DONORS AGREE THAT TURKMENISTAN WILL CONTINUE TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ASHGABAT 001336 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, PPD, EEB COMMERCE FOR PDYCK/DSTARKS AID/W FOR EE/EA E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID EFIN ETRD EPET TX SUBJECT: DONORS AGREE THAT TURKMENISTAN WILL CONTINUE TO REFORM IN ITS OWN WAY, AT ITS OWN SPEED Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons 1 .4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Various donors from the international community gathered on September 29 to discuss the state of Turkmenistan's reforms with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Europe and Eurasia Paul Dyck and U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration Director for Caucasus and Central Asian Affairs Danica Starks. Donors agreed that Turkmenistan had made great strides, and was actually considering some concepts that were thought impossible one year ago. However, donors also discussed some lessons learned, such as the importance of including training with any equipment donations. One donor explained that Turkmenistan is reluctant to sign new contracts because they did not understand what they were signing before, and now want to make sure that they understand everything. One thing remains the same: Turkmenistan will do things in its own way, at its own speed. Turkmenistan will continue to need donors to help with reform efforts in the long-term. Study tours abroad which give much needed exposure to other societies are also a vital part of donor contributions, because Turkmenistan cannot and will not change if its people don't know what the possibilities are. END SUMMARY. DONORS AGREE TO "TURN THE PAGE" ¶2. (C) Ashgabat's donor community gathered for lunch to discuss the state of Turkmenistan's financial and economic reforms with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Europe and Eurasia Paul Dyck and U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration Director for Caucasus and Central Asian Affairs Danica Starks on September 29. Echoing post policy of "turning the page" on the U.S.-Turkmen relationship, Michael Wilson of EU-Tacis emphasized the importance of moving forward from the Niyazov period. He added that the international community cannot expect change overnight due to the fact that Turkmenistan was isolated for much of the past 16 years following independence and has to make up a lot of ground. Wilson also advised that "nothing moves quickly" in Turkmenistan, including decision-making. For all of these reasons, Wilson said, good programming and follow-up after program completion is "extremely important." TODAY'S BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT ¶3. (C) Wilson agreed that the business environment is slowing inching in the right direction, noting, however, that Turkmenistan doesn't know exactly what to do to improve it. Regardless of these facts, Wilson pointed out that Turkmenistan "will follow its own path at its own speed." Wilson said that Turkmenistan is not signing new contracts in the hydrocarbons sector at the moment because it wants to understand precisely what it is signing. Wilson thinks it imperative to focus on sustainability after Turkmenistan's oil and gas reserves are depleted, adding that Turkmenistan could capitalize on its location as a modern segment of the Silk Road, as well as modernize and further develop its agriculture and textiles industries. Wilson specifically recommended that the government privatize all industry, and process more raw materials domestically instead of sending them out of the country as it currently usually does. Wilson also said that the government should concentrate more on sectors outside of hydrocarbons to develop sustainability by diversifying the economy. STATUS OF RULE OF LAW ON BUSINESS AND TRADE ¶4. (C) According to Wilson, Turkmenistan has done all of the ASHGABAT 00001336 002 OF 003 work necessary on the 1958 Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (the "New York Convention"),and only needs to sign it. Turkmenistan's ratification of this convention would significantly improve the business climate because, since the legal system is completely undependable and no one wants to use it, access to international arbitration would provide badly-needed guarantees to foreign investors. Wilson observed that Turkmenistan is trading more with Russia, China, and South Korea, and less with Ukraine than in the past. According to Wilson, using the example of Caterpillar, U.S. companies are trading less with Turkmenistan. (COMMENT: Caterpillar's general manager would disagree with Wilson. Wilson may have meant that Caterpillar has lost some of its share of the market in Ashgabat, but Caterpillar rep Vladimir Naumov said in July that the company is selling more equipment than ever for the construction of Turkmen Lake. END COMMENT.) FUTURE DIRECTION ON REFORMS AND ASSISTANCE ¶5. (C) UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Inita Paulovica agreed with Wilson, stating that it is important to view a relationship with Turkmenistan in terms of a longterm investment. She added that some concepts that were impossible to suggest in Turkmenistan one year ago have potential today. She mentioned that "we start from zero in every sector," with very few exceptions. In Paulovica's opinion, judicial reform, civil service reform, and private sector development are priority areas for Turkmenistan, because each one is dependent on the other. WARNING AGAINST MAKING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CONDITIONAL ¶6. (C) Paulovica recommended the group against offering assistance with conditions, saying that this would not work in Turkmenistan. Instead, donors should convince the Turkmen partners to cooperate, by explaining Turkmenistan would benefit. Wilson recommended that, from the beginning, donors should make training a part of any equipment donation, and that equipment donations are limited to small quantities. During a discussion on the lack of availability of statistics, Paulovica said that UNDP found out during a project that 800,000 people are contributing to pension funds in Turkmenistan, which is likewise a good estimate of the number of government employees. LACK OF STABILITY OF MINISTERIAL AND AGENCY-LEVEL LEADERSHIP ¶7. (C) Explaining that there is no empowerment below the top levels, Wilson pointed out that "everything" (when making business or government agreements) is based on relationship. He also recommended that donors institutionalize these relationships in official agreements as soon as possible because leadership in Turkmenistan is so volatile, and no one lasts in a ministerial position for longer than a year. With an agreement, therefore, even when your interlocutor is fired, your program continues. Wilson added that the most harmful consequence of the lack of empowerment below the highest levels results in a lack of willingness to take risks among most of the bureaucracy. TURKMEN START TO INITIATE MORE: RESOLUTION ON PIPELINE SECURITY ¶8. (C) Wilson said that the Government of Turkmenistan initiated analysis of and a proposal for a UN resolution on pipeline security. Wilson viewed this step as positive because it shows that they are willing to do what is needed to assuage their fears and concerns regarding fair compensation by foreign partners in the hydrocarbons sector. ASHGABAT 00001336 003 OF 003 It is also a concrete example of asking for help after recognizing that they need it. U.S. OUTREACH IN PROVINCES DEEMED EFFECTIVE ¶9. (C) Wilson complemented U.S. programs in customs and border management. He also gave high praise to provincial outreach programs such as Peace Corps, Winrock, Counterpart International, and American Councils. Wilson said that it is obvious who in the provinces has come into contact with these programs because they are so much easier to deal with. Therefore, he believed, these programs obviously do a lot of good. JAPANESE BUSINESS ACTIVITY ¶10. (C) Japanese Embassy Charge Shigehiro Mimori said that only three Japanese companies outside of the oil and gas sector are operating in Turkmenistan. He added that Japan is also encouraging Turkmenistan to continue its economic reform. ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK UPDATE ¶11. (C) Asian Development Bank Liaison Officer Aina Kekilova and Executive Director responsible for Turkmenistan Ashok K. Lahiri said that as of yet, Turkmenistan has not formally agreed to join the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program (CAREC). They added that they feel that Turkmenistan is moving forward on agreeing to the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India Pipeline (TAPI). ¶12. (SBU) COMMENT: Many in the group acknowledged that Turkmenistan has made great strides in the past year. Nevertheless, the needs will still be great over the longterm, and all donors can still contribute to meet those needs. The group also agreed that study tours abroad which give much needed exposure to other societies are also a vital part of donor contributions, because Turkmenistan cannot and will not change if its people don't know what the possibilities are. END COMMENT. ¶13. (U) DAS Dyck cleared this cable. CURRAN