TURKMENISTAN: "NUMBER 1 IS HAPPY" ABOUT THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000773 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2019 TAGS: PGOV PINR ELTN ETRD TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: "NUMBER 1 IS HAPPY" ABOUT THE DELIVERY OF HIS NEW BENTLEY REF: ASHGABAT 673 Classified By: Charge Richard Miles, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: As reported reftel, the general manager of the official Mercedes-Benz dealership in Turkmenistan traveled to the United States under heavy pressure from the Presidential Apparat to take delivery of President Berdimuhamedov's new armored Bentley. Upon his return, the manager reported that "Number one is happy" and plans to order some 300 new E-class vehicles as an incentive to the heads of ministries and associations. This businessman represents the new generation of Turkmen entrepreneurs who blur the lines between government and private business here and see it as their patriotic duty to fulfill the whims of the government. END SUMMARY. PRESIDENT'S BENTLEY ARRIVES IN ASHGABAT ¶2. (C) The General Manager of Turkmenistan's Mercedes-Benz distributor "Turkmen Awto Merkezi," Shamamed Annayev (please protect),called Post on June 4 to request an expedited visa because Deputy Chairman for Trade and Textiles, Hojamuhammet Muhammedov, ordered him to go to the United States to monitor the completion of the President's new Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed (reftel). (NOTE: Muhammedov is also chief of the Presidential Apparat. END NOTE.) After a ten-day stay in the United States, Annayev called on June 18 to thank Post and the Turkmenistan Desk for the extra services provided during the visa application process and for liaising with Customs and the Bentley dealer, adding that "Number 1 is happy" -- referring to, of course, President Berdimuhamedov. IN SPITE OF THREATS, WILL STAY AT THE DEALERSHIP ¶3. (C) In a meeting on June 19, Annayev said that the car arrived in Ashgabat on June 13 via charter plane. The government would pay a $515,000 fee for the charter flight -- which would have been $360,000 if Annayev had sent the plane one day later. Annayev paid a $128,000 fee for canceling the first charter plane. Muhammedov and the President apparently forgot their many threats, which were so severe that Annayev had feared that he would soon suffer serious health problems such as heart damage. He said that he couldn't imagine what punishment might have awaited him if the car had arrived later than it did or if he couldn't get it at all. Annayev said that he had been ready to walk away from the dealership if necessary -- a serious proposition since he is also one of its co-owners. In cases like this, he said, it is better to "walk away from the stage" because it is so embarrassing to fail in front of everyone, but for now he is planning to stick it out. PRESIDENT'S OFFICE THOUGHT HE WAS LYING, BUT ARE NOW GRATEFUL ¶4. (C) Annayev said that he sent photos tracking the vehicle's progress every day to the Deputy Chairman to prove the car's existence, because "they thought that I was lying and the car didn't exist." Upon Annayev's return to Ashgabat, Muhammedov offered Annayev vacation time and offered to help Annayev with any problems. GOVERNMENT ORDERED 300 NEW MERCEDES E-CLASS VEHICLES FOR THIS YEAR ¶5. (C) Annayev said that the government ordered just under 300 new Mercedes-Benz E-class cars which will arrive in time for Independence Day celebrations in October to remind ministers, governors, heads of associations, editors of newspapers, and other leaders of government enterprises "to keep working hard." Annayev helped the government negotiate good prices on a direct contract with Daimler, which came to about 6-7 million euros ($8.3-9.7 million). Usually the government orders about 200 cars every two years to refresh ASHGABAT 00000773 002 OF 002 the fleet, and this year's order -- the first under President Berdimuhamedov who has been in office for two years and four months -- is larger than orders placed under the late President Niyazov because Berdimuhamedov wants all heads of official associations across the country to receive a vehicle. ATTITUDES OF A YOUNG, EDUCATED BUSINESS OWNER ABOUT THE PRESIDENT ¶6. (C) According to Annayev -- who is 34 years old, attended university in Germany and speaks fluent English and German -- President Berdimuhamedov is looking for young, European-educated men to fill the ranks of government positions. Despite the threats he received from the Presidential Apparat, Annayev said that he likes the "reformative" President's policies very much. Annayev said that Turkmenistan's top issues are managing the relationship with its neighbors -- Iran and Afghanistan -- and improving education. He sees the decree allowing the opening of private schools as an important sign that the President is serious about educational reform. He said that "Turkmen need more education and they don't understand democracy," which will take 30 years or more because it will take time to raise capacity levels. Annayev underscored this by noting that while in the U.S., he was amazed to see protests take place in front of the White House, noting that this would never happen in Turkmenistan because it would quickly get out of hand and turn violent. ¶7. (C) COMMENT: Annayev illustrates the kind of Turkmen entrepreneur who sees his job very differently than Western entrepreneurs do. Several times he said that he was "a patriotic guy" and that he would do anything for his country, so much so that he was prepared to leave his private business because of the shame involved with failing in the eyes of Turkmenistan's top leadership. He will pay the cancellation fee for the first charter plane himself, because he is too embarrassed to admit a problem with the U.S. freight forwarding company. Entrepreneurs often fill a quasi-governmental role, especially when the state represents 90 percent of a company's business as in this dealership's case. The lines are also often blurred. Annayev arrived at the Embassy in a Mercedes bearing green plates, which designate the vehicle as a government-owned car. END COMMENT. MILES