Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT743
2008-06-11 08:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: MIROSLAV JENCA ARRIVES TO HEAD UN
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000743
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, IO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2018
TAGS: PREL UN TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: MIROSLAV JENCA ARRIVES TO HEAD UN
REGIONAL CENTER FOR PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY
Classified By: CDA RICHARD E. HOAGLAND, 1.4 (B),(D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000743
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, IO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2018
TAGS: PREL UN TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: MIROSLAV JENCA ARRIVES TO HEAD UN
REGIONAL CENTER FOR PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY
Classified By: CDA RICHARD E. HOAGLAND, 1.4 (B),(D)
1. (C) SUMMARY: UN Secretary General's Special
Representative Ambassador Miroslav Jenca arrived June 9 in
Ashgabat to head the UN Regional Center for Preventive
Diplomacy for Central Asia. He describes his role as
"diplomat" rather than "project officer." In their initial
meeting, Foreign Minister Meredov pressed the idea of a UN
Security Council Resolution on pipeline security, which Jenca
said he will approach cautiously. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General
and Head of the United Nations Regional Center for Preventive
Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) Ambassador Miroslav Jenca
called on Charge June 11, accompanied by UN Political Affairs
Officer Brian Vitunic. Before arriving in Ashgabat on June
9, Jenca said he consulted extensively in Europe with the
European Commission, NATO, OSCE, and various UN bodies. He
intends to consult with the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization, Economic Cooperation Organization, and the
various Russia-led regional organizations like the
Commonwealth of Independent States and the Commonwealth
Security Treaty Organization. He plans quarterly visits to
the other four Central Asian capitals.
3. (C) He said his mandate is broad and his primary goal is
to build trust. Areas in which he expects the UNRCCA to have
an early interest include political security,
counter-terrorism, counter-extremism, counter-narcotics,
migration, borders, climate, environment, water, and human
rights -- in other words, a range of issues already handled
by specific UN bodies. Jenca described his role as
"diplomat" rather than "project officer." In reply to a
direct question, he admitted his status as UNSYG Special
Representative with rank of Assistant Secretary General has
made other UN heads in Central Asia, especially UNDP Resident
Directors, a tad uneasy. He laughed off that concern as
"human nature turf concerns." He said his role is not to
duplicate others' work but to streamline and give political
guidance. He re-emphasized UNRCCA will not be a "project
office."
5. (SBU) Jenca met on June 10 for nearly two hours with
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov. He
said he suggested to Meredov a program to train young
diplomats from the region in preventive diplomacy and will
soon officially propose this to the UN Secretariat. The idea
would be regular seminars in the region to bring together
experienced international experts and regional senior
officials and public opinion leaders.
FOREIGN MINISTER PRESSES PIPELINE SECURITY RESOLUTION
6. (C) Jenca said Meredov raised the idea of a UN Security
Council Resolution on pipeline security, one of President
Berdimuhamedov's pet issues. Meredov asked that the UNRCCA
help promote the idea and help draft the resolution. Jenca
said he responded cautiously that the idea would require a
great deal detailed expertise and analysis. To the Charge,
he said he had made no commitment and wants to approach the
issue cautiously.
7. (C) The government of Turkmenistan has allocated one of
the Niyazov-era white-elephant hotels on Archibil Avenue as
the UNRCCA headquarters. Jenca said the renovation is
complete, but he seemed a little shell-shocked that it
doesn't yet have telephone lines and satellite dishes for
communications and Internet access. Even so, he plans an
official opening on June 24. Until then, he is camping out
in the UNDP building. When fully staffed, the UNRCCA will
ASHGABAT 00000743 002 OF 002
have six expatriate officers and 13 local staff on both the
substantive and support sides.
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, IO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2018
TAGS: PREL UN TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: MIROSLAV JENCA ARRIVES TO HEAD UN
REGIONAL CENTER FOR PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY
Classified By: CDA RICHARD E. HOAGLAND, 1.4 (B),(D)
1. (C) SUMMARY: UN Secretary General's Special
Representative Ambassador Miroslav Jenca arrived June 9 in
Ashgabat to head the UN Regional Center for Preventive
Diplomacy for Central Asia. He describes his role as
"diplomat" rather than "project officer." In their initial
meeting, Foreign Minister Meredov pressed the idea of a UN
Security Council Resolution on pipeline security, which Jenca
said he will approach cautiously. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General
and Head of the United Nations Regional Center for Preventive
Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) Ambassador Miroslav Jenca
called on Charge June 11, accompanied by UN Political Affairs
Officer Brian Vitunic. Before arriving in Ashgabat on June
9, Jenca said he consulted extensively in Europe with the
European Commission, NATO, OSCE, and various UN bodies. He
intends to consult with the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization, Economic Cooperation Organization, and the
various Russia-led regional organizations like the
Commonwealth of Independent States and the Commonwealth
Security Treaty Organization. He plans quarterly visits to
the other four Central Asian capitals.
3. (C) He said his mandate is broad and his primary goal is
to build trust. Areas in which he expects the UNRCCA to have
an early interest include political security,
counter-terrorism, counter-extremism, counter-narcotics,
migration, borders, climate, environment, water, and human
rights -- in other words, a range of issues already handled
by specific UN bodies. Jenca described his role as
"diplomat" rather than "project officer." In reply to a
direct question, he admitted his status as UNSYG Special
Representative with rank of Assistant Secretary General has
made other UN heads in Central Asia, especially UNDP Resident
Directors, a tad uneasy. He laughed off that concern as
"human nature turf concerns." He said his role is not to
duplicate others' work but to streamline and give political
guidance. He re-emphasized UNRCCA will not be a "project
office."
5. (SBU) Jenca met on June 10 for nearly two hours with
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov. He
said he suggested to Meredov a program to train young
diplomats from the region in preventive diplomacy and will
soon officially propose this to the UN Secretariat. The idea
would be regular seminars in the region to bring together
experienced international experts and regional senior
officials and public opinion leaders.
FOREIGN MINISTER PRESSES PIPELINE SECURITY RESOLUTION
6. (C) Jenca said Meredov raised the idea of a UN Security
Council Resolution on pipeline security, one of President
Berdimuhamedov's pet issues. Meredov asked that the UNRCCA
help promote the idea and help draft the resolution. Jenca
said he responded cautiously that the idea would require a
great deal detailed expertise and analysis. To the Charge,
he said he had made no commitment and wants to approach the
issue cautiously.
7. (C) The government of Turkmenistan has allocated one of
the Niyazov-era white-elephant hotels on Archibil Avenue as
the UNRCCA headquarters. Jenca said the renovation is
complete, but he seemed a little shell-shocked that it
doesn't yet have telephone lines and satellite dishes for
communications and Internet access. Even so, he plans an
official opening on June 24. Until then, he is camping out
in the UNDP building. When fully staffed, the UNRCCA will
ASHGABAT 00000743 002 OF 002
have six expatriate officers and 13 local staff on both the
substantive and support sides.
HOAGLAND