Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT1285
2008-09-26 13:40:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: FINAL HALK MASLAHATY SESSION
how-toVZCZCXRO2544 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #1285 2701340 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 261340Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1624 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4340 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2152 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2017 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 2588 RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2927
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001285
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SNAR KDEM TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: FINAL HALK MASLAHATY SESSION
APPROVES CONSTITUTION, DECRIES NARCOTRAFFICKING
REF: A. ASHGABAT 1229
B. ASHGABAT 1256
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001285
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SNAR KDEM TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: FINAL HALK MASLAHATY SESSION
APPROVES CONSTITUTION, DECRIES NARCOTRAFFICKING
REF: A. ASHGABAT 1229
B. ASHGABAT 1256
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) On September 26, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamdov
called to order the final session ever of Turkmenistan's Halk
Maslahaty or People's Council. One of the main items on the
agenda was for the body to approve the revised constitution.
The Halk Maslahaty was formerly the supreme representative
body of the country. However, the new constitution moves all
the legislative/representative powers to the parliament.
Therefore, upon approving the new constitution, which the
Halk Maslahaty did unanimously, the body was dissolved. In
the words of Berdimuhamdov, who chaired the proceeding, the
organs of state power (executive, legislative, and judicial)
are now rectified. (NOTE: Copies of the new constitution were
not made available at the session. We expect that it will be
published in the newspaper, perhaps as early as the September
27 edition. END NOTE.)
3. (SBU) The body also approved the annual list of
individuals amnestied during Ramadan. (NOTE: A list has not
yet been made public, and there have been no indications how
many names will be on the list. We expect that it will be
published in the newspaper within the next few days. END
NOTE.)
4. (SBU) Most of the rest of the 3 1/2 hour session was taken
up by speeches by members of the presidium, including
Berdimuhamedov, Deputy Chairman/Foreign Minister Rashid
Meredov, Parliament Chair (First Deputy Chair of the Halk
Maslahaty) Akja Nurberdiyeva, and Deputy Chair of the Halk
Maslahaty Kasymguly Babayev. Five speakers, including
Minister of Defense Mammetgeldiyev, an artists'
representative, an elder, a youth representative, and Babayev
all mentioned the need to fight drug use and
narcotrafficking. The elder said that religious people
should especially fight drug trafficking in their midsts.
Babayev alone referred to the Khitrovka shootout of September
12-13 (Ref A),and used that as an example of the threat
posed by narcotrafficking. Diplomats who had attended
previous Halk Maslahaty sessions said this was the first time
that drugs, or any sensitive negative subject for that
matter, were mentioned.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: The numerous mentions of the need to fight
drugs and drug trafficking is one more example that the
Khitrovka shootout was a wake up call for Turkmenistan
officials. While many local observers doubt the official
story that the gang that fought with police were simply drug
traffickers, Turkmen officials seem more committed than ever
about dealing with whatever threat armed criminals pose to
their society (Ref B). END COMMENT.
CURRAN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SNAR KDEM TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: FINAL HALK MASLAHATY SESSION
APPROVES CONSTITUTION, DECRIES NARCOTRAFFICKING
REF: A. ASHGABAT 1229
B. ASHGABAT 1256
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) On September 26, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamdov
called to order the final session ever of Turkmenistan's Halk
Maslahaty or People's Council. One of the main items on the
agenda was for the body to approve the revised constitution.
The Halk Maslahaty was formerly the supreme representative
body of the country. However, the new constitution moves all
the legislative/representative powers to the parliament.
Therefore, upon approving the new constitution, which the
Halk Maslahaty did unanimously, the body was dissolved. In
the words of Berdimuhamdov, who chaired the proceeding, the
organs of state power (executive, legislative, and judicial)
are now rectified. (NOTE: Copies of the new constitution were
not made available at the session. We expect that it will be
published in the newspaper, perhaps as early as the September
27 edition. END NOTE.)
3. (SBU) The body also approved the annual list of
individuals amnestied during Ramadan. (NOTE: A list has not
yet been made public, and there have been no indications how
many names will be on the list. We expect that it will be
published in the newspaper within the next few days. END
NOTE.)
4. (SBU) Most of the rest of the 3 1/2 hour session was taken
up by speeches by members of the presidium, including
Berdimuhamedov, Deputy Chairman/Foreign Minister Rashid
Meredov, Parliament Chair (First Deputy Chair of the Halk
Maslahaty) Akja Nurberdiyeva, and Deputy Chair of the Halk
Maslahaty Kasymguly Babayev. Five speakers, including
Minister of Defense Mammetgeldiyev, an artists'
representative, an elder, a youth representative, and Babayev
all mentioned the need to fight drug use and
narcotrafficking. The elder said that religious people
should especially fight drug trafficking in their midsts.
Babayev alone referred to the Khitrovka shootout of September
12-13 (Ref A),and used that as an example of the threat
posed by narcotrafficking. Diplomats who had attended
previous Halk Maslahaty sessions said this was the first time
that drugs, or any sensitive negative subject for that
matter, were mentioned.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: The numerous mentions of the need to fight
drugs and drug trafficking is one more example that the
Khitrovka shootout was a wake up call for Turkmenistan
officials. While many local observers doubt the official
story that the gang that fought with police were simply drug
traffickers, Turkmen officials seem more committed than ever
about dealing with whatever threat armed criminals pose to
their society (Ref B). END COMMENT.
CURRAN