Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASHGABAT314
2007-03-26 05:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
VISIT TO TURKMENISTAN BY NATO SPECIAL
how-toVZCZCXRO4962 PP RUEHDBU DE RUEHAH #0314/01 0850518 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 260518Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8564 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 0227 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0249 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 1926 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0669 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0723 RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ2/HSE/CCJ5// PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC//DHO-2/REA/NMJIC-J2// PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J5/RUE// PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 1291
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000314
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/25/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR NATO TX
SUBJECT: VISIT TO TURKMENISTAN BY NATO SPECIAL
REPRESENTATIVE FOR CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA ROBERT
SIMMONS: MOST POSITIVE TRIP EVER
REF: IIR 6 940 0013 07
Classified By: Classified by Acting Charge d'Affaires Richard Hoagland
for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000314
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/25/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR NATO TX
SUBJECT: VISIT TO TURKMENISTAN BY NATO SPECIAL
REPRESENTATIVE FOR CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA ROBERT
SIMMONS: MOST POSITIVE TRIP EVER
REF: IIR 6 940 0013 07
Classified By: Classified by Acting Charge d'Affaires Richard Hoagland
for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) During March 20 meetings with Turkmenistan President
Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov, Deputy Chairman/Minister for
Foreign Affairs Rashit Meredov and Defense Minister Agageldi
Mammetgeldiyev, NATO Special Representative for Caucasus and
Central Asia Robert Simmons found a substantial increase in
interest in dialogue with NATO. While Berdimuhammedov and
Mammetgeldiyev had been positive about the prospects of
increased cooperation with NATO, it was Meredov who presented
Turkmenistan's wishlist: training in disaster management and
border security cooperation. Meredov also hinted broadly of
the need for more Marshall Center fellowships for
Turkmenistan. Simmons' meetings, in both content and result,
were similar to that of meetings on military-to-military
cooperation that CENTCOM had earlier this month with the
Ministry of Defense (ref),continuing the "we want to
cooperate" theme that post has been hearing ever since
President Niyazov's death. End summary.
2. (U) Simmons briefed representatives of NATO member state
missions in Ashgabat (France, Germany, Romania, United
Kingdom and United States) during a March 20 dinner hosted by
Turkey's Ambassador Hakki Akil. Ambassador Akil, who will
serve as NATO Contact Point for Turkmenistan for the next two
years, arranged and escorted Simmons to all meetings.
President Berdimuhammedov Stresses Wish for Cooperation
-------------- --------------
3. (C) Simmons told representatives that, during this trip
(his third in two years),he had seen a substantial
improvement in the quality of the dialogue. He had met on
March 20 with Berdimuhammedov, Meredov and Mammetgeldiyev.
Meredov and Mammetgeldiyev had both participated in the
Berdimuhammedov meeting, then met separately with Simmons.
The Special Coordinator had found the president engaged and
knowledgeable on the issues and interested in what Simmons
had to say. The tenor of the meeting was positive, with
Berdimuhammedov stressing Turkmenistan's wish to cooperate
with NATO within the Partnership for Peace (PfP) framework,
but it was clear that Berdimuhammedov's was a listening brief.
Meredov Presents Wishlist: Disaster Preparedness, Border
Security and Training
-------------- --------------
4. (C) In his separate meeting with Simmons, Meredov took
the initiative, requesting assistance from NATO in three
areas: disaster management training, strengthening border
security, and training -- including Marshall Center-type
programs -- for Turkmenistan's military officers. (Note:
Meredov has made a special point of stressing Turkmenistan's
satisfaction with the Marshall Center's programs. End Note.)
