CODEL HOEKSTRA'S MEETING WITH DEPUTY CHAIRMAN FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 ASHGABAT 000350

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA, NEA/IR, EUR (BRYZA)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2017
TAGS: AJ ENRG IR PREL TX US UN
SUBJECT: CODEL HOEKSTRA'S MEETING WITH DEPUTY CHAIRMAN FOR
FOREIGN AFFAIRS MEREDOV: U.S. IS IMPORTANT TO TURKMENISTAN

Classified By: Classified by Acting Charge d'Affaires, Ambassador Richa
rd Hoagland, for reasons 1.4(B) and (D).

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


1. (C) Michigan Congressman Peter Hoekstra, Ranking Member
of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence,
Minority Staff Director Michael Meermans, Permanent Staff
Member Jim Lewis and Acting Charge d'Affaires met for about
75 minutes on April 4 with Deputy Chairman and Minister of
Foreign Affairs Rashit Meredov. Meredov spoke at length
about his country's relationship with Iran, using his
country's "positive neutrality" to justify the two's
"friendly" economic relations. While hoping that "reason
would prevail" in current international disputes with Tehran,
he equally stressed that Turkmenistan will always hew to UN
resolutions. On energy policy, Meredov stressed that his
country wanted to use its hydrocarbon revenue to improve its
people's well-being, and recognized the benefits of
diversifying its pipelines. In the end, Turkmenistan would
look to its own interests, since "the market is the market"
and the people's well-being was at stake. End Summary.

Meredov Eager to Expand Relations with U.S. Congress
-------------- --------------


2. (C) Congressman Hoekstra met with Meredov seven hours
before Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov's plane was due to
land in Ashgabat. Although the Foreign Ministry was
obviously focused on preparations for the Lavrov visit and
the Congressman's meeting started late because Meredov had
been on the phone, the Deputy Chairman was focused throughout
the meeting as he stressed his country's wish to improve its
relationship with the U.S. Congress, as well as the U.S.
Executive branch.

"Positive Neutrality" Benefits Region...
--------------


3. (C) Responding to a question from the Congressman on
Turkmenistan's views on the situation in Iran, Meredov
explained Turkmenistan's policy of "positive neutrality,"
which was directed toward promoting peace. There were many
instances when Turkmenistan's neutrality had benefited the
region, including:

-- Turkmenistan's role in resolving the civil war in
Tajikistan, when it hosted UN-sponsored negotations that led
to the creation of a Government of National Unity, and
Ashgabat's willingness to accept up to 20,000 Tajik refugees
when no other country in the region would take them;

-- Its role in supporting UN-sponsored negotiations in the
late 1990's between the Northern Alliance and Taliban in
Afghanistan; and

-- Turkmenistan's agreement to facilitate humanitarian
operations in Afghanistan by permitting overflights.

Turkmenistan played a serious role in the region that had
always focused on resolving problems through diplomatic
means. Given its policy of neutrality, Turkmenistan hoped
that the current situation in Iran also could be resolved
peacefully, through negotiation.

...But Turkmenistan Will Always Adhere to UN Resolutions
-------------- --------------


4. (C) However, Meredov stressed, Turkmenistan had always
supported international efforts carried out within the
framework of the UN and the UN Security Council. As a

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country with a permanent policy of positive neutrality -- a
policy that had been confirmed by a UN resolution --
Turkmenistan would always honor UN and UN Security Council
resolutions, just as it would continue to maintain friendly
relations with its neighbors.

Turkmenistan Hopes Reason Will Prevail in Iran
-------------- -


5. (C) When Congressman Hoekstra solicited Meredov's
thoughts on how Iran might respond to UN Security Council
resolution 1747, Meredov replied that, officially, Iran has
its own version of its issues with the UN Security Council.
However, Turkmenistan hoped that all countries, including
Iran, would implement all UN documents and resolutions and
that common sense would prevail in any situation.
Congressman Hoekstra responded that he respected
Turkmenistan's position of positive neutrality, and also
hoped that the UN actions would result in more rational
thinking. However, the United States remained concerned by
the possibility that Iran would not react rationally; Iran's
leaders had publicly committed to follow their nuclear
program and could not easily back down. Was it possible for
common sense to prevail in such a situation? he asked.


6. (C) Speaking carefully, Meredov noted that Iran and
Turkmenistan were neighbors and that there were ancient ties
between the peoples of the two countries, as well as many
ethnic Turkmen living in Iran. The current relationship
between the two governments was cooperative; ties between the
two countries were primarily economic in nature. While it
was difficult to predict how Iran would respond to the UN
Security Council resolution -- this was, in fact, an internal
issue -- Meredov urged that resolution of any issue should be
pursued through international legal mechanisms and
procedures. Iranian officials were smart and educated, with
a long diplomatic history. In looking at the situation, it
was necessary to keep in mind Iran's rich history and past
diplomatic experience. Such an approach would help ensure a
peaceful resolution. Agreeing that the situation was very
complicated, Congressman Hoekstra stressed that cooperation
from countries in the region was essential if the Iranian
issue were to be resolved peacefully.

