Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT901
2008-07-17 09:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSES
how-toVZCZCXRO9689 PP RUEHAG RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV DE RUEHAH #0901/01 1990921 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 170921Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1172 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4031 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1848 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1715 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 2284 RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2695
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000901
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID EPET TINT TX AZ
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSES
ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS AND PROPOSALS
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000901
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID EPET TINT TX AZ
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSES
ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS AND PROPOSALS
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons 1.
4 (B) and (D).
1. (C) SUMMARY: During a July 16 meeting with the U.S.
Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) Regional Director for
Europe and Eurasia, Dan Stein, Deputy Minister of Foreign
Affairs Hajiyev acknowledged that Turkmenistan must upgrade
the knowledge of its petrochemical specialists. He also
welcomed cooperation in the information technology and
communications technology sectors, noting that President
Berdimuhamedov takes a personal interest in improvements in
these areas. Hajiyev said that Turkmenistan was still open
to pipeline options for exporting its natural gas --
including to Azerbaijan -- but emphasized the importance of
finding legal frameworks that all parties fully agree upon.
Turkmenistan wants Azerbaijan to reciprocate by making some
good-faith moves to prove that Azerbaijan is just as serious
as Turkmenistan about cooperation on oil and gas. END
SUMMARY.
FEEDBACK ON PENDING U.S. PROJECTS AND PROPOSALS IN THE ENERGY
SECTOR
2. (SBU) U.S. Trade & Development Agency (USTDA) Regional
Director for Europe and Eurasia Daniel Stein and U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE) Director of the Office of Russian
and Eurasian Affairs Lana Ekimoff met with First Deputy
Minister of Foreign Affairs Wepa Hajiyev on July 16. Stein
discussed his recent visit to Georgia and Azerbaijan and the
interest in moving Turkmenistan's gas to Europe via a route
that would bypass Russia. Stein and Ekimoff raised with
Hajiyev several proposals and areas for potential cooperation.
-- Stein raised the continuation of the USTDA oil and gas
training program. Hajiyev responded that Turkmenistan needs
to upgrade the knowledge of its specialists and is interested
in expanding cooperation in this area.
-- Stein asked about the status of a grant for a
petrochemicals study. Hajiyev said that he felt confident
that Stein would receive a favorable reply and that
Turkmenistan and the United States would continue their
dialogue on this project. He added that Turkmenistan's
agencies were in the process of reviewing the technical
details. (NOTE: Minister of Oil and Gas Baymurat
Hojamuhammedov told Stein in a subsequent meeting that the
grant had received the Cabinet of Ministers' general
approval, but that a few details still need to be worked out
(septel). END NOTE.)
-- Stein asked about the potential for cooperation in the
information technology and communications technology sectors.
Hajiyev said that these sectors are of great interest to
Berdimuhamedov, especially in terms of improving the
education sector. Hajiyev said that Turkmenistan would be
interested in information on potential projects in this area.
(NOTE: A trans-Caspian fiber optic line apparently was an
issue discussed in a recent meeting between Turkmenistan and
Azerbaijan. END NOTE.)
HAJIYEV SPEAKS HIS MIND ON THE CASPIAN RELATIONSHIP...SORT OF
3. (C) Hajiyev said that pipelines are successful when they
are built based on a reasonable potential for profit.
Turkmenistan believes in its policy of selling gas at the
border. Pipelines should be built by companies, which are
motivated by economic benefits.
4. (C) He said that Turkmenistan is taking steps, including
President Berdimuhamedov's recent trip to Baku and the
ASHGABAT 00000901 002 OF 002
proposal to hold a joint oil and gas conference in Baku in
September, to improve its relationship with Azerbaijan. He
added, however, "It is very frustrating when one person
knocks on someone's door, but that person doesn't answer the
door or even find the key." Referring to Stein's comment
early in the meeting that during recent meetings in Baku,
Azerbaijan's President Aliyev had acknowledged receiving a
diplomatic note from Turkmenistan on development of the ACG
field in the Caspian. Hajiyev said that all sides need to
agree on this issue. He added that the diplomatic note
needed to be looked at from more than one side's point of
view.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: Deputy Chairman and Foreign Minister
Rashid Meredov, who would normally have taken the meeting, is
in Romania with President Berdimuhamedov. Hajiyev is a
knowledgeable, capable official who will see that messages --
including on Azerbaijan -- are accurately conveyed to his
boss. His forthcoming attitude on potential USTDA assistance
suggests that the Government of Turkmenistan considers
USTDA's just-concluded hydrocarbon training programs
beneficial and is eager for more programs. END COMMENT.
