Turkmenistan's ambassador to Kazakhstan was authorized
to sign the agreement. The U.K. and French Embassies in
Ashgabat have not yet received instructions for the joint P-3
demarche on the CANWFZ, their respective chiefs of mission
told Charge they would contact their capitals for
instructions and we would plan to deliver the demarche to
Turkmenistan's Foreign Minister Rashit Meredov on September
4. End Summary.
CANWFZ Not Discussed with the President
--------------
2. (C) Though Kazakhstani Ambassador Atanov had earlier told
Charge that urging Niyazov to agree to a CANWFZ was a
centerpiece of his Foreign Minister's visit to Turkmenistan,
during a September 1 meeting, Atanov said the issue had not
been discussed with the president. Instead, he said, Atanov
had talked about CANWFZ with Meredov and, as if an
afterthought, added, "and we also received a diplomatic note
the day before yesterday authorizing Turkmenistan's
ambassador to Kazakhstan to attend the ceremony and sign for
Turkmenistan." Responding to Charge's obvious surprise at
this news (Tazhibayev was also in this meeting),Atanov said
(disingenuously),"what's wrong, don't you support this
agreement?" Following Charge's explanation of P-3 objections
to the agreement, Atanov seemed confused and said he was not
sure of the state of play of the CANWFZ after all, and could
not confirm that the September 8 signing date was set.
3. (C) Adding even more to the confusion, Atanov told Charge
that Niyazov had been adamant during his meeting with Tokayev
that Turkmenistan's neutrality absolutely prevented it from
participating in any kind of regional agreement. "We will
only operate on a bilateral basis," Niyazov told Tokayev,
according to Atanov.
4. (C) The source of Charge's surprise was Atanov's DCM,
Tashibayev, who assured her at Kyrgyzstani national day on
August 31 that Niyavov had "not answered" Tokayev's request
that Turkmenistan sign on to a CANWFZ. Accompanying Charge
out the door on September 1, Tashibayev apologized and said
his ambassador had not shown him the diplomatic note, which
was why he had earlier told Charge there still was no answer.
P-3
---
5. (C) Charge called UK Ambassador Butcher following this
meeting to say it looked as if Turkmenistan had agreed to
sign and to see if he had received his instructions for the
ASHGABAT 00000930 002.2 OF 002
P-3 joint demarche. Butcher said he would call London,
inform his French colleague, and that we should try to meet
with Foreign Minister Meredov on September 4.
Comment
--------------
6. (C) The Kazakhstani Embassy is either intentionally
obfuscating or is confused or both. On the other hand, it is
not beyond the Government of Turkmenistan to commit to an
agreement and then not follow through. Turkmenistan's
history of regional non-cooperation certainly is stronger
than its history of cooperation. We will see what Meredov
says. End Comment.
BRUSH
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR ISN/MNSA, SCA/CEN (PERRY)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2016
TAGS: MARR KNNP PARM PREL UN KZ TX
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTANIS IN ASHGABAT SEND MIXED SIGNALS ON
TURKMENISTAN'S PARTICIPATION IN CENTRAL ASIAN NUCLEAR
WEAPONS FREE ZONE
REF: A. STATE 144180
B. ALMATY 03076
C. ASHGABAT 00906
ASHGABAT 00000930 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Jennifer L. Brush, for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Representatives of the Kazakhstani Embassy in
Ashgabat gave mixed signals on Turkmenistan's readiness to
sign a Central Asian Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (CANWFZ)
agreement in Kazakhstan on September 8 (reftels).
Kazakhstani DCM Askar Tazhibayev told Charge on August 31
that Foreign Minister Tokayev had not/not secured
Turkmenistan's President Niyazov's agreement to sign the
agreement during the former's August 30-31 visit to Ashgabat
(more on the visit septel). During a September 1 meeting,
Kazakhstani Ambassador Murat Atanov told Charge the
Turkmenistan MFA had sent a diplomatic note on August 30
saying Turkmenistan's ambassador to Kazakhstan was authorized
to sign the agreement. The U.K. and French Embassies in
Ashgabat have not yet received instructions for the joint P-3
demarche on the CANWFZ, their respective chiefs of mission
told Charge they would contact their capitals for
instructions and we would plan to deliver the demarche to
Turkmenistan's Foreign Minister Rashit Meredov on September
4. End Summary.
CANWFZ Not Discussed with the President
--------------
2. (C) Though Kazakhstani Ambassador Atanov had earlier told
Charge that urging Niyazov to agree to a CANWFZ was a
centerpiece of his Foreign Minister's visit to Turkmenistan,
during a September 1 meeting, Atanov said the issue had not
been discussed with the president. Instead, he said, Atanov
had talked about CANWFZ with Meredov and, as if an
afterthought, added, "and we also received a diplomatic note
the day before yesterday authorizing Turkmenistan's
ambassador to Kazakhstan to attend the ceremony and sign for
Turkmenistan." Responding to Charge's obvious surprise at
this news (Tazhibayev was also in this meeting),Atanov said
(disingenuously),"what's wrong, don't you support this
agreement?" Following Charge's explanation of P-3 objections
to the agreement, Atanov seemed confused and said he was not
sure of the state of play of the CANWFZ after all, and could
not confirm that the September 8 signing date was set.
3. (C) Adding even more to the confusion, Atanov told Charge
that Niyazov had been adamant during his meeting with Tokayev
that Turkmenistan's neutrality absolutely prevented it from
participating in any kind of regional agreement. "We will
only operate on a bilateral basis," Niyazov told Tokayev,
according to Atanov.
4. (C) The source of Charge's surprise was Atanov's DCM,
Tashibayev, who assured her at Kyrgyzstani national day on
August 31 that Niyavov had "not answered" Tokayev's request
that Turkmenistan sign on to a CANWFZ. Accompanying Charge
out the door on September 1, Tashibayev apologized and said
his ambassador had not shown him the diplomatic note, which
was why he had earlier told Charge there still was no answer.
P-3
---
5. (C) Charge called UK Ambassador Butcher following this
meeting to say it looked as if Turkmenistan had agreed to
sign and to see if he had received his instructions for the
ASHGABAT 00000930 002.2 OF 002
P-3 joint demarche. Butcher said he would call London,
inform his French colleague, and that we should try to meet
with Foreign Minister Meredov on September 4.
Comment
--------------
6. (C) The Kazakhstani Embassy is either intentionally
obfuscating or is confused or both. On the other hand, it is
not beyond the Government of Turkmenistan to commit to an
agreement and then not follow through. Turkmenistan's
history of regional non-cooperation certainly is stronger
than its history of cooperation. We will see what Meredov
says. End Comment.
BRUSH