By contrast, the meeting with Mammetgeldiyev was less
productive, with the defense minister expressing interest in
cooperation, but making no specific proposals for possible
initiatives. Notwithstanding the Defense Minister's seeming
reticence, Simmons said, he was encouraged enough by the
results of this visit that he would make more frequent visits
than the yearly trips that had been past ritual.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) Simmons' meetings were very similar in content and
result to those that a CENTCOM delegation had earlier this
month (ref). The fact that it was Meredov, rather than
Berdimuhammedov or Mammetgeldiyev, who presented
Turkmenistan's cooperation wishlist bears out post's belief
ASHGABAT 00000314 002 OF 002
that Berdimuhammedov has given his Deputy Chairman for
Foreign Affairs especially broad responsibility for directing
Turkmenistan's foreign policy. Interestingly, it was also
Meredov who, during the March 20-22 Nowruz holiday,
consistently led the other deputy chairmen and cabinet
ministers into events, suggesting that he may also have
become -- at least unofficially -- First Deputy Chairman of
the Cabinet of Ministers. End Comment.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/25/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR NATO TX
SUBJECT: VISIT TO TURKMENISTAN BY NATO SPECIAL
REPRESENTATIVE FOR CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA ROBERT
SIMMONS: MOST POSITIVE TRIP EVER
REF: IIR 6 940 0013 07
Classified By: Classified by Acting Charge d'Affaires Richard Hoagland
for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) During March 20 meetings with Turkmenistan President
Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov, Deputy Chairman/Minister for
Foreign Affairs Rashit Meredov and Defense Minister Agageldi
Mammetgeldiyev, NATO Special Representative for Caucasus and
Central Asia Robert Simmons found a substantial increase in
interest in dialogue with NATO. While Berdimuhammedov and
Mammetgeldiyev had been positive about the prospects of
increased cooperation with NATO, it was Meredov who presented
Turkmenistan's wishlist: training in disaster management and
border security cooperation. Meredov also hinted broadly of
the need for more Marshall Center fellowships for
Turkmenistan. Simmons' meetings, in both content and result,
were similar to that of meetings on military-to-military
cooperation that CENTCOM had earlier this month with the
Ministry of Defense (ref),continuing the "we want to
cooperate" theme that post has been hearing ever since
President Niyazov's death. End summary.
2. (U) Simmons briefed representatives of NATO member state
missions in Ashgabat (France, Germany, Romania, United
Kingdom and United States) during a March 20 dinner hosted by
Turkey's Ambassador Hakki Akil. Ambassador Akil, who will
serve as NATO Contact Point for Turkmenistan for the next two
years, arranged and escorted Simmons to all meetings.
President Berdimuhammedov Stresses Wish for Cooperation
-------------- --------------
3. (C) Simmons told representatives that, during this trip
(his third in two years),he had seen a substantial
improvement in the quality of the dialogue. He had met on
March 20 with Berdimuhammedov, Meredov and Mammetgeldiyev.
Meredov and Mammetgeldiyev had both participated in the
Berdimuhammedov meeting, then met separately with Simmons.
The Special Coordinator had found the president engaged and
knowledgeable on the issues and interested in what Simmons
had to say. The tenor of the meeting was positive, with
Berdimuhammedov stressing Turkmenistan's wish to cooperate
with NATO within the Partnership for Peace (PfP) framework,
but it was clear that Berdimuhammedov's was a listening brief.
Meredov Presents Wishlist: Disaster Preparedness, Border
Security and Training
-------------- --------------
4. (C) In his separate meeting with Simmons, Meredov took
the initiative, requesting assistance from NATO in three
areas: disaster management training, strengthening border
security, and training -- including Marshall Center-type
programs -- for Turkmenistan's military officers. (Note:
Meredov has made a special point of stressing Turkmenistan's
satisfaction with the Marshall Center's programs. End Note.)
By contrast, the meeting with Mammetgeldiyev was less
productive, with the defense minister expressing interest in
cooperation, but making no specific proposals for possible
initiatives. Notwithstanding the Defense Minister's seeming
reticence, Simmons said, he was encouraged enough by the
results of this visit that he would make more frequent visits
than the yearly trips that had been past ritual.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) Simmons' meetings were very similar in content and
result to those that a CENTCOM delegation had earlier this
month (ref). The fact that it was Meredov, rather than
Berdimuhammedov or Mammetgeldiyev, who presented
Turkmenistan's cooperation wishlist bears out post's belief
ASHGABAT 00000314 002 OF 002
that Berdimuhammedov has given his Deputy Chairman for
Foreign Affairs especially broad responsibility for directing
Turkmenistan's foreign policy. Interestingly, it was also
Meredov who, during the March 20-22 Nowruz holiday,
consistently led the other deputy chairmen and cabinet
ministers into events, suggesting that he may also have
become -- at least unofficially -- First Deputy Chairman of
the Cabinet of Ministers. End Comment.
HOAGLAND