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AA AADP AALC ABDALLAH FETHI ABDULHADI ABDULRAHMEN ABER ABLD ABLDG ABLG ABMC ABT ABUD AC ACABQ ACAO ACBAQ ACCELERATED ACCOUNT ACDA ACEC ACKM ACOA ACOTA ACS ACTION ADANA ADB ADCO ADCP ADEL ADEP ADIP ADM ADMIRAL ADPM ADRC AE AEC AECL AEGR AEIR AEM AEMED AEMR AER AESC AF AFAF AL HOURANI AFARI AFDB AFDIN AFFAIRS AFGHAN AFGHANISTAN AFIN AFL AFLU AFOR AFR AFSA AFSI AFSN AFU AFZAL AG AGAO AGENCIES AGENDA AGENGA AGIT AGMT AGOA AGR AGRI AGRIC AGRICULTURE AGS AGUILAR AGUIRRE AHMED AI AIAG AID AIDAC AIDS AIEA AIHRC AIN AINF AINFCY AINR AINT AISG AIT AJ AK AL ALAB ALAMI ALANAZI ALBE ALEXANDER ALI ALIREZA ALJAZEERA ALL ALNEA ALOUNI ALOW ALOWAR ALVAREZ AM AMAT AMB AMBASSADOR AMCHAM AMCHAMS AMCT AME AMED AMEDI AMEMR AMER AMERICAS AMEX AMG AMGE AMGMT AMGT AMIA AMLB AMPR AMT AMTC AMTG AN ANARCHISTS ANC AND ANDREW LEE WATKINS ANET ANTITERRORISM ANTOINE GHONDA ANTONIO ANTXON AO AOCR AODE AOIC AOMS AOPR AORC AORD AOREC AORG AORL AOWC AP APCS APDC APEC APECO APER APR APRC APRM AQ AR ARAB ARABBL ARABL ARABLEAGUE ARAS ARC ARCH ARENA AREP ARF ARG ARM ARMITAGE ARMS ARNOLD FREDERICK MORRIS AROC ARR ARRMZY ARSO AS ASA ASAC ASC ASCC ASCE ASCEC ASCH ASE ASEAN ASEC ASECARP ASECE ASECM ASECSI ASECVE ASED ASEDC ASEG ASEK ASES ASEX ASFC ASIC ASIG ASIR ASJA ASO ASOC ASPA ASR ASSEMBLY ASSK ASSSEMBLY ASUP AT ATFN ATPDEA ATRA ATRD ATRN AU AU-1 AUC AUNR AUSGR AUSTRALIAGROUP AV AVERY AVIAN AVIANFLU AVIATION AW AX AY AZ AZE B. BA BAGHDAD BAIO BAKOYANNIS BALKANS BAPOL BARACK BASHAR BATA BAYS BB BBG BBSR BC BCW BCXP BD BE BEAN BELLVIEW BEN BERARDUCCI BESP BEXB BEXP BEXPC BEXPPLM BEXT BF BFIF BFIN BFIO BG BGD BGMT BH BHUM BI BIC BIDOON BIH BILAT BIMSTEC BINR BIO BIOS BIOTECH BIOTECHNOLOGY BIT BITO BK BL BLR BLUE BLUNT BM BMENA BMGT BMOT BN BNUC BO BOIKO BOL BOND BOQ BORDER BOSNIA BOU BOUCHAIB KAKA BOUTERSE BP BPIS BPTS BR BRIAN BRITNEY BRITNY BRPA BRUSSELS BS BSSR BT BTA BTC BTIO BTIU BTRA BTT BU BUD BULGARIA BURMA BURNS BUSH BUY AMERICA BV BW BWC BX BXEP BY BZ CA CAC CACM CACS CAFTA CAIO CAJC CAMBODIA CAN CAPC CARC CARE CARIB CARICOM CARSON CAS CASA CASC CASCC CASCR CASE CASTILLO CAVO CB CBC CBD CBE CBG CBIS CBM CBSA CBTH CBW CCSR CCY CD CDB CDC CDCC CDCE CDG CDI CE CEA CEC CEDAW CEN CENSUS CENTCOM CENTRIC CEUDA CF CFE CFED CFG CFIS CFSP CG CGEN CGOPRC CH CHAD CHALLENGE CHAO CHAVEZ CHELIDZE CHENEY CHERTOFF CHG CHIEF CHN CHR CHR-1 CHRISTIAN CHRISTOF CHRISTOPHER CI CIA CIAT CIC CICTE CIDA CIO CIP CIS CITEL CITES CITIBANK CITT CIVAIR CIVS CJ CJAN CJUS CK CKGR CKOR CL CLEARANCE CLINTON CLMT CLO CLOK CM CMAE CMFT CMGT CMP CMT CN CNAR CNARC CNC CNO CO CODEL COE COL COLIN COLLECTIVE COLOMBO COM COMESA COMMERCE CON CONAWAY CONDOLEEZZA CONDOLEEZZA RICE CONEAZ CONG CONGO CONGRINT CONS CONSULAR CONTROL CONTROLS CORRUPTION COSI COUNTER COUNTER TERRORISM COUNTERTERRORISM COUNTRY COUNTRYCLEARANCE CP CPA CPAS CPC CPCTC CPPT CPUOS CQ CR CRIM CRIME CRIMES CRISTINA CRM CROATIA CROS CRS CRUZ CS CSCE CSEP CSIS CSW CT CTBT CTER CTERR CTM CTR CTRYCLR CU CUCO CUIS CUL CUSTODIO CV CVIA CVIC CVIS CVISU CVPR CVR CW CWC CWCM CWG CX CY CYNTHIA CYP CYPRUSARMS CZ DA DAC DAFR DAN DANFUNG DANIEL DAO DARFR DARFUR DAVID DAVID LEE HOWES DAVID WELCH DAVID WILLIAM RAY DB DC DCDG DCG DCHA DCI DCM DCOM DCRM DE DEA DEAX DEFENSE DEFENSEREFORM DELTAVIOLENCE DEM DEMARCHE DEMARCHES DEMETRIOS DEMOCRATIC DENNIS DEOC DEPORTATION DEPT DEPT FOR DS COMMAND CENTER DESI DHA DHLAKAMA DHLS DHRF DHS DHSX DIEZ DIPLOMACY DISENGAGEMENT DJ DK DKEM DMIN DMINE DO DOC DOD DOE DOJ DOMC DOMESTIC DOMESTICPOLITICS DONALD RUMSFELD DOT DPAO DPKO DPM DPOL DPRK DR DRC DRIP DRL DS DSR DSS DTFN DTRA DTRO DU DUNCAN CAMERON DVC DY EAC EAD EADI EADM EAG EAGER EAGR EAI EAIC EAID EAIDB EAIDCIN EAIDEGZ EAIDMG EAIDNI EAIF EAIG EAIO EAIR EAIS EAIT EAOD EAP EAPC EAR EARI EASS EATO EAUD EAVI EB EBEXP EBRD EBUD EC ECA ECCP ECCT ECE ECHEVARRIA ECIN ECIP ECLAC ECN ECOIN ECOM ECON ECONCS ECONEGE ECONOMIC ECONOMICS ECONOMY ECONOMY AND FINANCE ECOR ECOS ECOSOC ECOWAS ECPC ECPN ECPO ECPS ECPSN ECRM ECTRD ECUN ED EDA EDEV EDRC EDU EDUARDO EDUC EE EEB EEC EENG EENV EEOC EET EETC EFI EFIC EFIM EFIN EFIS EFLU EFN EFND EFNI EFQ EFTA EG EGAD EGAR EGEN EGHG EGOV EGOVSY EH EI EIAD EIAID EIAR EIB EICN EID EIDE EIDN EIFN EIN EIND EINDIR EINF EING EINN EINO EINR EINT EINV EINZ EIPR EIQ EISL EISNLN EITC EITI EIVN EK EL ELA ELAB ELAD ELAINE ELAM ELAN ELAP ELB ELBA ELBR ELEC ELECTIONS ELF ELIN ELN ELND ELNT ELTD ELTM ELTN ELTRN EMAIL EMED EMI EMIN EMN EMS EMW EN END ENDURING ENEG ENER ENERG ENERGY ENFR ENG ENGR ENGRD ENGRG ENGY ENIV ENLT ENNP ENR ENRC ENRG ENRL ENTG ENV ENVI ENVIRONMENT ENVR ENVT EON EOXC EP EPA EPAT EPCS EPE EPEC EPECO EPET EPIN EPIT EPPD EPRT EPSC EPTE EPTED EPWR EQ EQRD ER ERA ERD EREL ERGR ERICKSON ERIN ERTD ES ESA ESCAP ESCI ESDP ESENV ESF ESLCO ESOC ESOCI ESPS ESS ESSO ESTH ESTN ESTRADA ET ETA ETAD ETC ETCC ETD ETDR ETEL ETER ETEX ETFN ETIC ETIO ETLN ETMIN ETR ETRA ETRAD ETRB ETRC ETRD ETRDECD ETRG ETRK ETRN ETRO ETRP ETT ETTC ETTD ETTF ETTN ETTR ETTRD ETTW ETZ EU EUC EUCOM EUE EUEAID EUFOR EUM EUMEM EUN EUR EUREM EURM EURN EV EVENTS EVN EWRG EWT EWTR EWWT EX EXBS EXEC EXIM EXO EXPORT EXTERNAL EZ FA FAA FAC FAGR FAO FARC FARM FAS FATAH FBI FCC FCS FCSC FCSCEG FCUL FDA FDIC FEDULOV FEMA FERNANDO FGM FI FIGUEROA FIN FINANCE FINE FINR FINREF FINV FIR FISO FJ FK FKFLO FKLU FLU FM FMC FMGT FMLN FMS FO FOI FOOKS FOR FORCE FORCES FOREIGN FORWHA FP FPC FR FRA FRANCIS FRANCISCO RODENAS RUIZ FRANCISCO VILLA URBALEJO FRAZER FRB FREDOM FREEDOM FRELIMO FRIED FRN FRU FSC FSI FT FTA FTAA FWS GA GAERC GAMES GANGS GAO GARCIA GASPAR GATES GATT GAZA GAZPROM GB GBSLE GC GCC GCCC GE GEF GEORGE GERARD GESKE GF GG GH GI GIPNC GIWI GJ GKGIC GL GLOBAL GM GN GO GOG GOI GOMEZ GON GOVPOI GPGOV GPI GPOI GPOV GR GREGG RENE WALTER GRQ GS GT GTIP GTMO GTREFTEL GU GUAM GUANTANAMO GUIDANCE GUILLERMO GUTIERREZ GV GWI GY GZ GZIS HA HAMID KARZAI HARRIET HARRY HAWZ HCOPIL HDP HE HEAVEN HEBRON HECTOR HELGERSON HERCEGOVINA HG HHS HI HIGHLIGHTS HIJAZI HILARY HILLARY HILLEN HIPC HIV HIZ HK HKSX HL HLSX HN HNCHR HO HOA HOSTAGES HPKO HR HRC HRCS HRICTY HRIGHTS HRKSTC HSI HSTC HSWG HT HTCG HTSC HU HUD HUM HUMAN HUMANITARIAN HUMANR HUMANRIGHTS HUMOR HUMRIT HUNRC HURI HURRICANE HYDE HYLAND HYMPSK HZ IA IACHR IACI IACO IACW IADB IAEA IAES IAHRC IAIE IAII IASA IATTC IAZ IBB IBD IBET IBPCA IBRB IBRD IC ICAC ICAO ICC ICCAT ICCROM ICES ICJ ICRC ICRS ICSCA ICTR ICTY ID IDA IDB IDLI IDLO IDP IDR IE IEA IEAB IEF IF IFAD IFC IFIN IFM IFO IFR IFRC IG IGAD IGF IHO IICA IINS IIP IK IL ILAB ILC ILEA ILO IMC IMET IMF IMMIGRATION IMO IMSO IMTS IN INAUGURATION INCB IND INDO INF INFLUENZA INL INMARSAT INNP INPFC INR INRA INRB INRD INRO INRPAZ INS INSC INT INTEL INTELLECTUAL INTELSAT INTERNAL INTERPOL INV INVI IO IOC IOM IP IPET IPGRI IPK IPPC IPR IPROP IQ IQNV IR IRAN IRAQ IRAQI IRAQI FREEDOM IRC IRCE IRDB IRE IRL IRLE IRM IRMO IRNB IRPE IRQEGION IRS IS ISA ISAAC ISAF ISCA ISCON ISLAMISTS ISLE ISN ISNV ISO ISPA ISPL ISRAEL ISRAEL RELATIONS ISRAELI ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS ISSUES ISTC IT ITA ITALIAN ITALY ITECIP ITEIND ITELTN ITER ITF ITIA ITRA ITRD ITU IUCN IV IVIANNA IWC IWI IX IZ IZAORC JA JABER JAM JAMES JAPAN JAT JAWAD JCIC JE JEAN-PIERRE BEMBA JEFFERY JEFFREY JENDAYI JHR JI JIMENEZ JIMENEZ CHILDREN JK JKUS JM JN JO JOHANNS JOHN JOHN BOEHNER JOHNNIE JONATHAN CHAMAN JOSE ANGEL ALZUGUREN PERURENA JOSE NEY MILA ESPINOSA JOSE RAMOS HORTA JOSEPH BIDEN JP JS JSRP JUAN JULIAN RENE KIRCHOFF JUS JY KA KACP KACT KACW KADM KAID KALM KALR KANSOU KAPO KARIM WADE KATRINA KAUST KAWC KAWK KAWL KAWS KAWX KAYLA KBCT KBDS KBEM KBIO KBNC KBTC KBTR KBTS KBWG KCCP KCEM KCERS KCFC KCFE KCGC KCHG KCIP KCIS KCM KCMA KCMR KCOG KCOM KCOR KCPS KCRCM KCRI KCRIM KCRM KCRN KCRO KCROM KCROR KCRP KCRS KCRT KCSA KCSI KCSY KCUL KCUM KCVM KCWI KDCM KDDEM KDDG KDE KDEM KDEN KDET KDEV KDGOV KDGR KDHS KDM KDMR KDP KDRG KDRL KDTB KDUM KE KEAI KEANE KEBG KECF KEDEM KEDM KEDU KEIM KEM KEMPI KEMR KEMS KEN KENV KERF KERG KESO KESP KESS KEVIN KFAM KFCE KFE KFEM KFGM KFIN KFIU KFLD KFLO KFLU KFOR KFPC KFRD KFRP KFSC KFTFN KFTN KG KGCC KGCN KGHA KGHG KGIC KGICKS KGIT KGIV KGKG KGLB KGOR KGOV KH KHDP KHGH KHIB KHIV KHJUS KHLS KHMN KHOURY KHPD KHSA KHSL KHUM KI KIBL KICA KICC KICCPUR KICR KICT KID KIDE KIF KIFR KIIC KIIP KIL KILS KIMMITT KIMT KIND KINF KINL KINP KINR KINT KIPR KIPT KIRC KIRD KIRF KIRL KIRP KIS KISC KISK KISL KISM KISR KITA KIVP KIVR KJAN KJRE KJU KJUS KJUST KJWC KK KKIV KKNP KKOR KKPO KLAB KLAP KLBO KLEG KLFLO KLFU KLHS KLIG KLIP KLPM KLSO KLTN KM KMAC KMAR KMCA KMCC KMCR KMDR KMEPI KMFO KMGT KMIG KMNP KMOC KMPF KMPI KMPIO KMPL KMPP KMPT KMRD KMRS KMSG KMVP KMWN KN KNAO KNAP KNAR KNDP KNEI KNEP KNET KNMP KNN KNNA KNNB KNNC KNNF KNNO KNNP KNNR KNOP KNP KNPP KNPPIS KNPR KNPT KNRG KNRV KNSD KNUC KNUP KO KOC KOCI KOCM KOEM KOGL KOLY KOM KOMC KOMCCO KOMCSG KOMH KOMO KOMS KOR KOSOVO KOUYATE KPA KPAD KPAI KPAK KPAL KPALAOIS KPAM KPAO KPAS KPBT KPDD KPEM KPEO KPER KPET KPIN KPIR KPKO KPKP KPLS KPMI KPMO KPO KPOA KPOKO KPOL KPOP KPOV KPOW KPPAO KPPD KPRD KPRM KPRO KPROG KPRP KPRV KPSC KPTD KPTS KPWG KPWR KQ KQM KQRDQ KR KRAD KRAL KRCIM KRCM KRCS KRD KRDP KREC KREF KREISLER KREL KRF KRFD KRFR KRG KRGY KRIC KRIF KRIM KRKO KRM KRMS KRV KRVC KS KSA KSAC KSAF KSCA KSCI KSCS KSCT KSEAO KSEC KSEI KSEO KSEP KSI KSIA KSKN KSLG KSMT KSOC KSOCI KSPA KSPR KSRE KSTC KSTCC KSTCPL KSTH KSTS KSTT KSUM KSUP KT KTAO KTBD KTBT KTCRE KTDB KTDD KTDM KTER KTEX KTFIN KTFM KTFN KTFR KTFS KTIA KTIP KTLA KTNBT KTNF KTPN KTRD KTRF KTSC KTSD KTTB KTTC KTTP KU KUAE KUIR KUM KUNA KUNC KUNH KUNP KUNR KUS KUWAIT KV KVBL KVIP KVIR KVIS KVPR KVRC KVRP KW KWAC KWAK KWAWC KWBC KWBG KWBW KWCI KWCR KWGB KWHG KWIC KWIM KWIR KWKN KWM KWMJN KWMM KWMN KWN KWNM KWNN KWOMN KWPA KWPB KWPG KWPR KWRC KWRF KWRG KWUN KWWT KWWW KX KY KZ LA LAB LABOR LANSANA LANTERN LARREA LARS LAS LAURA LAVIN LAW LB LBAR LBY LE LEAGUE LEB LEBIK LEGAT LEGATT LEIS LEON LEVINE LEW LG LGAT LH LI LIB LICC LIMA LINE LK LMS LN LO LOG LOPEZ LORAN LOTT LOVE LR LS LT LTG LTTE LU LV LVPR LY LZ MA MAAR MACEDONIA MACP MANUEL MANUEL SERGIO GONZALEZ MAP MAPP MAPS MAR MARAD MARANTIS MARIA MARIE MARINO MARITIME MARK MARQUEZ MARR MARS MARTIN MARV MAS MASC MASS MATT MAYA MB MBM MC MCA MCAP MCAPARR MCAPN MCAPP MCAPS MCAT MCC MCCAIN MCCONNELL MCCP MCGRAW MCRM MCTRE MD MDA MDC MDO ME MEA MED MEDIA MEETINGS MENDIETA MEP MEPI MEPN MEPP MERCOSUR MESUR MEX MF MFA MFO MG MGL MGMT MGOV MGT MGTA MH MHUC MI MIAH MIC MICHAEL MICHEL MIGUEL FELIPE CANAHUATI YACAMAN MIGUEL VARGAS MALDONADO MIK MIKE MIL MILI MILITANTS MILITARY MILLENNIUM MINURSO MINUSTAH MITCHELL MJ MK ML MLS MMAR MMED MN MNLF MNNC MNNUC MNU MNUC MNUCH MNUCWA MNUM MNUN MNUR MNUS MNVC MO MOHAMAD MOHAMED HESHAM ELDIN YOUSSEF MOHAMMAD MOLINA MONTENEGRO MONUC MONY MOOPS MOP MOPP MOPPS MOPS MORALES MORG MOROCCO MORS MOS MOTO MOTT MP MPOL MPOS MPP MPS MQADHAFI MR MRCRE MRRR MRS MRSEC MS MSG MSIG MT MTAA MTAG MTCAE MTCR MTCRA MTCRE MTRCE MTRE MTRRE MTS MU MUC MUCN MUKASEY MULLEN MUNC MURAD MURRAY MV MW MX MY MZ NA NAC NACB NADIA NAFTA NAM NAMSA NANCY NAR NARC NARCOTICS NARR NAS NASA NAT NATEU NATGAS NATIONAL NATO NATOAFGHAN NATOBALKANS NATOIRAQ NATOOPS NATOPOLICY NATSIOS NAVO NB NBTS NBU NC NCCC NCD NCT NCTC NDI NDP NE NEA NEC NEGROPONTE NEI NELSON NEPAD NERG NET NEW NFATC NFMS NFSO NG NGO NGUYEN NH NI NICHOLAS NICOLE NIH NIPP NK NKWG NL NLD NLIAEA NLO NMFS NMNUC NMUC NNPT NO NOAA NOI NOK NON NONE NORAD NOTAG NOVO NP NPA NPG NPT NR NRC NRG NRR NRRC NS NSC NSF NSFO NSG NSSP NT NTDB NTSB NTTC NU NUC NUIN NV NW NZ NZUS OA OAO OARC OAS OASC OASCC OASS OAU OBAMA OBS OBSP OCBD OCEA OCED OCHA OCII OCRA OCS OCSE ODAG ODC ODIP ODPC OECD OECS OECV OES OESC OEXC OEXP OF OFDA OFDC OFDP OFDPQIS OFFICIALS OFPD OFSO OGAC OGIV OHCHR OHI OHIP OI OIC OICCO OIE OIF OIG OIIP OIL OIM OLY OLYAIR OLYMPICS OM OMAR OMB OMIG OMS ON ONA OPAD OPBAT OPC OPCD OPCR OPCW OPDAT OPDC OPDP OPEC OPET OPIC OPID OPOC OPPC OPRC OPREC OPREP OPS OPSC OPVIP ORA ORC ORCA ORECD ORED OREG OREP ORGANIZED ORP ORTA ORUE OSAC OSCE OSCI OSD OSEC OSHA OSIC OSTA OSTRA OTA OTAR OTHER OTHERSASNEEDED OTP OTR OTRA OTRABL OTRAO OTRAZ OTRC OTRD OUALI OVIP OVP OXEC OXEM OZ PA PAARM PAC PACE PAGE PAGR PAHO PAIGH PAK PAL PALESTINIAN PAMQ PAN PANAM PAO PAR PARALYMPIC PARCA PAREL PARK PARLIAMENT PARM PARMS PARN PARP PARR PARTIES PARTM PARTY PAS PASS PATRICK WARREN MAHURIN PATTY PAUL PAUM PB PBGT PBIO PBK PBOV PBPTS PBS PBST PBT PBTS PCI PCON PCOR PCRM PCUL PD PDA PDD PDEM PDIP PDOV PDRG PE PEACE PEACEKEEPINGFORCES PEDRO PEL PELOSI PEMEX PENA PENV PEPFAR PEPR PER PEREZ PERL PERM PERSONS PET PETER PETERS PETR PETRAEUS PETROL PF PFIN PFLP PFOR PFOV PG PGGOC PGIC PGIV PGKV PGO PGOC PGOF PGOG PGON PGOR PGOT PGOV PGOVE PGOVQL PGPV PGREL PGREV PGV PH PHALANAGE PHARM PHAS PHEM PHIM PHM PHSA PHU PHUH PHUM PHUMHUPPS PHUN PHUS PHYTRP PI PIA PICES PIF PIN PINB PIND PINER PINF PING PINL PINO PINOCHET PINR PINS PINT PINV PIR PIRF PIRN PJUS PK PKAO PKBL PKFK PKISL PKK PKMN PKNP PKO PKPA PKPAL PKPO PKPRP PKST PL PLAB PLAN PLEC PLN PLO PLUM PM PMAR PMAT PMDL PMIG PMIL PMIN PMR PMUC PN PNAT PNET PNG PNIR PNNL PNR PNRG PNS PNUC PNUK PNUM PO PODC POG POGV POINS POL POLG POLI POLICY POLINT POLITICAL POLITICS POLM POLMIL POLS POLUN POREL PORG POSTS POTUS POUS POV POWELL PP PPA PPAO PPD PPEF PPEL PPKO PPOL PQL PQM PRC PRE PREC PRED PREF PREG PREJ PREK PREL PRELEVU PRELM PRELPLS PRELTBIOBA PREM PREO PREP PRER PRES PRESIDENT PRESL PREV PREZ PRF PRFE PRFL PRGO PRGOV PRIL PRIVATIZATION PRL PRLE PRM PRO PROB PROCESS PROG PROL PROLIFERATION PROP PROPERTY PROTECTION PROTESTS PROV PROVE PRT PRTER PRWL PS PSA PSCE PSEC PSEPC PSHA PSI PSNR PSO PSOC PSOCI PSOE PT PTBS PTE PTEL PTEP PTER PTGOV PTIA PTR PTRD PU PUAS PUBLIC PUNE PUNR PUOS PV PVIP PVOV PVPR PVTS PWBG PWMN PY QA QADRI QEL QI QIZ QM QT QU QUAN QUOC RA RAED RAFAEL RAID RAMON RAMONTEIJELO RAS RATIFICATION RAY GUEVARA MILTON RBI RCA RCMP RE REA REACTION REALTIONS RECIN REF REFORM REFPAN REFUGEE REFUGEES REGION REGIONAL REID REIN REINEMEYER REL RELAM RELATIONS RELFREE RELIGIOUS REMON RENAMO RENE PREVAL REO REPORT REUBEN RF RFE RFIN RFREEDOM RGOV RGY RHUM RI RICE RICHARD RIGHTS RIGHTSPOLMIL RIMC RIVERA RL RLA RM RMA RO ROBERT ROBERT JOSEPH RODHAM RODRIGUEZ ROK ROME ROOD ROSS ROW ROY RP RPEL RPTS RQ RR RRB RREL RS RSO RSOX RSP RSZ RTT RU RUEHZO RV RW RWANDA SA SAAD SAARC SABAH SACU SADC SAFE SAIR SAIS SALOPEK SAMA SAN SANC SANR SAO SARB SARGSIAN SARS SASC SASEC SASIAIN SB SBA SC SCA SCCC SCE SCENESETTER SCHUL SCI SCIENCE SCNV SCOI SCOL SCOM SCPR SCRM SCRS SCRSERD SCUL SCVL SD SE SEC SECDEF SECI SECRET SECRETARY SECSTATE SECTOR SECURITY SEMAAN GABY EID SEN SENC SENG SENS SENU SENV SENVQGR SENVSPL SENVSXE SEP SERBIA SERZH SETTLEMENTS SEVN SEXP SF SFNV SG SGNV SGWI SH SHANNON SHI SHUM SI SILVASANDE SIMS SIPDI SIPDIS SIPR SIPRNET SIPRS SIUK SK SKCA SKEP SKI SKSAF SL SLM SLOVAK SM SMAR SMI SMIG SMIL SMIT SMITH SMRT SN SNA SNAP SNAR SNUC SO SOC SOCI SOCIA SOCIETY SOCIO SOCIS SOCISZX SOCR SOCY SOE SOFA SOI SOIC SOLI SOLIC SOM SOMALIA SOPN SORT SOSI SOVIET SOWGC SP SPAS SPC SPCE SPCVIS SPECI SPECIALIST SPILL SPP SPSTATE SR SREF SRIT SRS SRYI SSA SSH ST STAG START STATE STC STEINBERG STEPHEN HADLEY STET STP STR STUDENT SU SUCCESSION SUFFRAGE SULLIVAN SUMMIT SUR SUSAN SV SW SWHO SWMN SX SXG SY SYAI SYMBOL SYR SYRIA SYSI SYTH SZ TA TAGS TALAL TAUSCHER TAX TB TBI TBID TBIO TBIOZK TBKIO TBO TC TCOR TCSENV TD TDA TE TECH TECHNOLOGY TER TERAA TERFIN TERR TERROR TERRORISM TF TFIN TG TGRY TH THANH THE THERESE THIRDTERM THKSJA THOMAS THOMAS THOMMA THPY TI TIA TIBO TIFA TINT TIO TIP TITI TIUZ TJ TK TL TM TN TNDG TNGD TO TOPEC TORRIJOS TOURISM TP TPHY TPKO TPP TPSA TPSL TR TRAD TRADE TRAFFICKING TRBIO TRBY TRD TREAS TREASURY TREATY TREL TRG TRGV TRGY TRIO TRSY TRT TRV TRY TRYG TRYS TS TSA TSLP TSPA TSPL TSRL TSRY TSY TT TTFN TU TURKEY TV TVBIO TW TWRO TX TY TZ TZBY UA UAE UAID UAM UB UDEM UE UEU UG UGA UK UKR UKRAINE UM UMIK UN UNA UNAF UNAIDS UNAMA UNAMSIL UNAORC UNAUS UNBRO UNC UNCC UNCDF UNCDN UNCHC UNCHR UNCHS UNCITRAL UNCND UNCOPUOS UNCRED UNCRIME UNCSD UNCSW UNCTAD UNDC UNDEF UNDOF UNDP UNECE UNEF UNEP UNESCO UNFA UNFC UNFCYP UNFF UNFICYP UNFIYCP UNFPA UNGA UNGAPL UNGO UNHCR UNHRC UNICEF UNIDCP UNIDO UNIDROIT UNIFEM UNIFIL UNION UNKIK UNM UNMEE UNMIC UNMIK UNMIKI UNMIKV UNMIL UNMIN UNMOVIC UNO UNODC UNOMIG UNOPS UNP UNPAR UNPUOS UNRCCA UNRCR UNREST UNRWA UNSC UNSCAPU UNSCD UNSCE UNSCER UNSCR UNSCS UNSD UNSE UNTAC UNTERR UNTZ UNUS UNVIE UNYI UP UPU UPUO UR US USAID USAU USCC USCG USDA USDELFESTTWO USEU USG USGS USMS USNC USOAS USOP USPS USPTO USSC USTA USTDA USTR USTRD USTRIT USTRPS USTRUWR USUN UUNR UV UX UY UZ VA VANESSA VANG VAT VC VE VELS VEN VENZ VETTING VI VINICIO VIP VIS VISAS VISIT VM VN VO VOA VT VTEG VTFR VTIS VTPREL VTTBIO VTWCAR VXY VY VZ WA WAEMU WAKI WAR WARD WB WBEG WBG WCAR WCI WCL WCO WE WEBG WEBZ WEET WEF WEOG WET WEU WFA WFP WFPAORC WFPO WGC WGG WHA WHITMER WHO WHTI WI WILCOX WILLIAM WIPO WIR WITH WJRO WM WMD WMDT WMN WMO WOMEN WPO WRTO WS WSIS WTO WTRD WTRO WTRQ WW WWARD WWBG WWT WZ XA XAAF XB XC XD XE XF XFNEA XG XH XI XJ XK XL XLUM XM XO XP XQ XR XS XT XTAG XU XV XW XX XXX XY XZ YE YEH YI YL YM YMCS YS YU YURIY ZA ZANU ZB ZC ZCTU ZEALAND ZF ZFR ZH ZI ZIM ZJ ZK ZKGM ZL ZM ZN ZO ZOELLICK ZP ZR ZS ZT ZU ZW ZXA
AA AADP AALC ABDALLAH FETHI ABDULHADI ABDULRAHMEN ABER ABLD ABLDG ABLG ABMC ABT ABUD AC ACABQ ACAO ACBAQ ACCELERATED ACCOUNT ACDA ACEC ACKM ACOA ACOTA ACS ACTION ADANA ADB ADCO ADCP ADEL ADEP ADIP ADM ADMIRAL ADPM ADRC AE AEC AECL AEGR AEIR AEM AEMED AEMR AER AESC AF AFAF AL HOURANI AFARI AFDB AFDIN AFFAIRS AFGHAN AFGHANISTAN AFIN AFL AFLU AFOR AFR AFSA AFSI AFSN AFU AFZAL AG AGAO AGENCIES AGENDA AGENGA AGIT AGMT AGOA AGR AGRI AGRIC AGRICULTURE AGS AGUILAR AGUIRRE AHMED AI AIAG AID AIDAC AIDS AIEA AIHRC AIN AINF AINFCY AINR AINT AISG AIT AJ AK AL ALAB ALAMI ALANAZI ALBE ALEXANDER ALI ALIREZA ALJAZEERA ALL ALNEA ALOUNI ALOW ALOWAR ALVAREZ AM AMAT AMB AMBASSADOR AMCHAM AMCHAMS AMCT AME AMED AMEDI AMEMR AMER AMERICAS AMEX AMG AMGE AMGMT AMGT AMIA AMLB AMPR AMT AMTC AMTG AN ANARCHISTS ANC AND ANDREW LEE WATKINS ANET ANTITERRORISM ANTOINE GHONDA ANTONIO ANTXON AO AOCR AODE AOIC AOMS AOPR AORC AORD AOREC AORG AORL AOWC AP APCS APDC APEC APECO APER APR APRC APRM AQ AR ARAB ARABBL ARABL ARABLEAGUE ARAS ARC ARCH ARENA AREP ARF ARG ARM ARMITAGE ARMS ARNOLD FREDERICK MORRIS AROC ARR ARRMZY ARSO AS ASA ASAC ASC ASCC ASCE ASCEC ASCH ASE ASEAN ASEC ASECARP ASECE ASECM ASECSI ASECVE ASED ASEDC ASEG ASEK ASES ASEX ASFC ASIC ASIG ASIR ASJA ASO ASOC ASPA ASR ASSEMBLY ASSK ASSSEMBLY ASUP AT ATFN ATPDEA ATRA ATRD ATRN AU AU-1 AUC AUNR AUSGR AUSTRALIAGROUP AV AVERY AVIAN AVIANFLU AVIATION AW AX AY AZ AZE B. BA BAGHDAD BAIO BAKOYANNIS BALKANS BAPOL BARACK BASHAR BATA BAYS BB BBG BBSR BC BCW BCXP BD BE BEAN BELLVIEW BEN BERARDUCCI BESP BEXB BEXP BEXPC BEXPPLM BEXT BF BFIF BFIN BFIO BG BGD BGMT BH BHUM BI BIC BIDOON BIH BILAT BIMSTEC BINR BIO BIOS BIOTECH BIOTECHNOLOGY BIT BITO BK BL BLR BLUE BLUNT BM BMENA BMGT BMOT BN BNUC BO BOIKO BOL BOND BOQ BORDER BOSNIA BOU BOUCHAIB KAKA BOUTERSE BP BPIS BPTS BR BRIAN BRITNEY BRITNY BRPA BRUSSELS BS BSSR BT BTA BTC BTIO BTIU BTRA BTT BU BUD BULGARIA BURMA BURNS BUSH BUY AMERICA BV BW BWC BX BXEP BY BZ CA CAC CACM CACS CAFTA CAIO CAJC CAMBODIA CAN CAPC CARC CARE CARIB CARICOM CARSON CAS CASA CASC CASCC CASCR CASE CASTILLO CAVO CB CBC CBD CBE CBG CBIS CBM CBSA CBTH CBW CCSR CCY CD CDB CDC CDCC CDCE CDG CDI CE CEA CEC CEDAW CEN CENSUS CENTCOM CENTRIC CEUDA CF CFE CFED CFG CFIS CFSP CG CGEN CGOPRC CH CHAD CHALLENGE CHAO CHAVEZ CHELIDZE CHENEY CHERTOFF CHG CHIEF CHN CHR CHR-1 CHRISTIAN CHRISTOF CHRISTOPHER CI CIA CIAT CIC CICTE CIDA CIO CIP CIS CITEL CITES CITIBANK CITT CIVAIR CIVS CJ CJAN CJUS CK CKGR CKOR CL CLEARANCE CLINTON CLMT CLO CLOK CM CMAE CMFT CMGT CMP CMT CN CNAR CNARC CNC CNO CO CODEL COE COL COLIN COLLECTIVE COLOMBO COM COMESA COMMERCE CON CONAWAY CONDOLEEZZA CONDOLEEZZA RICE CONEAZ CONG CONGO CONGRINT CONS CONSULAR CONTROL CONTROLS CORRUPTION COSI COUNTER COUNTER TERRORISM COUNTERTERRORISM COUNTRY COUNTRYCLEARANCE CP CPA CPAS CPC CPCTC CPPT CPUOS CQ CR CRIM CRIME CRIMES CRISTINA CRM CROATIA CROS CRS CRUZ CS CSCE CSEP CSIS CSW CT CTBT CTER CTERR CTM CTR CTRYCLR CU CUCO CUIS CUL CUSTODIO CV CVIA CVIC CVIS CVISU CVPR CVR CW CWC CWCM CWG CX CY CYNTHIA CYP CYPRUSARMS CZ DA DAC DAFR DAN DANFUNG DANIEL DAO DARFR DARFUR DAVID DAVID LEE HOWES DAVID WELCH DAVID WILLIAM RAY DB DC DCDG DCG DCHA DCI DCM DCOM DCRM DE DEA DEAX DEFENSE DEFENSEREFORM DELTAVIOLENCE DEM DEMARCHE DEMARCHES DEMETRIOS DEMOCRATIC DENNIS DEOC DEPORTATION DEPT DEPT FOR DS COMMAND CENTER DESI DHA DHLAKAMA DHLS DHRF DHS DHSX DIEZ DIPLOMACY DISENGAGEMENT DJ DK DKEM DMIN DMINE DO DOC DOD DOE DOJ DOMC DOMESTIC DOMESTICPOLITICS DONALD RUMSFELD DOT DPAO DPKO DPM DPOL DPRK DR DRC DRIP DRL DS DSR DSS DTFN DTRA DTRO DU DUNCAN CAMERON DVC DY EAC EAD EADI EADM EAG EAGER EAGR EAI EAIC EAID EAIDB EAIDCIN EAIDEGZ EAIDMG EAIDNI EAIF EAIG EAIO EAIR EAIS EAIT EAOD EAP EAPC EAR EARI EASS EATO EAUD EAVI EB EBEXP EBRD EBUD EC ECA ECCP ECCT ECE ECHEVARRIA ECIN ECIP ECLAC ECN ECOIN ECOM ECON ECONCS ECONEGE ECONOMIC ECONOMICS ECONOMY ECONOMY AND FINANCE ECOR ECOS ECOSOC ECOWAS ECPC ECPN ECPO ECPS ECPSN ECRM ECTRD ECUN ED EDA EDEV EDRC EDU EDUARDO EDUC EE EEB EEC EENG EENV EEOC EET EETC EFI EFIC EFIM EFIN EFIS EFLU EFN EFND EFNI EFQ EFTA EG EGAD EGAR EGEN EGHG EGOV EGOVSY EH EI EIAD EIAID EIAR EIB EICN EID EIDE EIDN EIFN EIN EIND EINDIR EINF EING EINN EINO EINR EINT EINV EINZ EIPR EIQ EISL EISNLN EITC EITI EIVN EK EL ELA ELAB ELAD ELAINE ELAM ELAN ELAP ELB ELBA ELBR ELEC ELECTIONS ELF ELIN ELN ELND ELNT ELTD ELTM ELTN ELTRN EMAIL EMED EMI EMIN EMN EMS EMW EN END ENDURING ENEG ENER ENERG ENERGY ENFR ENG ENGR ENGRD ENGRG ENGY ENIV ENLT ENNP ENR ENRC ENRG ENRL ENTG ENV ENVI ENVIRONMENT ENVR ENVT EON EOXC EP EPA EPAT EPCS EPE EPEC EPECO EPET EPIN EPIT EPPD EPRT EPSC EPTE EPTED EPWR EQ EQRD ER ERA ERD EREL ERGR ERICKSON ERIN ERTD ES ESA ESCAP ESCI ESDP ESENV ESF ESLCO ESOC ESOCI ESPS ESS ESSO ESTH ESTN ESTRADA ET ETA ETAD ETC ETCC ETD ETDR ETEL ETER ETEX ETFN ETIC ETIO ETLN ETMIN ETR ETRA ETRAD ETRB ETRC ETRD ETRDECD ETRG ETRK ETRN ETRO ETRP ETT ETTC ETTD ETTF ETTN ETTR ETTRD ETTW ETZ EU EUC EUCOM EUE EUEAID EUFOR EUM EUMEM EUN EUR EUREM EURM EURN EV EVENTS EVN EWRG EWT EWTR EWWT EX EXBS EXEC EXIM EXO EXPORT EXTERNAL EZ FA FAA FAC FAGR FAO FARC FARM FAS FATAH FBI FCC FCS FCSC FCSCEG FCUL FDA FDIC FEDULOV FEMA FERNANDO FGM FI FIGUEROA FIN FINANCE FINE FINR FINREF FINV FIR FISO FJ FK FKFLO FKLU FLU FM FMC FMGT FMLN FMS FO FOI FOOKS FOR FORCE FORCES FOREIGN FORWHA FP FPC FR FRA FRANCIS FRANCISCO RODENAS RUIZ FRANCISCO VILLA URBALEJO FRAZER FRB FREDOM FREEDOM FRELIMO FRIED FRN FRU FSC FSI FT FTA FTAA FWS GA GAERC GAMES GANGS GAO GARCIA GASPAR GATES GATT GAZA GAZPROM GB GBSLE GC GCC GCCC GE GEF GEORGE GERARD GESKE GF GG GH GI GIPNC GIWI GJ GKGIC GL GLOBAL GM GN GO GOG GOI GOMEZ GON GOVPOI GPGOV GPI GPOI GPOV GR GREGG RENE WALTER GRQ GS GT GTIP GTMO GTREFTEL GU GUAM GUANTANAMO GUIDANCE GUILLERMO GUTIERREZ GV GWI GY GZ GZIS HA HAMID KARZAI HARRIET HARRY HAWZ HCOPIL HDP HE HEAVEN HEBRON HECTOR HELGERSON HERCEGOVINA HG HHS HI HIGHLIGHTS HIJAZI HILARY HILLARY HILLEN HIPC HIV HIZ HK HKSX HL HLSX HN HNCHR HO HOA HOSTAGES HPKO HR HRC HRCS HRICTY HRIGHTS HRKSTC HSI HSTC HSWG HT HTCG HTSC HU HUD HUM HUMAN HUMANITARIAN HUMANR HUMANRIGHTS HUMOR HUMRIT HUNRC HURI HURRICANE HYDE HYLAND HYMPSK HZ IA IACHR IACI IACO IACW IADB IAEA IAES IAHRC IAIE IAII IASA IATTC IAZ IBB IBD IBET IBPCA IBRB IBRD IC ICAC ICAO ICC ICCAT ICCROM ICES ICJ ICRC ICRS ICSCA ICTR ICTY ID IDA IDB IDLI IDLO IDP IDR IE IEA IEAB IEF IF IFAD IFC IFIN IFM IFO IFR IFRC IG IGAD IGF IHO IICA IINS IIP IK IL ILAB ILC ILEA ILO IMC IMET IMF IMMIGRATION IMO IMSO IMTS IN INAUGURATION INCB IND INDO INF INFLUENZA INL INMARSAT INNP INPFC INR INRA INRB INRD INRO INRPAZ INS INSC INT INTEL INTELLECTUAL INTELSAT INTERNAL INTERPOL INV INVI IO IOC IOM IP IPET IPGRI IPK IPPC IPR IPROP IQ IQNV IR IRAN IRAQ IRAQI IRAQI FREEDOM IRC IRCE IRDB IRE IRL IRLE IRM IRMO IRNB IRPE IRQEGION IRS IS ISA ISAAC ISAF ISCA ISCON ISLAMISTS ISLE ISN ISNV ISO ISPA ISPL ISRAEL ISRAEL RELATIONS ISRAELI ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS ISSUES ISTC IT ITA ITALIAN ITALY ITECIP ITEIND ITELTN ITER ITF ITIA ITRA ITRD ITU IUCN IV IVIANNA IWC IWI IX IZ IZAORC JA JABER JAM JAMES JAPAN JAT JAWAD JCIC JE JEAN-PIERRE BEMBA JEFFERY JEFFREY JENDAYI JHR JI JIMENEZ JIMENEZ CHILDREN JK JKUS JM JN JO JOHANNS JOHN JOHN BOEHNER JOHNNIE JONATHAN CHAMAN JOSE ANGEL ALZUGUREN PERURENA JOSE NEY MILA ESPINOSA JOSE RAMOS HORTA JOSEPH BIDEN JP JS JSRP JUAN JULIAN RENE KIRCHOFF JUS JY KA KACP KACT KACW KADM KAID KALM KALR KANSOU KAPO KARIM WADE KATRINA KAUST KAWC KAWK KAWL KAWS KAWX KAYLA KBCT KBDS KBEM KBIO KBNC KBTC KBTR KBTS KBWG KCCP KCEM KCERS KCFC KCFE KCGC KCHG KCIP KCIS KCM KCMA KCMR KCOG KCOM KCOR KCPS KCRCM KCRI KCRIM KCRM KCRN KCRO KCROM KCROR KCRP KCRS KCRT KCSA KCSI KCSY KCUL KCUM KCVM KCWI KDCM KDDEM KDDG KDE KDEM KDEN KDET KDEV KDGOV KDGR KDHS KDM KDMR KDP KDRG KDRL KDTB KDUM KE KEAI KEANE KEBG KECF KEDEM KEDM KEDU KEIM KEM KEMPI KEMR KEMS KEN KENV KERF KERG KESO KESP KESS KEVIN KFAM KFCE KFE KFEM KFGM KFIN KFIU KFLD KFLO KFLU KFOR KFPC KFRD KFRP KFSC KFTFN KFTN KG KGCC KGCN KGHA KGHG KGIC KGICKS KGIT KGIV KGKG KGLB KGOR KGOV KH KHDP KHGH KHIB KHIV KHJUS KHLS KHMN KHOURY KHPD KHSA KHSL KHUM KI KIBL KICA KICC KICCPUR KICR KICT KID KIDE KIF KIFR KIIC KIIP KIL KILS KIMMITT KIMT KIND KINF KINL KINP KINR KINT KIPR KIPT KIRC KIRD KIRF KIRL KIRP KIS KISC KISK KISL KISM KISR KITA KIVP KIVR KJAN KJRE KJU KJUS KJUST KJWC KK KKIV KKNP KKOR KKPO KLAB KLAP KLBO KLEG KLFLO KLFU KLHS KLIG KLIP KLPM KLSO KLTN KM KMAC KMAR KMCA KMCC KMCR KMDR KMEPI KMFO KMGT KMIG KMNP KMOC KMPF KMPI KMPIO KMPL KMPP KMPT KMRD KMRS KMSG KMVP KMWN KN KNAO KNAP KNAR KNDP KNEI KNEP KNET KNMP KNN KNNA KNNB KNNC KNNF KNNO KNNP KNNR KNOP KNP KNPP KNPPIS KNPR KNPT KNRG KNRV KNSD KNUC KNUP KO KOC KOCI KOCM KOEM KOGL KOLY KOM KOMC KOMCCO KOMCSG KOMH KOMO KOMS KOR KOSOVO KOUYATE KPA KPAD KPAI KPAK KPAL KPALAOIS KPAM KPAO KPAS KPBT KPDD KPEM KPEO KPER KPET KPIN KPIR KPKO KPKP KPLS KPMI KPMO KPO KPOA KPOKO KPOL KPOP KPOV KPOW KPPAO KPPD KPRD KPRM KPRO KPROG KPRP KPRV KPSC KPTD KPTS KPWG KPWR KQ KQM KQRDQ KR KRAD KRAL KRCIM KRCM KRCS KRD KRDP KREC KREF KREISLER KREL KRF KRFD KRFR KRG KRGY KRIC KRIF KRIM KRKO KRM KRMS KRV KRVC KS KSA KSAC KSAF KSCA KSCI KSCS KSCT KSEAO KSEC KSEI KSEO KSEP KSI KSIA KSKN KSLG KSMT KSOC KSOCI KSPA KSPR KSRE KSTC KSTCC KSTCPL KSTH KSTS KSTT KSUM KSUP KT KTAO KTBD KTBT KTCRE KTDB KTDD KTDM KTER KTEX KTFIN KTFM KTFN KTFR KTFS KTIA KTIP KTLA KTNBT KTNF KTPN KTRD KTRF KTSC KTSD KTTB KTTC KTTP KU KUAE KUIR KUM KUNA KUNC KUNH KUNP KUNR KUS KUWAIT KV KVBL KVIP KVIR KVIS KVPR KVRC KVRP KW KWAC KWAK KWAWC KWBC KWBG KWBW KWCI KWCR KWGB KWHG KWIC KWIM KWIR KWKN KWM KWMJN KWMM KWMN KWN KWNM KWNN KWOMN KWPA KWPB KWPG KWPR KWRC KWRF KWRG KWUN KWWT KWWW KX KY KZ LA LAB LABOR LANSANA LANTERN LARREA LARS LAS LAURA LAVIN LAW LB LBAR LBY LE LEAGUE LEB LEBIK LEGAT LEGATT LEIS LEON LEVINE LEW LG LGAT LH LI LIB LICC LIMA LINE LK LMS LN LO LOG LOPEZ LORAN LOTT LOVE LR LS LT LTG LTTE LU LV LVPR LY LZ MA MAAR MACEDONIA MACP MANUEL MANUEL SERGIO GONZALEZ MAP MAPP MAPS MAR MARAD MARANTIS MARIA MARIE MARINO MARITIME MARK MARQUEZ MARR MARS MARTIN MARV MAS MASC MASS MATT MAYA MB MBM MC MCA MCAP MCAPARR MCAPN MCAPP MCAPS MCAT MCC MCCAIN MCCONNELL MCCP MCGRAW MCRM MCTRE MD MDA MDC MDO ME MEA MED MEDIA MEETINGS MENDIETA MEP MEPI MEPN MEPP MERCOSUR MESUR MEX MF MFA MFO MG MGL MGMT MGOV MGT MGTA MH MHUC MI MIAH MIC MICHAEL MICHEL MIGUEL FELIPE CANAHUATI YACAMAN MIGUEL VARGAS MALDONADO MIK MIKE MIL MILI MILITANTS MILITARY MILLENNIUM MINURSO MINUSTAH MITCHELL MJ MK ML MLS MMAR MMED MN MNLF MNNC MNNUC MNU MNUC MNUCH MNUCWA MNUM MNUN MNUR MNUS MNVC MO MOHAMAD MOHAMED HESHAM ELDIN YOUSSEF MOHAMMAD MOLINA MONTENEGRO MONUC MONY MOOPS MOP MOPP MOPPS MOPS MORALES MORG MOROCCO MORS MOS MOTO MOTT MP MPOL MPOS MPP MPS MQADHAFI MR MRCRE MRRR MRS MRSEC MS MSG MSIG MT MTAA MTAG MTCAE MTCR MTCRA MTCRE MTRCE MTRE MTRRE MTS MU MUC MUCN MUKASEY MULLEN MUNC MURAD MURRAY MV MW MX MY MZ NA NAC NACB NADIA NAFTA NAM NAMSA NANCY NAR NARC NARCOTICS NARR NAS NASA NAT NATEU NATGAS NATIONAL NATO NATOAFGHAN NATOBALKANS NATOIRAQ NATOOPS NATOPOLICY NATSIOS NAVO NB NBTS NBU NC NCCC NCD NCT NCTC NDI NDP NE NEA NEC NEGROPONTE NEI NELSON NEPAD NERG NET NEW NFATC NFMS NFSO NG NGO NGUYEN NH NI NICHOLAS NICOLE NIH NIPP NK NKWG NL NLD NLIAEA NLO NMFS NMNUC NMUC NNPT NO NOAA NOI NOK NON NONE NORAD NOTAG NOVO NP NPA NPG NPT NR NRC NRG NRR NRRC NS NSC NSF NSFO NSG NSSP NT NTDB NTSB NTTC NU NUC NUIN NV NW NZ NZUS OA OAO OARC OAS OASC OASCC OASS OAU OBAMA OBS OBSP OCBD OCEA OCED OCHA OCII OCRA OCS OCSE ODAG ODC ODIP ODPC OECD OECS OECV OES OESC OEXC OEXP OF OFDA OFDC OFDP OFDPQIS OFFICIALS OFPD OFSO OGAC OGIV OHCHR OHI OHIP OI OIC OICCO OIE OIF OIG OIIP OIL OIM OLY OLYAIR OLYMPICS OM OMAR OMB OMIG OMS ON ONA OPAD OPBAT OPC OPCD OPCR OPCW OPDAT OPDC OPDP OPEC OPET OPIC OPID OPOC OPPC OPRC OPREC OPREP OPS OPSC OPVIP ORA ORC ORCA ORECD ORED OREG OREP ORGANIZED ORP ORTA ORUE OSAC OSCE OSCI OSD OSEC OSHA OSIC OSTA OSTRA OTA OTAR OTHER OTHERSASNEEDED OTP OTR OTRA OTRABL OTRAO OTRAZ OTRC OTRD OUALI OVIP OVP OXEC OXEM OZ PA PAARM PAC PACE PAGE PAGR PAHO PAIGH PAK PAL PALESTINIAN PAMQ PAN PANAM PAO PAR PARALYMPIC PARCA PAREL PARK PARLIAMENT PARM PARMS PARN PARP PARR PARTIES PARTM PARTY PAS PASS PATRICK WARREN MAHURIN PATTY PAUL PAUM PB PBGT PBIO PBK PBOV PBPTS PBS PBST PBT PBTS PCI PCON PCOR PCRM PCUL PD PDA PDD PDEM PDIP PDOV PDRG PE PEACE PEACEKEEPINGFORCES PEDRO PEL PELOSI PEMEX PENA PENV