TURKMENISTAN: BERDIMUHAMEDOV TELLS MANN, "WE

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 04 ASHGABAT 000164 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB, DRL PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON COMMERCE FOR HEUPER USAID/W FOR EE/AA E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM EPET TU RS IR KZ AJ TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: BERDIMUHAMEDOV TELLS MANN, "WE WANT YOU TO HELP WITH AZERBAIJAN" Classified By: CHARGE RICHARD E. HOAGLAND FOR REASONS 1.4 (B),(D) ¶1. (S) SUMMARY: President Berdimuhamedov told Ambassador Mann on January 29 he -- wants a Trans-Caspian Pipeline with Azerbaijan but wants to "start small" and needs a legal basis for it to protect him from Russia and Iran; -- needs a legal structure to allow Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan jointly to develop the disputed mid-Caspian Serdar gas field; -- proposes joint Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan International Gas and Oil Exhibitions; -- welcomes U.S. facilitation to bring Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan together on Caspian energy; and -- said he would like to see Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev visit Turkmenistan. Ambassador Mann -- proposed the United States and Turkmenistan take one month to prepare a six-month energy cooperation checklist; -- undertook to provide the legal analyses and models Berdimuhamedov requested; and -- urged the president to abolish once and for all Turkmenistan's exit-visa regime. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) U.S. Coordinator for Eurasian Energy Diplomacy Ambassador Steven Mann met with President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for nearly 90 minutes in the Old Presidential Palace in Ashgabat on January 29. Mann briefed the president on his just-completed visit to Astana; praised KazMunaiGaz as fast becoming a modern, international company; explained the results of the recent negotiations over Kashagan; and outlined his new responsibilities as Eurasian Energy Diplomacy Coordinator. ¶3. (C) Focused on Azerbaijan, Berdimuhamedov noted he and President Aliyev had laid the groundwork for the new bilateral relationship in June 2007 in Saint Petersburg. One of their first steps was to establish bi-monthly expert-level meetings to work on Caspian delimitation. Their new intergovernmental commission had just met and resolved debt disputes dating to 1993. Berdimuhamedov praised Azeri Deputy Prime Minister Eyubov who led the delegation as an "excellent guy" with whom he enjoys working. (NOTE: At this point the president dismissed his note-takers and the state journalist, leaving in his office with him only Deputy Cabinet Chairman/Foreign Minister Meredov, Mann, and the Charge. END NOTE.) PREPARE A JOINT SIX-MONTH ENERGY CHECKLIST ¶4. (C) Mann proposed the United States and Turkmenistan take a month to prepare a concrete, detailed list of what we want to achieve together in the energy sector in the next six months. He told the president he hopes to return late in February with Under Secretary Reuben Jeffery, energy experts, ASHGABAT 00000164 002 OF 004 and analysts when the two sides could agree on the six-month checklist. Mann emphasized the need for Turkmenistan to employ international expert advisers as it considers agreements with major energy firms. DON'T BOGART OUR GAS ¶5. (C) Berdimuhamedov thanked Mann for the proposal. He commented he noticed when Russia signed the recent Gazprom agreement with Bulgaria, President Putin had said South Stream would be filled with Turkmenistan's gas. Berdimuhamedov asked, "And just who's going to make the money on this?" implying Russia is profiteering with Turkmenistan's gas. Still in an economic vein and referring to Turkmenistan cutting off gas to Iran, the president recalled he had told Iranian President Ahmedinejad twice, "We're brothers, but this is economics. It's like the bazaar: one sells, the other buys. Our gas is our wealth." ¶6. (C) About Turkey, Berdimuhamedov noted pointedly Turkish President Gul, when in Baku, had spoken in public about filling a Trans-Caspian Pipeline and Nabucco with Turkmenistan's gas. (COMMENT: Berdimuhamedov has raised this perceived affront before, criticizing Gul's supposed temerity of appearing to allocate Turkmenistan's gas without having discussed it with Turkmenistan. END COMMENT.) Berdimuhamedov added, "When Gul was here late last year, we talked for three hours, but he never once mentioned gas. Then we flew together to Dashoguz (where Gul had requested to visit a medieval Islamic shrine),but he still never