Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT48
2008-01-10 12:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: BAN ON IMPORTED CHICKEN
how-toVZCZCXRO8712 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #0048/01 0101224 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 101224Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0045 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 3228 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1043 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0914 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 1491 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2093
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000048
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EAGR ECON ETRD TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: BAN ON IMPORTED CHICKEN
PROTECTIONIST, NOT FEAR OF AVIAN FLU
REF: 07 STATE 169243
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000048
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EAGR ECON ETRD TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: BAN ON IMPORTED CHICKEN
PROTECTIONIST, NOT FEAR OF AVIAN FLU
REF: 07 STATE 169243
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Charge conveyed to Turkmenistan's
Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations on January 9
the reftel demarche requesting Turkmenistan lift its ban on
importating U.S. poultry products. The officials did not
promise to rescind the ban but also did not close the door to
future imports of U.S. poultry products, including chicken --
and, in fact, had recently ordered 6,300 tons. The Turkmen
officials stated that the reason for the ban was to encourage
local production of poultry and repeated several times that
this remains their priority. Charge presented the same
demarche to Minister of Health Ata Serdarov on January 10.
He confirmed the ban is protectionish, not phytosanitary.
END SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) On January 9, Charge conveyed refetl demarche to
Turkmenistan's Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic
Relations requesting Turkmenistan lifts its ban on
importating U.S. poultry products, and gave Minister
Nokerguly Atagulyev talking points in the form of a non-paper.
U.S. CHICKEN IMPORTS HALTED TO ENCOURAGE LOCAL PRODUCTION
4. (SBU) The Trade Ministry officials stated that
Turkmenistan stopped importating U.S. poultry products in
2006 to "encourage local production" -- essentially by doing
away with foreign competition. (COMMENT: Previously, we had
been told that a ban on imported poultry was in response to
the fear of avian flu. END COMMENT.) Minister Atagulyev
said that Turkmenistan would ensure the availability of
chicken in Turkmenistan, both locally-produced and imported
from the U.S. Annamuhamed Valiyev, the Ministry's
international liaison, said that Turkmenistan remained open
to the Charge's offer to assist with future import needs, and
would work with Turkmenistan's embassy in Washington and with
the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat.
TURKMENISTAN ADMITS TO RECENT IMPORT OF AMERICAN CHICKEN
PRODUCTS...
5. (SBU) Valiyev admitted that Turkmenistan imported
American chicken-leg quarters for the New Year's holliday.
(NOTE: Embassy employees heard from Ministry of Trade and
Foreign Economic Relations sources that Turkmenistan bought
4,500 tons of chicken quarters for the New Year, and 1,800
tons for Flag Day (in February). The Ministry of Trade
reportedly bought the chicken for $2 per kilo, and then
resold the chicken legs at the market with a very hefty
mark-up. END NOTE.) Valiyev stated that the Turkmeninstan
Embassy in Washington contacted chicken producers. He said
although the contract with an American company or companies
is substantial, Turkmenistan still prioritizes encouragement
of local production.
...BUT PROTECTING LOCAL PRODUCERS REMAINS A PRIORITY
6. (SBU) In response to the Charge's comment that the
American chicken imported for the New Year's holiday sold out
immediately, Valiyev claimed that people bought it quickly
because they hadn't seen American chicken in a long time and,
thus, "satisfied their initial taste," but have already lost
interest. He averred 70% of the order remains unsold to the
public, in storage. (COMMENT: We'd say this is a bunch of
hooey. The government strictly regulates local markets and
imposed a limit on the number of kilos any one individual
could buy. Rather than lack of demand by consumers, we
suspect Gosplan traditions are at work. As further evidence
of state control of commerce, the Trade Ministry confirmed a
ASHGABAT 00000048 002 OF 002
private Turkmen firm imports 300 tons of chicken annually,
but we are told the firm's sales are limited strictly to
hotels and restaurants. END COMMENT.
7. (SBU) Charge presented the same reftel demarche to
Minister of Health Ata Serdarov on January 10. The minister
readily confirmed the so-called ban on imported chicken is
not in response to fears of avian flue. He explained
Turkmenistan has adequate monitoring controls to prevent
dangerous imported food products from reaching the market.
