Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT974
2009-07-31 12:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: NEW COUNTER NARCOTICS CHIEF BROUGHT FROM
how-toVZCZCXRO1200 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBC RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHDF RUEHDIR RUEHIK RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHTRO RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #0974 2121234 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 311234Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3235 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 5496 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 3219 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 3084 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RHMCSUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 3739 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000974
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, INL/AAE BUHLER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR PGOV KCRM SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: NEW COUNTER NARCOTICS CHIEF BROUGHT FROM
MINISTRY OF NATIONAL SECURITY
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000974
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, INL/AAE BUHLER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR PGOV KCRM SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: NEW COUNTER NARCOTICS CHIEF BROUGHT FROM
MINISTRY OF NATIONAL SECURITY
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: On July 29th, President Berdimuhamedov replaced
the Acting Chief of the State Counter-Narcotics Service (SCNS) of
Turkmenistan with the Deputy Minister of NATIONAL Security. No
background information is yet available about the new appointee.
USG program implementers are waiting to see whether the current
smooth working relationship with the SCNS will continue under its
new leadership. END SUMMARY.
3. (U) President Berdimuhamedov convened a session of the State
Security COUNCIL (SSC) on July 29th to assess the work of
Turkmenistan's law-enforcement and military organs during the last
seven months. Following the session, the President signed decree
appointing Aman Allanurovich Garayev as the new Chief of the State
Counter-Narcotics Service, transfering him from the position of
Deputy Minister of NATIONAL Security. Garayev holds the rank of
Lieutenant Colonel. No background information is yet available on
him, and he has not had prior contact with the Embassy. Garayev's
appointment received minimal media coverage. No biographic
information about him was published in the press, nor was his
swearing-in ceremony broadcast on the nightly WATAN news. It is
also unclear how long Garayev had been Deputy Minister at the
Ministry of NATIONAL SECURITY (MNB),as that appointment was also
not publicized. There is no record of Garayev's having participated
in a USG exchange program, although he reportedly has traveled to
Afghanistan on a UNODC-funded visit.
4. (SBU) The visiting European Union Troika delegation met with
Garayev on July 30. According to delegation members, Garayev read
from a prepared text and was unable to answer any of their
questions. All questions were referred to an SCNS official who was
also present. Troika delegation members described Garayev in the
meeting as being akin to a deer in the headlights.
5. (U) Since January 2009, the SCNS had been operating under the
leadership of Major Serdar Batyrov, who was appointed as the Acting
Chief after Colonel Myrat Yslamov was appointed head of the State
Border Service. Batyrov, who is 32 years old, had spent over eight
years in different positions at the Ministry of NATIONAL SECURITY
before becoming the First Deputy Chief of the SCNS in 2008. During
his time at the SCNS, Batyrov twice participated in USG-funded study
tours on counter-narcotics, and had developed favorable working
relationships with Embassy personnel. The decree announcing
Batyrov's dismissal cited his "transfer to another assignment."
According to a contact at the SCNS, he was transferred back to the
Ministry of NATIONAL Security.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: As one UNODC STAFF member noted today, Batyrov's
transfer had been anticipated for some time. His communication and
leaderships skills were considered insufficient to lead the SCNS.
Meanwhile, the appointment of an MNB officer to the leadership of
the SCNS is consistent with prior appointments. All mid- to
top-level executive positions within the agency are currently
occupied by MNB officers on detail to the SCNS. The new appointment
may complicate bilateral cooperation in counternarcotics projects.
It remains to be seen whether Garayev's MNB background and lack of
experience with assistance programs will make him cautious about
bilateral cooperation. END COMMENT.
MILES
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, INL/AAE BUHLER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR PGOV KCRM SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: NEW COUNTER NARCOTICS CHIEF BROUGHT FROM
MINISTRY OF NATIONAL SECURITY
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: On July 29th, President Berdimuhamedov replaced
the Acting Chief of the State Counter-Narcotics Service (SCNS) of
Turkmenistan with the Deputy Minister of NATIONAL Security. No
background information is yet available about the new appointee.
USG program implementers are waiting to see whether the current
smooth working relationship with the SCNS will continue under its
new leadership. END SUMMARY.
3. (U) President Berdimuhamedov convened a session of the State
Security COUNCIL (SSC) on July 29th to assess the work of
Turkmenistan's law-enforcement and military organs during the last
seven months. Following the session, the President signed decree
appointing Aman Allanurovich Garayev as the new Chief of the State
Counter-Narcotics Service, transfering him from the position of
Deputy Minister of NATIONAL Security. Garayev holds the rank of
Lieutenant Colonel. No background information is yet available on
him, and he has not had prior contact with the Embassy. Garayev's
appointment received minimal media coverage. No biographic
information about him was published in the press, nor was his
swearing-in ceremony broadcast on the nightly WATAN news. It is
also unclear how long Garayev had been Deputy Minister at the
Ministry of NATIONAL SECURITY (MNB),as that appointment was also
not publicized. There is no record of Garayev's having participated
in a USG exchange program, although he reportedly has traveled to
Afghanistan on a UNODC-funded visit.
4. (SBU) The visiting European Union Troika delegation met with
Garayev on July 30. According to delegation members, Garayev read
from a prepared text and was unable to answer any of their
questions. All questions were referred to an SCNS official who was
also present. Troika delegation members described Garayev in the
meeting as being akin to a deer in the headlights.
5. (U) Since January 2009, the SCNS had been operating under the
leadership of Major Serdar Batyrov, who was appointed as the Acting
Chief after Colonel Myrat Yslamov was appointed head of the State
Border Service. Batyrov, who is 32 years old, had spent over eight
years in different positions at the Ministry of NATIONAL SECURITY
before becoming the First Deputy Chief of the SCNS in 2008. During
his time at the SCNS, Batyrov twice participated in USG-funded study
tours on counter-narcotics, and had developed favorable working
relationships with Embassy personnel. The decree announcing
Batyrov's dismissal cited his "transfer to another assignment."
According to a contact at the SCNS, he was transferred back to the
Ministry of NATIONAL Security.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: As one UNODC STAFF member noted today, Batyrov's
transfer had been anticipated for some time. His communication and
leaderships skills were considered insufficient to lead the SCNS.
Meanwhile, the appointment of an MNB officer to the leadership of
the SCNS is consistent with prior appointments. All mid- to
top-level executive positions within the agency are currently
occupied by MNB officers on detail to the SCNS. The new appointment
may complicate bilateral cooperation in counternarcotics projects.
It remains to be seen whether Garayev's MNB background and lack of
experience with assistance programs will make him cautious about
bilateral cooperation. END COMMENT.
MILES