GOOD ATMOSPHERICS AS UZBEK AND TURKMEN LEADERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000305

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2018
TAGS: PREL PINR TX UZ
SUBJECT: GOOD ATMOSPHERICS AS UZBEK AND TURKMEN LEADERS
MEET IN TASHKENT


Classified By: Ambassador Richard B. Norland; reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (SBU) A raft of documents was signed by the Uzbek and
Turkmen leaders, as usual during visits involving former
Soviet states, and the details of possible arrangements on
gas deals and pipelines will no doubt emerge in due course.
But one thing was visibly clear from the March 10-11 state
visit to Uzbekistan by Turkmenistan's President
Berdymukhamedov (the first-ever such visit, which follows
President Karimov's first state visit to Turkmenistan last
October),and that was the positive body language and warm
atmospherics. President Karimov, looking well, positively
radiated good will as he introduced the Turkmen president to
his Cabinet and the diplomatic corps at the "Durmen"
presidential residence on March 10. Karimov engaged in
animated conversation with Berdymukhamedov at a full-fledged
state dinner the same evening at Durmen, sometimes evincing
an almost fatherly air as he shared extended insights with
the younger leader. And again, at the foundation stone
laying for the new Turkmen Embassy in Tashkent on March 11,
Karimov could not have appeared more at ease as he rode up
with the Turkmen leader in the same Mercedes limo and
escorted him past the lined-up diplomatic corps.


2. (SBU) In his remarks at the Turkmen embassy, Karimov
marked the wrap-up of the Tashkent portion of the visit,
prior to Berdymukhamedov's departure for Samarqand, with warm
words about the "foundation" for central Asian stability
which this newfound partnership between Uzbekistan and
Turkmenistan would represent. The Russian Ambassador, the
Turkmen Ambassador, and numerous Uzbek officials all shared
the same impression that the visit had gone extremely well --
perhaps laying to rest the poisonous relationship that had
existed between Karimov and the late President Niyazov.
Again, details will emerge, but this appears to have been a
ground-breaking event in more ways than one.

Subtext
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3. (C) In a meeting with the Ambassador March 12, Uzbek
Foreign Minister Norov shed a slightly different light on the
engagement between the two leaders. Bristling at criticism
of Uzbekistan in the 2007 human rights report, Norov said
that Turkmenistan was still a very closed and repressive
society, despite certain reports it is opening up. He said
one reason President Karimov spoke so warmly about
Turkmenistan in public was to try to lay the groundwork for,
and encourage, positive steps on reform. "But we know the
real situation there," he said, citing the absence of schools
for Uzbek speakers in contrast to the availability of
instruction for Turkmen speakers in Uzbekistan.

Comment
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4. (C) The irony that Uzbekistan might serve as a source of
guidance on reform was clearly lost on Norov. Still, sour
grapes aside, Norov was confirming that an entirely new
relationship is forming between the two countries. Clearly,
there will still be vying for who is the top dog, and whose
outlook will rub off on whom. But these two countries
working together may affect regional dynamics on energy and
other issues in interesting new ways.
NORLAND