VISIT TO TURKMENISTAN BY NATO SPECIAL

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