Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASHGABAT520
2007-05-23 13:01:00
SECRET
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN'S MINISTRY OF NATIONAL SECURITY
how-toVZCZCXRO3991 PP RUEHDBU DE RUEHAH #0520/01 1431301 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 231301Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8769 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0308 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0330 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 2015 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0758 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0161 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0812 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 0072 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 0123 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 0043 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 0057 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 0082 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 0395 RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC//DHO-2/REA/NMJIC-J2// RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J5/RUE// RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000520
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL TX US
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S MINISTRY OF NATIONAL SECURITY
INFORMS CHARGE THE "BLACK LIST" IS ABOLISHED
REF: A. (A) 5/22/2007 BRUSH-PERRY TELCON
B. (B) ASHGABAT 464
ASHGABAT 00000520 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Jennifer L. Brush for reasons
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000520
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL TX US
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S MINISTRY OF NATIONAL SECURITY
INFORMS CHARGE THE "BLACK LIST" IS ABOLISHED
REF: A. (A) 5/22/2007 BRUSH-PERRY TELCON
B. (B) ASHGABAT 464
ASHGABAT 00000520 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Jennifer L. Brush for reasons 1.
4 (B) and (D).
Summary
--------------
1. (S) A representative of Turkmenistan's Ministry of
National Security (MNB) contacted polmiloff on May 22 to
forward to Charge the ministry's decision to abolish the
"black list" of citizens prevented from leaving Turkmenistan.
During a follow-up conversation on May 23, the MNB contact
said this decision was definite and had been made at the
"highest levels." Since the December 21 death of President
Niyazov, embassy and a series of high-level delegations have
warned the new government of President Gurbanguly
Berdimuhammedov that continuation of the list would prompt
the USG not to extend the Jackson-Vanik Amendment waiver.
The USG has been joined by high-level international
organization delegations, including the May 3 visit of UN
High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour and the May
22 visit of OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and human
rights (ODIHR) Director Strohal, in encouraging the
Berdimuhammedov administration to improve freedom of
movement. Turkmenistan's ability to turn a positive-sounding
intiative into inaction should not be underestimated.
Embassy is awaiting further clarification of this news before
we respond officially. End Summary.
Tell the Charge She doesn't have to Raise this Anymore
-------------- --------------
2. (S) At approximately 1800 local time on May 22, polmiloff
received a phone call from a representative of the MNB
requesting him to tell the Charge that "she doesn't have to
raise the list anymore with the government." In response to
polmiloff's question about whether the list in question
actually was the "black list," the MNB representative said,
"yes, that's what you call it." The representative said he
would contact polmiloff again on May 23 for further
clarification. On May 23 the representative said he did not
have any more details other than to assure the Charge that
the decision was definite and made at the highest levels.
If True....
--------------
3. (S) After receiving the May 22 phone call, polmiloff
called Charge, who was attending a reception in honor of
visiting ODIHR Director Strohal. Charge pulled aside UK
Ambassador Butcher and OSCE Human Dimension Officer Benjamin
Moreau to tell them she had received word that the list would
be abolished, but not to do anything further with the
information until she had more details/confirmation. She
asked Moreau to inform Strohal of the development before he
departed Ashgabat. Butcher's immediate reaction was that
Berdimuhammedov now felt strong enough to tackle the
difficult issues. According to Butcher, after
Berdimuhammedov had satisfied the Russians with the May 10-14
Putin visit (ref B),he had some latitude to be more bold.
Charge shared her caution at accepting this news at face
value, emphasizing that Turkmenistan appeared to have an
endless capacity for turning positive intiatives into
inaction. She reminded him of initial USG enthusiasm for the
end of the exit visa regime in 2004, only to have it replaced
by the even less transparent black list. Of course, if true,
the international community shared credit for jointly keeping
the pressure on the new administration to improve the lives
of Turkmenistan's citizens.
ASHGABAT 00000520 002.2 OF 002
Comment
--------------
4. (S) As Charge noted in ref a, this information is far
from confirmed. There are a number of legal obstacles,
including the 2005 Law on Migration, that would have to be
removed/modified in order to truly kill the list. Every year
Turkmenistan has done the absolute bare minimum to agree to
the letter, but not the spirit, of USG requests for improved
freedom of movement. The mounting chorus of voices from USG
visitors, joined by world-class human rights officials such
as Strohal and Arbour, may have convinced the government to
abolish the list. But as with anything in Turkmenistan, the
only real proof of change is in deed. End Comment.
BRUSH
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (PERRY)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL TX US
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S MINISTRY OF NATIONAL SECURITY
INFORMS CHARGE THE "BLACK LIST" IS ABOLISHED
REF: A. (A) 5/22/2007 BRUSH-PERRY TELCON
B. (B) ASHGABAT 464
ASHGABAT 00000520 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Jennifer L. Brush for reasons 1.
4 (B) and (D).
Summary
--------------
1. (S) A representative of Turkmenistan's Ministry of
National Security (MNB) contacted polmiloff on May 22 to
forward to Charge the ministry's decision to abolish the
"black list" of citizens prevented from leaving Turkmenistan.
During a follow-up conversation on May 23, the MNB contact
said this decision was definite and had been made at the
"highest levels." Since the December 21 death of President
Niyazov, embassy and a series of high-level delegations have
warned the new government of President Gurbanguly
Berdimuhammedov that continuation of the list would prompt
the USG not to extend the Jackson-Vanik Amendment waiver.
The USG has been joined by high-level international
organization delegations, including the May 3 visit of UN
High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour and the May
22 visit of OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and human
rights (ODIHR) Director Strohal, in encouraging the
Berdimuhammedov administration to improve freedom of
movement. Turkmenistan's ability to turn a positive-sounding
intiative into inaction should not be underestimated.
Embassy is awaiting further clarification of this news before
we respond officially. End Summary.
Tell the Charge She doesn't have to Raise this Anymore
-------------- --------------
2. (S) At approximately 1800 local time on May 22, polmiloff
received a phone call from a representative of the MNB
requesting him to tell the Charge that "she doesn't have to
raise the list anymore with the government." In response to
polmiloff's question about whether the list in question
actually was the "black list," the MNB representative said,
"yes, that's what you call it." The representative said he
would contact polmiloff again on May 23 for further
clarification. On May 23 the representative said he did not
have any more details other than to assure the Charge that
the decision was definite and made at the highest levels.
If True....
--------------
3. (S) After receiving the May 22 phone call, polmiloff
called Charge, who was attending a reception in honor of
visiting ODIHR Director Strohal. Charge pulled aside UK
Ambassador Butcher and OSCE Human Dimension Officer Benjamin
Moreau to tell them she had received word that the list would
be abolished, but not to do anything further with the
information until she had more details/confirmation. She
asked Moreau to inform Strohal of the development before he
departed Ashgabat. Butcher's immediate reaction was that
Berdimuhammedov now felt strong enough to tackle the
difficult issues. According to Butcher, after
Berdimuhammedov had satisfied the Russians with the May 10-14
Putin visit (ref B),he had some latitude to be more bold.
Charge shared her caution at accepting this news at face
value, emphasizing that Turkmenistan appeared to have an
endless capacity for turning positive intiatives into
inaction. She reminded him of initial USG enthusiasm for the
end of the exit visa regime in 2004, only to have it replaced
by the even less transparent black list. Of course, if true,
the international community shared credit for jointly keeping
the pressure on the new administration to improve the lives
of Turkmenistan's citizens.
ASHGABAT 00000520 002.2 OF 002
Comment
--------------
4. (S) As Charge noted in ref a, this information is far
from confirmed. There are a number of legal obstacles,
including the 2005 Law on Migration, that would have to be
removed/modified in order to truly kill the list. Every year
Turkmenistan has done the absolute bare minimum to agree to
the letter, but not the spirit, of USG requests for improved
freedom of movement. The mounting chorus of voices from USG
visitors, joined by world-class human rights officials such
as Strohal and Arbour, may have convinced the government to
abolish the list. But as with anything in Turkmenistan, the
only real proof of change is in deed. End Comment.
BRUSH