Mejlis Speaker Nurberdiyeva Meeting with Adams Del:

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASHGABAT 000146

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY); NSC FOR DEHART
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR PHUM PREL TX US

SUBJECT: Mejlis Speaker Nurberdiyeva Meeting with Adams Del:
Careful but Positive

REFS: ASHGABAT 137

Summary
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1. (SBU) During a January 31 meeting with EUR/ACE Coordinator Tom
Adams, USAID Assistant Administrator Doug Menarchik and USAID Senior
Democracy and Governance Advisor Eric Rudenshiould, the new Speaker
of Turkmenistan's Mejlis (Parliament),Akja Nurberdiyeva, signaled
cautious interest in cooperation with the U.S. Government. Although
she did not express concrete interest in any of the several
initiatives raised by delegation members, Nurberdiyeva said she
hoped that Turkmenistan would become (more) democratic and outlined
her most immediate legislation priorities, including agricultural
and pension reform, a new law against money-laundering and terrorist
financing, new labor and civil codes, and a new criminal procedure
code. Stating that the Mejlis could and would reach out to foreign
missions when it needed assistance, she reaffirmed that such
contacts would continue to channelled through the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs. End Summary.

Nurberdiyeva: A True Believer on Social Issues
-------------- --


2. (SBU) Although the embassy is still waiting for an MFA response
to a request for a meeting for the Charge with Nurberdiyeva
submitted in December, the Adams delegation's meeting, one of 11
requested through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Adams
visit, was amazingly easy to arrange. Adams, Menarchik and
Rudenshiould found the Mejlis speaker charismatic and, while
careful, a "real believer" on social issues.

Mejlis Priorities: Agriculture and Pension Reform, Fighting
Money-laundering
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3. (SBU) Adams noted that, in the United States, Congress played an
important role and Americans had much respect for a well-run
legislature, which was a key to good democracy in any country.
Reporting that he had a good meeting with Foreign Minister Meredov
(reftel),Adams said that the United States wanted to work with the
Mejlis to promote a peaceful, stable transition to a new government.
The United States wanted to assist Turkmenistan to deepen
democracy. Options included exchanges involving legislators,
including the speaker herself, and assistance in drafting new
agricultural and election laws.


4. (SBU) Nurberdiyeva reported that Turkmenistan's lawmaking organs
were working on a number of documents, including:

-- The presidential election law adopted at the December 2006
session of the Halk Maslahaty (People's Council). It had sought to
promote wider participation by citizens, and new roles for public
association and political parties.

-- Documents for the 20th session of the Halk Maslahaty in March,
which would focus on agricultural and social reform.

-- A draft law on fighting money-laundering and terrorist
financing.

-- Other legislation, including new labor and civil codes.

The government was publishing any significant laws and was
soliciting public feedback. In addition, Turkmenistan television
had a weekly "Parliamentary Hour" show, which provided commentary on
laws and responded to viewer questions. According to Nurberdiyeva,
the program was very popular"

Adams: U.S. Happy to Assist Mejlis
--------------


5. (SBU) Adams pointed out that a number of areas were difficult to

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legislate. For example, a good law on fighting money-laundering and
terrorist financing needed to attack criminals, but should not
discourage legal investment and business transactions. He also
noted the difficulty of the transition from being part of the former
Soviet Union to becoming a democratic country with a market economy.
The United States was happy to assist, if the Mejlis wished.

Nurberdiyeva: Mejlis Welcomes Foreign Assistance
-------------- --------------


6. (SBU) Nurberdiyeva said that the Mejlis always tried to draw on
the experience of other countries and welcomed methodological
assistance. However, all such assistance needed to be channeled
through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For example, Turkmenistan
planned to work actively with the OSCE, and the Mejlis had sent
parliamentarians on exchanges to France and Sweden. Adams agreed
that exchanges were good; strong democracy helped with the economy.
Both France and Sweden had strong, rather than rubberstamp,
parliaments, and the United States was looking for ways to
strengthen Turkmenistan's parliamentary tradition. (Note: When the
embassy translator stumbled over the Russian word for "rubberstamp,"
Nurberdiyeva laughed and said she completely understood the concept.
End Note.)

