KARZAI VISIT TO TURKMENISTAN: FOCUS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ASHGABAT 000669

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (SNELSIRE)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2017
TAGS: AF ENRG PINR PREL TX
SUBJECT: KARZAI VISIT TO TURKMENISTAN: FOCUS ON
ELECTRICITY AND TRADE

REF: ASHGABAT 0660

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Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Jennifer L. Brush for reasons 1.
4 (B) and (D).

Summary
--------------


1. (C) Electricity and trade reported dominated the agenda
during Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai's July 5 meeting
with Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. The
latter reportedly agreed to sell additional electricity to
Afghanistan, though there have been no indications as yet
that the two actually agreed on energy prices. The chemistry
between the two presidents was visibly good as the two
carried on what appeared to be a friendly and intense
conversation through a two-hour long state dinner ending the
first day of Karzai's July 5-6 visit. Afghanistan's
Ambassador Abdul Khaddam told Charge at the dinner he was
very satisfied with the meeting results. Turkmenistan's
press reported that Berdimuhamedov agreed to supply
Afghanistan with $300,000 worth of free electricity;
Turkmenistan also agreed to construct a $550,000 railway line
in northern Afghanistan at its own expense, and
Berdimuhamedov agreed to visit Afghanistan at an as-yet
undetermined date. This meeting -- the follow-on to two
earlier Karzai visits to Ashgabat for former President
Niyazov's funeral and Berdimuhamedov's inauguration --
clearly augurs well for increased contacts between the two
countries. End Summary.

Third Visit
--------------


2. (U) Although Karzai visited Turkmenistan both for former
President Niyazov's December 2006 funeral and
Berdimuhammedov's February 2007 inauguration, this was his
first state visit dedicated solely to bilateral relations.
He was accompanied by an 27-person delegation that included
his foreign and energy ministers. Amid tight security,
Karzai met with President Berdimuhamedov and Foreign Affairs
Deputy Chairman Rashit Meredov on July 5; the meetings were
followed by a state dinner including the diplomatic corps and
government representatives. On July 6, Karzai is scheduled
to visit Turkmen State University, where he will be awarded
an honorary professor title. Media coverage of President
Karzai's meetings was front-page, extensive and glowing.


3. (C) Afghanistan's Ambassador Abdul Khaddam, who sat next
to the Charge at the 90-minute state dinner, reported without
details that the meetings went very, very well. There had
been lots of talk about electricity, and the atmosphere
between the two leaders had been very amiable. And, indeed,
throughout the dinner Berdimuhamedov and Karzai were visibly
friendly and comfortable with each other, speaking animatedly
and laughing.


4. (U) According to Turkmenistan's state media, the two
leaders signed a joint declaration, and their two foreign
ministers signed a protocol on bilateral consultations, and
agreements on transit shipments and trade-economic
cooperation. Highlights include:

Political/Diplomatic
--------------

-- Berdimuhamedov accepted an invitation to visit Afghanistan;

-- Turkmenistan agreed to continue its support for
Afghanistan's efforts to establish a peaceful and stable
country;

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-- Afghanistan acknowledged Turkmenistan's neutral status as
a factor for promoting peace and stability in Asia;

-- In their joint declaration, the two presidents expressed
support for strengthening the UN's central role in promoting
global security and sustainable development; and

-- The two foreign ministers agreed in the protocol to hold
regular (at least once a year) talks and consultations at the
foreign minister level.

Electricity
--------------

-- Turkmenistan agreed to increase its supply of electricity
to Afghanistan (Comment: There was no indication in the
media that the two presidents agreed on or even discussed a
new price for the additional electricity -- see reftel for
more on this issue. End Comment.); and

-- Turkmenistan committed to supply $300,000 worth of
electricity to Afghanistan free of charge.

Oil and Gas
--------------

-- President Karzai expressed a commitment to follow through
on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI)
pipeline; and

-- Turkmenistan agreed to continue selling liquified natural
gas (LNG) to Afghanistan at lower-than-market prices.

Railways
--------------

-- Turkmenistan agreed to repair the two kilometer-long
Afghan segment of the Serhetabat-Turgundi rail line free of
charge to Afghanistan, at a cost of $550,000; and

-- If Afghanistan develops its internal railway network,
Turkmenistan will ensure that the Turkmenistan and
Afghanistan rail systems could be linked along the
Imamnazar-Andhoy line.

Trade/Economy
--------------

-- The two leaders agreed to create a joint intergovernmental
commission on economic cooperation;

-- The two governments set in place a framework for transit
shipments; and

-- The two governments agreed on a range of initiatives to
promote trade and economic contacts.

Cultural
--------------

-- The two presidents agreed to promote exchanges of
delegations and specialists in education and healthcare;

-- The two governments agreed to hold "culture days" in each
other's countries and a Turkmen-Afghan festival; and

-- The two presidents agreed to increase science and sports
exchanges.

Security

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--------------

-- The two presidents agreed to strengthen cooperation in the
fight against weapons of mass destruction, terrorism,
transnational crime and narcotics trafficking.

Other Agreements
--------------

-- The two sides agreed to work on agreements on consular
issues, the opening of passenger air traffic between Ashgabat
and Kabul, and passenger automobile traffic between the two
countries (Comment: UAE Ambassador Al-Adhab told Charge at
the dinner, his government was in negotiations with
Turkmenistan to bring in Emirates Airlines to include
Ashgabat-Dubai routes and possibly Ashgabat-Kabul routes) ;
and

-- The two governments will work on an agreement to
strengthen bilateral law enforcement cooperation.

Comment
--------------


5. (SBU) Among its neighbors, Turkmenistan's relations with
Afghanistan have been the least troubled by excess baggage.
The ethnic ties between the two countries have been close,
and lack the veneer of threat that continue to color
Turkmenistan's relations with Uzbekistan and Iran.
Turkmenistan's generous assistance to its southern neighbor
also reflects the government's recognition that continued
instability in Afghanistan benefits nobody, least of all
Turkmenistan itself.


6. (C) That said, the chemistry between the two leaders
seems to be genuinely good -- Berdimuhamedov appeared far
more comfortable with Karzai than with Putin, for example,
where he seemed visibly nervous. At a time when
Berdimuhamedov is making a concerted effort to reach out to
his neighbors, this visit, at least, was one of the easiest,
and augurs well for the continued improvement of cooperation
between the two countries.


7. (C) Embassy is unlikely to obtain a readout on the visit
from the Government of Turkmenistan and instead will rely on
the Afghanistan Embassy for further details. Any additional
feedback from the Karzai delegation, including impressions of
Berdimuhamedov himself, would be greatly appreciated. End
Comment.
BRUSH