Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT339
2009-03-13 15:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: ITALY - TURKMENISTAN RELATIONS -
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000339
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2019
TAGS: PREL EINV EPET TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: ITALY - TURKMENISTAN RELATIONS -
CHUGGING ALONG, SLOWLY
REF: ASHGABAT 0262
Classified By: Charge Richard Miles for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000339
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2019
TAGS: PREL EINV EPET TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: ITALY - TURKMENISTAN RELATIONS -
CHUGGING ALONG, SLOWLY
REF: ASHGABAT 0262
Classified By: Charge Richard Miles for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: According to an Italian Embassy Moscow
Counsellor, in Turkmenistan to advance the upcoming visit of
a Deputy Foreign Minister, President Berdimuhamedov should
visit Rome sometime in 2009. Hopefully, a Berdimuhamedov
visit will give a kick start to bilateral relations, which
the Italian Embassy Counsellor described as good, but not
very active. Cultural exchanges are the most vibrant aspect.
He said Eni officials expect a thaw in their relations with
the Turkmenistan Government and hopes that the company
Chairman will receive a visa. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) We met March 12 with Italian Embassy Moscow
Counsellor, Enrico Valvo, who covers Turkmenistan as part of
his portfolio. Valvo also came to do advance work for the
March 30-31 visit to Turkmenistan of Italian Deputy Foreign
Minister, Nalfredo Mantiaca, who will stop in all five
Central Asian countries. Valvo noted that the upcoming visit
is the third visit by an Italian Government official to
Turkmenistan. The other two, in 2002 and in 2007, were both
at the Deputy Foreign Minister-level.
3. (C) Valvo said that Turkmenistan-Italian bilateral
relations are good, but not very active. There is potential
for kick-starting relations, however, when President
Berdimuhamedov travels to Rome. Initially, both sides had
agreed to a date in April, but then the Turkmen asked to
postpone. Now, both sides are looking for another date in
2009.
THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM - ENI
4. (C) One irritant in the relationship has been the problem
with the energy company Eni, which had take over Burren
Energy operations in Turkmenistan, without notifying the
Turkmenistan Government. Valvo said Eni officials have tried
to explain to the Turkmen that they did not do anything wrong
by buying Burren on the London Stock Exchange and not giving
the Turkmen prior notice. UK law prohibits prior
notification of such sales to anyone. Valvo said Eni
officials are not completely certain that Turkmen officials
understand, but nonetheless claim that Turkmenistan is ready
to provide the Chairman of Eni with a visa. (NOTE:
Turkmenistan, since Eni's purchase of Burren, have refused to
grant visas to Eni officials. END NOTE.) Valvo said that
Eni would like to explore the possibility of expanding
operations in Turkmenistan.
TRADE/EXCHANGES
5. (C) Bilateral trade is relatively low - less than $300
million/year, mostly oil derivatives, said Valvo. The two
sides have initialed an agreement on the protection of
investments and hope to sign it soon. Italy would be happy
to have DFM Mantiaca sign it during his visit, said Valvo,
but the Turkmen will likely prefer to hold it until
Berdimuhamedov goes to Italy. Cultural exchanges are more
active than trade. A professor of Italian (sponsored by Eni)
is teaching in one of the universities. Italian
archeologists are working on 3-4 digs in Turkmenistan.
6. (C) COMMENT: The Eni chairman, though hopeful, may not be
very realistic. According to reftel, Turkmenistan is
avoiding Italian energy majors, and is still angry over the
Burren purchase. It may take a Berdimuhamedov visit to Rome
to help melt the ice, if the Italians are willing to make
that a priority. END COMMENT.
MILES
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2019
TAGS: PREL EINV EPET TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: ITALY - TURKMENISTAN RELATIONS -
CHUGGING ALONG, SLOWLY
REF: ASHGABAT 0262
Classified By: Charge Richard Miles for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: According to an Italian Embassy Moscow
Counsellor, in Turkmenistan to advance the upcoming visit of
a Deputy Foreign Minister, President Berdimuhamedov should
visit Rome sometime in 2009. Hopefully, a Berdimuhamedov
visit will give a kick start to bilateral relations, which
the Italian Embassy Counsellor described as good, but not
very active. Cultural exchanges are the most vibrant aspect.
He said Eni officials expect a thaw in their relations with
the Turkmenistan Government and hopes that the company
Chairman will receive a visa. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) We met March 12 with Italian Embassy Moscow
Counsellor, Enrico Valvo, who covers Turkmenistan as part of
his portfolio. Valvo also came to do advance work for the
March 30-31 visit to Turkmenistan of Italian Deputy Foreign
Minister, Nalfredo Mantiaca, who will stop in all five
Central Asian countries. Valvo noted that the upcoming visit
is the third visit by an Italian Government official to
Turkmenistan. The other two, in 2002 and in 2007, were both
at the Deputy Foreign Minister-level.
3. (C) Valvo said that Turkmenistan-Italian bilateral
relations are good, but not very active. There is potential
for kick-starting relations, however, when President
Berdimuhamedov travels to Rome. Initially, both sides had
agreed to a date in April, but then the Turkmen asked to
postpone. Now, both sides are looking for another date in
2009.
THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM - ENI
4. (C) One irritant in the relationship has been the problem
with the energy company Eni, which had take over Burren
Energy operations in Turkmenistan, without notifying the
Turkmenistan Government. Valvo said Eni officials have tried
to explain to the Turkmen that they did not do anything wrong
by buying Burren on the London Stock Exchange and not giving
the Turkmen prior notice. UK law prohibits prior
notification of such sales to anyone. Valvo said Eni
officials are not completely certain that Turkmen officials
understand, but nonetheless claim that Turkmenistan is ready
to provide the Chairman of Eni with a visa. (NOTE:
Turkmenistan, since Eni's purchase of Burren, have refused to
grant visas to Eni officials. END NOTE.) Valvo said that
Eni would like to explore the possibility of expanding
operations in Turkmenistan.
TRADE/EXCHANGES
5. (C) Bilateral trade is relatively low - less than $300
million/year, mostly oil derivatives, said Valvo. The two
sides have initialed an agreement on the protection of
investments and hope to sign it soon. Italy would be happy
to have DFM Mantiaca sign it during his visit, said Valvo,
but the Turkmen will likely prefer to hold it until
Berdimuhamedov goes to Italy. Cultural exchanges are more
active than trade. A professor of Italian (sponsored by Eni)
is teaching in one of the universities. Italian
archeologists are working on 3-4 digs in Turkmenistan.
6. (C) COMMENT: The Eni chairman, though hopeful, may not be
very realistic. According to reftel, Turkmenistan is
avoiding Italian energy majors, and is still angry over the
Burren purchase. It may take a Berdimuhamedov visit to Rome
to help melt the ice, if the Italians are willing to make
that a priority. END COMMENT.
MILES