ENERGY AND TRADE MAIN TOPICS FURING VISIT OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000948 SIPDIS SCA/CEN; EEB ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON COMMERCE FOR HUEPER PLEASE PASS USTDA DAN STEIN E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2019 TAGS: PREL PHUM ECON ENRG RO TX SUBJECT: ENERGY AND TRADE MAIN TOPICS FURING VISIT OF ROMANIAN PRESIDENT BASESCU TO TURKMENISTAN Classified By: Charge Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Romanian President Trajan Basescu visited Turkmenistan July 21-22. The Romanians consider the visit successful and believe that it has put bilateral relations on a higher plane. The main emphasis was on trade and energy. Although the Romanians state that Berdimuhamedov expressed support for Nabucco in his meeting with Basescu, the Turkmen were reluctant to say anything about Nabucco publicly. Human rights was not a topic during the visit, but the Romanians believe it is important to keep the Turkmen engaged, in order to work wih them along the long road to reach Western standards in this area. END SUMMARY. EMPHASIS ON ENERGY AND TRADE ¶2. (C) On July 28, Romanian Ambassador Radu Liviu Horumba briefed Charge on the July 21-22 visit of Romanian President Trajan Basescu to Turkmenistan. The visit was timed to mark the 17th anniversary of bilateral relations between the two countries and was also a year after Berdimuhamedov's official visit to Bucharest. Horumba said Basescu and Berdimuhamedov had a 50-minute one-on-one (plus interpreter) meeting. The meeting had originally been scheduled to last only 20 minutes. The two men discussed bilateral relations and trade development, especially in the areas of transportation, communications, construction, and oil and gas. Horumba said Berdimuhamedov expressed Turkmenistan's support for Nabucco. They discussed increasing the number of scholarships for Turkmen students to study in Romania. They also discussed setting up links between Avaza and a mountain resort town that Berdimuhamedov visited in 2008. (The first step will be exchange visits between local officials from each area.) Berdimuhamedov suggested that the Romanians invest in the Avaza National Tourist Zone. The two sides also discussed a transport corridor from Turkmenbashy through the southern Caucasus to the port city of Constanta in Romania. The only other substantive meeting was with Mejlis (parliament) Speaker Akja Nurberdiyeva. Nurberdiyeva will visit Romania September 5. ¶3. (C) The leaders signed three bilateral documents: the Protocol of the First Session of the Turkmen-Romanian 
Intergovernmental Commission for Economic, Scientific, and Economic Cooperation, the Regulations of the Turkmen-Romanian Intergovernmental Commission for Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation, and the Protocol on the Exchange of Instruments of Ratification for the Convention between the Government of Turkmenistan and the government of Romania Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital, signed in Bucharest on July 16, 2008. ¶4. (C) In addition to the formal meetings, Basescu laid flowers at several monuments, including the Gypjak mosque and the Independence Monument. Basescu visited the National Cultural Center, Presidential Museum, and a horse farm. He presented Berdimuhamedov with a Romanian saddle. In turn, Basescu received a carpet from the Turkmen leader. TURKMEN-ROMANIAN INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION ¶5. (C) In conjunction with the visit, the Turkmen-Romanian Intergovernmental Commission held its first meeting. Foreign Minister Meredov and Romanian Foreign Minister Christian Diakomesko served as chairs. (NOTE: According to Horumba, although the Turkmen originally had been reluctant, the Romanians wanted Meredov to be chair, because he chairs the Turkmen-Russia Bilateral Commission. END NOTE.) The Romanian Deputy Foreign Minister, who handles energy issues, and a number of Romanian oil and gas businessmen also attended. ASHGABAT 00000948 002 OF 002 ¶6. (SBU) Horumba said that in 2008 bilateral trade amounted to $160 million (mostly refined oil products, such as lubricants). Romania also sells equipment and appliances made elsewhere in Europe to Turkmenistan. Romania would like to sell more furniture to the Turkmen. Horumba said that Romanian furniture was popular in Turkmenistan before the fall of the Soviet Union and is considered higher quality than Turkish furniture, but is cheaper than furniture from other parts of Europe. SOME FRUSTRATION ¶7. (C) While Horumba described the visit as successful and as one which put bilateral relations on a higher plane, he said it was not without frustration. He said it was difficult to work with the Turkmen on the planning, since they do not like to share information. In addition, the Turkmen were resistant to allowing security and communications personnel to visit venues. In fact, they did not get to see them until noon of the same day of Basescu's arrival. ¶8. (C) Horumba also said parts of the joint communique were puzzling or disappointing. The Turkmen did not want any mention of Nabucco in the communique. Nevertheless, the Romanians were pleased that the Turkmen did not object to Basescu mentioning Nabucco publicly. Furthermore, the statement that Romania would admit Turkmen students to study maritime law and naval cartography came from out of the blue and was never mentioned in the meetings. ¶9. (C) COMMENT: Human rights was not a topic during the visit, although the Horumba said the Romanian position was in line with EU and U.S. positions on the subject. His view is that it is important to keep the Turkmen engaged and realize that they have a long road ahead of them to reach Western standards. END COMMENT. CURRAN