Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT259
2008-02-21 08:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:  

TURKMENISTAN PROVIDES MORE HUMANITARIAN AID, THIS

Tags:  PGOV PREL EAID SOCI TI TX 
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P 210851Z FEB 08
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UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000259 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN
USAID/W FOR EE/AA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID SOCI TI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN PROVIDES MORE HUMANITARIAN AID, THIS
TIME TO TAJIKISTAN

REF: ASHGABAT 0199

UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000259

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN
USAID/W FOR EE/AA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID SOCI TI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN PROVIDES MORE HUMANITARIAN AID, THIS
TIME TO TAJIKISTAN

REF: ASHGABAT 0199


1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Following on its decision to send aid to
Afghanistan (reftel),Turkmenistan donated fuel as
humanitarian assistanceto Tajikistan on February 13, publicly
demonstrating the strong bilateral ties it shares with its
neighbor, but also making its mark as a responsible regional
player. Turkmenistan has also brought its electricity
deliveries to Tajikistan up to previously-agreed levels, now
that historic low winter temperatures in Turkmenistan have
eased. END SUMMARY.


3. (U) On February 13, Turkmen state television news
reported President Berdimuhamedov had issued a decree to
donate 500 tons of diesel fuel to Tajikistan. A News Central
Asia Internet report estimated the value of the fuel at about
$385,000, based on the fuel's retail value in China. The
fuel arrived in Tajikistan on February 18. Berdimuhamedov
announced the donation after meeting with Tajikistan's
Minister of Energy Sherali Gulov, who was in Ashgabat for a
Turkmen-Tajik economic commission session.


4. (U) Turkmenistan's government has stepped up its
relationship with Tajikistan since former President Niyazov's
death, and appears to be increasingly sympathetic to
Tajikistan's economic and energy woes. According to
Tajikistan's press, Turkmenistan has forgiven some $13
million of Tajik debt since 2005. According to the same
source, the Tajiks still owe about $23 million, described as
inter-bank debts, as well as electricity- and
agriculture-related debts.


5. (U) Turkmenistan has also been supplying Tajikistan with
a significant portion of its electricity needs since November

2007. During the coldest periods of the winter, deliveries
of electricity dropped from about 6 kilowatt hours to about 3
kilowatt hours per day because of Turkmenistan's climbing
domestic demand, but as of February 19, daily delivery had
reached 7.5 kilowatt hours.


6. (SBU) COMMENT: Given the positive press created by
Turkmenistan's delivery of a large caravan of humanitarian
aid to Afghanistan in early February (reftel),Berdimuhamedov
may view a donation of aid to Tajikistan as another
opportunity to demonstrate publicly Turkmenistan's potential
as a regional leader. But the relationship between
Turkmenistan and Tajikistan is genuinely good -- President
Rahmon was one of the first regional leaders to stretch out a
hand of friendship to Berdimuhamedov, attending both former
President Niyazov's funeral and President Berdimuhamedov's
inauguration. With back-to-back aid to both Afghanistan and
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan is positioning itself as a
responsible regional player. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND