TURKMENISTAN/UNGA: VICE PREMIER FOR FOREIGN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 001099 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/RA (MAZZONE),IO/UNP (SUN),P (REINEMEYER) NSC FOR MCDONALD E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2018 TAGS: PREL OTRA OVIP UNGA TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN/UNGA: VICE PREMIER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS MEREDOV TO HEAD TURKMENISTAN'S DELEGATION REF: STATE 72078 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons 1.4(B) and (D). ¶1. (C) Turkmenistan's Vice Premier for Foreign Affairs, Rashid Meredov, told A/DCM today that he will represent Turkmenistan at the UN General Assembly. While he still cannot give his exact arrival/departure dates, he expects to travel after September 26, when Turkmenistan's National People's Council (Halk Maslahaty) will meet to review and approve Turkmenistan's new constitution. Meredov does not travel with his spouse, and would require Russian interpretation for any bilateral or multilateral meetings. Post requests a meeting for Meredov with Secretary Rice, if she is still in New York when he arrives. ¶2. (C) COMMENT: While the news that President Berdimuhamedov will not be visiting New York will be disappointing to many, the president has grown increasingly busy over the past year with a growing number of high-level visitors and a hectic travel schedule. Post saw the writing on the wall regarding his attendance at the UNGA when the Halk Maslahaty session was scheduled for September 26. This session of the Halk Maslahaty is one of the most important since Turkmenistan received its independence, since the 2000-plus member body will not just approve the new constitution, but will also, essentially, be voting itself out of existence. With Meredov serving as one of the president's top advisors, the president almost certainly does not want to go through this session without him at his side. END COMMENT. CURRAN