TURKMENISTAN OFFICIALS TELL HELSINKI COMMISSION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ASHGABAT 000903

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/RPM/OSCE, EEB, DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EPET ECON TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN OFFICIALS TELL HELSINKI COMMISSION
STAFFDEL GOVERNMENT WANTS TO CHANGE, ASKS FOR PATIENCE

REF: A. ASHGABAT 852


B. ASHGABAT 897

Classified By: Charge Richard E. Hoagland for reasons 1.4(B) and (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: During an August 12-15 visit, a delegation
of Helsinki Committee staffers saw evidence that Turkmenistan
is beginning a slow and uneven, but undeniable, process of
transition. In probably their best meeting, Turkmenistan's
Deputy Foreign Minister Wepa Hajiyev offered a compelling
argument that, while progress will be gradual, the leadership
wants change and, to that end, is reviewing operations
government-wide. He said the Turkmenistan government is
working in a step-by-step fashion to create permanent,
practical results. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) Helsinki Commission permanent staff members Shelly
Heald Han and Kyle Parker visited Turkmenistan August 12-15
to explore President Berdimuhamedov's progress in promoting
political and economic reform since February and to promote
greater transparency in handling hydrocarbon
revenue. They met with Deputy Foreign Minister Wepa Hajiyev,
Chairman of the Mejlis (Parliament) Committee on the
Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms Juma Jumaev, Deputy
Minister of Oil and Gas Bayramgeldy Nedirov, Deputy Minister
of Economy and Finance Gurbanmyrat Gurbanmyradov, Justice
Ministry Legal Assistance Department Head Gurbanniyazova and
Registration Office Chief Serdar Valiyev, Deputy Chairman of
the Council on Religious Affairs Nurmuhammet Gurbanov, and
Director of the State Agency for Management and Use of
Hydrocarbon Resources Bayrammyrat Myradov. Han and Parker
also met separately with OSCE Human Dimension officer
Benjamin Moreau and European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development representative Tony Myron.

TRADITIONAL THINKING STILL ABOUNDS


3. (SBU) Some of the delegation,s meetings showed that
traditional thinking still abounds. At the Justice Ministry,
Gurbanniyazova went to great length explaining the process
for registering religious groups and NGOs, but, when
questioned, insisted that no religious groups have had their
registration applications rejected. Instead, applications
judged as not complying with the regulations have been
returned for reworking. However, she emphasized, the
Ministry of Justice is always available to offer advice on
what was needed to have the application finally approved.
That said, she added, a previous denial of registration does
not prohibit groups from reapplying, and groups, once they
register grants or funding received from overseas, are free
to use those funds.


4. (SBU) Similarly, at the Ministry of Oil and Gas, Deputy
Minister Nedirov stressed that Turkmenistan needs alternative
ways of exporting its hydrocarbons, its Caspian fields are
open to foreign companies, and Turkmenistan is using its
hydrocarbon revenues to better the life of the people. When
Han explained the principles of the Extractive Industries
Transparency Initiative (EITI),however, Nedirov flatly
denied that there is any corruption in management of
hydrocarbons revenue. All revenue goes to the government, he
claimed, and Turkmenistan's system of administering those
funds is "absolutely transparent."


5. (SBU) At the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Deputy
Minister Gurbanmyradov stressed what the government is doing
with its hydrocarbon revenue. It is seeking to extend
electric lines to Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as
building the Atamyrat electric line; diversifying
Turkmenistan's economy; and building or renovating
Turkmenistan's railroads, highways and factories, with the

ASHGABAT 00000903 002 OF 003


goal of creating new jobs. Gurbanmyradov highlighted the new
plans for establishing a free economic zone (FEZ) and glitzy
resort in Turkmenbashy City's Avaza district as an example of
how Turkmenistan is seeking to attract foreign investment.
He stressed that, although foreign companies may not own
land, the government is seeking to offer long-term leases and
eliminate land taxes in the FEZ. However, Gurbanmyradov
ducked a question from Parker on Turkmenistan's unemployment
rate.

...AMID EVIDENCE OF A FRESH APPROACH AT THE MFA


6. (C) Some of the delegation's meetings stood out as
examples of a genuine effort to connect with and respond to
the staffers. For example, Deputy Foreign Minister Hajiyev
offered a detailed list of the very real improvements that
the government already has made in its first seven months
under President Berdimuhamedov.

-- Education. In addition to other changes, the leadership
is paying special attention to attracting foreign teachers to
Turkmenistan, and to using students who have returned from
overseas programs.

-- Access to Information. There is a new emphasis on
publicizing all meetings and conferences with the goal of
keeping the people better informed on what is happening.
And, while the program to broaden public access to the
Internet is still in the beginning stages, Turkmenistan is
working to improve this sector.

-- Human Rights. The government is working with
international organizations to improve Turkmenistan's
humanitarian sector. To that end, the government is
reviewing freedom-of-movement issues and is allowing citizens
to travel, established a commission for reviewing complaints
against law enforcement bodies that led to the pardoning of
11 prisoners, and is working on a list of religious freedom
initiatives that will be initiated with the visit of the UN
Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion.

-- Legislative Revisions. The government is seeking to
improve some of its legislation, and welcomes suggestions to
that end.

"We are working in a step-by-step fashion to create
permanent, practical results," Hajiyev said. However, he
stressed, it is necessary when in a boat to make small,
careful movements to reach the shore, or else the boat will
capsize and fail to reach its goal. He urged the staffers to
be patient and to "consult with us" before rushing to
judgment.


7. (C) When Han raised concerns that some individuals were
still having problems being able to depart Turkmenistan,
Hajiyev stressed that the "current situation" on freedom of
movement is quite different from that of a year ago. Only
those individuals who may have committed crimes were being
kept from traveling because they could do further harm to the
country. "The fact that we are not using the same framework
for all individuals is significant," Hajiyev said. The
government solved a range of movement-related questions
several months ago, and had reversed a previous decision
prohibiting travel to whole categories of individuals. And,
a thorough review is being carried out of all institutions'
policies on a variety of questions, including freedom of
movement. Hajiyev welcomed the delegation to raise specific
cases if there were still problems. Noting that there are
many possible explanations for government policies, he urged
the delegation members to "consult with us" before making
judgments. Han expressed the hope that changes would

ASHGABAT 00000903 003 OF 003


continue in a positive direction.

GAS AND OIL: NEW WAYS OF DOING BUSINESS


8. (C) At the State Agency on Use and Management of
Hydrocarbon Resources, Executive Director Myradov
unexpectedly appeared at the meeting, and said that his
agency is new and dedicated to working with foreign
hydrocarbon companies to establish production sharing
agreements (PSAs). He noted that all PSA bids were closely
vetted not only by his agency, but also by a special
inter-agency commission that "forces us to justify our
recommendations." He welcomed any training that the United
States or any other country is willing to offer. Stating
that a Trans-Caspian pipeline (TCP) is still on the table, he
nonetheless criticized the U.S. response as disappointingly
slow and insufficient.


9. (C) COMMENT: The fact that the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs opened its doors wide to the delegation,
notwithstanding past Helsinki Commission criticisms, and
granted it every meeting it had requested demonstrates a
genuine effort to change the way Turkmenistan does business.
While it is clear that some agencies are further in the
"renovation" process than others, we are encouraged by a
statement by Hajiyev that the effort to renovate goes well
beyond just the Foreign Ministry. We hope that the glimpses
of new thinking that the delegation saw will spread and
believe that a constructive, cooperative approach offers the
best chance of achieving these goals. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND