TURKMENISTAN'S AGENDA FOR THE 64TH UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 ASHGABAT 001043

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TAGS: PREL PGOV EAGR PARM SENV UNGA UNHCR FAO TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S AGENDA FOR THE 64TH UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY


1. (U) Sensitive but Unclassified. Not for Internet distribution


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: On July 31, Post received a circular
diplomatic note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Turkmenistan containing an explanation of the Turkmenistan
Government's positions on issues to be considered during the
64th United Nations General Assembly. The Ministry's
circular called for the establishment of an expert group to
prepare recommendations on development of an international
legal document on energy transit. It called for an
international conference on disarmament in Central Asia and
the Caspian Basin. It informed about the country's
intention to join the International Monitoring System (IMS)
of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization
(CNTBT) and establish jointly with CNTBT a station in
Turkmenistan to monitor earth crust vibration at
seismically active zones. Factoring in the country's
successful cooperation with the UNHCR, it also informed about
Turkmenistan's intention to be nominated to the UNHCR
Executive Committee. In the document, Turkmenistan proposed
the opening of regional centers for the United Nations
Environment Program (UNEP) and Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) in Ashgabat. Finally, the document
announced Turkmenistan's intention to expand its
participation in the implementation of projects and
programs within the framework of the UN and
its agencies, first of all, the United Nations Development
Program (UNDP),the United Nations Economic Commission for
Europe (UNECE) and the United Nations Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). This
year, for the second time, Turkmenistan was elected as a
Vice Chairman of the UN General Assembly. END SUMMARY.


3. (SBU) The following is the text of the document
(informal Embassy translation):

Maintaining and strengthening global peace and security.

The principal goal of the foreign policy of Turkmenistan was
and continues to be to offer every possible assistance to the world

community in its efforts to maintain and strengthen the
global security system, prevent and neutralize the threat of
regional conflicts, provide conditions for stable and
sustainable development of states and people and for broad
and constructive international cooperation. An important
component in achieving this goal is the neutral status of
Turkmenistan, recognized by the world community. We believe
that the permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan and related
specifics of its location in the region open for the
Community of Nations represented by the UN, OSCE and other
authoritative universal organizations very good practical
opportunities to influence positively the progress and
nature of processes in Central Asia and in the area of the
Caspian Basin by setting up permanently functioning
mechanisms of international communication to discuss various
aspects of regional problems and to work out mutually
acceptable and consensus solutions.

Based on its past positive experience of non-military,
political and diplomatic peacekeeping under the aegis of the
UN, Turkmenistan declares its readiness to provide the world
community with the necessary political and logistical
conditions for this work. In this context, we consider
exceptionally important and promising the United Nations
decision to open the UN Regional Center for Preventive
Diplomacy in Central Asia with headquarters in Ashgabat
adopted in 2007 with the support of all the states of the
region. Currently, the Regional Center works actively on
monitoring and analyzing regional problems, takes an active
part in various events on significant issues of development
of Central Asia, including at head-of-state levels, and
assists in working out approaches to their solutions.

ASHGABAT 00001043 002 OF 008


Activity of the Regional Center won it authority and respect
by the leadership of Central Asian states, and was highly
commended by the UN Secretary General. We are convinced
that the activity of this international agency corresponds
to the interests of the region and all world community. In
this context, Turkmenistan welcomes engagement of states,
international organizations, financial and economic
institutions, and experts with the efforts of the UN and its
Regional Center to work out constructive models of
development of the regional processes.

In forming our approaches to the problem of providing global
security, our basis is the integrity and inseparability of
this concept - both in its geopolitical meaning, and from
the point of view of the interrelation of its specific
aspects. We are convinced that security of a country cannot
be provided without security in the region, on the
continent, and in the world. Likewise, political or
military security will not be long-lasting and complete
without providing economic, energy, and food security,
without the prevention and neutralizing of risks and threats
of an ecological, techno-genetic nature, without effective
combat against international terrorism, organized crime,
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and other
global challenges.

