Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASHGABAT1133
2007-10-19 11:38:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
POULTRY AMENDMENT DOUBTFUL TO ALLEVIATE SHORTAGE
how-toVZCZCXRO4136 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #1133 2921138 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 191138Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9572 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 2898 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0719 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0595 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 1171 RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001133
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EAGR ECON TX
SUBJECT: POULTRY AMENDMENT DOUBTFUL TO ALLEVIATE SHORTAGE
REF: ASHGABAT 1056
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001133
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EAGR ECON TX
SUBJECT: POULTRY AMENDMENT DOUBTFUL TO ALLEVIATE SHORTAGE
REF: ASHGABAT 1056
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (U) On October 1, President Berdimuhamedov signed an
amendment to agricultural legislation that makes poultry
producers exempt from tax on profits for the next three
years, starting from the date of registration of the
investment project. The law is aimed at increasing domestic
poultry production. However, the ban on importing poultry,
initiated in 2006 in response to an outbreak of avian flu,
remains in place. (NOTE: The ban is on live birds and eggs,
but, in practice, the government also bans frozen poultry.
END NOTE.) The ban continues to hamper domestic production
since local producers cannot bring in eggs and chicks to
refresh their stocks.
3. (SBU) Since the importation ban, there have been periodic
shortages of chicken in Ashgabat and elsewhere. For the past
month, eggs have also been in short supply. Rumors abound as
to the cause, ranging from the government or criminal
elements trying to corner the market or the fact that a
certain Turkish-German chicken farm was closed. The Charge
once had to bargain for a few eggs from a small vendor at a
market after being told by someone with a truck full that
there were no eggs for sale. Banning the importation of
poultry and eggs is, no doubt, a major contributing factor to
the problem.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: Whatever the reasons for the shortage,
lifting the ban on importation of poultry will certainly make
chicken more plentiful and lower the price (reftel). Now may
be the time to ask that Turkmenistan allow the importation of
poultry from countries that have not suffered outbreaks of
avian influenza, like the United States. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EAGR ECON TX
SUBJECT: POULTRY AMENDMENT DOUBTFUL TO ALLEVIATE SHORTAGE
REF: ASHGABAT 1056
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (U) On October 1, President Berdimuhamedov signed an
amendment to agricultural legislation that makes poultry
producers exempt from tax on profits for the next three
years, starting from the date of registration of the
investment project. The law is aimed at increasing domestic
poultry production. However, the ban on importing poultry,
initiated in 2006 in response to an outbreak of avian flu,
remains in place. (NOTE: The ban is on live birds and eggs,
but, in practice, the government also bans frozen poultry.
END NOTE.) The ban continues to hamper domestic production
since local producers cannot bring in eggs and chicks to
refresh their stocks.
3. (SBU) Since the importation ban, there have been periodic
shortages of chicken in Ashgabat and elsewhere. For the past
month, eggs have also been in short supply. Rumors abound as
to the cause, ranging from the government or criminal
elements trying to corner the market or the fact that a
certain Turkish-German chicken farm was closed. The Charge
once had to bargain for a few eggs from a small vendor at a
market after being told by someone with a truck full that
there were no eggs for sale. Banning the importation of
poultry and eggs is, no doubt, a major contributing factor to
the problem.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: Whatever the reasons for the shortage,
lifting the ban on importation of poultry will certainly make
chicken more plentiful and lower the price (reftel). Now may
be the time to ask that Turkmenistan allow the importation of
poultry from countries that have not suffered outbreaks of
avian influenza, like the United States. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND