Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT1157
2008-09-03 17:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: BERDIMUHAMEDOV SAYS NO DELIMITATION,
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 001157
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB, EUR/CARC
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2018
TAGS: PREL EPET TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: BERDIMUHAMEDOV SAYS NO DELIMITATION,
NO TRANS-CASPIAN PIPELINE
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 001157
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB, EUR/CARC
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2018
TAGS: PREL EPET TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: BERDIMUHAMEDOV SAYS NO DELIMITATION,
NO TRANS-CASPIAN PIPELINE
Classified By: Charge Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) During a wide-ranging meeting September 3 with Deputy
Assistant Secretary George Krol (septel),President
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said Turkmenistan has no problem
with a trans-Caspian pipeline, but the need for delimitation
is standing in the way. If delimitation is not solved, how
can one talk about a trans-Caspian pipeline, he asked?
Although he did not know the reason why, Berdimuhamedov
claimed that Azerbaijan, by its actions and responses to the
Turkmen, appears not to be supportive of progress towards a
trans-Caspian pipeline.
2. (C) Berdimuhamedov said he had been deeply offended,
because he had opened his "soul and heart" to the Azeris, but
they did not support Turkmenistan's constructive proposal
regarding the Caspian. He said Turkmenistan would not put
the proposal forward again. He noted that Turkmenistan had
for years been unwilling to engage with Azerbaijan. However,
as soon as Turkmenistan was prepared to move forward, it
seemed that problems surfaced from the other side.
3. (C) The president said he respected Aliyev as a person
and had warm feelings toward him and the Azeri people.
Nevertheless, he thought it might take time to solve the
issues of a trans-Caspian pipeline and Caspian delimitation
with Azerbaijan. He wondered what might be the real reason
behind the Azeri attitude.
4. (C) COMMENT: The president's insistence that a
trans-Caspian pipeline is not possible without delimitation
is not new. What is important, however, is his continuing
sense of ill-usage by the Azeris. We have heard several
times that the president was genuinely offended by incidents
in which Azeri coast guard cutters stopped Turkmen vessels
carrying out gas exploration in blocks III and I. While we
continue to believe that it should be up to Azerbaijan and
Turkmenistan to work out their problems between themselves,
Berdimuhamedov clearly considers the ball is in Azerbaijan's
court. END COMMENT.
5. (U) DAS Krol cleared this cable.
CURRAN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB, EUR/CARC
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2018
TAGS: PREL EPET TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: BERDIMUHAMEDOV SAYS NO DELIMITATION,
NO TRANS-CASPIAN PIPELINE
Classified By: Charge Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) During a wide-ranging meeting September 3 with Deputy
Assistant Secretary George Krol (septel),President
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said Turkmenistan has no problem
with a trans-Caspian pipeline, but the need for delimitation
is standing in the way. If delimitation is not solved, how
can one talk about a trans-Caspian pipeline, he asked?
Although he did not know the reason why, Berdimuhamedov
claimed that Azerbaijan, by its actions and responses to the
Turkmen, appears not to be supportive of progress towards a
trans-Caspian pipeline.
2. (C) Berdimuhamedov said he had been deeply offended,
because he had opened his "soul and heart" to the Azeris, but
they did not support Turkmenistan's constructive proposal
regarding the Caspian. He said Turkmenistan would not put
the proposal forward again. He noted that Turkmenistan had
for years been unwilling to engage with Azerbaijan. However,
as soon as Turkmenistan was prepared to move forward, it
seemed that problems surfaced from the other side.
3. (C) The president said he respected Aliyev as a person
and had warm feelings toward him and the Azeri people.
Nevertheless, he thought it might take time to solve the
issues of a trans-Caspian pipeline and Caspian delimitation
with Azerbaijan. He wondered what might be the real reason
behind the Azeri attitude.
4. (C) COMMENT: The president's insistence that a
trans-Caspian pipeline is not possible without delimitation
is not new. What is important, however, is his continuing
sense of ill-usage by the Azeris. We have heard several
times that the president was genuinely offended by incidents
in which Azeri coast guard cutters stopped Turkmen vessels
carrying out gas exploration in blocks III and I. While we
continue to believe that it should be up to Azerbaijan and
Turkmenistan to work out their problems between themselves,
Berdimuhamedov clearly considers the ball is in Azerbaijan's
court. END COMMENT.
5. (U) DAS Krol cleared this cable.
CURRAN