TURKMENISTAN VOWS NOT TO BLOCK HDIM AGENDA

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000972 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL, EUR/RPM E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/28/2018 TAGS: PHUM PREL KDEM OSCE TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN VOWS NOT TO BLOCK HDIM AGENDA REF: A. STATE 76294 ¶B. ASHGABAT 00956 Classified By: CHARGE SYLVIA REED CURRAN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (SBU) On July 28, MFA Americas Department Director Serdar Bashimov met with Charge to deliver Turkmenistan's reply to the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting demarche contained Ref. A. He made the following points: -- Turkmenistan appreciates the language noting positive developments in Turkmenistan. -- There exist different mechanisms that allow each country to put forward their perspective. Turkmenistan can use these mechanisms and has done so in the past. -- Turkmenistan does not oppose the participation of any NGO in the meeting. However, it does believe that those who have been involved in criminal activity should not be allowed to participate. Therefore, Turkmenistan objects to the participation of the individuals named (Orazov and Khanamov). A dialogue with these individuals is out of the question for the Turkmen side. -- Turkmenistan has no problem with the agenda. It has not and will not block the agenda. -- The Turkmenistan ambassador will make a speech at an upcoming permanent council meeting that will express the country's views. ¶2. (C) COMMENT: It appears that the compromise that the Finns put forward has done the trick. It has given the Turkmen a face-saving way to climb down from their position and not block the agenda. In fact, Bashimov said it was regrettable if there was any "communication gap or inaccurate interpretation" that led people to believe the Turkmen were blocking the agenda. However, they have also laid down a marker that they will not have a dialogue with Orazov and Khanamov, but will accept the participation of their NGO. END COMMENT. CURRAN