Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10ASHGABAT241
2010-02-25 09:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
DISAGREEMENT AMONG EU EMBASSIES REGARDING HUMAN
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000241
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2020
TAGS: PHUM PREL EUN TX
SUBJECT: DISAGREEMENT AMONG EU EMBASSIES REGARDING HUMAN
RIGHTS APPROACH TO TURKMENISTAN
Classified By: Charge Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000241
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2020
TAGS: PHUM PREL EUN TX
SUBJECT: DISAGREEMENT AMONG EU EMBASSIES REGARDING HUMAN
RIGHTS APPROACH TO TURKMENISTAN
Classified By: Charge Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Romanian Ambassador Radu Horumba (protect) met with
Charge February 24 to share his concern about the EU human
rights approach in Turkmenistan. Romania is representing the
Spanish presidency, since there is no Spanish embassy in
Ashgabat. Madrid has asked that there be a push to open a
Human Rights Watch office in Turkmenistan and would like EU
Special Representative for Central Asia Ambassador Pierre
Morel to raise it during his visit to Ashgabat in early
March.
2. (C) Horumba is convinced that a better tack would be to
praise President Berdimuhamedov for his recent statement
declaring there should be more than one political party, as
is already permitted by Turkmenistan's constitution, and
offer EU assistance in pursuing that goal. Horumba does not
hold out hope that he will be able to get Madrid to agree,
but thinks he can convince Morel. In his view, EU
presidencies without embassies in country tend to care more
about appeasing NGOs than actually trying to make a
difference in Turkmenistan. Horumba says that new French
Ambassador Pierre Lebovich agrees with the practical
approach, but admits he would not be able to get Paris to
listen to his point of view on the matter. (COMMENT: Charge
met earlier in the day with Lebovich, who indeed did indicate
that he wanted to take a "practical approach" on human
rights. END COMMENT.)
3. (C) COMMENT: This is the not the first time EU embassies
here have balked at following instructions from the
presidency on human rights. During the recent Swedish
presidency, Sweden, encouraged by Bulgaria, had wanted EU
embassies here to get engaged on the issue of the former AUCA
students who were on the travel blacklist. The UK Embassy,
which represented the presidency for Sweden, and the German
Embassy both refused to get in involved.
4. (C) COMMENT CONTINUED: To our knowledge, Human Rights
Watch has never had an office in Turkmenistan. The chance of
the Turkmenistan government, which loathes criticism,
allowing HRW to function in Turkmenistan is about zero.
Nevertheless, Horumba is probably motivated as much by the
fact that the Turkmen will not be able to distinguish between
him wearing an EU hat and being the representative of
Bucharest as by practicality. END COMMENT.
CURRAN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2020
TAGS: PHUM PREL EUN TX
SUBJECT: DISAGREEMENT AMONG EU EMBASSIES REGARDING HUMAN
RIGHTS APPROACH TO TURKMENISTAN
Classified By: Charge Sylvia Reed Curran for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Romanian Ambassador Radu Horumba (protect) met with
Charge February 24 to share his concern about the EU human
rights approach in Turkmenistan. Romania is representing the
Spanish presidency, since there is no Spanish embassy in
Ashgabat. Madrid has asked that there be a push to open a
Human Rights Watch office in Turkmenistan and would like EU
Special Representative for Central Asia Ambassador Pierre
Morel to raise it during his visit to Ashgabat in early
March.
2. (C) Horumba is convinced that a better tack would be to
praise President Berdimuhamedov for his recent statement
declaring there should be more than one political party, as
is already permitted by Turkmenistan's constitution, and
offer EU assistance in pursuing that goal. Horumba does not
hold out hope that he will be able to get Madrid to agree,
but thinks he can convince Morel. In his view, EU
presidencies without embassies in country tend to care more
about appeasing NGOs than actually trying to make a
difference in Turkmenistan. Horumba says that new French
Ambassador Pierre Lebovich agrees with the practical
approach, but admits he would not be able to get Paris to
listen to his point of view on the matter. (COMMENT: Charge
met earlier in the day with Lebovich, who indeed did indicate
that he wanted to take a "practical approach" on human
rights. END COMMENT.)
3. (C) COMMENT: This is the not the first time EU embassies
here have balked at following instructions from the
presidency on human rights. During the recent Swedish
presidency, Sweden, encouraged by Bulgaria, had wanted EU
embassies here to get engaged on the issue of the former AUCA
students who were on the travel blacklist. The UK Embassy,
which represented the presidency for Sweden, and the German
Embassy both refused to get in involved.
4. (C) COMMENT CONTINUED: To our knowledge, Human Rights
Watch has never had an office in Turkmenistan. The chance of
the Turkmenistan government, which loathes criticism,
allowing HRW to function in Turkmenistan is about zero.
Nevertheless, Horumba is probably motivated as much by the
fact that the Turkmen will not be able to distinguish between
him wearing an EU hat and being the representative of
Bucharest as by practicality. END COMMENT.
CURRAN