TURKMENISTAN: ICRC OFFICIALS NOT EXPECTING

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000305

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN; DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2019
TAGS: PHUM PGOV TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: ICRC OFFICIALS NOT EXPECTING
BREAKTHROUGH ON PRISON VISITS

REF: ASHGABAT 0162

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Sylvia Reed Curran. Reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC) representatives are in Ashgabat to continue their
discussions with the Turkmen Government regarding prison
visits. After five years, it appears the two sides remain
far from agreement, the main point of contention being
one-on-one meetings with prisoners. The ICRC representatives
were not optimistic that their meeting tomorrow with the
Foreign Minister would yield any breakthrough, but thought it
was important to show that the ICRC is still willing to
engage. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) On March 6, DCM met with Tashkent-based International
Committee of the Red Cross Regional Delegation Head Yves
Giovannoni and Deputy Head Raffaello Muller to discuss the
prospects for ICRC prison visits in Turkmenistan. Giovannoni
said they will meet with Deputy Chairman for International
Relations and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov on March 7.
The ICRC officials want to get a clear answer about whether
or not the Turkmen Government is willing to negotiate on the
prison visit issue. Talks began in 2003 and, according to
Giovannoni, started well during the first couple years.
Since then, talks have been "dragging on," although the terms
being negotiated are clearly on the table. Giovannoni said
the ICRC now wants to know whether or not the Turkmen will
permit the prison visits.


3. (C) It was Giovannoni's view that, despite some opening up
in areas such as business relations and Internet access, in
practice things "have not developed" in Turkmenistan. He
thought that, perhaps in the case of prison visits, there is
still a "red line." ICRC has offered the Turkmen a "test
period" in introducing prison visits in order to let them get
acquainted with ICRC practice. Giovannoni said he was not
optimistic about the outcome of tomorrow's meeting with FM
Meredov, but wanted to let the Turkmen side know that the
ICRC was still offering cooperation.


4. (C) Noting that the ICRC has a "headquarters agreement"
with Turkmenistan, Giovannoni said the ICRC would "like to
keep a foot in the door." ICRC has offered to organize
courses in international law and norms for academics, law
enforcement officials and the military, similar to its
programs in other Central Asian countries. While
Turkmenistan has indicated that it would be open to such a
program, he said the ICRC wants to make sure it would result
in sustainable activity eventually carried out by the Turkmen
themselves. Giovannoni suggested that the Turkmen Government
might agree to an international law program because it would
be good for the country's international image, but he did not
see the Turkmen wanting to engage in a sustainable, ongoing
effort. He mentioned that in June, ICRC will hold a regional
conference on implementation of human rights law in St.
Petersburg. They would invite Turkmen representatives from
the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defense and Justice, as
well as from the Institute for Democracy and Human Rights.


5. (C) Giovannoni asked that post continue to raise the issue
of ICRC prison visits with the government as a critical show
of support. He emphasized that using the issue as a
conditionality on another issue, as the European Union has
done, does not work because in order for such a program to
succeed, there must be political will, not simply coercion.


6. (C) COMMENT: We know from previously raising this issue
with FM Meredov that the Turkmen are unlikely to budge on the
main point of contention (reftel). Given that the ICRC feels
equally strongly about the principle of one-on-one visits,
there appears to be no chance for ICRC prison visits to begin
in the near term. END COMMENT.
MILES