said a word about gas. If I could have grabbed him by the throat, I would have dragged it out of him. We're an independent country. Turkey cannot make decisions about our gas." Mann said, "Our interest is the independence and prosperity of Turkmenistan. Our only goal is that your gas improve the lives of your people." TRANS-CASPIAN PIPELINE -- READY TO START SMALL ¶7. (S) Demonstrating his understanding of a possible Trans-Caspian Pipeline (TCP) has evolved quickly, Berdimuhamedov said, "We're intentionally prolonging this because we understand the political difficulties, but we want to get started. It doesn't have to be a full-scale pipeline at first; it can be a small one to start, connecting existing infrastructures. I have no doubt we can achieve that, step by step. But it is absolutely essential we not publicize this work yet. What we really need is the legal basis to protect us so this can happen. We need a strong law that will support us against Russia and Iran. We need your legal experts to help us with this." ¶8. (S) Expressing his appreciation for Ambassador Mann's work, Berdimuhamedov said, "We want to move straight forward with you, veering neither to the right nor to the left. Azerbaijan can be a strong partner for us. Turkey can, too, but they've got to be more forthcoming and treat us as an equal. You can help us with both Azerbaijan and Turkey. But most important, we need you to help us be sure we have a legal/legislative base for TCP." Mann assured Berdimuhamedov we have the same goals, and said he would convene experts in Washington to prepare full documentation on delimitation and TCP. Berdimuhamedov concluded, "We will work with you to achieve clear, realistic solutions." ASHGABAT 00000164 003 OF 004 JOINT DEVELOPMENT IN THE CASPIAN ¶9. (S) Berdimuhamedov said Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan should jointly develop the disputed Serdar natural gas field. "We're already in discussion about this, but we must have a firm legal basis for such a joint venture. Please help us resolve these issues." GET EXPERTS TOGETHER TO SOLVE PROBLEMS, JOINT EXHIBITIONS ¶10. (C) Further on Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan cooperation, Berdimuhamedov repeated he has proposed to Aliyev that both countries' gas and oil experts meet together in a "big forum" to hash out problems that could stand in the way of full collaboration. He suggested further that Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan hold joint International Oil and Gas Exhibitions, alternating countries every year. He added he would like to see Ilham Aliyev visit Turkmenistan. ¶11. (S) Berdimuhamedov made clear the question of developing a legal structure for joint exploitation of Caspian gas can proceed at the same time as negotiations on delimitation. On delimitation, he added, "If you have some concrete suggestions for us, that's fine, but it's really our responsibility to work this out." ¶12. (C) Berdimuhamedov said clearly, "I want a major American energy company working in Turkmenistan." He indicated he would welcome a more detailed proposal from Chevron. U.S. FACILITATION FULLY WELCOME ¶13. (S) Berdimuhamedov concluded, "I want to say again and say it clearly: we want a TCP with Azerbaijan. Please tell Baku frankly about our discussions here today. There can always be differences of opinion, but in the end there can always be compromise." ABOLISH THE EXIT-VISA REGIME ¶14. (C) Ambassador Mann raised with the president the problem of an embassy local employee who had earlier been on the exit-control list, was removed, but once again was told she could not travel to Moscow for medical treatment. Berdimuhamedov said he really shouldn't have to deal with details like this and told Foreign Minister Meredov to resolve it. Mann pressed Berdimuhamedov to abolish once and for all the out-moded exit-visa regime because it is inappropriate for a modern country: "It's time for normalization." Berdimuhamedov replied Turkmenistan remains cautious but is working toward that goal, "step by step." ¶15. (S) COMMENT: Berdimuhamedov was extraordinarily receptive to U.S. outreach and made clear he sees the United States as a facilitator to bring Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan closer together. His immediate goal is to have a legal basis for joint development with Azerbaijan of Serdar, and, more broadly, the legal basis for early gas from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan. Mann assured Berdimuhamedov we will be as responsive as possible. END SUMMARY. ¶16. (U) Ambassador Mann has cleared this cable. ASHGABAT 00000164 004 OF 004 HOAGLAND