Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT897
2008-07-16 12:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: USAID IMPLEMENTER'S VISA EXTENSION
how-toVZCZCXYZ0003 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHAH #0897 1981238 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 161238Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1167 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4028 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1845 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1712 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 2281 RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2692
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000897
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
W/AID FOR EE/EA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2018
TAGS: PGOV EAID ECON TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: USAID IMPLEMENTER'S VISA EXTENSION
DENIED
Classified By: CHARGE SYLVIA REED CURRAN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000897
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
W/AID FOR EE/EA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2018
TAGS: PGOV EAID ECON TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: USAID IMPLEMENTER'S VISA EXTENSION
DENIED
Classified By: CHARGE SYLVIA REED CURRAN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) On July 15, Charge met with DFM Wepa Hajiyev to
discuss the denial of a visa extension to the Chief of Party
for the Aglinks project administered by Winrock International
in Turkmenistan. Hajiyev said Turkmenistan is pleased with
its cooperation with USAID and wants to provide the best
conditions for the work of USAID implementers and their
projects. Nevertheless, despite the generally positive work
of Winrock, a specific problem had arisen that necessitated
denying the visa extension. Hajiyev explained that the
implementer had met with a successful dairy farmer named
Saidov and tried to convince him to allow Winrock to work
with him in order to increase his productivity. Saidov, who
has his own business plan and funding sources, declined the
offer. Hajiyev claimed that the implementer, unwilling to
take no for an answer, continued to push. Allegedly, the
implementer threatened to work with the farmer's competitors
and drive him out of business if he did not sign up with
Winrock.
2. (C) Charge raised the humanitarian aspect of the case,
since the implementer is married to a Turkmen citizen. The
couple have one child and will soon have a second one.
Denying the visa would necessitate splitting a family. She
said EMBASSY officials would talk to the implementer and
could ensure that a misunderstanding as occurred with the
dairy farmer would never happen again. She suggested that
the visa committee review the case after several weeks. (The
family will be outside of Turkmenistan for the next weeks for
the birth of the baby.) Hajiyev said humanitarian factors
should be taken into consideration, and it would be possible
to review the case, following some time, on humanitarian
grounds.
3. (C) COMMENT: We do not know exactly what happened between
the implementer and Saidov. Emboffs who know the implementer
doubt he was as pushy as Hajiyev described. In any case,
something upset Saidov, who then turned to friends in high
places. It is clear that emphasizing the humanitarian issue
as well as the one time nature of whatever occurred is the
best way to lobby to overturn the decision and allow the
implementer to continue work which both sides consider
valuable. END COMMENT.
CURRAN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
W/AID FOR EE/EA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2018
TAGS: PGOV EAID ECON TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: USAID IMPLEMENTER'S VISA EXTENSION
DENIED
Classified By: CHARGE SYLVIA REED CURRAN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) On July 15, Charge met with DFM Wepa Hajiyev to
discuss the denial of a visa extension to the Chief of Party
for the Aglinks project administered by Winrock International
in Turkmenistan. Hajiyev said Turkmenistan is pleased with
its cooperation with USAID and wants to provide the best
conditions for the work of USAID implementers and their
projects. Nevertheless, despite the generally positive work
of Winrock, a specific problem had arisen that necessitated
denying the visa extension. Hajiyev explained that the
implementer had met with a successful dairy farmer named
Saidov and tried to convince him to allow Winrock to work
with him in order to increase his productivity. Saidov, who
has his own business plan and funding sources, declined the
offer. Hajiyev claimed that the implementer, unwilling to
take no for an answer, continued to push. Allegedly, the
implementer threatened to work with the farmer's competitors
and drive him out of business if he did not sign up with
Winrock.
2. (C) Charge raised the humanitarian aspect of the case,
since the implementer is married to a Turkmen citizen. The
couple have one child and will soon have a second one.
Denying the visa would necessitate splitting a family. She
said EMBASSY officials would talk to the implementer and
could ensure that a misunderstanding as occurred with the
dairy farmer would never happen again. She suggested that
the visa committee review the case after several weeks. (The
family will be outside of Turkmenistan for the next weeks for
the birth of the baby.) Hajiyev said humanitarian factors
should be taken into consideration, and it would be possible
to review the case, following some time, on humanitarian
grounds.
3. (C) COMMENT: We do not know exactly what happened between
the implementer and Saidov. Emboffs who know the implementer
doubt he was as pushy as Hajiyev described. In any case,
something upset Saidov, who then turned to friends in high
places. It is clear that emphasizing the humanitarian issue
as well as the one time nature of whatever occurred is the
best way to lobby to overturn the decision and allow the
implementer to continue work which both sides consider
valuable. END COMMENT.
CURRAN