CURRAN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID EPET TINT TX AZ
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSES
ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS AND PROPOSALS
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons 1.
4 (B) and (D).
1. (C) SUMMARY: During a July 16 meeting with the U.S.
Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) Regional Director for
Europe and Eurasia, Dan Stein, Deputy Minister of Foreign
Affairs Hajiyev acknowledged that Turkmenistan must upgrade
the knowledge of its petrochemical specialists. He also
welcomed cooperation in the information technology and
communications technology sectors, noting that President
Berdimuhamedov takes a personal interest in improvements in
these areas. Hajiyev said that Turkmenistan was still open
to pipeline options for exporting its natural gas --
including to Azerbaijan -- but emphasized the importance of
finding legal frameworks that all parties fully agree upon.
Turkmenistan wants Azerbaijan to reciprocate by making some
good-faith moves to prove that Azerbaijan is just as serious
as Turkmenistan about cooperation on oil and gas. END
SUMMARY.
FEEDBACK ON PENDING U.S. PROJECTS AND PROPOSALS IN THE ENERGY
SECTOR
2. (SBU) U.S. Trade & Development Agency (USTDA) Regional
Director for Europe and Eurasia Daniel Stein and U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE) Director of the Office of Russian
and Eurasian Affairs Lana Ekimoff met with First Deputy
Minister of Foreign Affairs Wepa Hajiyev on July 16. Stein
discussed his recent visit to Georgia and Azerbaijan and the
interest in moving Turkmenistan's gas to Europe via a route
that would bypass Russia. Stein and Ekimoff raised with
Hajiyev several proposals and areas for potential cooperation.
-- Stein raised the continuation of the USTDA oil and gas
training program. Hajiyev responded that Turkmenistan needs
to upgrade the knowledge of its specialists and is interested
in expanding cooperation in this area.
-- Stein asked about the status of a grant for a
petrochemicals study. Hajiyev said that he felt confident
that Stein would receive a favorable reply and that
Turkmenistan and the United States would continue their
dialogue on this project. He added that Turkmenistan's
agencies were in the process of reviewing the technical
details. (NOTE: Minister of Oil and Gas Baymurat
Hojamuhammedov told Stein in a subsequent meeting that the
grant had received the Cabinet of Ministers' general
approval, but that a few details still need to be worked out
(septel). END NOTE.)
-- Stein asked about the potential for cooperation in the
information technology and communications technology sectors.
Hajiyev said that these sectors are of great interest to
Berdimuhamedov, especially in terms of improving the
education sector. Hajiyev said that Turkmenistan would be
interested in information on potential projects in this area.
(NOTE: A trans-Caspian fiber optic line apparently was an
issue discussed in a recent meeting between Turkmenistan and
Azerbaijan. END NOTE.)
HAJIYEV SPEAKS HIS MIND ON THE CASPIAN RELATIONSHIP...SORT OF
3. (C) Hajiyev said that pipelines are successful when they
are built based on a reasonable potential for profit.
Turkmenistan believes in its policy of selling gas at the
border. Pipelines should be built by companies, which are
motivated by economic benefits.
4. (C) He said that Turkmenistan is taking steps, including
President Berdimuhamedov's recent trip to Baku and the
ASHGABAT 00000901 002 OF 002
proposal to hold a joint oil and gas conference in Baku in
September, to improve its relationship with Azerbaijan. He
added, however, "It is very frustrating when one person
knocks on someone's door, but that person doesn't answer the
door or even find the key." Referring to Stein's comment
early in the meeting that during recent meetings in Baku,
Azerbaijan's President Aliyev had acknowledged receiving a
diplomatic note from Turkmenistan on development of the ACG
field in the Caspian. Hajiyev said that all sides need to
agree on this issue. He added that the diplomatic note
needed to be looked at from more than one side's point of
view.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: Deputy Chairman and Foreign Minister
Rashid Meredov, who would normally have taken the meeting, is
in Romania with President Berdimuhamedov. Hajiyev is a
knowledgeable, capable official who will see that messages --
including on Azerbaijan -- are accurately conveyed to his
boss. His forthcoming attitude on potential USTDA assistance
suggests that the Government of Turkmenistan considers
USTDA's just-concluded hydrocarbon training programs
beneficial and is eager for more programs. END COMMENT.
CURRAN