Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT556
2009-05-01 12:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: MFA NOT ABLE TO MAKE OVERFLIGHT
how-toVZCZCXRO6958 OO RUEHNEH DE RUEHAH #0556 1211248 ZNY CCCCC ZZHZDF O 011248Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2749 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 5144 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2888 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2753 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 3388 RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RHMFISS/CDR USTRANSCOM SCOTT AFB IL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3513
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000556
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2019
TAGS: PREL MARR TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: MFA NOT ABLE TO MAKE OVERFLIGHT
BILL DISAPPEAR
REF: ASHGABAT 550
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000556
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2019
TAGS: PREL MARR TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: MFA NOT ABLE TO MAKE OVERFLIGHT
BILL DISAPPEAR
REF: ASHGABAT 550
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) During a meeting with Charge on April 29 regarding
recent denial of overflight to U.S. VIP planes, Deputy
Foreign Minister Wepa Hajiyev encouraged the Embassy to
follow up with MFA's America's Department following a meeting
between DATT and Turkmen State Civil Aviation (THY)
officials, scheduled for April 30 (reftel). This was wise
counsel. During the meeting with America's Department,
Department Head said that MFA cannot simply sign a note
stating that the United States does not owe the overflight
bill and dismiss the charges. He underscored that THY is
under a different Deputy Chairman, Nazarguly Shagulyev. As
influential as Deputy Chairman and Foreign Minister Rashid
Meredov may be, he cannot simply write a note that overrides
the other Deputy Chairman. Therefore, despite whatever
impression may have been left from the meeting with THY, the
overflight bill is not completely resolved.
2. (C) Bashimov said that he understood that the United
States cannot pay overflight fees. Nevertheless, he
encouraged us to be flexible and be prepared to discuss with
THY various options for "payment." This is the same advise
DFM Hajiyev gave prior to the meeting with THY.
3. (C) COMMENT: With THY looking to MFA to write off the
bill, and MFA looking for THY to receive some sort of other
&payment,8 it is difficult to know what should be offered
to whom to actually make the current bill, and threatened
bills for 2001-2006, and potential future bills go away.
Nevertheless, Bashimov (protect) has always been a good
interpreter of what goes on behind the curtain of Turkmen
bureaucracy. Plan A had been to discuss with THY a variety
of equipment and other items that could be "donated" in order
to deal with the overflight bill. It looks like perhaps we
should return to Plan A. END COMMENT.
MILES
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2019
TAGS: PREL MARR TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: MFA NOT ABLE TO MAKE OVERFLIGHT
BILL DISAPPEAR
REF: ASHGABAT 550
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) During a meeting with Charge on April 29 regarding
recent denial of overflight to U.S. VIP planes, Deputy
Foreign Minister Wepa Hajiyev encouraged the Embassy to
follow up with MFA's America's Department following a meeting
between DATT and Turkmen State Civil Aviation (THY)
officials, scheduled for April 30 (reftel). This was wise
counsel. During the meeting with America's Department,
Department Head said that MFA cannot simply sign a note
stating that the United States does not owe the overflight
bill and dismiss the charges. He underscored that THY is
under a different Deputy Chairman, Nazarguly Shagulyev. As
influential as Deputy Chairman and Foreign Minister Rashid
Meredov may be, he cannot simply write a note that overrides
the other Deputy Chairman. Therefore, despite whatever
impression may have been left from the meeting with THY, the
overflight bill is not completely resolved.
2. (C) Bashimov said that he understood that the United
States cannot pay overflight fees. Nevertheless, he
encouraged us to be flexible and be prepared to discuss with
THY various options for "payment." This is the same advise
DFM Hajiyev gave prior to the meeting with THY.
3. (C) COMMENT: With THY looking to MFA to write off the
bill, and MFA looking for THY to receive some sort of other
&payment,8 it is difficult to know what should be offered
to whom to actually make the current bill, and threatened
bills for 2001-2006, and potential future bills go away.
Nevertheless, Bashimov (protect) has always been a good
interpreter of what goes on behind the curtain of Turkmen
bureaucracy. Plan A had been to discuss with THY a variety
of equipment and other items that could be "donated" in order
to deal with the overflight bill. It looks like perhaps we
should return to Plan A. END COMMENT.
MILES