TURKMENISTAN: REGIONAL EXPERTS DISCUSS CENTRAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000390 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV UN ZK TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: REGIONAL EXPERTS DISCUSS CENTRAL ASIA'S WOES AT UN PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY CENTER Classified By: DCM Sylvia R. Curran, reasons 1.4(B) and (D). ¶1. (C) Carefully avoiding any reference to the term "conference," the UN Center for Preventive Diplomacy (Center) held a two-day seminar in Ashgabat on March 11-12 entitled "Central Asia and Global Challenges." Iran Watcher got a read-out from Armands Pupols, a Political Officer with the Center who organized the event and described it as a "frank exchange of views between regional academics and experts." He said that with the backdrop of the global financial crisis and the many gatherings taking place around the world to address it, the Center wanted to convene experts from Central Asia and beyond to look at the issues of most concern in the region, which he summarized as the situation in Afghanistan, the global financial crisis, water resources, and energy issues. NO AFGHAN PARTICIPATION ¶2. (C) Given the consensus by participants that instability in Afghanistan is the paramount concern for Central Asia, Pupols noted the Center's disappointment that Afghanistan chose not to send a participant. (NOTE: The frequent explanation given by Afghan officials traveling to Turkmenistan that travel overland and crossing the border is unduly difficult should not have been an issue, as the Center budgeted more than 2000 USD for airfare for travel via the Gulf for the Afghan participant. END NOTE) Other than representatives of the Turkmenistan Government and Central Asian Ambassadors to Turkmenistan, no other local participants or members of the diplomatic corps were invited. Pupols indicated that Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov's opening remarks were much more interesting than the lackluster presentation on energy resource security by the Ministry of Oil and Gas Industry representative. Pupols said the Russian Embassy asked to attend, which request the Center politely refused. Pupols said the Center wanted to limit participation, both for reasons of logistics and to encourage a more frank exchange of views. The sole U.S. representative was a visiting scholar from the U.S. Carnegie Endowment. The Turkish representative, former Foreign Minister Hikmet Cetin, had been recommended by the Turkish Embassy in Ashgabat and reportedly was particularly well-received as he had been FM in the early 1990s when the Central Asian states gained independence. KAZAKHS THE MOST OUTSPOKEN ¶3. (C) Pupols said that the Center invited experts from the various governmental Centers for Strategic Studies (CSS) from the other Central Asian states (Turkmenistan does not have one),and that the discussions were frank and rather lively at times. The Kazakhs were the most outspoken, he said, and one expert from the Kazakh CSS openly lamented the lack of "mechanisms for peaceful transition" that plagues Central Asian states. Some tension resulted when a Kazakh representative alluded statistically to the state of affairs in Uzbekistan, comparing the two countries' respective economic conditions. An Uzbek delegate responded by questioning the Kazakh's sources saying his statistics were flawed. No one said anything about Turkmenistan, either out of courtesy for their hosts or caution, said Pupols. RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM: ON EVERYONE'S MIND ¶4. (C) According to Pupols, the discussions on regional security and Afghanistan turned constantly to the issue of religious extremism, which was a great concern to everyone present. It was also the focus of the remarks given by the Iranian representative, Mohammad Ganjidoost, Director of Iran's Institue for Political and International Studies. At the seminar, he moderated a session on world energy markets and security, but also gave a thoughtful presentation on the differing interpretations of religious extremism. ¶5. (C) COMMENT: It seems the Preventive Diplomacy Center served as a useful forum for bringing Central Asian officials and academics together to brainstorm about tough issues ASHGABAT 00000390 002 OF 002 facing the region. Hopefully such events will be repeated and instigate further discussion about, and perhaps cooperation on, issues which are most important to Central Asia. END COMMENT. MILES