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