From this point of view, the current system of international
energy deliveries, we have to admit, is one of the most
vulnerable links in the global economy. Such vulnerability
is caused by several reasons - political instability, lack
of commonly-accepted international legal regulation
mechanisms, infrastructure shortcomings, and the lopsided
geography of pipeline routes. All this puts its mark on the
general atmosphere of energy deliveries on the world market.
To change this situation, to overcome the inertia of
stereotypes, to enter a new level of thinking, corresponding
to contemporary demands is an objective necessity. Today,
we do not speak about taking preventive measures, not about
reaching local agreements on certain aspects of fuel
transportation, but rather about the creation of a
fundamentally new, universal model of relations in the world
energy arena - of a model based on a multi-sided balance of
interests, a concurrence of visions and notions about the
global architecture of energy security, recognition of long-
term benefits and advantage of cooperation.

As a first step towards in this direction, it is logical
to start broad international contact on the issue of
energy deliveries. It is necessary to find lines of
common interest, determine initial positions, work out
common language for dialogue. In other words, to create
a basis for cooperation among interested parties on this
subject. Based on this, Turkmenistan introduced a
proposal at the UN to begin working on universal
mechanisms that would ensure the reliable and secure
functioning of the infrastructure of international energy
delivery, access to it and its effective use. The first
step was the UN draft resolution "Reliable and Stable
Energy Transit and its Role in Ensuring Sustainable
Development and International Cooperation" proposed by
Turkmenistan. The resolution draft attracted the
attention of the UN member states, many of which actively
participated in broad consultations prior to its official
review by General Assembly. As is known, the resolution
was supported by all the UN member states without
exception, 57 of which were co-authors, including 5
permanent members of the Security Council, and was
adopted by General Assembly in consensus on December 19,

2008.

Following the letter and spirit of the resolution,
Turkmenistan proposed to host the international high-
level conference "Reliable and Stable Energy Transit and

ASHGABAT 00001043 003 OF 008


its role in Ensuring Sustainable Development and
International Cooperation" that was held in Ashgabat on
April 23-24, 2009. Representatives of governments,
international organizations, international financial
institutions, scientists, diplomats, as well as top
national and transnational companies engaged in energy
resource development and transportation participated at
this conference.

One of the conference results was a proposal to request
the UN to review the issue of establishing an expert
group to prepare recommendations on development of a
future international legal document on energy transit,
taking into account suggestions of interested states and
international organizations. Turkmenistan is entirely
ready to assist in the establishment of such a structure
within the UN framework and calls on all interested
states to formulate proposals on its work. We believe
that the establishment of the group could be the first step
in the process of the preparation of a complex UN
document, aimed at ensuring the effective functioning of
international energy delivery system, including issues of
the protection of the energy transport system.


4. (SBU) Disarmament processes.

In the opinion of Turkmenistan, assistance to processes
of disarmament, reduction of weapon arsenals, first of
all, weapons of mass destruction and their proliferation,
remains one of the key topics on global agenda. We
believe that there is no place in the modern system of
international relations for the legacy of the cold war
and recidivism to confrontation between blocks, when the
quantity and quality of weapons were nearly the primary
criteria of influence and authority of states. We are
convinced - the fewer weapons there are in the world, the
more stable and peaceful will be its development, and
much more trust and understanding there will be between
countries and people.

With its neutral status, based on peacefulness and good
neighborliness, Turkmenistan on the national level
adopted several important pieces of legislation
pertaining to weapons of mass destruction. Thus, the
legislation of Turkmenistan proclaims the refusal by our
country of the possession, production, storage, and
transport of nuclear, chemical, bacteriologic and other
types of weapons of mass destruction, as well as from new
ways and technologies for their production. In 2005, a
statement to support initiatives of international
organizations to combat the proliferation of weapons of
mass destruction was adopted by a resolution of the
People's Council of Turkmenistan. In 2006, Turkmenistan
together with other states of the region, signed at the
city of Semipalatinsk an agreement on the creation of a
nuclear weapons free zone in Central Asia. This, to a
large extent, is a unique document because, for the first
time since World War II, it proclaims the emergence of a
vast region on the map of the Northern Hemisphere free of
nuclear weapons. It is illustrative that our joint
initiative is in harmony with the aspiration of the
majority of countries of the world, it was highly praised
by the international community and approved by the UN
General Assembly. In this regard, we believe that it is
of high priority to conduct under the aegis of the UN a
representative international conference dedicated to the
disarmament problems in the region of Central Asia and
Caspian basin in the first half of the year. Our country
is ready to act as an organizer of this event.
Turkmenistan is a participant of important international
disarmament conventions and agreements, in particular,
such as:


