Turkmenistan's Very Public Drug Burn

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000169

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY); INL (BUHLER); SCA/PPD (KAMP)
TASHKENT FOR DEA (CORTINOVIS)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SNAR KIPR PREL TX US
SUBJECT: Turkmenistan's Very Public Drug Burn

REF: Ashgabat 144

Summary
--------------


1. (SBU) The media, the diplomatic corps and Turkmenistan's State
Counternarcotics Commission at the Cabinet of Ministers witnessed
the incineration of 562 kilograms of narcotics, primarily seized
along the border with Afghanistan from December 2006 through early
February, on February 7. This, the fourth such event in the last
two years, was more of a media event than in the past, but less of
an overall spectacle for the diplomatic corps. The February 7 drug
burn was the first time drug seizure statistics were publicly
announced in the state run newspaper and broadcast on the state run
television news program. The newspaper article reported that more
than 89 kilograms of hashish were also burned, although this was not
announced during the drug burn. Significantly, the Reuters Senior
Correspondent for Central Asia, accredited to Turkmenistan, was also
on hand for the event. End Summary.

Something Old
--------------


2. (U) The diplomatic corps, mostly composed of resident chiefs of
mission, were greeted by Foreign Minister Rashit Meredov as they
gathered in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to join a
convoy of vehicles headed out to the drug burn site. Diplomatic
missions were invited to the event only two days prior, but many
were represented. Also joining the group was a government bus for
journalists. Two scientists working with post's International
Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) on-going forensic
laboratory project, a Customs Deputy Minister working with INL on an
English-language project for law enforcement officials, the First
Deputy Chairman of the State Border Service who participated in the
Altyn Asyr border crossing checkpoint opening and a number of INL
meetings, and the Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Court who
previously attended a USG-funded rule of law conference also
attended.


3. (U) At the site, it was business as usual when three young
police officers wearing battle fatigues, Kevlar helmets,
bullet-proof vests and protective goggles, but notably no gloves,
opened the armored vehicle that housed the 513 kilograms of opium,
49 kilograms of heroin and 89 kilograms of hashish to be tossed into
the two incinerators. Deputy Chief of the State Counternarcotics
Commission at the Cabinet of Ministers Yalim Berdiyev (who had met
with the Adams Assistance delegation on February 2, reftel),during
an interview near the incinerators, told reporters that a majority
of the drugs being destroyed were seized on the border with
Afghanistan while a minority portion was seized along the border
with Iran. There were a number of local photo journalists,
reporters and diplomats photographing all stages of the burn.
Poloff saw that one portion of the drugs to be burned was packaged
in English-language "Maxwell House" labels.

Something New
--------------


4. (SBU) Several local journalists had been included in previous
burns, but this burn was broadcast on the February 7
state-controlled national evening news and an article on the event,
including seizure statistics, was published in the national state
paper on February 8, both firsts. The government also invited the
Reuters journalist to the event, representing both international and
independent reporting. This first burn of 2007 continued the
tradition of hosting the invited observers to an incinerator-side
meal, but (thankfully) absent the previous mandatory vodka toasts.

Comment
--------------


5. (SBU) The media-saturated burn follows on the heels of the
EUR/ACE delegation's visit and comments to government officials on

ASHGABAT 00000169 002 OF 002


the need for transparent drug-seizure information. It also comes on
the eve of the February 11 presidential elections, and projects
Acting President and presidential candidate Gurbanguly
Berdimuhammedov's commitment both to the international war on drugs
and in particular to combating drug trafficking through
Turkmenistan.


6. (SBU) It was Deputy Chief Berdiyev's first time to host a drug
burn and thus meet with much of the diplomatic corps. Berdiyev, the
former government point of contact for a USG-funded border-crossing
checkpoint project, was a forthcoming interlocutor with poloff at
the event, although he appeared uncomfortable talking to other
diplomats or the media. Thanks to INL and embassy programs, poloff
was one of the few diplomats at the drug burn able to boast long
familiarity with the Turkmenistan officials hosting the event. The
burn proved an uncommon opportunity to reinforce the U.S.
Government's commitment to Turkmenistan's counternarcotics efforts.
End Comment.

BRUSH