Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT55
2009-01-14 12:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
IRAN/TURKMENISTAN: POLISH AMBASSADOR'S PERSPECTIVE
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000055
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/IR AND SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2019
TAGS: EPET IR PGOV PREL TX
SUBJECT: IRAN/TURKMENISTAN: POLISH AMBASSADOR'S PERSPECTIVE
ON IRAN IN TURKMENISTAN
Classified By: Charge Richard Miles, reasons: 1.4(B) and (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000055
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/IR AND SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2019
TAGS: EPET IR PGOV PREL TX
SUBJECT: IRAN/TURKMENISTAN: POLISH AMBASSADOR'S PERSPECTIVE
ON IRAN IN TURKMENISTAN
Classified By: Charge Richard Miles, reasons: 1.4(B) and (D).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Poland's Ambassador to Turkmenistan reports
that Iran and Turkmenistan have not agreed on a price for
natural gas sales to Iran and are waiting until Turkmenistan
and Russia reach a similar agreement. He said that Iran not
only hopes to gain a foothold in Turkmenistan's energy
sector, but also to expand its cultural influence among the
ethnic Shia population in the country through language
courses and scholarships. END SUMMARY.
IRAN HOPING FOR GREATER PRESENCE IN TURKMENISTAN
2. (C) Masiej Lang, the Polish Ambassador to Turkmenistan,
told Iran Watcher January 13 that even though Turkmenistan
and Iran have agreed on a "price formula" for the sale of
Turkmen gas to Iran, the exact price has still not been
specified because Turkmenistan is waiting to agree on a price
with Russia. He said that the price Iran is charged will be
cheaper than the price for Russia, somewhere between USD 150
and USD 170 per 1000 cubic meters.
3. (C) Ambassador Lang said that Iran "really wants to be
present" in Turkmenistan, and not just in the area of energy
investment and development, but also to enhance its cultural
presence and influence in the country. He said that during
the discussions between the two countries' oil ministers
prior to the agreement that was reached earlier this month,
the Iranians requested to be given full rights, "just like
the Chinese enjoy," to explore, produce and transport gas to
Iran from onshore deposits in Turkmenistan. Noting that
there is little likelihood that the Turkmen would agree to
giving Iran anything more than a service contract, he said
that Turkmenistan is under increasing pressure from outside
to allow foreign companies in to develop their gas fields, as
they simply do not have the expertise to do it themselves.
Iran, in turn, relies heavily on Turkmen gas to provide
energy to the northern areas of the country, particularly as
it lacks the internal infrastructure to distribute its own
gas internally.
REACHING OUT TO TURKMENISTAN'S SHIA
4. (C) Ambassador Lang, who speaks fluent FARSI and meets
regularly with the Iranian Ambassador, said that Iran's
"long-term strategy" in Turkmenistan goes beyond its desire
to invest in the energy sector. Through its FARSI language
program at the Iranian Cultural Center, which has several
hundred students, Iran is using "soft power influence" to
attract members of Turkmenistan's Shia minority, most of whom
are the descendants of ethnic Azeris and Persians who
migrated from Iran in the last 100 years. The young people
who enrolled in the courses, he said (even some members of
the Bahai faith),want to learn more about the language and
culture of their grandparents. After the break-up of the
USSR, people all over the region have been searching for a
new cultural identity, and often look for it in their own
roots. He said that the exact number of Muslims in
Turkmenistan who identify themselves are Shia is not known.
Only Sunni Islam enjoys official recognition by the
government, although there are several Shia mosques. (NOTE: A
Turkmen national who is also a FARSI speaker told us that he
recently contacted the Cultural Center seeking assistance
with a difficult FARSI passage that he was translating to
English. The Iranian instructor with whom he spoke probed
him about his interest in FARSI and his family's background
and whether he was also of Iranian origin. END NOTE.)
5. (C) NOTE: Ambassador Lang learned Persian (Dari) as a
child in Poland living in an area where Afghan families and
professionals undergoing training in Poland resided. He
emphasized that members of the Iranian mission in Ashgabat
are generally not open to socializing with other diplomats,
but that it is his knowledge of FARSI that has allowed him to
get to know some well, including Iran's Ambassador,
Mohammad-Reza Forqani. END NOTE.
