Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT1648
2009-12-23 06:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: UNODC LAW ENFORCEMENT MEETING
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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
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
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