TURKMENISTAN DENIES OVERFLIGHT TO SYRIAN FLIGHT

S E C R E T ASHGABAT 000604 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (NICOLAIDIS) E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2017 TAGS: EAIR PARM PREL MNUC KN SY AM KZ KG TI TX UZ SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN DENIES OVERFLIGHT TO SYRIAN FLIGHT REF: A. ASHGABAT 599 ¶B. STATE 84289 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Jennifer L. Brush for reasons 1. 4 (B),(C) and (D). ¶1. (S) Turkmenistan's Foreign Affairs Deputy Chairman Rashit Meredov called in Charge on June 19 to inform her that the flight referred to in ref b had requested overflight both to Pyonyang and back. The flight had reported it was carrying baby food. Meredov said the government had approved the overlight based on this information, but that the flight had not, in fact, overflown Turkmenistan on its way to Pyongyang. Based on the reftel information embassy provided, Meredov said, the government had refused overflight for the return leg from Pyongyang. ¶2. (S) Turkmenistan continues to cooperate with USG requests for overflight denial for suspicious flights. It has complied with at least two prior USG requests regarding Iran-origin flights to North Korea. This is the first time Turkmenistan has been asked to comply with a denial request for a Syria-origin flight. Turkmenistan takes these requests very seriously and both the late President Niyazov and current President Berdimuhammedov refer to this cooperation as doing Turkmenistan's share in the Global War on Terrorism. Meredov asked that CENTCOM Commander Admiral Fallon, who will meet with Berdimuhammedov July 17, be informed of Turkmenistan's compliance with this latest USG request. Turkmenistan also requests that this cooperation be handled discretely and not be publicized or shared with other governments. BRUSH