TURKMENISTAN: TURKISH AMBASSADOR CONCERNED ABOUT

S E C R E T ASHGABAT 000248 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN AND NEA/IR E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/24/2019 TAGS: IR PGOV PHUM RS TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: TURKISH AMBASSADOR CONCERNED ABOUT POTENTIAL SHIPMENTS OF URANIUM TO IRAN Classified By: Charge Richard Miles, reasons 1.4(B),(D),(E) and (F). ¶1. (C) The Turkmen Government announced earlier this month that President Berdimuhamedov had signed a decree allowing the state chemical concern "Turkmenkhimiya" to enter into a contract with Ekomet-S of Russia for the transfer and burial of radioactive waste. The waste was reportedly produced at the Hazar chemical plant and at the Balkanabat iodine plant. ¶2. (S) In a meeting with the Charge on February 17, Turkish Ambassador Huseyin Bichakli raised concerns about reports that Turkmenistan and Russia plan to resume uranium production in Turkmenistan. He said that he had learned from sources that a Russian military delegation had visited Turkmenistan in early January and visited the site of a former "uranium" plant at Kizilkaya in Balkan Province. The plant operated during the Soviet era. He said that the delegation was also briefed on the planned North-South railroad line from Russia to Iran, which includes a 700 km stretch through Turkmenistan. Ambassador Bichakli said there were rumors that the railroad would be used to transport uranium processed at the currently inactive Turkmen uranium plant to Iran. ¶3. (S) COMMENT: Ambassador Bichakli did not provide his sources, but noted that for Turkmenistan to collaborate with Russia to transport processed uranium to Iran, particularly in a surreptitious manner, is inconsistent with its policy of neutrality. Post will report any further information on this issue. END COMMENT. MILES