Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT86
2009-01-20 13:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
BOUYGUES APPEARS TO HAVE A SHELF LIFE IN
how-toVZCZCXRO0678 PP RUEHAG RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHAH #0086 0201321 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 201321Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2168 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4714 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2515 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2380 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 2962 RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3256
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000086
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2019
TAGS: PGOV PINR EIND CIS FR TX
SUBJECT: BOUYGUES APPEARS TO HAVE A SHELF LIFE IN
TURKMENISTAN, BUT WORK CONTINUES
REF: 08 ASHGABAT 1487
Classified By: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000086
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2019
TAGS: PGOV PINR EIND CIS FR TX
SUBJECT: BOUYGUES APPEARS TO HAVE A SHELF LIFE IN
TURKMENISTAN, BUT WORK CONTINUES
REF: 08 ASHGABAT 1487
Classified By: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (C) During a January 18 conversation with XXXXXXXXXX,
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX shared the following comments about
Bouygues's relations with the Turkmen government and its
business prospects in the country:
-- It is well known in the company that Minister of
Construction, Shamuhammet Durdylyev, and former Minister of
Communications, Resulberdi Hojagurbanov, do not like
Bouygues. While Pupulin did not know why these officials,
particularly Durdylyev, dislike Bouygues, company employees
have the impression that there is a negative trend
developing. As more and more ministers develop an aversion
to the company, the company will eventually leave
Turkmenistan.
-- To illustrate the excessive scale of the buildings that
house Turkmen government ministries, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
explained that 170 employees will work in the new Ministry of Communications
building -- which contains 15,000 square meters of floor
space.
-- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX mentioned that Bouygues is currently constructing
a building for the "Protocol Department," adding that the
government might need this building for a meeting of the
Commonwealth of Independent States that will take place in
Ashgabat in early 2010. He added that this meeting might
also be the stimulus for the five-star hotel that Bouygues is
building, as well as the new Ministry of Foreign Affairs
building.
-- Payment delays can also hold up the commencement of new
projects and postpone continuation of work already in
progress (reftel). Problems locating cement domestically --
which, while cheaper, is not the best quality -- also
negatively impact the project cycle.
2. (U) Bouygues Regional Director Charles Santer and
Commercial Director for Central Asia Aleksy Reshov met with
President Berdimuhamedov on January 16. Reshov updated
Berdimuhamedov on current projects in a meeting on January
16, especially interior design of the five-star hotel under
construction. They also discussed future cooperation.
3. (C) COMMENT: Notoriously secretive and insular due to
fears of commercial espionage, information about Bouygues'
activities has been one of the toughest nuts to crack in
Turkmenistan. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 's comments appear to be further
confirmation of Bouygues's troubles in Turkmenistan. END
COMMENT.
MILES
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2019
TAGS: PGOV PINR EIND CIS FR TX
SUBJECT: BOUYGUES APPEARS TO HAVE A SHELF LIFE IN
TURKMENISTAN, BUT WORK CONTINUES
REF: 08 ASHGABAT 1487
Classified By: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (C) During a January 18 conversation with XXXXXXXXXX,
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX shared the following comments about
Bouygues's relations with the Turkmen government and its
business prospects in the country:
-- It is well known in the company that Minister of
Construction, Shamuhammet Durdylyev, and former Minister of
Communications, Resulberdi Hojagurbanov, do not like
Bouygues. While Pupulin did not know why these officials,
particularly Durdylyev, dislike Bouygues, company employees
have the impression that there is a negative trend
developing. As more and more ministers develop an aversion
to the company, the company will eventually leave
Turkmenistan.
-- To illustrate the excessive scale of the buildings that
house Turkmen government ministries, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
explained that 170 employees will work in the new Ministry of Communications
building -- which contains 15,000 square meters of floor
space.
-- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX mentioned that Bouygues is currently constructing
a building for the "Protocol Department," adding that the
government might need this building for a meeting of the
Commonwealth of Independent States that will take place in
Ashgabat in early 2010. He added that this meeting might
also be the stimulus for the five-star hotel that Bouygues is
building, as well as the new Ministry of Foreign Affairs
building.
-- Payment delays can also hold up the commencement of new
projects and postpone continuation of work already in
progress (reftel). Problems locating cement domestically --
which, while cheaper, is not the best quality -- also
negatively impact the project cycle.
2. (U) Bouygues Regional Director Charles Santer and
Commercial Director for Central Asia Aleksy Reshov met with
President Berdimuhamedov on January 16. Reshov updated
Berdimuhamedov on current projects in a meeting on January
16, especially interior design of the five-star hotel under
construction. They also discussed future cooperation.
3. (C) COMMENT: Notoriously secretive and insular due to
fears of commercial espionage, information about Bouygues'
activities has been one of the toughest nuts to crack in
Turkmenistan. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 's comments appear to be further
confirmation of Bouygues's troubles in Turkmenistan. END
COMMENT.
MILES