8. (SBU) COMMENT: Although Trade Minister Atagulyev did not
promise to rescind the ban, the door remains open to future
imports of U.S. poultry products. Embassy will provide a
list of U.S. poultry exporters to the Ministry of Trade and
Foreign Economic Relations and continue to monitor the local
markets. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EAGR ECON ETRD TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: BAN ON IMPORTED CHICKEN
PROTECTIONIST, NOT FEAR OF AVIAN FLU
REF: 07 STATE 169243
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Charge conveyed to Turkmenistan's
Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations on January 9
the reftel demarche requesting Turkmenistan lift its ban on
importating U.S. poultry products. The officials did not
promise to rescind the ban but also did not close the door to
future imports of U.S. poultry products, including chicken --
and, in fact, had recently ordered 6,300 tons. The Turkmen
officials stated that the reason for the ban was to encourage
local production of poultry and repeated several times that
this remains their priority. Charge presented the same
demarche to Minister of Health Ata Serdarov on January 10.
He confirmed the ban is protectionish, not phytosanitary.
END SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) On January 9, Charge conveyed refetl demarche to
Turkmenistan's Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic
Relations requesting Turkmenistan lifts its ban on
importating U.S. poultry products, and gave Minister
Nokerguly Atagulyev talking points in the form of a non-paper.
U.S. CHICKEN IMPORTS HALTED TO ENCOURAGE LOCAL PRODUCTION
4. (SBU) The Trade Ministry officials stated that
Turkmenistan stopped importating U.S. poultry products in
2006 to "encourage local production" -- essentially by doing
away with foreign competition. (COMMENT: Previously, we had
been told that a ban on imported poultry was in response to
the fear of avian flu. END COMMENT.) Minister Atagulyev
said that Turkmenistan would ensure the availability of
chicken in Turkmenistan, both locally-produced and imported
from the U.S. Annamuhamed Valiyev, the Ministry's
international liaison, said that Turkmenistan remained open
to the Charge's offer to assist with future import needs, and
would work with Turkmenistan's embassy in Washington and with
the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat.
TURKMENISTAN ADMITS TO RECENT IMPORT OF AMERICAN CHICKEN
PRODUCTS...
5. (SBU) Valiyev admitted that Turkmenistan imported
American chicken-leg quarters for the New Year's holliday.
(NOTE: Embassy employees heard from Ministry of Trade and
Foreign Economic Relations sources that Turkmenistan bought
4,500 tons of chicken quarters for the New Year, and 1,800
tons for Flag Day (in February). The Ministry of Trade
reportedly bought the chicken for $2 per kilo, and then
resold the chicken legs at the market with a very hefty
mark-up. END NOTE.) Valiyev stated that the Turkmeninstan
Embassy in Washington contacted chicken producers. He said
although the contract with an American company or companies
is substantial, Turkmenistan still prioritizes encouragement
of local production.
...BUT PROTECTING LOCAL PRODUCERS REMAINS A PRIORITY
6. (SBU) In response to the Charge's comment that the
American chicken imported for the New Year's holiday sold out
immediately, Valiyev claimed that people bought it quickly
because they hadn't seen American chicken in a long time and,
thus, "satisfied their initial taste," but have already lost
interest. He averred 70% of the order remains unsold to the
public, in storage. (COMMENT: We'd say this is a bunch of
hooey. The government strictly regulates local markets and
imposed a limit on the number of kilos any one individual
could buy. Rather than lack of demand by consumers, we
suspect Gosplan traditions are at work. As further evidence
of state control of commerce, the Trade Ministry confirmed a
ASHGABAT 00000048 002 OF 002
private Turkmen firm imports 300 tons of chicken annually,
but we are told the firm's sales are limited strictly to
hotels and restaurants. END COMMENT.
7. (SBU) Charge presented the same reftel demarche to
Minister of Health Ata Serdarov on January 10. The minister
readily confirmed the so-called ban on imported chicken is
not in response to fears of avian flue. He explained
Turkmenistan has adequate monitoring controls to prevent
dangerous imported food products from reaching the market.
8. (SBU) COMMENT: Although Trade Minister Atagulyev did not
promise to rescind the ban, the door remains open to future
imports of U.S. poultry products. Embassy will provide a
list of U.S. poultry exporters to the Ministry of Trade and
Foreign Economic Relations and continue to monitor the local
markets. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND