Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT423
2009-04-03 12:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:  

TURKMENISTAN: IN TURKMENBASHY, IT'S ALL ABOUT

Tags:  PGOV ECON EINV TX TU 
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DE RUEHAH #0423/01 0931216
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 031216Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2591
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000423 

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON EINV TX TU
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: IN TURKMENBASHY, IT'S ALL ABOUT
AVAZA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000423

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PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON EINV TX TU
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: IN TURKMENBASHY, IT'S ALL ABOUT
AVAZA


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Caspian port city of Turkmenbashy is
quickly being overshadowed by the construction work underway
at the nearby Avaza National Tourist Zone, where the
President is pressuring contractors and ministries alike to
get the work done in time for mid-June ceremonies. The city
of Turkmenbashy itself is not seeing the same level of
attention in terms of refurbishment, but some of its citizens
will be moving to new housing planned in the next few years.
The most near-term benefits city residents can expect are
some fresh employment opportunities at the new Avaza
facilities, if this tourist zone draws clientele. END
SUMMARY.

"TURKMENBASHY--DOORWAY TO CENTRAL ASIA"


2. (SBU) Poloff met April 1 with Mayor of Turkmenbashy city
Ashirniyaz Pomanov to learn about recent developments in and
around the city. Pomanov noted that the biggest news in
recent days had been the March 20 Cabinet of Ministers
meeting, which the President held here in Turkmenbashy.
Pomanov said the city's residents were most encouraged to
hear about the President's order to build new, white marble
elite apartments for some 20,000 of the city's residents.
(NOTE: Turkmenbashy has about 67,000 residents, nearly all
of whom live in decrepit housing. END NOTE.) Most of the
existing housing in the city was built in the 1960s or
earlier, and is in very poor condition. The new housing is
to be built next to a new international airport that Turkish
firm Polimeks is building north of the city. The airport, he
said, is to be completed by October 2009, and will be capable
of handling 800 passengers per hour. It will also have cargo
handling facilities. "Turkmenbashy," he said, "will be the
doorway to Central Asia."

TURKISH FIRMS MAKING THE AVAZA DREAM A REALITY


3. (SBU) He then transitioned to the work underway at the
President's pet project at Avaza. He said that many
countries were now investing in the project, including
Turkey, France, Iran and Russia with the construction of
hotels, recreation facilities, sanatoria, and the like.
Pomanov noted that on June 15, there would be major
ceremonies and events at Avaza to cut the ribbon on at least
four new hotels and sanatoria that would be finished before
then. This included a four-star hotel being built by the
Turkish firm Ickale for the Oil and Gas Construction Concern,
Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Energy and Industry
sanatoria being built by the Turkish Sehil company, a
sanatorium for the Ministry of Railway Transport being built
by the Turkish firm Delta, and a sanatorium for the Central
Bank of Turkmenistan being built by Polimeks. (NOTE: Poloff
noted that one of the facilities appears near completion.
There are three other buildings that have framework up.
Additionally, Polimeks has now established a rather
significantly-sized residential compound for its people,
located just a few blocks away from the old airport. END
NOTE.)


4. (SBU) He said the new gas turbine power station that
Lotus Enerji is building will be operational by May 2010,
providing a new source of power for the National Tourism
Zone. (NOTE: Poloff observed that Turkish contractors
Polimeks and Ickale have also completed the grading work for
the 7-kilometer artificial river that is to course through
the Avaza complex. The companies are just now beginning to
lay complex concrete footings for the walls of the canal,
likely necessary for the sandy topography of Avaza. The
Turkmenbashy oil refinery, curiously, is the customer for

ASHGABAT 00000423 002 OF 002


this project. END NOTE.)


5. (SBU) COMMENT: It seems that development plans are
moving forward aggressively for the Avaza Tourist Zone, and
the city of Turkmenbashy itself appears to be an
afterthought. Still, for this relatively small town, the
opening of these new facilities in Avaza could provide a
modest number of new employment opportunities that would be
longer term than those derived from construction. However,
even this will depend on the extent to which these new
facilities draw clientele. END COMMENT.
MILES