Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT1424
2008-10-31 12:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: UN PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY CENTER HEAD
how-toVZCZCXRO0060 PP RUEHAG RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV DE RUEHAH #1424 3051231 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 311231Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1781 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4450 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2262 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2127 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 2698 RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3017
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 001424
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2018
TAGS: PREL TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: UN PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY CENTER HEAD
ON WATER AND OTHER ISSUES
REF: A. ASHGABAT 1374
B. ASHGABAT 1287
C. ASHGABAT 1250
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 001424
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2018
TAGS: PREL TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: UN PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY CENTER HEAD
ON WATER AND OTHER ISSUES
REF: A. ASHGABAT 1374
B. ASHGABAT 1287
C. ASHGABAT 1250
Classified By: Charge Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) UN Preventive Diplomacy Center head Miroslav Jenca
briefed us on his most recent consultations in the region,
including his trips to Tashkent and Dushanbe. He said the
Uzbeks raised their 6 plus 3 proposal on Afghanistan with
him. The Uzbeks strongly advocated for the involvement of
the UN and the Regional Preventive Diplomacy Center. His
response to the Uzbeks was that they should discuss the issue
with Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for
Afghanistan Kai Eide and that any initiative on Afghanistan
should include the participation of the elected government of
Afghanistan. Jenca said Kai Eide plans to visit Central Asia
by the end of the year. Kai Eide's visit provide a perfect
opportunity for Uzbek officials to raise this proposal with
him.
WATER
2. (C) Jenca said the Center hoped to provide the Central
Asian states with a more durable framework to deal with water
issues. Nevertheless, he doubted that the countries would be
able to reach a written agreement. It was clear from his
meetings with President Rahmon and with the various leaders
during the CIS summit in Bishkek that the countries need a
political push to reach an understanding. And Jenca believed
they can reach an understanding that the rivers are
transboundary without signing an agreement.
3. (C) In the meantime, downstream and upstream countries
continue to have serious differences. Uzbekistan Foreign
Minister Norov told Jenca that the Convention on
Transboundary Water is the only basis for further progress on
this issue. Therefore, in order to move forward, the
upstream countries need to sign the convention. During a
subsequent meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan Foreign Minister
Hamrokhon Zarifi asserted the Convention favors downstream
countries. He said Tajikistan would sign only when a
majority of UN members had signed and ratified it. To date,
only 17 countries have signed it.
FOSTERING GOOD WILL
4. (C) Jenca said he believed his presence was critical to
creating an atmosphere conducive for reaching agreement in
the meeting he attended with the Central Asian leaders in
Bishkek. The UN was not an "active presence," but this
helped to foster good will.
5. (C) COMMENT: Jenca is a dedicated and experienced
diplomat, who appears committed to making sure that the
Preventive Diplomacy Center plays a constructive role. It
will require patience and persistence to move forward
delicate issues, such as water. END COMMENT.
CURRAN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2018
TAGS: PREL TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: UN PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY CENTER HEAD
ON WATER AND OTHER ISSUES
REF: A. ASHGABAT 1374
B. ASHGABAT 1287
C. ASHGABAT 1250
Classified By: Charge Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) UN Preventive Diplomacy Center head Miroslav Jenca
briefed us on his most recent consultations in the region,
including his trips to Tashkent and Dushanbe. He said the
Uzbeks raised their 6 plus 3 proposal on Afghanistan with
him. The Uzbeks strongly advocated for the involvement of
the UN and the Regional Preventive Diplomacy Center. His
response to the Uzbeks was that they should discuss the issue
with Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for
Afghanistan Kai Eide and that any initiative on Afghanistan
should include the participation of the elected government of
Afghanistan. Jenca said Kai Eide plans to visit Central Asia
by the end of the year. Kai Eide's visit provide a perfect
opportunity for Uzbek officials to raise this proposal with
him.
WATER
2. (C) Jenca said the Center hoped to provide the Central
Asian states with a more durable framework to deal with water
issues. Nevertheless, he doubted that the countries would be
able to reach a written agreement. It was clear from his
meetings with President Rahmon and with the various leaders
during the CIS summit in Bishkek that the countries need a
political push to reach an understanding. And Jenca believed
they can reach an understanding that the rivers are
transboundary without signing an agreement.
3. (C) In the meantime, downstream and upstream countries
continue to have serious differences. Uzbekistan Foreign
Minister Norov told Jenca that the Convention on
Transboundary Water is the only basis for further progress on
this issue. Therefore, in order to move forward, the
upstream countries need to sign the convention. During a
subsequent meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan Foreign Minister
Hamrokhon Zarifi asserted the Convention favors downstream
countries. He said Tajikistan would sign only when a
majority of UN members had signed and ratified it. To date,
only 17 countries have signed it.
FOSTERING GOOD WILL
4. (C) Jenca said he believed his presence was critical to
creating an atmosphere conducive for reaching agreement in
the meeting he attended with the Central Asian leaders in
Bishkek. The UN was not an "active presence," but this
helped to foster good will.
5. (C) COMMENT: Jenca is a dedicated and experienced
diplomat, who appears committed to making sure that the
Preventive Diplomacy Center plays a constructive role. It
will require patience and persistence to move forward
delicate issues, such as water. END COMMENT.
CURRAN