TURKMENISTAN: BERDIMUHAMEDOV PRIORITIZES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000280 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON COMMERCE FOR HEUPER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL EPET ETRD RS TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: BERDIMUHAMEDOV PRIORITIZES BILATERAL ISSUES AT MULTILATERAL CIS SUMMIT ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: President Berdimuhamedov was in Moscow February 22 for the CIS Informal Summit, where Putin said goodbye, the Turkmen president defined neutrality, and they both watered and nourished the Russian-Turkmen economic relationship. As an self-confirming "associated member," Berdimuhamedov appeared to play a role similar to that of the regular members. Later, Putin invited him for a private discussion, where the two reviewed progress on the Caspian littoral pipeline, construction that will soon begin on the Turkmenistan-China pipeline, and the planned refurbishment of the Central Asia-Center pipeline. All indicators point to Berdimuhamedov continuing to mold his country's role in the CIS as he sees fit, but it is also clear that he views Russia as an important trade and investment partner. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (U) President Berdimuhamedov flew to Moscow on February 22 to attend the CIS Informal Summit, where Putin bade farewell to the gathering of CIS presidents and introduced Russian presidential candidate and heir presumptive Dmitry Medvedev to them. While at the summit, Berdimuhamedov took special pains to underscore Turkmenistan's role in the CIS as an "associated member" and noted that Turkmenistan views the CIS as "a consultative body." He explained that this status affords Turkmenistan special opportunities to advance bilateral and multilateral partnerships. ¶4. (U) The state-controlled Turkmen press provided a primer on how Turkmenistan can maintain its "permanent neutrality" while enjoying the benefits of participation. While acknowledging that Turkmenistan's participation in the CIS has expanded in recent years, the press explained that it also advances the president's foreign policy strategy, which is "aimed at expanding international contacts for peace and progress." ¶5. (U) When given his chance to address the other summit attendees, Berdimuhamedov focused primarily on the bilateral partnership, crediting Putin with deepening trade and the economic relationship between Turkmenistan and Russia, and said that his country had increased its trade turnover with Russia in 2007 by nearly 30% compared to previous years. He also expressed his general support for several transportation projects discussed during the Dushanbe CIS meeting in late 2007, to include construction of a rail line from Kazakhstan south through Iran and development of an international ferry system on the Caspian Sea. ¶6. (SBU) Without going into detail, he also recommended that the CIS consider revising its framework documentation to enable member states to operate under the auspices of the organization more easily without having to put sovereign interests at risk for the benefit of the organization. (NOTE: He may have been simply asking that the organization provide more of a documentary fig leaf for Turkmenistan's participation as a neutral state, if he foresees Turkmenistan playing a more significant role in the group. END NOTE.) ¶7. (U) During a separate bilateral meeting between Putin and Berdimuhamedov, the Turkmen press reported that they discussed the Caspian littoral pipeline and refurbishment of the existing gas pipeline "in the European direction," referring to the Central Asia-Center line. Berdimuhamedov expressed his satisfaction with the increasing amount of Russian business activity in Turkmenistan and the joint ventures that are developing. He also highlighted Turkmenistan's recent agreement with the Russian Stroytransgaz Joint Stock Company, which will be doing some of the construction on the future Turkmenistan-China gas ASHGABAT 00000280 002 OF 002 pipeline. The initial contract for facilities that will support the pipeline's operations was reportedly worth about $590 million. ¶8. (SBU) COMMENT: The Turkmen president's primary mission appeared to be an effort to promote the further expansion of Russian trade and investment in Turkmenistan. Despite Berdimuhamedov having faithfully attended all of the CIS summit events over the past year and becoming more of an active participant, he still remains interested asserting and strengthening Turkmenistan's neutrality stance. Apparently, increased activity in regional groupings is a means to promote trade or good will with a variety of partners and not a signal that Turkmenistan wants to form alliances with any other state. END COMMENT. HOAGLAND