Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT1111
2008-08-25 10:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: STEERING A NEUTRAL COURSE WITH THE
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 001111
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2018
TAGS: PREL GG TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: STEERING A NEUTRAL COURSE WITH THE
GEORGIAN EMBASSY
REF: A. ASHGABAT 1069
B. ASHGABAT 1062
Classified By: Charge Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 001111
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2018
TAGS: PREL GG TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: STEERING A NEUTRAL COURSE WITH THE
GEORGIAN EMBASSY
REF: A. ASHGABAT 1069
B. ASHGABAT 1062
Classified By: Charge Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) During a conversation on August 25, Georgian
Ambassador Aleksi Petriashvili told the Charge that despite
the official August 16 MFA press statement expressing
condolences to the family and friends of the deceased in
South Ossetia (Ref A),no Turkmen official came to sign the
embassy condolence book that was open from August 14-16.
Furthermore, no one from the Turkmenistan government has
expressed condolences to him or any other embassy official.
Petriashvili had hoped that when President Berdimuhamedov
shook hands with representatives from the diplomatic corps
just prior to the official welcoming ceremony for the King of
Jordan on August 24, the Turkmen leader might say a few words
in passing. Instead, when Berdimuhamedov asked "Vso
normalno?" (Everything ok?),and Petriashvili tried to get
out "no, not really..," the president hurried down the line.
2. (C) Petriashvili noted the August 16 press statement was
released days after the conflict started. And while the
press statement was extremely neutral, he was certain that
Turkmen officials "thought about it more than 10 times"
before deciding to finally issue a statement at all.
3. (C) Petriashvili said he is not surprised by the Turkmen
response. They preface almost all foreign policy issues by
pointing to their neutral stance. Petriashvili said that
many times before this August, Deputy Chairman/Foreign
Minister Meredov told him that while Turkmenistan respects
its relationship with Georgia, it does not interfere in
conflicts or issues between two other countries.
4. (C) COMMENT: We are also not surprised by the Turkmen
response. We also expect that they did not sign the Russian
condolence book. The Turkmen want to maintain a balance in
relations with all partners and avoid pressure from any side.
END COMMENT.
CURRAN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2018
TAGS: PREL GG TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: STEERING A NEUTRAL COURSE WITH THE
GEORGIAN EMBASSY
REF: A. ASHGABAT 1069
B. ASHGABAT 1062
Classified By: Charge Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) During a conversation on August 25, Georgian
Ambassador Aleksi Petriashvili told the Charge that despite
the official August 16 MFA press statement expressing
condolences to the family and friends of the deceased in
South Ossetia (Ref A),no Turkmen official came to sign the
embassy condolence book that was open from August 14-16.
Furthermore, no one from the Turkmenistan government has
expressed condolences to him or any other embassy official.
Petriashvili had hoped that when President Berdimuhamedov
shook hands with representatives from the diplomatic corps
just prior to the official welcoming ceremony for the King of
Jordan on August 24, the Turkmen leader might say a few words
in passing. Instead, when Berdimuhamedov asked "Vso
normalno?" (Everything ok?),and Petriashvili tried to get
out "no, not really..," the president hurried down the line.
2. (C) Petriashvili noted the August 16 press statement was
released days after the conflict started. And while the
press statement was extremely neutral, he was certain that
Turkmen officials "thought about it more than 10 times"
before deciding to finally issue a statement at all.
3. (C) Petriashvili said he is not surprised by the Turkmen
response. They preface almost all foreign policy issues by
pointing to their neutral stance. Petriashvili said that
many times before this August, Deputy Chairman/Foreign
Minister Meredov told him that while Turkmenistan respects
its relationship with Georgia, it does not interfere in
conflicts or issues between two other countries.
4. (C) COMMENT: We are also not surprised by the Turkmen
response. We also expect that they did not sign the Russian
condolence book. The Turkmen want to maintain a balance in
relations with all partners and avoid pressure from any side.
END COMMENT.
CURRAN