Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASHGABAT609
2007-06-21 12:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN'S BERDIMUHAMMEDOV,S STATE VISIT TO
VZCZCXRO1879 PP RUEHDBU DE RUEHAH #0609/01 1721259 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 211259Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8889 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0356 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0378 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 2066 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0815 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0172 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0863 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 0085 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 0134 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 0056 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 0070 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 0095 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 0408 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
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000609
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (NICOLAIDES)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2017
TAGS: IR PGOV PINR PREL TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S BERDIMUHAMMEDOV,S STATE VISIT TO
IRAN: TEHRAN CALLING THE SHOTS
REF: A. A) 06 ASHGABAT 0804
B. B) ASHGABAT 0600
ASHGABAT 00000609 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Jennifer L. Brush for reasons
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000609
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (NICOLAIDES)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2017
TAGS: IR PGOV PINR PREL TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S BERDIMUHAMMEDOV,S STATE VISIT TO
IRAN: TEHRAN CALLING THE SHOTS
REF: A. A) 06 ASHGABAT 0804
B. B) ASHGABAT 0600
ASHGABAT 00000609 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Jennifer L. Brush for reasons 1.
4 (B) and (D).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Turkmenistan's President Berdimuhammedov's June 15-16
visit to Tehran demonstrated that Iran continues to call the
shots in its relationship with Turkmenistan. The joint
communique, calling Iran's foreign policy "a stabilizing and
peaceful force in the world," was more a reflection of
Persian self-indulgence than a credible bilateral document.
Turkmenistan's Foreign Affairs Deputy Chairman Rashit Meredov
refused to be drawn out by the Charge about the visit,
stressing only Turkmenistan's wish for "good-neighborly
relations." Local observers characterize the visit as
obligatory -- Berdimuhammedov visits his neighbors first --
and downplay any idea that overall relations with Iran will
change. Turkmenistan's policy vis-a-vis its prickly neighbor
to the south is likely to remain predominantly commercial,
with no overt criticism of Iran or its policies. End Summary.
Berdimuhammedov's State Visit to Iran
--------------
2. (U) Berdimuhammedov headed a large governmental
delegation to Tehran June 15-16 in response to Iranian
President Ahmadinejad's March 16 invitation. During the two
days, Berdimuhammedov and his host met one-on-one several
times and held a joint press conference. Turkmenistan's
president reportedly secured Ahmadinejad's commitment to
visit Ashgabat and Iran's support for extending construction
of a North-South corridor transport railway between
Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan into Iran. Once completed, the
railway would offer rail transport to Gulf ports for Russia
and other Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
Berdimuhammedov signed an agreement with Iran Khudro car
plant for the purchase of buses and specially equipped
traffic police cars and visited Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
Joint Communique Only Significant Document
--------------
3. (U) The only significant document the two signed was a
joint communique which stated:
-- The common border between Turkmenistan and Iran was a
border of peace, friendship and brotherhood, and that border
issues needed to be resolved peacefully;
-- The importance both of continuing exports of gas,
electricity, oil and hydrocarbon products to Iran and of
having bilateral negotiations in this field;
-- That Iran welcomed Turkmenistan's suggestion for
construction of a railroad line from Turkmenbashy (on the
Caspian coast) to Gorgan;
-- The usefulness of resuming air transportation routes;
-- The need for peaceful resolution of regional problems,
given the need to increase efforts to guarantee peace and
stability in the region; and
-- On Caspian issues, the need for peaceful and diplomatic
resolution of problems by all five littoral countries and to
speed up the Second Caspian Summit and put in place the
Caspian Legal Status Convention.
ASHGABAT 00000609 002.2 OF 002
4. (U) The communique also included three elements that had
been repeated from the joint communique signed in August 2006
during Ahmadinejad's visit to Ashgabat:
-- Agreement that neither side would allow its territory to
be used in attacks against the other;
-- A statement of Turkmenistan's support for Iran's "active
and positive role" in promoting regional and international
peace, stability and tranquility; and
-- Iran's support for Turkmenistan's neutral status.
Meredov Refuses to Discuss Visit
--------------
5. (C) Unlike the briefings he voluntarily offered the
Charge following Berdimuhammedov's two meetings with Russian
President Putin, Meredov was uncharacteristically silent
about the president's visit to Tehran when the Charge met
with him on another matter on June 18. Stressing only his
country's wish for "good-neighborly relations" with Iran,
Meredov refused to comment further about the visit.
Diplomats accredited to Ashgabat uniformly agreed that
Berdimuhammedov had little choice about the meeting: the
president is visiting his neighbors first, and Iran is one of
Turkmenistan's top trading partners. Most also concurred
that the proposed exchange of visits would not lead to a
change in Turkmenistan's fundamentally cautious and primarily
commercial relationship with its difficult neighbor.
Comment
--------------
6. (C) Relations between Iran and Turkmenistan have not
improved significantly since last year: the border remains
heavily guarded and travel restrictions on Iranians are
tight. Although the authorities here express concern to VIP
U.S. visitors about Iran's deteriorating relations with the
IAEA and the rest of the international community,
Berdimuhammedov clearly is not ready to offer overt criticism
of Iran or its policies. End Comment.
BRUSH
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (NICOLAIDES)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2017
TAGS: IR PGOV PINR PREL TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S BERDIMUHAMMEDOV,S STATE VISIT TO
IRAN: TEHRAN CALLING THE SHOTS
REF: A. A) 06 ASHGABAT 0804
B. B) ASHGABAT 0600
ASHGABAT 00000609 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Jennifer L. Brush for reasons 1.
4 (B) and (D).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Turkmenistan's President Berdimuhammedov's June 15-16
visit to Tehran demonstrated that Iran continues to call the
shots in its relationship with Turkmenistan. The joint
communique, calling Iran's foreign policy "a stabilizing and
peaceful force in the world," was more a reflection of
Persian self-indulgence than a credible bilateral document.
Turkmenistan's Foreign Affairs Deputy Chairman Rashit Meredov
refused to be drawn out by the Charge about the visit,
stressing only Turkmenistan's wish for "good-neighborly
relations." Local observers characterize the visit as
obligatory -- Berdimuhammedov visits his neighbors first --
and downplay any idea that overall relations with Iran will
change. Turkmenistan's policy vis-a-vis its prickly neighbor
to the south is likely to remain predominantly commercial,
with no overt criticism of Iran or its policies. End Summary.
Berdimuhammedov's State Visit to Iran
--------------
2. (U) Berdimuhammedov headed a large governmental
delegation to Tehran June 15-16 in response to Iranian
President Ahmadinejad's March 16 invitation. During the two
days, Berdimuhammedov and his host met one-on-one several
times and held a joint press conference. Turkmenistan's
president reportedly secured Ahmadinejad's commitment to
visit Ashgabat and Iran's support for extending construction
of a North-South corridor transport railway between
Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan into Iran. Once completed, the
railway would offer rail transport to Gulf ports for Russia
and other Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
Berdimuhammedov signed an agreement with Iran Khudro car
plant for the purchase of buses and specially equipped
traffic police cars and visited Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
Joint Communique Only Significant Document
--------------
3. (U) The only significant document the two signed was a
joint communique which stated:
-- The common border between Turkmenistan and Iran was a
border of peace, friendship and brotherhood, and that border
issues needed to be resolved peacefully;
-- The importance both of continuing exports of gas,
electricity, oil and hydrocarbon products to Iran and of
having bilateral negotiations in this field;
-- That Iran welcomed Turkmenistan's suggestion for
construction of a railroad line from Turkmenbashy (on the
Caspian coast) to Gorgan;
-- The usefulness of resuming air transportation routes;
-- The need for peaceful resolution of regional problems,
given the need to increase efforts to guarantee peace and
stability in the region; and
-- On Caspian issues, the need for peaceful and diplomatic
resolution of problems by all five littoral countries and to
speed up the Second Caspian Summit and put in place the
Caspian Legal Status Convention.
ASHGABAT 00000609 002.2 OF 002
4. (U) The communique also included three elements that had
been repeated from the joint communique signed in August 2006
during Ahmadinejad's visit to Ashgabat:
-- Agreement that neither side would allow its territory to
be used in attacks against the other;
-- A statement of Turkmenistan's support for Iran's "active
and positive role" in promoting regional and international
peace, stability and tranquility; and
-- Iran's support for Turkmenistan's neutral status.
Meredov Refuses to Discuss Visit
--------------
5. (C) Unlike the briefings he voluntarily offered the
Charge following Berdimuhammedov's two meetings with Russian
President Putin, Meredov was uncharacteristically silent
about the president's visit to Tehran when the Charge met
with him on another matter on June 18. Stressing only his
country's wish for "good-neighborly relations" with Iran,
Meredov refused to comment further about the visit.
Diplomats accredited to Ashgabat uniformly agreed that
Berdimuhammedov had little choice about the meeting: the
president is visiting his neighbors first, and Iran is one of
Turkmenistan's top trading partners. Most also concurred
that the proposed exchange of visits would not lead to a
change in Turkmenistan's fundamentally cautious and primarily
commercial relationship with its difficult neighbor.
Comment
--------------
6. (C) Relations between Iran and Turkmenistan have not
improved significantly since last year: the border remains
heavily guarded and travel restrictions on Iranians are
tight. Although the authorities here express concern to VIP
U.S. visitors about Iran's deteriorating relations with the
IAEA and the rest of the international community,
Berdimuhammedov clearly is not ready to offer overt criticism
of Iran or its policies. End Comment.
BRUSH