TURKMENISTAN'S PRESIDENT TELLS CENTCOM COMMANDER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000637 SIPDIS CNO WASHINGTON DC//J2/J3/LECI// SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (NICOLAIDIS AND SNELSIRE) E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2017 TAGS: MARR MASS PINR PREL PGOV SNAR EPET IR AF RS US, TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S PRESIDENT TELLS CENTCOM COMMANDER MARY EMERGENCY DIVERT TO REMAIN VERBAL AGREEMENT REF: A. ASHGABAT 636 ¶B. 05 ASHGABAT 01093 ASHGABAT 00000637 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 Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov reaffirmed to the Commander, U.S. Central Command, Admiral William J. Fallon, during a 20 June meeting in Ashgabat that U.S. military aircraft could use Mary Military Airfield in emergency situations or in bad weather, but firmly refused to formalize the permission in a written agreement. End Summary. NOT IN WRITING -------------- ¶2. (C) During the course of the meeting with President Berdimuhammedov, Admiral Fallon raised the issue of the Mary Emergency Divert Agreement. The Admiral said he was aware that U.S. military aircraft could land at Mary Military Airfield due to in-flight emergencies or bad weather based on a verbal agreement with the government that was first granted by his predecessor, the late President Niyazov. Admiral Fallon said he would appreciate Berdimuhammedov's consideration of this issue, adding that the United States Embassy had presented a proposal in writing to facilitate repair teams coming in, which would make handling such crises easier. Berdimuhammedov responded that this was a difficult issue because, although Turkmenistan and the United States had good contacts, based on its neutrality, Turkmenistan tries to limit its military relationships. Berdimuhammedov said that U.S. aircraft could land in Mary based on &technical and weather problems8 by working with the Ministry of Defense (MOD) and other appropriate agencies, but that anything more must go through the United Nations (sic) and comply with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) rules. If the UN agreed(!),then there would be no problem. Berdimuhammedov said that up to today there have been no problems with unpredictable (U.S. aircraft) landings. Work was progressing normally in this area, but stressed the embassy should work collegially with the MOD. Attempting to conclude the discussion, Berdimuhammedov added with emphasis that, "Please understand correctly, this is a neutral country." ¶3. (C) Admiral Fallon said he was glad to hear Turkmenistan would allow emergency landings in the humanitarian interest of the crews, to which Berdimuhammedov replied, "Well, you can't prevent that." The Admiral then commented that he just wanted to be sure the United States -- through the Embassy -- had established channels to communicate with the airfield and that there would be no trouble or surprises in the event of an emergency landing. Berdimuhammedov dismissively said that yes, the embassy could discuss such issues with the Defense Ministry. COMMENT -------------- ¶4. (C) While not getting Berdimuhammedov's approval to formalize the divert agreement via an exchange of diplomatic notes, Admiral Fallon succeeded in making clear that: ASHGABAT 00000637 002.2 OF 002 -- the verbal agreement was still in effect with Berdimuhammedov as president, and -- Berdimuhammedov authorized the embassy to establish channels of communication with MOD to avoid surprises in handling emergency landings in Mary. ¶5. (C) Berdimuhammedov, freshly back from Iran and Russia, is likely not comfortable rattling the chains of his powerful and deeply-suspicious-of-America neighbors to the north and south, so soon into his new administration. End Comment. ¶6. (U) Admiral Fallon has reviewed this message. BRUSH BRUSH