Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT456
2008-04-11 12:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: UNDP PULLS PLUG ON TURKMEN TRIP TO
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000456
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL, EUR/ACE
AID/W FOR EE/AA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL EAID UN TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: UNDP PULLS PLUG ON TURKMEN TRIP TO
GENEVA TO OBSERVE UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW
REF: ASHGABAT 0433
Classified By: CDA RICHARD E. HOAGLAND: 1.4 (B),(B).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000456
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL, EUR/ACE
AID/W FOR EE/AA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL EAID UN TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: UNDP PULLS PLUG ON TURKMEN TRIP TO
GENEVA TO OBSERVE UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW
REF: ASHGABAT 0433
Classified By: CDA RICHARD E. HOAGLAND: 1.4 (B),(B).
¶1. (C) UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Inita Paulovica
told EmbOff April 10 that UNDP had canceled a planned trip to
Geneva for two Turkmen officials to observe the first
Universal Periodic Review (reftel). The two had intended to
use the trip to help Turkmenistan prepare its own document
for the review in December. Paulovica said UNDP, which was
funding the trip, was angry that two lower-level officials,
instead of Institute of Democracy and Human Rights Chair
Shirin Ahmedova were chosen to go. Moreover, the pair had
planned only to observe the session and not participate in
side meetings or other opportunities to discuss issues
informally with other attendees. Paulovica said UNDP feels
that the informal discussions would be the most useful and
eye-opening for the Turkmen.
¶2. (C) Since the planned itinerary of the travelers only
included session attendance, Paulovica said UNDP decided to
use "tough love." She canceled the trip and suggested that
they consider going to the next review (in a few months)
instead.
¶3. (C) COMMENT: While we do not fault UNDP for wanting to
get its money's worth from the trip, we think they may have
been a little short-sighted. Ahmedova is extremely busy with
the work of the Institute and her many foreign partners. It
is unreasonable to assume that she has a lot of time to
travel. In addition, just getting the officials to Geneva,
meeting counterparts from other countries, and observing the
goings on would be beneficial. It is more than likely they
would have found opportunities to informally chat with
others, once they were on the ground. It just might have
been more difficult to get interagency approval for the side
meetings beforehand. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND