Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT914
2009-07-21 12:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: STILL NO PRISON ACCESS FOR ICRC
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000914
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN; DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/21/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: STILL NO PRISON ACCESS FOR ICRC
Classified By: Charge Richard Miles. Reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000914
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN; DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/21/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: STILL NO PRISON ACCESS FOR ICRC
Classified By: Charge Richard Miles. Reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (C) ICRC's Deputy Head of Delegation for Central Asia,
Raffaello Muller paid a courtesy call on the Charge on July
16 and said that although his organization still has no
access to prisons in Turkmenistan, they are encouraged by the
fact that the Turkmen government has not definitively
rejected the possibility. Tashkent-based Muller (ICRC has no
regular presence in Turkmenistan) was in Ashgabat for an ICRC
training seminar on prisoners' rights and prison conditions
under international humanitarian law. ICRC continues to
negotiate with the authorities for access to prisoners in
Turkmenistan. He noted that the Turkmen frequently send
participants who are not "of the appropriate" level to ICRC's
events.
2. (C) Referring to his recent discussions on the subject of
prisoner access with Turkmenistan's Institute for Democracy
and Human Rights, Muller noted (with obvious frustration)
that "continuing to negotiate just for the sake of
negotiating does not make sense." He said that the
Institute's director, Shirin Ahmedova, has told him, "We are
not against your monitoring prisons, but you have to
understand us."
SUPPORT FOR LEGAL REFORMS
3. (C) Muller said that in all of his discussions with the
Turkmen on the issue of prison access, he emphasizes that
opening up the prisons to ICRC will help them improve the
penitentiary system as a whole. ICRC appreciates U.S.
political support and sees such support as crucial. He noted
that although ICRC is a non-political, humanitarian
organization, the issue of prison access is automatically a
political one, and reiterated that such support is vital for
them. Kyrgyzstan is still the only Central Asian country
that allows ICRC to visit detainees, he said. The NGO
Medecins San Frontieres, the only international NGO operating
in Turkmenistan, has proposed a project to the authorities
under which it would provide health care to prisoners.
Muller called the health situation in Turkmenistan's prisons
"catastrophic."
4. (C) COMMENT: Although clearly frustrated, after four years
of effort, at the Turkmen government's intransigence on the
issue of prisoner access, Muller has not given up hope. He
continues to be encouraged simply by the fact that the
Turkmen have not said "no" altogether. END COMMENT.
MILES
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN; DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/21/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: STILL NO PRISON ACCESS FOR ICRC
Classified By: Charge Richard Miles. Reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (C) ICRC's Deputy Head of Delegation for Central Asia,
Raffaello Muller paid a courtesy call on the Charge on July
16 and said that although his organization still has no
access to prisons in Turkmenistan, they are encouraged by the
fact that the Turkmen government has not definitively
rejected the possibility. Tashkent-based Muller (ICRC has no
regular presence in Turkmenistan) was in Ashgabat for an ICRC
training seminar on prisoners' rights and prison conditions
under international humanitarian law. ICRC continues to
negotiate with the authorities for access to prisoners in
Turkmenistan. He noted that the Turkmen frequently send
participants who are not "of the appropriate" level to ICRC's
events.
2. (C) Referring to his recent discussions on the subject of
prisoner access with Turkmenistan's Institute for Democracy
and Human Rights, Muller noted (with obvious frustration)
that "continuing to negotiate just for the sake of
negotiating does not make sense." He said that the
Institute's director, Shirin Ahmedova, has told him, "We are
not against your monitoring prisons, but you have to
understand us."
SUPPORT FOR LEGAL REFORMS
3. (C) Muller said that in all of his discussions with the
Turkmen on the issue of prison access, he emphasizes that
opening up the prisons to ICRC will help them improve the
penitentiary system as a whole. ICRC appreciates U.S.
political support and sees such support as crucial. He noted
that although ICRC is a non-political, humanitarian
organization, the issue of prison access is automatically a
political one, and reiterated that such support is vital for
them. Kyrgyzstan is still the only Central Asian country
that allows ICRC to visit detainees, he said. The NGO
Medecins San Frontieres, the only international NGO operating
in Turkmenistan, has proposed a project to the authorities
under which it would provide health care to prisoners.
Muller called the health situation in Turkmenistan's prisons
"catastrophic."
4. (C) COMMENT: Although clearly frustrated, after four years
of effort, at the Turkmen government's intransigence on the
issue of prisoner access, Muller has not given up hope. He
continues to be encouraged simply by the fact that the
Turkmen have not said "no" altogether. END COMMENT.
MILES