TURKMENISTAN'S PRESIDENT BERDIMUHAMEDOV MAKES THE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000435 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON MARR NATO TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S PRESIDENT BERDIMUHAMEDOV MAKES THE MOST OF THE NATO SUMMIT IN BUCAREST ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: President Berdimuhamedov's trip to Bucharest April 2-3 for the NATO summit appears to have been a success, both in terms of promoting Turkmenistan's image as an engaged player on the world stage, and in confirming Turkmenistan's likely continued role in NATO's Partnership for Peace program and in helping assistance get to Afghanistan. The president took every opportunity to underscore that Turkmenistan has an important role to play in promoting regional peace and stability, and wants to work more closely with NATO. The brief Bush-Berdimuhamedov meeting provided an important opportunity to draw Turkmenistan more fully back into the international mainstream. We look forward to seeing if it will pay bilateral dividends. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (U) On April 2, President Berdimuhamedov arrived in Bucharest, Romania, and became the first Turkmen president to attend a NATO meeting. Although Turkmenistan has been cooperating with NATO's Partnership for Peace (PfP) program since 1994, Turkmen contact with the organization had been limited. ¶4. (U) Just prior to departing for the summit, Berdimuhamedov publicly said that he wanted Turkmenistan to participate in NATO peacekeeping initiatives, and suggested that Turkmenistan, with its newly-established UN Center for Preventive Diplomacy, be a neutral venue for peace talks. Turkmen press laid the groundwork for his trip, noting that "Turkmenistan, as a state loyal to the status of neutrality it received from the international community, is going to confirm its readiness to use its peacekeeping potential to maintain peace, stability, and common security, including within the framework of cooperation with NATO." ¶5. (SBU) Romanian DCM in Ashgabat Laurentiu Coican said that when his government requested a delegation list from the Turkmen to attend the summit, they refused to provide one, saying that they provide a delegation list only when attending bilateral meetings. Further problems arose when journalists from state-controlled Turkmen media outlets sought visas for Romania without acquiring the needed press accreditation first (a process easily handled online). The MFA insisted this was not necessary, because they were the president's journalists, and indicated that they would acquire accreditation when they arrived at the airport in Bucharest. The Romanian government refused, and the Turkmen journalists ended up filling out their accreditation requests online two days before departure, so that they could get their visas. ¶6. (SBU) While at the summit, President Berdimuhamedov met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai to discuss fuel and energy cooperation, transportation projects, and developments regarding the implementation of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India natural gas pipeline (TAPI). The two presidents discussed the progress of the north-south railway and communication project underway in Turkmenistan, and Karzai expressed his appreciation for the project. Berdimuhamedov also met with Croatian President Stjepan Mesic to discuss the development of new bilateral economic ties. The Turkmen president extended an invitation for Mesic to visit Turkmenistan, and Mesic reportedly accepted the invitation. Ciocan said that Berdimuhamedov also sought a meeting with the Romanian president, but it was not possible to arrange one, due to the Turkmen delegation's short stay. (NOTE: The Romanian president, according to Ciocan, only had two bilateral meetings -- with Presidents Bush and Putin. END NOTE.) ¶7. (SBU) On April 3, Berdimuhamedov met briefly with ASHGABAT 00000435 002 OF 002 President Bush. Turkmen press reports indicated that the Turkmen president reaffirmed Turkmenistan's intention to stick with a strategy of pipeline diversification. They also discussed expanding contact in the areas of education, science, and voiced their agreement, in particular, to increasing the number of Turkmen participating in U.S. educational programs. Turkmen press claimed (although Ciocan disputes) that the conversation with Berdimuhamedov was the only bilateral discussion Bush held while attending the summit. ¶8. (U) In a short speech during the summit, Berdimuhamedov affirmed Turkmenistan's continued cooperation with PfP, naming emergency preparedness, personnel training, science, ecology, combating narcotics and terrorism, border control projects, and combating international crime as examples of constructive joint work that has been done in the framework of PfP. He mentioned the success of the NATO Committee on Science-sponsored Silk Road Project, which is bringing Internet access to academic institutions throughout Turkmenistan. ¶9. (U) He underscored also Turkmenistan's continued willingness to assist with any assistance operations for Afghanistan. He noted his country's past role in supporting the transit of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, and noted Turkmenistan's bilateral assistance to Afghanistan. He also mentioned Turkmenistan's potential role in addressing political, social and economic problems or crises that threaten peace and security, citing the UN Centre for Preventive Diplomacy in Ashgabat as the perfect vehicle for addressing such crises. ¶10. (SBU) COMMENT: The brief Bush-Berdimuhamedov meeting in Bucharest provided an important opportnity to draw Turkmenistan more fully back in the international mainstream. Turkmen Media coverage was straightforward without distortions or gross exaggerations. As we have often reported, "respect" plays a fundamental role in Turkmen political culture. We look forward to seeing if the Bush-Berdimuhamedov meeting will pay bilateral dividends. END COMMENT. HOAGLAND