Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT1143
2009-09-09 12:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: UNODC EVALUATED IMAMNAZAR
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001143
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, INL/AAE BUHLER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR PGOV KCRM SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: UNODC EVALUATED IMAMNAZAR
PROJECT WITH GOTX
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001143
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, INL/AAE BUHLER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR PGOV KCRM SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: UNODC EVALUATED IMAMNAZAR
PROJECT WITH GOTX
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public
Internet.
2. (U) On September 4, UN Office of Drugs and Crime
(UNODC) Chief of Mission Ercan Saka hosted an
evaluation meeting for its Strengthening Turkmen-
Afghan Border project, particularly construction of
Imamnazar border crossing check point. The project,
which is nearing completion, was funded by the U.S.,
UK and NATO. The meeting was attended by Deputy
Minister of the Interior (MVD) Allamyrat Hajyev;
Deputy Chairman of the State Border Service (SBS) LTC
Ibragim Bekiyev; Deputy Chairman of the State Customs
Service (SCS) Annamyrat Hojamgulyev; Deputy Chief of
the State Counter-Narcotics Service (SCNS) Mered
Berdyev; and the Head of International Relations
Department of the SCNS Aman Muhammedkuliyev. Although
invited, the Deputy Ministr of National Security,
Ashyr Begliyev and Deputy Chairman of the State
Commission on Drug Control Gurban Torayev were not
present.
3. (U) UNODC prepared a detailed presentation on the
project, and Saka began with a briefing on its
background, how it was launched in 2006 and its
expected completion in late December. He pointed out
that the project was the only long-term initiative
operating on Turkmenistan's border with Afghanistan,
and that it enjoys the strong support of all Turkmen
government law enforcement agencies, notwithstanding
its operation in the border zone, an area normally of
great sensitivity to the Turkmen government. The
project's main goals were to improve the technical
capacity of the Imamnazar border crossing point by
constructing a new and equipped check point; to
provide training assistance to station's law
enforcement officers, and to improve its intelligence
capacity. The total project budget was $2.5 million,
funding provided principally by the U.S. Government,
as well as other donors like the UK and NATO, with in-
kind contributions from the Turkmen Government (such
as exempting taxes and duties from goods imported for
the construction and providing space without charge
for project-related trainings and workshops). Saka
reported that overall, 230 officers had been trained
in the framework of the project between 2006 and 2009,
and that a large amount of equipment was donated to
the border station, including scales for trucks and
two Russian-made SUVs. Turning to the overall
effectiveness of the project, Saka pointed out that it
will increase the government's narcotics interdiction
capacity, government awareness of the issue, and the
skills and knowledge of individual officers. In
concluding, Saka explained that the meeting
constituted the first phase of the project's
evaluation, and that the second phase will take place
in November by an independent external expert.
4. (U) During the Q&A session, Saka raised the ongoing
problem of obtaining drug and contraband seizure
statistics for Imamnazar, which is important for
donors wishing to ascertain the effectiveness of the
project. Another issue brought up was the frequent
turnover of personnel at the border station. For
instance, Saka said that since the project was
launched three years ago, Imamnazar has had seven
customs point chiefs. The SCNS representative
responded that if UNODC officially requests the drug
seizure statistics, they will be provided. He also
commented that data on contraband other than drugs may
ASHGABAT 00001143 002 OF 002
be obtained from the State Customs Service in the same
way, through a request to the MFA. Saka asked
whether it would be possible to find out about cases
where fraudulent passports and other documents had
been confiscated at Imamnazar by migration officers.
The Deputy Head of Migration appeared confused by such
a direct question and said that he must seek the
permission of his superiors before responding to
UNODC.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: The Turkmen officials at the
meeting appeared bored, and both the Interior Ministry
and Customs Service participants left early. The
coffee-break was shorter than was planned initially,
as some officials were fasting for Ramadan. As usual
in formal meetings with government officials, the
interactions seemed stilted, with no questions from
Turkmen side. Commenting on the project, only Col.
Orazov spoke, saying that only "time will tell" regarding
its effectiveness. END COMMENT.
CURRAN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, INL/AAE BUHLER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR PGOV KCRM SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: UNODC EVALUATED IMAMNAZAR
PROJECT WITH GOTX
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public
Internet.
2. (U) On September 4, UN Office of Drugs and Crime
(UNODC) Chief of Mission Ercan Saka hosted an
evaluation meeting for its Strengthening Turkmen-
Afghan Border project, particularly construction of
Imamnazar border crossing check point. The project,
which is nearing completion, was funded by the U.S.,
UK and NATO. The meeting was attended by Deputy
Minister of the Interior (MVD) Allamyrat Hajyev;
Deputy Chairman of the State Border Service (SBS) LTC
Ibragim Bekiyev; Deputy Chairman of the State Customs
Service (SCS) Annamyrat Hojamgulyev; Deputy Chief of
the State Counter-Narcotics Service (SCNS) Mered
Berdyev; and the Head of International Relations
Department of the SCNS Aman Muhammedkuliyev. Although
invited, the Deputy Ministr of National Security,
Ashyr Begliyev and Deputy Chairman of the State
Commission on Drug Control Gurban Torayev were not
present.
3. (U) UNODC prepared a detailed presentation on the
project, and Saka began with a briefing on its
background, how it was launched in 2006 and its
expected completion in late December. He pointed out
that the project was the only long-term initiative
operating on Turkmenistan's border with Afghanistan,
and that it enjoys the strong support of all Turkmen
government law enforcement agencies, notwithstanding
its operation in the border zone, an area normally of
great sensitivity to the Turkmen government. The
project's main goals were to improve the technical
capacity of the Imamnazar border crossing point by
constructing a new and equipped check point; to
provide training assistance to station's law
enforcement officers, and to improve its intelligence
capacity. The total project budget was $2.5 million,
funding provided principally by the U.S. Government,
as well as other donors like the UK and NATO, with in-
kind contributions from the Turkmen Government (such
as exempting taxes and duties from goods imported for
the construction and providing space without charge
for project-related trainings and workshops). Saka
reported that overall, 230 officers had been trained
in the framework of the project between 2006 and 2009,
and that a large amount of equipment was donated to
the border station, including scales for trucks and
two Russian-made SUVs. Turning to the overall
effectiveness of the project, Saka pointed out that it
will increase the government's narcotics interdiction
capacity, government awareness of the issue, and the
skills and knowledge of individual officers. In
concluding, Saka explained that the meeting
constituted the first phase of the project's
evaluation, and that the second phase will take place
in November by an independent external expert.
4. (U) During the Q&A session, Saka raised the ongoing
problem of obtaining drug and contraband seizure
statistics for Imamnazar, which is important for
donors wishing to ascertain the effectiveness of the
project. Another issue brought up was the frequent
turnover of personnel at the border station. For
instance, Saka said that since the project was
launched three years ago, Imamnazar has had seven
customs point chiefs. The SCNS representative
responded that if UNODC officially requests the drug
seizure statistics, they will be provided. He also
commented that data on contraband other than drugs may
ASHGABAT 00001143 002 OF 002
be obtained from the State Customs Service in the same
way, through a request to the MFA. Saka asked
whether it would be possible to find out about cases
where fraudulent passports and other documents had
been confiscated at Imamnazar by migration officers.
The Deputy Head of Migration appeared confused by such
a direct question and said that he must seek the
permission of his superiors before responding to
UNODC.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: The Turkmen officials at the
meeting appeared bored, and both the Interior Ministry
and Customs Service participants left early. The
coffee-break was shorter than was planned initially,
as some officials were fasting for Ramadan. As usual
in formal meetings with government officials, the
interactions seemed stilted, with no questions from
Turkmen side. Commenting on the project, only Col.
Orazov spoke, saying that only "time will tell" regarding
its effectiveness. END COMMENT.
CURRAN