ASHGABAT 00001043 004 OF 008


- Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty;
- Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty;
- Convention on the Prohibition of the Development,
Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons
and on their Destruction;
- Convention on the Prohibition of the Development,
Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological
(Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their
Destruction;
- Convention on the Prohibition on the Use,
Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of
Antipersonnel Mines and on their Destruction;
- Several other important international documents on
this issue.

Our country would welcome constructive proposals of
the international community and individual states aimed
at assistance to global disarmament processes, and
review with interest the issues of its participation in
their realization.

Within the context of fulfilling its commitments in this
sphere, Turkmenistan will continue to work to include our
country in the International Monitoring System (IMS) of
the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization
(CNTBT). In this regard, work will be completed, jointly
with the CNTBT, on the creation of a station in
Turkmenistan to monitor earth crust vibration at
seismically active zones.


5. (SBU) Role of the United Nations.

Cooperation with the United Nations will remain a
definite vector of our foreign policy. Despite the
changes taking place in the world, Turkmenistan is
convinced that the great humanistic ideals of the United
Nations and the principles of the UN Charter must remain
the moral and legal pillars of the international order.
Only on that basis is it possible to review issues of UN
reform.

The reform of the organization must be thoughtful,
targeted and corresponding to the objective imperatives
of our times. In this regard, Turkmenistan supports
efforts by UN member states and the Secretary General
aimed at making the organization's activity more dynamic,
effective, open and democratic.

In this context, Turkmenistan shares the opinion on the
need for further improvement of the structure of the
Security Council, building closer and more effective
interaction between the Security Council and the General
Assembly. We are in favor of UN reform to further
strengthen and increase the effectiveness of its work,
expanding the role and function of the Community of
Nations as a guarantee of international peace and
stability.


6. (SBU) Countering modern challenges and threats.

One of the most serious demands of a global scale today
is the effective combat against international terrorism,
drug trafficking, and trans-border organized crime. As a
result of a number of historical, geographic and other
reasons, this problem is especially relevant for our
region. We are convinced that only joint efforts of
states, through close interaction with international
structures, can successfully oppose these threats. In
this context, Turkmenistan gives a special role to the
activity of the United Nations, and first of all, the
Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy in Central Asia.
We believe that the participation of the Center is
necessary and timely in the development and coordination

ASHGABAT 00001043 005 OF 008


of effective models of international cooperation with the
goal to neutralize these threats, involving mechanisms of
preventive diplomacy and creating conditions for post-
conflict recovery of economic and social infrastructure.

In this regard, it necessary to emphasize the particular
importance that Turkmenistan attaches to the rebuilding of
Afghanistan and the establishment of stable peace on
Afghan land. Our country assists Afghanistan in the
restoration of its economy and in the construction of
social and humanitarian facilities. We wish to see
Afghanistan as a peaceful and prosperous country, good
neighbor and partner of all the states in the region. At
the same time, we believe that the United Nations is
called to play an important, if not decisive, role in
Afghan reconciliation. We are convinced that the UN with
its huge peacekeeping experience and highest moral
authority is capable of proposing new forms and models in
the context of political and diplomatic efforts to solve
the problems of Afghanistan and establish peace and
conciliation in the country. Today, this work can be
activated and become more effective taking into account
the opportunities of the UN Regional Center for
Preventive Diplomacy in Central Asia. We advocate
expanded and targeted involvement of the Regional Center
in the efforts of the international community in the
reconciliation of the situation in Afghanistan.


7. (SBU) Human rights protection and encouragement.

Strenuous protection and encouragement of human rights,
creating conditions for maximum realization of individual
creative potential and providing an opportunity for a
citizen to participate actively in the life of the
community and the state are a priority policy of
Turkmenistan, the primary meaning of which is contained
in the brief phrase - "The State for the person."

The positive dynamic here is obvious and is accepted
today by the international community and UN
specialized agencies. Recently, important steps were made
to improve the legislative base - a new edition of the
Constitution of Turkmenistan, where new historical
conditions and tasks for the future are taken into
account, as well as a series of laws of Turkmenistan
aimed at further improvement of country's political
system and strengthening of democratic institutions in
society, were adopted.

Elections of Mejlis (Parliament) deputies of the fourth
convocation were held on December 14, 2008. The world
community paid close attention to this event. Nearly 60
international observers and experts, including
representatives of European countries and authoritative
international organizations - the UN, OSCE, CIS, were
invited to Turkmenistan.

We place special emphasis on international cooperation in
terms of human rights protection and encouragement. In
this context, recent significant stepping up of the
interaction between the UN and Turkmenistan, as well
regular visits by the representatives of specialized
institutions and UN humanitarian agencies is
illustrative. Promising areas for setting up close
interaction with UN agencies are maternity and child
welfare, protection of the rights of people with
disabilities, of the rights of refugees, etc. This work
is of special interest in light of the recent
participation of Turkmenistan in several relevant
international protocols and conventions.

One of the clear examples of Turkmenistan's effective
activity in the human rights sphere is that, by the

ASHGABAT 00001043 006 OF 008


Presidential Decree of 2005, over fourteen thousand
people received citizenship, and over three thousand
received residence permits. The majority of these people
were refugees. In cooperation with the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees, these people were
provided with all necessary conditions for a complete
livelihood in Turkmenistan. Cooperation of our country
with the UNHCR has proved its effectiveness, and taking
into account this fact, Turkmenistan announces its
intention to be nominated to the UNHCR Executive
Committee. We think that Turkmenistan's participation in
this important body could positively impact its work.

While reviewing human rights issues, we believe that the
activity of the UN Human Rights Council, in particular,
cooperation in the framework of the Universal Periodic
Review mechanism is significant. In March this year, a
Universal Periodic Review that earlier was forwarded by
the Turkmen side was reviewed during the tenth session of the
UN Human Rights Council with participation of the
authorized representatives of Turkmenistan. We intend to
continue cooperation with this important international
structure, and will review its recommendations with
attention and respect.

Regarding the delivery to the UN General Assembly of so
called "country" resolutions on human rights,
Turkmenistan believes that such practice does not
contribute to the constructive international dialogue on
human rights. And of course, we are strongly against
politicization of human rights and using it as a pretext
to interfere to the internal affairs of sovereign states.
International mechanisms in this sphere shall add to, but
not replace, the work on the national level.


8. (SBU) Ecology and environmental protection issues.

Turkmenistan gives significant attention to the ecology
and environmental protection issues and advocates closer
international collaboration in this sphere. In this
context, our country draws attention to the need to
engage actively with the specialized UN agencies on such
a pressing issue as saving the Aral Sea which, today,
falls outside the regional scope. At the national level
Turkmenistan conducts serious work to improve the
ecological and social-economic situation in the basin of
the Aral Sea. Thus, in the last two years, the government
made investments in the amount of 170 million USD to
relevant projects in the Dashoguz region adjacent to the
Aral. However, national efforts cannot solve the entire
complex of accumulated problems. There is a need for a
consolidated approach by all states in the region,
international organizations and donors. Based on this,
our country made a concrete proposal at the recent summit
of the founders of the International Fund to Save the
Aral Sea - to create a special expert group which in
cooperation with the UN and its agencies could prepare a
complex international legal document to save the Aral.
Turkmenistan believes that the most important component
of the environmental activity in the Central Asian region
is cooperation with the United Nations Environment
Program (UNEP). We are convinced that closer
collaboration of the regional states with this agency can
give positive results, facilitate modeling coherent
approaches to solve serious ecological problems of
Central Asia, including rational water resources
management. In this regard, Turkmenistan proposes to
review the issue of opening the Regional Center for UNEP
in Central Asia with headquarters in Ashgabat.