6. (C) COMMENT: Our interlocutor has a unique perspective on
Iran's position and activities in Turkmenistan. His
ASHGABAT 00000055 002 OF 002
experience is yet another reminder of the value for diplomats
of speaking a foreign language well. END COMMENT.
MILES
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/IR AND SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2019
TAGS: EPET IR PGOV PREL TX
SUBJECT: IRAN/TURKMENISTAN: POLISH AMBASSADOR'S PERSPECTIVE
ON IRAN IN TURKMENISTAN
Classified By: Charge Richard Miles, reasons: 1.4(B) and (D).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Poland's Ambassador to Turkmenistan reports
that Iran and Turkmenistan have not agreed on a price for
natural gas sales to Iran and are waiting until Turkmenistan
and Russia reach a similar agreement. He said that Iran not
only hopes to gain a foothold in Turkmenistan's energy
sector, but also to expand its cultural influence among the
ethnic Shia population in the country through language
courses and scholarships. END SUMMARY.
IRAN HOPING FOR GREATER PRESENCE IN TURKMENISTAN
2. (C) Masiej Lang, the Polish Ambassador to Turkmenistan,
told Iran Watcher January 13 that even though Turkmenistan
and Iran have agreed on a "price formula" for the sale of
Turkmen gas to Iran, the exact price has still not been
specified because Turkmenistan is waiting to agree on a price
with Russia. He said that the price Iran is charged will be
cheaper than the price for Russia, somewhere between USD 150
and USD 170 per 1000 cubic meters.
3. (C) Ambassador Lang said that Iran "really wants to be
present" in Turkmenistan, and not just in the area of energy
investment and development, but also to enhance its cultural
presence and influence in the country. He said that during
the discussions between the two countries' oil ministers
prior to the agreement that was reached earlier this month,
the Iranians requested to be given full rights, "just like
the Chinese enjoy," to explore, produce and transport gas to
Iran from onshore deposits in Turkmenistan. Noting that
there is little likelihood that the Turkmen would agree to
giving Iran anything more than a service contract, he said
that Turkmenistan is under increasing pressure from outside
to allow foreign companies in to develop their gas fields, as
they simply do not have the expertise to do it themselves.
Iran, in turn, relies heavily on Turkmen gas to provide
energy to the northern areas of the country, particularly as
it lacks the internal infrastructure to distribute its own
gas internally.
REACHING OUT TO TURKMENISTAN'S SHIA
4. (C) Ambassador Lang, who speaks fluent FARSI and meets
regularly with the Iranian Ambassador, said that Iran's
"long-term strategy" in Turkmenistan goes beyond its desire
to invest in the energy sector. Through its FARSI language
program at the Iranian Cultural Center, which has several
hundred students, Iran is using "soft power influence" to
attract members of Turkmenistan's Shia minority, most of whom
are the descendants of ethnic Azeris and Persians who
migrated from Iran in the last 100 years. The young people
who enrolled in the courses, he said (even some members of
the Bahai faith),want to learn more about the language and
culture of their grandparents. After the break-up of the
USSR, people all over the region have been searching for a
new cultural identity, and often look for it in their own
roots. He said that the exact number of Muslims in
Turkmenistan who identify themselves are Shia is not known.
Only Sunni Islam enjoys official recognition by the
government, although there are several Shia mosques. (NOTE: A
Turkmen national who is also a FARSI speaker told us that he
recently contacted the Cultural Center seeking assistance
with a difficult FARSI passage that he was translating to
English. The Iranian instructor with whom he spoke probed
him about his interest in FARSI and his family's background
and whether he was also of Iranian origin. END NOTE.)
5. (C) NOTE: Ambassador Lang learned Persian (Dari) as a
child in Poland living in an area where Afghan families and
professionals undergoing training in Poland resided. He
emphasized that members of the Iranian mission in Ashgabat
are generally not open to socializing with other diplomats,
but that it is his knowledge of FARSI that has allowed him to
get to know some well, including Iran's Ambassador,
Mohammad-Reza Forqani. END NOTE.
6. (C) COMMENT: Our interlocutor has a unique perspective on
Iran's position and activities in Turkmenistan. His
ASHGABAT 00000055 002 OF 002
experience is yet another reminder of the value for diplomats
of speaking a foreign language well. END COMMENT.
MILES