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.

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