MEDVEDEV TO VISIT ASHGABAT ON DECEMBER 22

UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001620 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN; EEB; ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/BURPOE/COHEN COMMERCE FOR DSTARKS/EHOUSE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EPET PGOV EINV RS TX SUBJECT: MEDVEDEV TO VISIT ASHGABAT ON DECEMBER 22 REF: ASHGABAT 1546 ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (SBU) President Medvedev confirmed that his next visit to Turkmenistan will take place on December 22 during a phone conversation with President Berdimuhamedov on December 15. According to Turkmen media reports, Medvedev will hold negotiations with his Turkmen counterpart and will attend the opening ceremony of a new building for the Russian school in Ashgabat. The Turkmen media also reported that, during the phone conversation, the two presidents discussed issues related to international policy and bilateral cooperation, including energy, industry, and military sectors. ¶3. (SBU) Although the school opening is portrayed as the reason for Medvedev's visit to Ashgabat, his visit will most likely focus on gas trade issues (reftel). The December 15 visit of Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin to Ashgabat, who is in charge of the energy sector in the Russian Government, indirectly confirms this assumption. During his stay in Ashgabat, Sechin reportedly met with Berdimuhamedov to deliver a personal written message from Medvedev and to convey greetings from Russian Prime Minister Putin. The Turkmen media also reported that Berdimuhamedov and Sechin discussed bilateral projects in the energy sector as well as other areas of the economy. Medvedev's message seems to have been something more than just seasonal congratulations; local newspapers have not published its text, which they usually do with congratulatory messages to the Turkmen President. ¶4. (SBU) COMMENT: At this point it remains uncertain whether the long-awaited agreement regarding gas supplies will be finalized during Medvedev's upcoming visit. Judging by the frequent visits by Russian high-ranking officials to Turkmenistan and the frequent meetings between the two presidents, it seems probable that the two sides have not yet given up on a new gas contract before the New Year. END COMMENT. CURRAN