TURKMENISTAN OFFERS NAVCENT COUNTER-NARCOTICS

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000758 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/A, INL E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL PARM MARR SNAR KCRM IR AF TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN OFFERS NAVCENT COUNTER-NARCOTICS COOPERATION; OPPOSES IRAN ACQUIRING NUCLEAR WEAPONS Classified By: CDA RICHARD E. HOAGLAND: 1.4 (B),(D) ¶1. (S) SUMMARY: Minister of Defense Mammetgeldiyev told NAVCENT Commander Vice Admiral Cosgriff on June 12: -- Turkmenistan is keenly aware of the Afghan narcotics problem and offers the United States full cooperation; -- precursor chemicals for heroin processing need closer attention; -- Turkmenistan has no organized crime problem because former President Niyazov executed all the godfathers; and -- no neighbor of Iran, including Turkmenistan, wants to see Tehran acquire nuclear weapons. END SUMMARY MINISTER OFFERS FULL COOPERATION ON AFGHAN NARCOTICS ¶2. (C) During a 75-minute meeting on June 12, NAVCENT Commander Vice Admiral Kevin Cosgriff, among other topics, briefed Minister of Defense General Agageldi Mammetgeldiyev on NAVCENT's counter-narcotics efforts in the Gulf, and the link between narco-trafficking and terrorism. He offered cooperation to Turkmenistan. ¶3. (S) The minister thanked Cosgriff for the growing U.S.-Turkmenistan relationship, praised the "professionalism and dignity" of the U.S. military, and said he hoped Turkmenistan would continue to be invited to observe exercises and participate in U.S. military training programs. Turning to narcotics, the minister responded Turkmenistan is aware of a string of opium-refining laboratories across its border in Afghanistan. He lamented that Afghanistan is producing more and more narcotics. While Turkmenistan interdicts narcotics entering from Afghanistan, the minister said he believes much more transits Iran. He added Turkmenistan would like to help with monitoring and interdiction in the Caspian but does not yet have a credible fleet. According to Turkmen government sources, Iran has about 10,000 firms in the Emirates alone, which makes Iranian activity all the harder to monitor. The minister mused that some countries are active on this issue, but others are indifferent, and offered Turkmenistan's full cooperation. He judged that the narcotics problem in Afghanistan will eventually be brought under control, "Once Afghanistan becomes a democracy and plants crops other than poppy." Turkmenistan's assistance is being specifically directed to promote such an economic transformation of Afghanistan as the basis for the future peaceful development of the country. PRECURSOR CHEMICALS NEED ATTENTION ¶4. (S) Mammetgeldiyev said Turkmenistan estimates Afghanistan will produce 6-8 tons of heroin this year, which, he estimated, would require 800 tons of acetic anhydride. He judged precursor chemicals to be a major factor in the production of heroin and asked where they are coming from. He said Turkmenistan produces none and allows none to transit, and judged it unlikely that Uzbekistan is a supplier or transit country. That leaves Pakistan or Iran, he said. He urged the United States to tackle the precursor chemical problem. Admiral Cosgriff said he is in full agreement, but the issue is complicated by the dual-use nature of such chemicals. The minister scoffed that Afghanistan would have any industries requiring the precursors used to manufacture heroin. NO MAFIA -- NIYAZOV SHOT ALL THE GODFATHERS ASHGABAT 00000758 002 OF 002 ¶5. (S) The Charge asked the minister if Turkmenistan has developed any intelligence on international mafias that might be operating in the region for the purposes of narcotics trafficking. He emphasized he was asking not solely about Turkmenistan. Nevertheless, the minister replied Turkmenistan does not have an organized-crime problem because at about the time of independence in 1991, former President Niyazov rounded up all the heads of criminal organizations and executed them in public. Turkmenistan then implemented a strict visa regime that has worked well to keep them out -- no more problems. Mammetgeldiyev added there are some organized crime groups in Uzbekistan and certainly many more in Russia, "not to mention the Caucasus." He said, "Some countries criticized us for the public executions but now quietly tell us they wish they had done the same thing." ¶6. (C) NOTE: A local source subsequently confirmed that Niyazov had executed the heads of organized crime groups "just before or just after independence." He recalled that at the end of the Soviet period Ashgabat had been controlled by criminal gangs -- "If your car was stolen, you never went to the police; you went to the godfather, who had probably stolen your car in the first place." He added Niyazov's solution might have been harsh, but it has been effective to this day. END NOTE. NO TO NUKES IN IRAN ¶7. (S) Vice Admiral Congriff briefed the defense minister on U.S. policy toward Iran. Mammetgeldiyev agreed that sanctions and diplomacy are the best course for now. He said not one of Iran's neighbors wants Tehran to acquire nuclear weapons. He said, "For thousands of years Iran has been bullying its neighbors. If they have nuclear weapons, they'll use them for blackmail." ¶8. (C) COMMENT: Because of their previous contact, it was clear the minister of defense was unusually comfortable, engaging in real give-and-take conversation and offering detailed views and opinions. Further, in a first, following the early-evening meeting, the minister hosted a dinner for the delegation. All of this is to emphasize the enormous importance of taking time, with multiple repeat visits, for relationship building in Turkmenistan. END COMMENT. ¶9. (U) Vice Admiral Cosgriff did not have an opportunity to clear this cable. HOAGLAND