Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT97
2009-01-21 12:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: THREE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS,
how-toVZCZCXRO1410 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBC RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDE RUEHDF RUEHDIR RUEHIK RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #0097 0211252 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 211252Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2175 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4721 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 2969 RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000097
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN AND INR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SNAR TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: THREE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS,
FOUR DAYS IN LONDON
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000097
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN AND INR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SNAR TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: THREE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS,
FOUR DAYS IN LONDON
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Three mid-ranking Turkmen law
enforcement officials took part in a four-day study tour in
London, the culmination of a year-long English language
course funded by INL. The trip gave them an opportunity to
practice their language skills with UK law enforcement
professionals, observe landing and entry procedures at
Heathrow Airport, and, not least of all, experience a
different culture. END SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) Three Turkmen law enforcement officials, selected
for their outstanding performance in an INL-funded English
language course, participated in a study tour in London
January 13-17, 2009. The group, escorted by Post's INL
Assistant, met with various British government and
non-government agencies focused on counter-narcotics work.
4. (SBU) The three participants included State Migration
Service inspectors, as well as a Senior Customs inspector.
The trip was funded by INL program funds and arranged by the
British East West Center, a London-based NGO that frequently
arranges exchange programs for CIS country delegations. The
group met first with the NGO Drugscope, a drug information
and education center, where they were briefed on drug
policies and issues in the UK, including the UK's drug
classification system, the role of voluntary organizations in
drug demand reduction programs, government policy on drug
abuse, and cooperation between government/NGO anti-drug
efforts.
5. (SBU) Clearly one of the most notable experiences for
the delegation was their visit to the Parliament. In a
debriefing session with INL Officer following the tour, all
three participants remarked on the personal impact of
observing the impassioned debate among MPs on the conflict in
Gaza. They also met with a representative of an "All Party
Parliamentary Group" (similar to a congressional committee)
on drug abuse. The Drugs Director of the London Metropolitan
police briefed them on the agency's three-year anti-drug
strategy and on drug investigation procedures. A
representative of the UK's Home Office also briefed them on
government strategies for reducing the drug flow.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: The three participants, none of whom had
ever traveled outside the former USSR (two had never been
outside Turkmenistan) were effusive in their enthusiasm about
the experience. One commented on how friendly, polite and
"smiling" they found Londoners to be. The study tour program
was not only an incentive for the language students to work
hard in their courses, but offered invaluable exposure to
another culture for young officials from a society that has
been closed to the outside world for so long and in so many
ways. END COMMENT.
MILES
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN AND INR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SNAR TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: THREE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS,
FOUR DAYS IN LONDON
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Three mid-ranking Turkmen law
enforcement officials took part in a four-day study tour in
London, the culmination of a year-long English language
course funded by INL. The trip gave them an opportunity to
practice their language skills with UK law enforcement
professionals, observe landing and entry procedures at
Heathrow Airport, and, not least of all, experience a
different culture. END SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) Three Turkmen law enforcement officials, selected
for their outstanding performance in an INL-funded English
language course, participated in a study tour in London
January 13-17, 2009. The group, escorted by Post's INL
Assistant, met with various British government and
non-government agencies focused on counter-narcotics work.
4. (SBU) The three participants included State Migration
Service inspectors, as well as a Senior Customs inspector.
The trip was funded by INL program funds and arranged by the
British East West Center, a London-based NGO that frequently
arranges exchange programs for CIS country delegations. The
group met first with the NGO Drugscope, a drug information
and education center, where they were briefed on drug
policies and issues in the UK, including the UK's drug
classification system, the role of voluntary organizations in
drug demand reduction programs, government policy on drug
abuse, and cooperation between government/NGO anti-drug
efforts.
5. (SBU) Clearly one of the most notable experiences for
the delegation was their visit to the Parliament. In a
debriefing session with INL Officer following the tour, all
three participants remarked on the personal impact of
observing the impassioned debate among MPs on the conflict in
Gaza. They also met with a representative of an "All Party
Parliamentary Group" (similar to a congressional committee)
on drug abuse. The Drugs Director of the London Metropolitan
police briefed them on the agency's three-year anti-drug
strategy and on drug investigation procedures. A
representative of the UK's Home Office also briefed them on
government strategies for reducing the drug flow.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: The three participants, none of whom had
ever traveled outside the former USSR (two had never been
outside Turkmenistan) were effusive in their enthusiasm about
the experience. One commented on how friendly, polite and
"smiling" they found Londoners to be. The study tour program
was not only an incentive for the language students to work
hard in their courses, but offered invaluable exposure to
another culture for young officials from a society that has
been closed to the outside world for so long and in so many
ways. END COMMENT.
MILES