Meredov: Neutrality a Policy of Engagement
--------------


7. (C) Congressman Hoekstra hoped that, in the future, more
members of Congress would have the opportunity to meet with
Turkmenistan's officials. Meredov agreed, noting that the
last congressional delegation had visited in winter 2002,
five years ago. Hoping it would not be another five years
until the next Congressional visit, the Congressman said he
was glad that Turkmenistan's policy of neutrality allowed for
engagement and dialogue, which led to greater openness.
"Absolutely," Meredov responded, "in our meetings with our
U.S. counterparts, we always seek to convey that neutrality
means openness, availability and a willingness to engage in
dialogue."

Turkmenistan Sees Value of Diversified Pipelines
-------------- ---


8. (C) Responding to a question from Congressman Hoekstra on
the prospects for Central Asian cooperation on energy,
Meredov stated that Turkmenistan strove for openness and
cooperation on energy issues, and was ready to cooperate with
other countries on a basis of mutual benefit and interest.
The main route for Turkmenistan's exports was to the north,
through Russia, then to other countries. Following late
President Niyazov's visit to China last year, Turkmenistan
had signed a thirty-year agreement to begin exporting 30

ASHGABAT 00000350 003 OF 004


billion cubic meters (bcms) of gas to China per year,
beginning in 2009. These exports would go east. In
addition, there had been serious work done on a
Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India pipeline (TAPI)
project by international financial institutions, including by
the Asian Development Bank, which had financed a feasibility
study. A group was continuing to work on the project, which
had serious economic, political and social implications. For
example, as the country supplying the gas, Turkmenistan would
profit. Afghanistan, a transit country for the gas, would
receive at least $300 million at today's gas prices; the
TAPI, which would include gas compressor stations, would also
create 12,000 new jobs; all this would benefit Afghanistan.
Pakistan, a consumer, would also profit, as would India's
rapidly expanding economy. Toward the west, the idea of a
Trans-Caspian pipeline (TCP) was being resurrected; the TCP
offered a possible new -- and profitable -- direction for
exporting gas. Meredov stressed that Turkmenistan's energy
policy would continue to be based on the principle that
Turkmenistan would sell its gas at the border going in any
direction; after that, it was up to the transit and consuming
countries to decide how to transport the gas.


9. (C) Noting that Congressman Hoekstra had been to
Azerbaijan, Meredov asked whether the Congressman believed
that the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) and Nabucco pipelines
would reach full capacity without Turkmenistan gas. The
Congressman responded that, while he was not an expert, he
thought it was unlikely; people in the region believed that
Turkmenistan's participation was critical. Meredov
interjected that the problem was likely that the BTC and
Nabucco pipelines had been built to carry a total of 24 bcms
of gas -- too high a volume. The A/CDA noted that one of the
great benefits of exporting products in all directions was
that such a policy increased a country's wealth; the
increased wealth, in turn, improved the people's situation;
countries that used their resources wisely to build wealth
increased their sovereignty.

Hydrocarbon Revenue a Means of Increasing Well-Being
-------------- --------------


10. (C) Meredov nodding, said, "that's precisely what we are
talking about." President Berdimuhammedov wanted to increase
the well-being of Turkmenistan's citizens, and saw the
country's natural resources as the basis of that goal.
Turkmenistan already was demonstrating the benefits of
pipeline diversity (sic). But the market was the market, and
profit was important. Turkmenistan needed to consider its
own interests, since the issue boiled down to the people's
well-being.

Broader Cooperation Benefits Bilateral Relations
-------------- ---


11. (C) Thanking the Congressman for the good cooperation
and assistance Turkmenistan was already receiving from the
United States, Meredov quickly reviewed the range of
bilateral projects, including in counternarcotics, border
security, economic, cultural and educational areas. He noted
in particular an exhibition featuring Turkmen carpets that
had opened three days earlier at the Textile Museum in
Washington DC, as well as U.S. participation in the Ministry
of Culture-sponsored International Festival of Theater Arts
and Folklore in Ashgabat. Such cooperation, he concluded,
was important because it helped the people of both countries
to know each other better.

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


12. (C) Meredov is keenly aware that, as Turkmenistan's new

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leadership is defining its new foreign policy, it is walking
a fine line in its efforts to balance frequently competing
demands from Washington, Moscow, Tehran, and elsewhere;
"positive neutrality" provides, at best, a fig leaf. In the
case of Iran, while Meredov undoubtedly feels that
Turkmenistan must continue to be "friendly" with its much
larger and more powerful neighbor, it is notable that he
continues to stress his country's intent to adhere to UN
resolutions; nonetheless, he clearly feels the pressure from
both sides. This tension is even more evident in
Turkmenistan's relations with Russia: with most international
diplomats here agreeing that Lavrov will push during his
visit to keep Turkmenistan in the fold through membership in
the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Eurasian Economic
Alliance and continued heavy reliance on the Russian
pipelines, the question remains how effectively Meredov will
be able to deploy "positive neutrality" to maintain at least
a semblance of sovereignty. Given the heavy scrutiny
Ashgabat is now receiving, it is hardly surprising that
President Berdimuhammedov chose to make his first state visit
to Riyadh, rather than to Moscow or any of the other capitals
in the region. End Comment.


13. (U) CODEL Hoekstra did not clear this cable but
authorized sending it.
HOAGLAND