TURKMENISTAN: FM MEREDOV, LESS BRIEF, LESS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000406

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SCUL KPAO KDEM TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: FM MEREDOV, LESS BRIEF, LESS
TERSE, COMMENTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS

REF: ASHGABAT 0403

Classified By: CDA RICHARD E. HOAGLAND: 1.4 (B),(D)


1. (C) In an April 1 follow-up to their March 31 meeting
(ref),Charge found a significantly relaxed Foreign Minister
Meredov. Though he had promised only 10 minutes, the meeting
extended to 45 minutes.


2. (SBU) Meredov confirmed Turkmenistan would participate in
the Summer 2008 TIFA meeting in Dushanbe, welcomed a proposed
April visit by Under Secretary Reuben Jeffery, and reported
he had kept his previous day's promise to push forward
registration for the Ashgabat International School. He said
he expected the annotated working draft of the Memorandum of
Understanding to be returned to the Embassy by April 4. He
added, "And we will get the Turkmenbashi American Corner
reopened, too."

HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT


3. (C) When Charge asked if Meredov wanted to bring up any
issues, the Foreign Minister said, "In fact, yes. I've
studied the latest Human Rights Report (HRR),and there are
some not very pleasant things in it." Although he did not
have the document in front of him, in his usual lawyerly way
he enumerated many examples of what he called "old
information and outright mistakes." He said, "I could
understand this if it came from a private Internet site, but
a State Department document has authority." Meredov listed
in great detail the steps the government has taken under
President Berdimuhamedov to repair damage from the past,
identify what needs to be done, and to move forward. He
noted that USAID was meeting again today with the Institute
for Democracy and Human Rights to elaborate their cooperation
program. He said, "We are truly committed to this, I am
watching it personally, but for many reasons we can only go
so fast." Charge praised the Institute's openness and spirit
of cooperation.


4. (C) Meredov added, "As evidence that we continue to move
forward, there will be a private presidential decree today or
tomorrow on one more freedom-of-movement case." When Charge
noted one of the Embassy's female Locally Employed Staff had
still not been permitted to travel to Moscow for medical
care, despite a previous intervention, he sighed and said, "I
will get this done."


5. (C) Charge told Meredov the annual HHR, despite its
flaws, about which even some U.S. ambassadors complain, still
has real value because it flags areas for improvement and,
especially for governments that take their human-rights
commitments seriously, does indeed lead to corrections and
advances. Charge explained that the current format and
content of the report, for the most part, are Congressionally
mandated, but acknowledged his personal view that it could
stand some revision. He added he personally would like to
see it slimmed down and better focused so that it would be
more effective. Charge previewed that he might soon deliver
a human-rights non-paper suggesting concrete, achievable next
steps the Government of Turkmenistan could take and proposing
enhanced, as well as new, cooperation. Meredov said he would
welcome such a document. He added, "One page looking forward
is more valuable than 50 pages looking backward."


6. (C) COMMENT: Meredov is an enigma. He was more relaxed
and forthcoming than we have seen him in six weeks -- almost
the opposite of his nervous terseness on March 31. But we
will take him as he comes -- is there any other choice? --
and continue to press forward the bilateral relationship at
every opportunity he gives us. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND