TURKMENISTAN: U.S. COMPANY TO ERECT WORLD'S

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000483 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/CARC, EEB E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ETRD SCUL TU AJ TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: U.S. COMPANY TO ERECT WORLD'S TALLEST FLAG POLE IN ASHGABAT ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. PRESIDENT ¶2. (SBU) Turkmenistan is home to the world's biggest carpet -- a fact certified by the Guinness Book of World Records and not particularly surprising given the world renown of Turkmen carpets. Soon, albeit briefly, Turkmenistan also will be home to the world's tallest flag pole, thanks to the American company, Trident Support, whose managing director briefed EmbOffs April 17 on this unusual project. It was commissioned by the Turkish construction company, Polimeks, as a birthday gift for President Berdimuhamedov. The flag pole (with a flag, of course) will be located in front of the National Museum on Archibil Avenue, not far from the U.S. Embassy housing compound, and will be presented to the president on his birthday, June 29. An official from the Guinness Book of World Records will come to certify it when it is commissioned. A COMPANY IS BORN ¶3. (SBU) According to the managing director, Trident Support is the only company that makes giant, world-record flag poles. It all started in Abu Dhabi several years ago when the managing director worked for Sheikh Abdullah. One day, the Sheikh decided he wanted the world's tallest flag pole, and so the managing director built it (369 feet). As time went by, various visitors from other countries came, admired the flag pole, and wanted one of their own. The Sheikh gave the managing director his blessing to start the company, which is based now in Dubai. THE ASHGABAT FLAG POLE ¶4. (SBU) The Ashgabat flag pole, made from 150 tons of steel, will be 399 feet tall with a 105 ft. by 156 ft. flag. The base of the pole is 7.8 feet and the diameter is three feet. It will cost $1 million (paid in Euros, so the cost may even be higher when finally paid),which the managing director said makes it one of the cheaper poles. In fact, it is a bare-bones model. Polimeks was unwilling to spring for the man basket (for bringing people up and down the pole), laser light system at the top, and camera, which are usually standard on the poles. In addition, Trident Support will throw in three flags for free, despite the difficulty of producing a large flag as detailed as Turkmenistan's with its intricate strip depicting the carpet patterns of the five provinces. Each flag costs approximately $15,000 and lasts about a month. The company will have to bring in a crane from Turkey, since none of the cranes currently in Turkmenistan are capable of raising the flag pole. NOT NUMBER ONE FOR LONG ¶5. (SBU) Alas, the glory of having the world's tallest flag pole will be fleeting. The company will erect an even taller one (483 feet) two months later in Baku. The Azeri government will not scrimp and will pay $4.2 million for its flag pole. The Baku flag pole will also be 9 feet wider than Turkmenistan's. ¶6. (SBU) COMMENT: We are curious how President Berdimuhamedov will react when he finds out that he didn't get all the trimmings and, even worse, that his pole will be overtaken by the Azeris. Of course, it could mean repeat business here for Trident Support if flag-pole envy takes over and the Turkmen decide they want to take back the title from the Azeris as possessors of "world's tallest flag pole." Or maybe Berdimuhamedov will console himself with the new TV tower that is to be completed (also by Polimeks) for the 20th anniversary of Turkmenistan's independence. Located on a southern foothill overlooking Ashgabat, the structure will be about 800 feet tall and is projected to cost about 137 ASHGABAT 00000483 002 OF 002 million euros. END COMMENT. HOAGLAND