TURKMENISTAN: TEHRAN CASPIAN SEA SUMMIT DEMARCH

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 001090 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2017 TAGS: PREL ENRG ETTC IR TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: TEHRAN CASPIAN SEA SUMMIT DEMARCH DELIVERED REF: STATE 141286 Classified By: CHARGE RICHARD E. HOAGLAND FOR REASONS 1.4 (A) AND (B) ¶1. (C) Charge delivered reftel demarche to Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Rashit Meredov on October 10 and left an informal Russian translation of the talking points. Meredov listened closely to the demarche and then read the points again carefully. He initially replied that the United States must know that Turkmenistan is scrupulous about its United Nations obligations. ¶2. (C) Meredov asked, "Why are you especially worried about this rather mundane conference? Is there a special message here for us?" Charge replied that this is not the time for business as usual with the government in Tehran. Attendance at any Iran-sponsored or -hosted summit or international conference confers unnecessary legitimacy on Tehran at a time when it continues to flout UN Security Council Resolutions. Further, we want to encourage Turkmenistan not to agree to any decisions or sign on to any public declarations that would limit Ashgabat's sovereign ability to make independent decisions about its own political and, especially, economic long-term interests. ¶3. (C) Meredov again expressed thanks for the points and said he would circulate them to the members of the delegation going to Tehran. He added, "President Berdimuhamedov has already accepted this invitation and he cannot back out now. But please understand we do pay close attention to your views." HOAGLAND