ASHGABAT SURVEILLANCE DETECTION PROGRAM

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 020184 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2018 TAGS: AMGT ASEC APER SUBJECT: ASHGABAT SURVEILLANCE DETECTION PROGRAM REF: A. 07 ASHGABAT 551 ¶B. 07 ASHGABAT 619 ¶C. 07ASHGABAT 780 ¶D. 07 ASHGABAT 839 ¶E. 07 ASHGABAT 1050 ¶F. 08 ASHGABAT 35 ¶G. SURVEILLANCE DETECTION MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS FIELD GUIDE V2.0 ¶H. EMAIL ROCHOWIAK/NEAL 022208 SUBJ: SD OPERATIONS IN ASHGABAT Classified By: Derived From: 2008 Ashgabat 000035 dated 01/08/2008 ¶1. (U) This is an action request, see paragraph 5. ¶2. (C) In April 2007, the Government of Turkmenistan (GOT) withdrew permission for U.S. Embassy Ashgabat to conduct Surveillance Detection (SD) operations and declared the activities of the SD team to be in conflict with GOT law. The RSO immediately suspended SD operations and, with support from Post Management, initiated discussions with the GOT to obtain authorization to conduct SD operations. ¶3. (C) Refs A-F provide details of the continuing efforts to obtain permission to conduct SD operations that includes discussions between Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Mann, Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Feigenbaum, SIPDIS Assistant Secretary for Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs Sullivan, and Charges de Affaires Brush and Hoagland. Despite these sustained and persistent efforts, the GOT continues to withhold approval for Post to conduct SD operations. ¶4. (C) Ref G, Section 2.2 stipulates that the SD program operates with the knowledge and consent of the host government. Without permission from the GOT, Post cannot employ an SD Team. In Ref H, Post expressed optimism that during a meeting between President Berdimuhamedov and PDAS Mann, scheduled for March 2008, the GOT will provide permission for Post to conduct SD operations. Post requested and DS concurs that no decision regarding the disposition of the Ashgabat SD team will occur until after this meeting. ¶5. (C) Following the March 2008 meeting between PDAS Mann and President Berdimuhamedov, Post must submit details of the formal permission provided by the GOT to conduct SD operations. Please provide the details of this authority via telegram, slugged for DS/OPO/FPD and include the date of the authorization, the name and title of the official providing authorization, restrictions imposed on the activities of the SD operation, and any other relevant information. ¶6. (C) If approval to operate is not secured by April 1, 2008, DS will consider Post's SD Program for reduction during the FY08 midyear budget review. ¶7. (U) Please contact Security Program Manager Jerry Neal, DS/IP/OPO/FPD, (571) 345-2414 or Senior SD Program Officer Russ Todd, DS/IP/OPO/FPD, (571) 345-2433 with questions or concerns. RICE