TURKMENISTAN AND MESSAGES ON DETAINEE TREATMENT

UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000946 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN AND MESSAGES ON DETAINEE TREATMENT REF: STATE 146996 ¶1. (SBU) There has been no public comment by or private debate with Government of Turkmenistan officials regarding the treatment of detainees since the start of the Global War on Terror in 2001. As government officials have avoided virtually all contact with embassy over the past month, post neither has an audience nor a benefit for raising reftel points with Government of Turkmenistan officials. ¶2. (SBU) Given Turkmenistan's isolation from the overall global war on terror, the total lack of visibility on the subject in the state-controlled media and the absence of any meaningful or influential local press, there is no utility in engaging local media on reftel themes. ¶3. (U) This position is consistent with post's response to demarches on related themes. BRUSH