TURKMENISTAN'S PARLIAMENT RATIFIES MONTREAL

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SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S PARLIAMENT RATIFIES MONTREAL
PROTOCOL



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


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Turkmenistan's Mejlis (Parliament) on
January 22 adopted a resolution on Turkmenistan's accession
to the Montreal Protocol, apparently so that the Ministry of
Nature Protection will be eligible for additional donor
funds. The Ministry of Nature Protection has an ambitious
list of education and public awareness projects for students
and adults that it would like to undertake, but for which it
lacks sufficient funds. This ministry is doing its best to
promote sound ecological practices in Turkmenistan with
limited resources. END SUMMARY.


3. (SBU) On January 22, Turkmenistan's Parliament adopted a
resolution regarding Turkmenistan's accession to the
Copenhagen, Montreal, and Beijing amendments to the Montreal
Protocol for the Protection of the Ozone Layer. According to
National Ozone Center Coordinator Vladimir Vervedo and
Department of Ecological Program Coordination Head Bekmurad
Eyeberdiyev, the Ministry of Nature Protection is responsible
for implementing the Montreal Protocol, in cooperation with
the Ministry of Power Engineering and Industry, State Customs
Service, and Ministry of Agriculture. The Ministry of Nature
Protection's National Ozone Unit (NOU) monitors the phasing
out of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) and collects ODS
consumption data. The Ministry sends documentation declaring
Turkmenistan's imports and consumption of ozone depleting
substances, certified by "Gosstandart" and "Turkmenchemie,"
to the Montreal Protocol authorities on a yearly basis.


4. (SBU) The Ministry's Center for Ecological Observation
currently operates four labs, but used to have six. It also
has a Center for the Control of Atmospheric Air. Each
province has its own nature protection department. The
Ministry approves new building projects for ecological
soundness, and checks documentation of existing buildings for
leaks. If the Ministry finds problems, it will insist that
the building be rebuilt. Vervedo explained that the Ministry
closed one small private construction firm that used R-12
refrigerent (found in old refrigerators and air conditioners)
in 2007.

MOTIVATION TO SIGN MONTREAL PROTOCOL: MONEY


5. (SBU) Vervedo and Eyeberdiyev said that Turkmenistan's
Parliament decided to sign the Montreal Protocol in January
in order for Turkmenistan to advance its work in this sphere.
They added that only Montreal Protocol signatories are
eligible for funds distributed by the Multilateral Fund for
the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol. Turkmenistan
also wants to receive funds from the Global Environment
Facility (GEF),an independent financial organization that
provides grants to developing countries for projects that
benefit the global environment. (NOTE: According to
Ministry documentation, Turkmenistan has received assistance
from GEF for various projects since 1998. END NOTE.)

CHALLENGES TO RIDDING TURKMENISTAN OF ODS


6. (SBU) A group of Ministry of Nature Protection experts
are working on the "National Environmental Action Plan"
project, which aims to bring Turkmenistan's legislation to
international norms. Vervedo said that the Montreal
Protocol's Enclosure A takes effect in 2010, at which time
R-12 refrigerant will be illegal, according to the Protocol's
guidelines. Citing illegal sales of Mexican ODS products in
the United States, Vervedo said that the Government of
Turkmenistan is concerned about illegal sales of these ODS
products within its borders as well. Certain asthma inhalers
are of particular concern, as these products are used
primarily by the elderly, who cannot afford more expensive,
environmentally friendly inhalers. The Ministry is also

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paying close attention to large industrial refrigerators
typically used to store milk products in order to get a sense
of how much equipment will need to be replaced.

OUTREACH TO YOUTH


7. (SBU) The NOU has produced an 18-minute film in Russian
and Turkmen, as well as 200 CDs on ozone depletion. They
speak to school and university groups, and sponsor art
exhibitions based on this theme.

NATIONAL OZONE CENTER'S WISH LIST


8. (SBU) Vervedo said that his office could accomplish more,
if additional funds were available. He mentioned the
following:

-- The NOU asked the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP) for a gas and liquid chromatographer in order to
identify chemical content, but UNEP refused.

-- The NOU wants to publish educational materials on the
ozone layer for youth such as booklets, books, and brochures.
UNEP financed the translation of a comic book on ozone
issues into Russian, and the NOU is looking for financing for
a Turkmen version.

-- The NOU wants to translate technical literature into
Turkmen for repairmen of refrigerators or equipment using
refrigerants.

-- The State Customs Service needs a laboratory to verify
chemical composition of substances.


9. (SBU) COMMENT: In hydrocarbons-rich Turkmenistan, the
Ministry of Nature Protection occupies a unique niche role.
Most of its personnel are committed ecologists trying to do
good work for their country, but they face an uphill battle,
given the country's overwhelming dependence on hydrocarbon
production as a source of revenue. However, the president's
decision to try to meet world standards -- including on ODS
reduction -- is giving the Ministry a fresh purpose, even if
there is no new or additional funding. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND