Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10ASHGABAT79
2010-01-20 11:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMEN OIL AND GAS MINISTER FIRED AFTER THREE MONTHS
how-toVZCZCXRO2826 PP RUEHIK DE RUEHAH #0079 0201144 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 201144Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4096 INFO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 6142 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3831 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3690 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 4384 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1425 RHMCSUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 4315 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000079
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN; EEB
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/BURPOE/COHEN
COMMERCE FOR DSTARKS/EHOUSE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EPET PGOV EINV TX
SUBJECT: TURKMEN OIL AND GAS MINISTER FIRED AFTER THREE MONTHS
REF: 09 ASHGABAT 1295
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000079
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN; EEB
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/BURPOE/COHEN
COMMERCE FOR DSTARKS/EHOUSE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EPET PGOV EINV TX
SUBJECT: TURKMEN OIL AND GAS MINISTER FIRED AFTER THREE MONTHS
REF: 09 ASHGABAT 1295
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) On January 15, Turkmen President Berdimuhamedov signed a
decree relieving Minister of Oil and Gas Industry and Mineral
Resources Oraznur Nurmyradov from his position. The dismissal
occurred during an expanded Cabinet meeting that reviewed government
performance for 2009. According to local media, the presidential
decree stated that Nurmyradov was fired for "serious shortcomings"
in his work.
3. (SBU) Nurmyradov was appointed Minister of Oil and Gas Industry
and Mineral Resources on October 12, 2009, in an astonishing rise
from a section head at the Institute of Oil and Gas to a ministerial
level position. Throughout his 28-year career in the oil and gas
sector, Nurmyradov worked in various scientific and research
institutions, but never worked in the area of hydrocarbon production
and never held a managerial position, except for the three months he
served as Minister of Oil and Gas. As a result, his appointment in
October was a surprise for many energy officials in the country
(reftel).
4. (SBU) According to Ministry of Oil and Gas officials we spoke
with, Nurmyradov's poor performance in his ministerial capacity and
incompetence triggered his dismissal, stressing that Nurmyradov's
dismissal was not related to corruption or any other illegal
activities. Some Ministry officials opined there is a rumor within
Ministry walls that Deputy Chairman for Oil and Gas Baymyrat
Hojamuhammedov was displeased with Nurmyradov's professional skills.
They could not elaborate further, however.
5. (SBU) Bayramgeldi Nedirov, Deputy Minister of Oil and Gas
Industry and Mineral Resources, was appointed Acting Minister for
the second time in his career. He will serve in that capacity until
a new minister is appointed, which can take up to several months.
Previously, Nedirov served as Acting Minister from September to
October 2008.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: The position of Minister of Oil and Gas Industry
and Mineral Resources is clearly subordinate to Deputy Chairman for
Oil and Gas Hojamuhammedov. Nurmyradov reportedly vaulted to
Minister from obscurity at the request of Hojamuhammedov, and was
dismissed three months later, reportedly when the Deputy Chairman
became displeased with him. It is worth noting that Hojamuhammedov
was not reprimanded by Berdimuhamedov at the cabinet meeting, as
were four other Deputy Chairmen. Hojamuhammedov avoided criticism
despite the fact that oil and gas production are below planned
levels. This suggests that, for whatever reason, the Turkmen
president continues to favor Hojamuhammedov, giving him influence on
oil and gas sector decisions, at least for now. END COMMENT.
CURRAN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN; EEB
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/BURPOE/COHEN
COMMERCE FOR DSTARKS/EHOUSE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EPET PGOV EINV TX
SUBJECT: TURKMEN OIL AND GAS MINISTER FIRED AFTER THREE MONTHS
REF: 09 ASHGABAT 1295
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) On January 15, Turkmen President Berdimuhamedov signed a
decree relieving Minister of Oil and Gas Industry and Mineral
Resources Oraznur Nurmyradov from his position. The dismissal
occurred during an expanded Cabinet meeting that reviewed government
performance for 2009. According to local media, the presidential
decree stated that Nurmyradov was fired for "serious shortcomings"
in his work.
3. (SBU) Nurmyradov was appointed Minister of Oil and Gas Industry
and Mineral Resources on October 12, 2009, in an astonishing rise
from a section head at the Institute of Oil and Gas to a ministerial
level position. Throughout his 28-year career in the oil and gas
sector, Nurmyradov worked in various scientific and research
institutions, but never worked in the area of hydrocarbon production
and never held a managerial position, except for the three months he
served as Minister of Oil and Gas. As a result, his appointment in
October was a surprise for many energy officials in the country
(reftel).
4. (SBU) According to Ministry of Oil and Gas officials we spoke
with, Nurmyradov's poor performance in his ministerial capacity and
incompetence triggered his dismissal, stressing that Nurmyradov's
dismissal was not related to corruption or any other illegal
activities. Some Ministry officials opined there is a rumor within
Ministry walls that Deputy Chairman for Oil and Gas Baymyrat
Hojamuhammedov was displeased with Nurmyradov's professional skills.
They could not elaborate further, however.
5. (SBU) Bayramgeldi Nedirov, Deputy Minister of Oil and Gas
Industry and Mineral Resources, was appointed Acting Minister for
the second time in his career. He will serve in that capacity until
a new minister is appointed, which can take up to several months.
Previously, Nedirov served as Acting Minister from September to
October 2008.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: The position of Minister of Oil and Gas Industry
and Mineral Resources is clearly subordinate to Deputy Chairman for
Oil and Gas Hojamuhammedov. Nurmyradov reportedly vaulted to
Minister from obscurity at the request of Hojamuhammedov, and was
dismissed three months later, reportedly when the Deputy Chairman
became displeased with him. It is worth noting that Hojamuhammedov
was not reprimanded by Berdimuhamedov at the cabinet meeting, as
were four other Deputy Chairmen. Hojamuhammedov avoided criticism
despite the fact that oil and gas production are below planned
levels. This suggests that, for whatever reason, the Turkmen
president continues to favor Hojamuhammedov, giving him influence on
oil and gas sector decisions, at least for now. END COMMENT.
CURRAN