9. (SBU) Global financial and economic crisis.

Turkmenistan supports the provisions of the Final

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Document of the UN Conference on Global Financial and
Economic Crisis and its Consequences for Development, and
believes in the high priority of the specific proposals
to promptly reform world financial institutions - the
World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

At the national level, our country will continue a
balanced economic policy aimed at preserving the national
economic growth rate focused on the priority development
of the social sphere, further support of the vulnerable
population, and providing a package of economic and
social benefits to all citizens of the country. In this
context, Turkmenistan intends to expand its participation
in project and program implementation in the framework of
the UN and its agencies, first of all, UNDP, UNECE and
ESCAP.


10. (SBU) Food program.

The food crisis and its impact on the general situation
in the world cannot but cause concern in Turkmenistan.
Our country views providing global food security as an
important factor of sustainable and stable economic and
social development of humanity. Turkmenistan welcomes
and supports the efforts by the UN and its primary
specialized agency, the Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO),to stabilize the world food market, and believes
that it is necessary to introduce significant corrective
action to national and international agriculture programs
of both developed and developing countries based on the
reality that has developed.

The Agricultural Forum of the CIS states scheduled for
October 2009 in the capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat,
will be an important contribution to coordination of
international efforts to solve the food problem.

We believe that Central Asia, being also an important
agrarian region, can play a significant role in providing
food security. Based on this, Turkmenistan advocates
closer interaction of the regional states with the FAO.
A serious step towards this could be the opening of an
FAO Regional Center in one of the Central Asian states.
We are willing to propose Ashgabat for its office
location.


11. (SBU) Science, culture and education.

Cultural development and the improvement of its
scientific and educational system is a priority focus of
Turkmenistan's state policy. Educational reforms
underway in our country envisage its participation in
broad international interaction, scientific, educational
and cultural exchanges.

Turkmenistan gives an important place in this work in
cooperation with the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

We highly appreciate UNESCO assistance in preserving and
publicizing the richest cultural and historical heritage
of Turkmenistan and unique natural sites of our country.
Presently, three cultural and historical sites located in
Turkmenistan are included on the UNESCO World Heritage
List: Ancient Merv, Kone-Urgench and Nissa. We proposed
to include in that list one more cultural historical site
"Missirian-Dekhistan Site," as well as six unique natural
sites (Badhyz State Reserve, Syunt Khasardag State
Reserve, Dinosaur footsteps and Koytendag caves, Repetek
State Botanic Reserve, Amudarya State Reserve and Khazar
State Reserve). We will work actively and hard in that
direction.


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Turkmenistan intends to further develop and expand
interaction with UNESCO, including through the National
Commission. In this context, Turkmenistan is reviewing
with interest the opportunity to join several UN
Conventions concerning UNESCO.

We believe there is a need to refer to the opportunities
of UNESCO Cluster Office in Tehran. We advocate its
active engagement in project implementation in the
region, strengthening its role as coordinator and
moderator of interaction between the regional states and
UNESCO headquarters.

End text of document.


12. (SBU) COMMENT: Given the Turkmen Government's high
regard for the United Nations and its agencies, it is no
surprise that they support involvement of the UN in a number
of regional issues such as the nuclear free zone and the
Aral Sea. Some of the proposals were predictable, such as
follow-up to the Turkmen's energy transit security
initiative last year. Finally, offers by Ashgabat to host
regional centers for the FAO and UNEP suggest the Turkmen
are pleased with the profile and image of the Ashgabat-based
UN Regional Diplomacy Center and would like to further
burnish their credentials in the international community.
END COMMENT.

MILES