But No Commitment on Specific U.S. Programs
--------------


7. (SBU) Adams said that the provincial elections in late 2007 and
the 2008 parliamentary elections as important as the presidential
elections. Adams had met with the election support delegation from
the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
(ODIHR),which had taken the same plane from Frankfurt. The United
States applauded Turkmenistan for giving ODIHR permission to look at
Turkmenistan's elections. He noted that the United States had
worked well with the OSCE in many countries to improve the election
process; this was complicated, because all countries -- including
the United States -- could always do more to improve their
elections.


8. (SBU) Rudenshiould briefly discussed election and legislative
assistance programs that USAID was carrying out in Azerbaijan and
elsewhere. The United States was eager to help, but viewed the
relationship as a partnership; the U.S. Government needed to know
Turkmenistan's interests in order to respond.


9. Nurberdiyeva outlined programs which the Mejlis was carrying out
with other international organizations, including a program on
children's rights with UNICEF. The Mejlis also was meeting with
women and children at the local and district level and was seeking
to use what it had learned in Sweden to meet regularly with youth,
"our future deputies."

Anti-Trafficking in Persons Legislation
--------------


10. (SBU) Noting that even though Turkmenistan did not have a
significant trafficking in persons (TIP) problem, the Charge asked
where Turkmenistan stood in drafting anti-TIP legislation. The U.S.
embassy had given the Mejlis draft Tajikistan legislation on TIP;
ABA-CEELI also had some good people in Turkmenistan and could assist
the Mejlis with this issue. The Speaker responded that the Mejlis
has already drafted anti-TIP legislation as a prophylactic measure;
after a review period, it would definitely be implemented. Smiling,
she added, "It is not a problem. You (the Charge) know how we love
our women."

"I Hope and Believe Turkmenistan Will Be Democratic"
-------------- --------------


11. (SBU) The Charge noted that there were two other legislative
initiatives of high priority to the United States: implementing
legislation for Turkmenistan's participation in IAEA's proliferation
security initiative and final approval of the criminal code

ASHGABAT 00000146 003 OF 003


completed almost two years ago. Nurberdiyeva answered that
following up on legislation required by international agreements and
conventions remained a Mejlis priority. As for the criminal
procedure code, the Mejlis had sent the draft code and a request for
suggestions to law enforcement bodies in January. The Mejlis wanted
to adopt the code because it dealt with human rights issues. Also,
there was a law on women's rights; it was always important to
address women's issues. In addition, the March session of the Halk
Maslahaty would deal with other problems, including pensions,
education and social benefits. "Turkmenistan, I hope and believe,
will be democratic," she added.


12. (SBU) Menarchik and Adams both stressed that the Mejlis should
contact the U.S. Embassy if any of the programs that had been
mentioned were of interest. Nurberdiyeva laughed and nodded when
Adams told her not to be shy if there was an area where the United
States could help. Smiling, she responded that the Mejlis always
contacted foreign diplomatic missions when it needed assistance.
Turkmenistan was a young country and wanted respect. However, in
general, the people of Turkmenistan were open to new ways of doing
things. She believed that it would be helpful for all to travel
around the country and suggest new areas of cooperation; elections
would offer a good opportunity to learn more and would give impetus
to democratic development.

Comment and Biographic Notes
--------------


13. (SBU) Since her ascent to the Mejlis leadership just slightly
more than a month ago, Nurberdiyeva has succeeded in solidifying her
position as the most powerful woman in Turkmenistan. As such, she
is a welcome change: her wit, charm and reputation for genuinely
caring about social issues stands at odds with the more distant,
authoritarian approach common with most officials in Turkmenistan.
At any protocol events where women sat separately, she generally has
been at the center, with the Minister of Culture and the Deputy
Governor of Ahal on either side. Nurberdiyeva also had special
responsibility for escorting late President Niyazov's family during
the variety of funeral and wake events. It appears that
Nurberdiyeva is a part of the new regime, and post sees in her
careful but generally positive presentation during the meeting a
signal that she, too, wants to increase interaction, but only after
the inauguration and only -- for the moment -- through the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs. End Comment.

BRUSH