TURKMENISTAN AND UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000179 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY) E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/16/2017 TAGS: EFIN IR KNNP PGOV PREL TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN AND UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 1737 REF: A. (A) STATE 14071 ¶B. (B) ASHGABAT 137 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Jennifer L. Brush for reasons 1. 4 (B) and (D). 1, (C) Charge delivered reftel demarche to Turkmenistan's Foreign Minister Rashit Meredov on February 7. Charge highlighted the USG's sensitivity to Turkmenistan's status as Iran's neighbor, nonetheless she urged the Government of Turkmenistan to respond officially to the demarche. Meredov agreed the issue was complicated, in particular provisions regarding energy cooperation; Iran was Turkmenistan's second largest natural gas customer after Russia and the two countries recently had agreed to increase Turkenistan's gas exports. Charge again encouraged Meredov to respond to the demarche and said she would try to assist in putting Turkmenistan's response in the appropriate light. ¶2. (C) Noting that delivering a demarche in this manner -- face to face -- was more the international diplomatic norm than Turkmenistan's MFA's fetish with diplomatic notes, and continuing with EUR/ACE Coordinator Adams' recommendation that bilateral relations become less bureaucratic, the Charge said that Meredov should consider the demarche officially delivered even without a diplomatic note. Meredov asked for a note regardless, which was delivered on February 8. Embassy will continue to urge Turkmenistan to respond to this demarche and will encourage visiting Department officials also to raise the issue. BRUSH