PEPFAR PEPR PER PEREZ PERL PERM PERSONS PET PETER PETERS PETR PETRAEUS PETROL PF PFIN PFLP PFOR PFOV PG PGGOC PGIC PGIV PGKV PGO PGOC PGOF PGOG PGON PGOR PGOT PGOV PGOVE PGOVQL PGPV PGREL PGREV PGV PH PHALANAGE PHARM PHAS PHEM PHIM PHM PHSA PHU PHUH PHUM PHUMHUPPS PHUN PHUS PHYTRP PI PIA PICES PIF PIN PINB PIND PINER PINF PING PINL PINO PINOCHET PINR PINS PINT PINV PIR PIRF PIRN PJUS PK PKAO PKBL PKFK PKISL PKK PKMN PKNP PKO PKPA PKPAL PKPO PKPRP PKST PL PLAB PLAN PLEC PLN PLO PLUM PM PMAR PMAT PMDL PMIG PMIL PMIN PMR PMUC PN PNAT PNET PNG PNIR PNNL PNR PNRG PNS PNUC PNUK PNUM PO PODC POG POGV POINS POL POLG POLI POLICY POLINT POLITICAL POLITICS POLM POLMIL POLS POLUN POREL PORG POSTS POTUS POUS POV POWELL PP PPA PPAO PPD PPEF PPEL PPKO PPOL PQL PQM PRC PRE PREC PRED PREF PREG PREJ PREK PREL PRELEVU PRELM PRELPLS PRELTBIOBA PREM PREO PREP PRER PRES PRESIDENT PRESL PREV PREZ PRF PRFE PRFL PRGO PRGOV PRIL PRIVATIZATION PRL PRLE PRM PRO PROB PROCESS PROG PROL PROLIFERATION PROP PROPERTY PROTECTION PROTESTS PROV PROVE PRT PRTER PRWL PS PSA PSCE PSEC PSEPC PSHA PSI PSNR PSO PSOC PSOCI PSOE PT PTBS PTE PTEL PTEP PTER PTGOV PTIA PTR PTRD PU PUAS PUBLIC PUNE PUNR PUOS PV PVIP PVOV PVPR PVTS PWBG PWMN PY QA QADRI QEL QI QIZ QM QT QU QUAN QUOC RA RAED RAFAEL RAID RAMON RAMONTEIJELO RAS RATIFICATION RAY GUEVARA MILTON RBI RCA RCMP RE REA REACTION REALTIONS RECIN REF REFORM REFPAN REFUGEE REFUGEES REGION REGIONAL REID REIN REINEMEYER REL RELAM RELATIONS RELFREE RELIGIOUS REMON RENAMO RENE PREVAL REO REPORT REUBEN RF RFE RFIN RFREEDOM RGOV RGY RHUM RI RICE RICHARD RIGHTS RIGHTSPOLMIL RIMC RIVERA RL RLA RM RMA RO ROBERT ROBERT JOSEPH RODHAM RODRIGUEZ ROK ROME ROOD ROSS ROW ROY RP RPEL RPTS RQ RR RRB RREL RS RSO RSOX RSP RSZ RTT RU RUEHZO RV RW RWANDA SA SAAD SAARC SABAH SACU SADC SAFE SAIR SAIS SALOPEK SAMA SAN SANC SANR SAO SARB SARGSIAN SARS SASC SASEC SASIAIN SB SBA SC SCA SCCC SCE SCENESETTER SCHUL SCI SCIENCE SCNV SCOI SCOL SCOM SCPR SCRM SCRS SCRSERD SCUL SCVL SD SE SEC SECDEF SECI SECRET SECRETARY 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1'000 rows / 97'070 results
Identifier | Subject | Date | Office | Classification | Tags |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
08ANKARA643 | TURKEY ENCOURAGED BY SAAKASHVILI'S ABKHAZ AUTONOMY [...] (C) The GOT believes Georgian President Saakashvili's March 28 proposals offering significant autonomy to Abkhazia are important, South Caucasus Section Head Yavuz Kul told us April 2. Turkey remains prepared to play a "facilitating" role with the Abkhaz if Georgia allows it, according to Kul [...] | 2008-04-04 14:29:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV GG TU |
08ANKARA644 | TURKEY: A LOST CHANCE [...] (C) Summary. Murat Mercan, the chair of parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee and a long-time contact, is pessimistic about Turkey's future in light of the closure case against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). He echoed AKP Vice Chair Saban Disli's description (reftel) of AKP' [...] | 2008-04-04 15:03:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL TU |
08ANKARA654 | TURKEY: MINISTER SIMSEK ON IMF RELATIONS, EBRD [...] (C) Summary: Ambassador Wilson met April 3 with State Minister for the Treasury Mehmet Simsek. Simsek said Prime Minister Erdogan has told ministers that, to the maximum extent possible, it should be "business as usual" in the face of the AKP party closure suit and that the GOT should proceed [...] | 2008-04-07 10:54:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN PREL TU |
08ANKARA660 | TURKEY: KUWAITI AMIR'S VISIT FOCUSES ON [...] (C) Summary and Comment: During his March 29-April 5 visit, Kuwaiti Amir Sabah met with President Gul and PM Erdogan in Ankara before traveling to Istanbul for a Turkey-Kuwait Business Forum meeting and recreation. In private sessions with Gul and Erdogan, the Amir discussed regional issues [...] | 2008-04-08 05:53:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON KU TU |
08ANKARA661 | TURKEY: MAVERICK KURDISH POLITICIAN SHOWS [...] (C) Summary and Comment: Kurdish schoolteacher-turned-politician Abdullah Demirbas recently described to us the immense pressure brought to bear on him for his attempts to use Kurdish language in public services while serving as Democratic Society Party (DTP) mayor of Diyarbakir's Sur distric [...] | 2008-04-08 05:53:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL OSCE TU |
08ANKARA671 | TURKEY'S RULING PARTY MAKES ITS FIRST MOVE [...] (C) Summary and comment. Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) revealed the first moves in its strategy to survive the party closure case now pending in the constitutional court. Following AKP's April 7 Central Decision Making and Administrative Board meeting, party officials a [...] | 2008-04-08 14:13:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV TU |
08ANKARA672 | TURKEY: VIOLENT CLASHES CAST SHADOWS OF PAST COUPS [...] (C) SUMMARY AND COMMENT. Violent clashes at universities around Turkey over the last several weeks, while small in scale, are being widely identified as deliberate provocations to polarize and destabilize the country. In the back of everyone's mind is clashes as prelude to a possible coup. I [...] | 2008-04-08 14:17:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL TU |
08ANKARA675 | TURKEY: TNP COUNTERS TERRORIST RECRUITMENT IN THE [...] (C) Summary. The Turkish National Police (TNP) in Ankara are countering efforts by terrorist groups to recruit in high schools, according to TNP sources. The terrorist groups typically befriend vulnerable youth through "innocent" activities and gradually introduce anti-government comments an [...] | 2008-04-09 14:16:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV ASEC TU |
08ANKARA678 | IRAN: TURKEY IMPLEMENTING UNSCRS TRAVEL BAN AND [...] (SBU) Turkey will abide by all provisions of UNSCRs 1737, 1747 and 1803, including those pertaining to travel, MFA Iran Section Head Mehmet Sekerci told us April 9. He said would convey our reftel points to his superiors. According to Sekerci, all the individuals' names subject to "vigilance [...] | 2008-04-10 09:03:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | MNUC KNNP UNSC IR TU |
08ANKARA679 | TURKEY/GEORGIA: ABKHAZIA DISCONNECT [...] (C) The GOT has told Georgia it is ready to facilitate Georgia's Abkhaz autonomy proposals (ref A and B),Georgian DCM Irakli Koplatadze told us April 8. Turkish facilitation is acceptable to Georgia, he said, as Georgian President Saakashvili has previously told President Gul and FM Babacan. [...] | 2008-04-10 09:13:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV GG TU |
08ANKARA687 | TURKEY PRIORITIZES ITS OWN GAS NEEDS OVER NABUCCO [...] (C) Summary: In an April 8 meeting with the Ambassador, Energy Minister Guler confirmed that Turkey has offered to buy all 12 bcm of Shah Deniz Phase II gas, but said it really wants "only" 8-9 bcm. The Ambassador noted that this would leave only 3-4 bcm for transit to Europe, undermining th [...] | 2008-04-11 08:04:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG EPET TU |
08ANKARA688 | ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP COMMISSION SCENESETTER [...] (C) The EPC has added balance to a bilateral relationship that has been heavily weighted to political and security cooperation. At the start of last year's EPC meeting, Turkey's economy was in its sixth year of strong growth, the government was steering a steady course, and the business clim [...] | 2008-04-11 09:38:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PREL TU |
08ANKARA690 | TURKEY: NGO'S PRESENT KURDISH SOLUTIONS TO A [...] (C) A broad coalition of Diyarbakir civil society organizations sent a delegation to Ankara this week to present a series of recommendations on how the government can address the Southeast's socio-economic problems. On the economic side, the recommendations focus on improving the effectivenes [...] | 2008-04-11 11:39:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL OSCE TU |
08ANKARA691 | IMPLICATIONS OF AKP CLOSURE CASE AND OUR PUBLIC [...] (c) Summary: The closure case against Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is a blow to this country's future. It reflects unresolved conflicts about the nature of Turkey, the state, the extent of popular democracy and the role of religion in society. It also results from fai [...] | 2008-04-11 12:44:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL TU |
08ANKARA709 | TURKEY: UN USYG PASCOE CONSULTS MFA ON CYPRUS [...] (C) Summary: Following consultations in Nicosia and Athens, UN Under Secretary General for Political Affairs Pascoe visited Ankara April 8 to discuss the UN's proposal for the next round of comprehensive Cyprus settlement talks. MFA sources report the GOT is pleased with the details Pascoe lai [...] | 2008-04-15 14:46:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV CY TU |
08ANKARA711 | TURKEY'S BIG PLANS TO DEVELOP IRANIAN GAS [...] (C) Summary: Energy Minister Guler's informal advisor Faruk Demir told us April 3 that Turkey plans to develop Iranian South Pars gas for Turkish and European consumption, and expects to obtain financing and Western partners to develop the field and construct a new pipeline to Turkey. Turkey [...] | 2008-04-16 13:30:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG EPET IR TU |
08ANKARA714 | TURKEY: RULING PARTY STILL WORKING OUT "ARTICLE [...] (C) Summary: As a bill to amend controversial Turkish Penal Code Article 301 (criminalizing insulting "Turkishness") inches its way toward the floor of Turkish Parliament, Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) members remain divided on the key issue of who should review cases to [...] | 2008-04-16 14:51:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL OSCE TU |
08ANKARA719 | TURKEY: BILL EXPANDING KURDISH LANGUAGE [...] (C) Summary and Comment: Parliament's Planning and Budget Subcommittee will take up a bill April 18 submitted by Turkey's state-controlled "TRT" broadcasting network to expand Kurdish-language (and other foreign language) broadcasting. The draft legislation follows up on PM Erdogan's Februar [...] | 2008-04-17 11:51:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL OSCE TU |
08ANKARA720 | TURKEY: 53 KURDISH MAYORS CONVICTED IN FREE SPEECH [...] (U) Summary and Comment. The Diyarbakir Heavy Criminal Court convicted 53 mayors from the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) April 15 of "praising criminal activity" and fined them USD 1500, a much-reduced penalty than the hard prison time originally sought by the prosecution. The co [...] | 2008-04-17 12:27:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL OSCE DE TU |
08ANKARA725 | BP VALIDATES TURKEY,S DEMAND FOR LARGE GAS [...] (C) Summary. BP Natural Gas Manager Oktay Sen shared with us his view that the GOT,s play for large volumes of gas from Shah Deniz Phase II development is based on realistic projections of Turkey's future gas needs. Turkish industrial consumers and households will continue to convert to nat [...] | 2008-04-18 12:27:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | AJ ENRG EPET TU |
08ANKARA728 | EU PRESIDENT BARROSO GOES "BACK TO BASICS" IN [...] (U) This is a joint Embassy Ankara - Consulate Istanbul cable. 2. (C) Summary and comment: European Union President Jose Manuel Barroso's April 11-12 visit to Turkey coincided with intense national debate and polarization over the March 14 indictment to close the ruling Justice and Develop [...] | 2008-04-18 12:38:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL OSCE TU |
08ANKARA73 | TURKEY: MAIN ALEVI ORGANIZATIONS BOYCOTT PM [...] (C) Summary: Turkey's main Alevi organizations boycotted a January 11 Muharram iftar organized by Justice and Development Party (AKP) MPs as outreach to Alevi communities. They saw the event as "Sunni-centric", aimed at assimilating Alevis into mainstream Sunni society, and demonstrated their [...] | 2008-01-14 14:30:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL OSCE TU |
08ANKARA746 | TURKEY: CHP CONVENTION TO AFFIRM BAYKAL'S [...] (C) SUMMARY. Few expect great change to come from the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) regular general convention, April 26-27. Deniz Baykal's iron grip on internal party processes virtually assures his reinstatement as chairman, and any changes to the Administrative Board will lik [...] | 2008-04-22 07:26:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL TU |
08ANKARA747 | TURKEY-IRAN SECURITY DIALOGUE: COOPERATION REMAINS [...] (C) Turkey-Iran security cooperation was not advanced substantially at the 12th Turkey-Iran Supreme Security Commission meeting, held in Ankara, April 15-16, MFA Security Affairs Head of Department (bilateral and multilateral security cooperation) Metin Ergin told us April 21. Ergin describe [...] | 2008-04-22 09:33:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | ASEC PINS PREL PGOV PTER IR TU |
08ANKARA753 | ABKHAZIA/SOUTH OSSETIA: TURKEY CONCERNED ABOUT [...] (C) Turkey shares our concerns about the new presidential instructions to the Russian government to create "mechanisms" to protect the rights of Russian citizens in Abkhazia and South Ossetia (reftel),MFA Deputy DG for South Caucasus and Central Asia Umit Yardim and South Caucasus Department [...] | 2008-04-22 13:58:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL GG RS TU |
08ANKARA755 | TURKEY: SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS WITH ISRAEL AND THE [...] (U) This cable is in response to ref a request. 2. (C) Summary: The GOT supports the Annapolis process and the Road Map, and increasingly sees itself as an impartial regional facilitator, capable of playing a constructive role in the Middle East peace process. Ankara hosted PA President A [...] | 2008-04-22 14:31:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KWBG IS KPAL TU |
08ANKARA772 | TURKISH MFA ON IRAQ MEETINGS IN KUWAIT [...] (C) Turkish MFA Deputy U/S Sinirlioglu briefed Ambassador April 24 on Turkish FM Babacan's talks with PM Maliki in Kuwait earlier this week. He said the Turks found Maliki more confident after the Basra confrontation. Both sides were pleased with progress on the mil-mil front, economic coope [...] | 2008-04-24 15:29:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER IZ US TU |
08ANKARA773 | TURKS POLITICK ON AKP CLOSURE CASE [...] (C) Summary: Turkish FM Babacan appealed privately for stronger Western support of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP),which faces a closure case, during his London visit last week. Turkey's two most prominent business associations are pushing for a constitutional convention as a [...] | 2008-04-24 16:47:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV TU |
08ANKARA792 | TURKEY: VIEWS ON A TURKEY-ARMENIA HISTORICAL [...] (C) SUMMARY: Creating an historical commission to analyze the shared histories of Turkey and Armenia and the genocide issue has been Ankara's proposed first step toward normalizing relations between the two countries. In Turkey, political, legal and institutional obstacles undermine prospec [...] | 2008-04-28 11:01:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV AM TU |
08ANKARA795 | TURKEY: RIVALS FIND COMMON CAUSE IN CONSTITUTIONAL [...] (C) SUMMARY. Long-standing civil society rivals have linked arms to press politicians to resuscitate efforts for comprehensive constitutional reform -- this time in a fashion that draws on a broad base. Two top business organizations, TUSIAD and TOBB, have quietly pitched to the major parties [...] | 2008-04-28 12:48:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL TU |
08ANKARA799 | TURKEY: GOT CONGRATULATES NEW ARMENIAN [...] (U) PM Erdogan congratulated newly-appointed Armenian PM Tigran Sarkissian on his assignment in an April 22 letter in which he called on the two "neighborly countries" to take concrete steps to find lasting solutions to their existing problems through dialogue and establishing good neighborly [...] | 2008-04-28 15:27:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV AM TU |
08ANKARA818 | TURKEY: CHP PARTY CONGRESS SERVES UP MORE OF SAME [...] (C) SUMMARY. A predictable and lackluster Republican People's Party (CHP) convention April 26-27 re-elected Deniz Baykal as chairman and cleaned house of his opponents, further strengthening his sclerotic hold over a party that does not want him, but cannot fight him. The convention declarati [...] | 2008-04-29 14:50:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL TU |
08ANKARA824 | MORE FROM TURKEY ON BECOMING AN EBRD RECIPIENT [...] (C) Summary: Although not an action addressee on reftel A, we wanted to provide the latest GOT position on Turkey becoming an EBRD recipient. On April 28, we met with Treasury Director General for International Affairs Memduh Akcay. While in Washington April 11-13 for the World Bank/IMF me [...] | 2008-04-30 04:55:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID PREL TU |
08ANKARA833 | TURKISH PARLIAMENT (FINALLY) AMENDS "ARTICLE 301" [...] (C) Summary and Comment: Following an all-night session and two years of heated debate, Turkey's parliament voted 250-65 to amend controversial Turkish Penal Code Article 301 (criminalizing "insulting Turkishness") at 5 am April 30. The bill, which requires that the Justice Minister authorize [...] | 2008-04-30 11:58:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL OSCE TU |
08ANKARA852 | TURKEY WILL PLEDGE AT PARIS AFGHANISTAN SUPPORT [...] (C) The GOT expects to make a fresh pledge at the June 12 Paris Support Conference for Afghanistan, MFA Pakistan/Afghanistan Section Head Ilhan Sener told us May 1. He promised to convey reftel points to his superiors; we will continue to monitor Turkey's position in advance of the conference [...] | 2008-05-02 13:56:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID ECON EFIN KDEM PGOV PREL AF TU |
08ANKARA859 | TURKEY: SENIOR AKP INSIDERS SEND PM ERDOGAN STRONG [...] (C) Summary and comment. Three senior members of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) are separately sending strong messages to PM Erdogan to pursue confidence building measures and decrease tensions that have polarized Turkey. AKP MP Vehit Erdem, former Deputy PM Abdullatif Sener and Depu [...] | 2008-05-05 12:30:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL TU |
08ANKARA878 | TURKEY: MFA DEPUTY U/S CEVIKOZ INTERESTED IN [...] (SBU) This is an action message for EUR, AF, and SCA. 2. (SBU) MFA Deputy U/S (A/S equivalent) for Central Asia and Caucasia, Eastern Europe (former Soviet Union),East Asia and Africa Unal Cevikoz has expressed interest in visiting Washington before August 2008 for consultations on Africa [...] | 2008-05-07 11:18:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL TU |
08ANKARA885 | TURKEY: AKP'S PRELIMINARY DEFENSE TARGETS Chief PROSECUTOR [...] (C) SUMMARY. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) submitted its preliminary defense against the party closure case charging AKP with being a center of anti-secular acts on April 30, two days ahead of deadline. The 98-page defense condemns what it portrays as a contradictory, anti-dem [...] | 2008-05-07 14:23:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL TU |
08ANKARA886 | TURKEY: U/S APAKAN UNDERSCORES IMPORTANCE OF [...] (C) Summary: MFA U/S Apakan discussed his recent Washington consultations, Turkey's efforts with Iraq, and Georgia's participation in NATO's Air Situation Data Exchange (ASDE) during a meeting with Ambassador May 5. Apakan was positive on meetings with USG officials. He highlighted confidenc [...] | 2008-05-07 15:21:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV TU IZ GG |
08ANKARA887 | TURKEY: UNVIE AMBASSADOR SCHULTE'S CONSULTATIONS [...] (C) During April 28-29 meetings in Ankara with MFA Undersecretary Apakan, Presidency advisor Turkoglu, PM advisor Davutoglu, Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TAEK) president Cakiroglu, six members of parliament, and Turkish General Staff J-5 LTG Zorlu, UNVIE Ambassador Schulte urged continued [...] | 2008-05-08 09:11:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER KNUC UNSC IR TU |
08ANKARA889 | TURKEY: INT'L COMPACT WITH IRAQ MINISTERIAL [...] (U) This cable responds to reftel demarche request. 2. (C) Summary. On May 2, we met with MFA Department Head for Iraq Aydin Selcen to discuss Turkey's support for the upcoming International Compact with Iraq (ICI) Ministerial to be held in Stockholm, Sweden on May 29. Selcen was quick [...] | 2008-05-08 11:51:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID ECON EFIN IZ PGOV PREL TU |
08ANKARA89 | TURKEY RE-LAUNCHES BID TO WIN CENTRAL ASIAN HEARTS [...] (C) SUMMARY. Turkish President Abdullah Gul is spearheading a renewed GOT effort to strengthen Turkish-Central Asian relations through visit diplomacy. Unlike Turkey's initial, post-Soviet era approach to the region, the Turks are viewing Central Asia as a partner not a patron, and offering [...] | 2008-01-16 13:58:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM ENRG EPET EINV KZ KG TI TX |
08ANKARA890 | TURKEY: U/S APAKAN PREVIEWS CYPRUS GRIEVANCES TO [...] (C) During a May 5 meeting on various subjects, Turkish MFA U/S Apakan outlined GOT concerns about Cyprus that he planned to raise with the EU Troika during its May 6 meetings in Ankara. His purpose was not to complain, but to highlight areas where Greek Cypriots and President Christofias are [...] | 2008-05-08 12:18:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV CY TU |
08ANKARA894 | TURKEY MUST CONSULT WITH EU BEFORE RENEGOTIATING [...] (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 4. 2. (C) We delivered reftel demarche to Turkish Treasury DDG for Foreign Investment, Murat Alici, who told us that, because Turkey is involved in the EU accession process, the GOT will have to consult with the European Commission (EC) [...] | 2008-05-09 06:48:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | EINV ECON TU |
