TURKMENISTAN: UNODC LAW ENFORCEMENT MEETING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001648 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, INL/AAE BUHLER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM PGOV SNAR SOCI TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: UNODC LAW ENFORCEMENT MEETING ASHGABAT 00001648 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Ashgabat held its last 2009 law enforcement coordination meeting on December 18th. Ministries and agencies members of the National Drug Control Committee from the Cabinet of Ministers of the Government of Turkmenistan (GOTX) were present, together with the representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations. GOTX and diplomatic corps representatives delivered presentations on law enforcement and anti-narcotics activities conducted throughout the past year. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (SBU) At the invitation of UNODC, an INL Locally Employed Staff member attended the UNODC-sponsored Law Enforcement Coordination meeting on December 18th. Over 40 representatives from GOTX agencies, diplomatic corps members and officers of international organizations were present at the meeting. The meeting was chaired by UNODC International Project Coordinator, Mr. Ercan Saka. He stated, in his opening remarks that such meetings are held regularly according to the Turkmen National Anti-Drug Strategy for 2006-2010, and are fully supported by the Turkmen National Drug Control Committee. ¶4. (SBU) The Government of Turkmenistan representatives were headed by Mr. Gurban Torayev, Deputy Chairman of the National Drug Control Committee at the Cabinet of Ministers as well as the Head of the Department for the Analysis of Law Enforcement and Military Organizations' Activities under the direction of the President of Turkmenistan. In addition, National Committee member organizations were present at the Deputy Minister level including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of National Security, State Border Service, State Customs Service, State Migration Service and State Counter Narcotics Service (SCNS). Most of the diplomatic missions in Ashgabat were present at the meeting including Afghan, Azeri, Armenian, Kazakh, Georgian, Pakistani, Indian, Polish, Ukrainian, Tajik, Uzbek, Japanese, Iranian, Turkish, Korean and British. Among International Organizations, Ambassador Zekolli represented the OSCE Center, the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy (UNRCCA) sent a Political Officer, and the EU-funded TACIS and BOMCA/CADAP (Border Management and Drug Action Programs in Central Asia) Programs were attended by their Deputy Managers. ¶5. (SBU) The GOTX's head rep, Mr. Torayev, mentioned that 2009 was very fruitful for Turkmenistan's counternarcotics efforts. He added that Turkmenistan actively worked on existing international treaties and joined the new ones, which - were not specified. Torayev proudly announced that the GOTX will be approving UNODC's Border Crossing Project in Farap on the Uzbek border in the upcoming week. He stressed that prices for illegal drugs have increased in the past year, which, he added, was obviously due to the high seizures in the result of the active work done by the law enforcements. He also reported that the updated drug seizures statistics for 2009 would be available in early January 2010. ¶6. (SBU) The Head of International Relations Department of the State Counter Narcotics Service (SCNS),Gulnabat Baylyeva mentioned that the Turkmen SCNS participated in 44 UNODC training sessions in 2009, with 26 of the sessions held in Turkmenistan and 18 abroad. She also thanked UNODC for donating vehicles equipped with precursor testing equipment. Other presenters were: UNODC's National Project Analyst's on the Regional Opium and Precursor's Production; UNRCCA's Political Officer on the opening of CARRICC project; BOMCA/CADAP's Deputy Manager on Preventive measures and reforms in penitentiary system; and a Turkish Embassy rep's presentation on Turkish law enforcement/counternarcotics projects. Post's INL rep reported on INL's activities conducted throughout the year. ¶7. (SBU) COMMENT: The UNODC law enforcement coordination meetings serve as fora at which diplomatic corps and Turkmen government officials can, in theory, share ideas and hold discussions on issues involving Turkmenistan's efforts to combat narcotic ASHGABAT 00001648 002.2 OF 002 trafficking. At the same time, GOTX officials tend to report successes only, refusing to admit that there is room for improvement. In addition, when GOTX officials are asked questions, they seem careful to stick to approved talking points, especially with foreign diplomats around. END COMMENT. CURRAN