08ANKARA895 | SHELL AND TPAO TO ANNOUNCE MOU FOR WORK IN IRAQ [...] (C) Summary. On May 12, Shell will announce an MOU framework agreement with Turkish Petroleum (TPAO) to work together in Iraq, with Shell having its sights on the Akkas Field as a first step in their new partnership. TPAO is still trying to reverse the Iraqi Oil Ministry,s April 14 decision [...] | 2008-05-09 08:21:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG IZ TU |
08ANKARA901 | TURKEY: IRAQ SPECIAL REP. OZCELIK LOOKS AT NEXT [...] (C) SUMMARY: Turkish MFA Special Representative for Iraq Murat Ozcelik plans to return to Baghdad May 13 to resume consultations with the GOI and has the green light from President Gul and the Turkish military to meet with Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) president Massoud Barzani in Baghdad. [...] | 2008-05-09 16:14:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER ECON ENRG TU IZ |
08ANKARA903 | LEBANON NEEDS ITS FRIENDS - TURKEY [...] (c) We spoke separately on May 9 with Turkish Presidency/Prime Ministry foreign affairs advisor Ahmet Davutoglu, MFA U/S Apakan and MFA Syria desk officer Cem Ulusoy regarding Lebanon. Drawing on reftel points, we emphasized the need for Turkey to be as fully supportive now as possible of the [...] | 2008-05-09 16:47:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER LE TU |
08ANKARA907 | TURKEY SHARES USG'S OSLO PROCESS CONCERNS [...] (C) We delivered reftel points to MFA Department Head for Disarmament and Nonproliferation Elif Ulgen on May 8. Ulgen said the GOT shared USG concerns about Article 1 (b) and (c) of the Oslo Process draft text, and agreed with the U.S. position that the workarounds developed for the Ottawa Co [...] | 2008-05-12 09:30:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | MOPS PARM PREL NATO UN TU |
08ANKARA909 | TURKEY: CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CHIEF'S SURPRISINGLY [...] (C) SUMMARY AND COMMENT. Constitutional Court Chairman Hasim Kilic candidly acknowledged tensions between law and politics in Turkey, noting a serious crisis of confidence within society in April 25 remarks marking the Court's 46th anniversary. Kilic challenged all players, the judiciary inc [...] | 2008-05-12 13:30:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL TU |
08ANKARA918 | TURKEY STILL UNDECIDED ON WIPO DIRECTOR GENERAL [...] (C) We delivered reftel demarche May 9 to Serap Ozcoskun, Head of the Multilateral Economic Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ozcoskun thanked us for our short list. Shw said that Turkey has not yet finalized its list and probably will not finalize it until just before v [...] | 2008-05-13 04:55:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | WIPO KIPR ETRD PREL TU |
08ANKARA920 | TURKEY: SOUTHEAST CONTACTS HOPEFUL ON GOT-IRAQ [...] (U) This is a joint Consulate Adana-Embassy Ankara message. 2. (C) Summary and Comment: Kurdish leaders in Turkey's southeast are pleased that Ankara has initiated formal contacts with northern Iraq's Kurdish Regional Government (KRG),reflecting a more pragmatic Turkish approach to the reg [...] | 2008-05-13 08:20:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER ECON TU IZ |
08ANKARA924 | TURKEY: POLLS PUT RESPONSIBILITY FOR TENSIONS AT [...] (C) SUMMARY AND COMMENT. Turks hold the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) responsible for current political tensions, with mixed consequences for party support, according to recent surveys by rival polling companies A&G and Metropoll. A&G's April poll showed voter support for AKP sl [...] | 2008-05-13 11:29:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV TU |
08ANKARA934 | HOST NATION NOTIFICATION COMPLETED ON USAFE PAR [...] No summary [...] | 2008-05-14 15:09:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MOPS PREL NATO TU |
08ANKARA935 | TURKEY/IRAN SANCTIONS: NO PLANS TO SUBMIT 60-DAY [...] (C) We delivered ref a demarche to MFA Iranian Affairs Department Head Devrim Ozturk and MFA Nonproliferation and Disarmament Head Bora Kerimoglu on May 9. Thanking us for the report, Ozturk stated that Turkey is fully implementing UNSC Resolution 1803, as well as Resolutions 1737 and 1747. H [...] | 2008-05-14 15:16:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | KNNP EFIN AORC ETRD UNSC TRGY IR TU |
08ANKARA937 | TURKEY: EU TROIKA, IN ANKARA, FOCUSES ON NEED FOR [...] (C) Summary and comment: The EU continued its intense engagement with Turkey (following EC President Barroso's recent visit) with a May 6 EU Troika meeting in Ankara. The EU delegation stressed the accession door remains very much open for Turkey, but reforms must be reinvigorated. Turkish [...] | 2008-05-15 05:39:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV TU EUN |
08ANKARA939 | TURKEY: CFE CONSULTATIONS WITH RUSSIAN DFM KISLYAK [...] (C) Summary: MFA Arms Control Deputy Director General Ahmet Muhtar Gun told us May 14 that Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Kislyak probed for weaknesses in the Alliance's position on CFE, griped about Alliance "failures" to respond to Russia's concerns, and pressed Turkey to give up the Flank [...] | 2008-05-15 11:46:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KCFE OSCE RS TU |
08ANKARA941 | TURKEY/NATO: TURKEY REQUESTS SUPPORT ON EXERCISE [...] (C) Summary: In conversations with Ambassador on May 14 and 15, MFA Undersecretary Apakan requested the U.S. urge NATO political and military authorities to maintain NATO impartiality in Aegean disputes, stating that conduct of Exercise Noble Archer under the current scenario will escalate te [...] | 2008-05-15 13:49:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR NATO GR TU |
08ANKARA942 | TURKEY/IRAN: TURKEY OFFERS TO HOST MEETING BETWEEN [...] (C) During May 12 bilateral consultations with Turkey that focused on CFE issues (ref) Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Kislyak made the following points regarding Iran, according to MFA Arms Control Deputy Director General Ahmet Muhtar Gun: -- No one has full intelligence on Iranian intention [...] | 2008-05-15 14:37:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV IR RS TU |
08ANKARA950 | TURKEY: DRAFT LEGISLATION SHOULD STRENGTHEN GOT [...] (SBU) Summary: The Underseretariat of Foreign Trade (UFT),in coordination with all other GOT entities with export control responsibilities, has submitted to the Prime Ministry draft export control legislation as part of an effort to meet EU standards, close loop holes, and rationalize Turkey [...] | 2008-05-16 12:27:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | ETTC PARM PGOV TU |
08ANKARA953 | AFRICA: TURKEY'S NEXT FRONTIER? [...] (C) Summary and Comment: Like China and India, Turkey has joined the rush to forge relations with sub-Saharan Africa. The Justice and Development Party (AKP) has raised Turkey's political profile since coming to power in 2002 -- declaring 2005 the "Year of Africa" and announcing plans to open 1 [...] | 2008-05-16 12:44:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON TU AF |
08ANKARA964 | TURKEY: PRO-KURDISH DTP LEADER AHMET TURK [...] No summary [...] | 2008-05-21 13:23:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ TU |
08ANKARA965 | TURKEY: STOPPING THE FLOW OF FOREIGN FIGHTERS TO [...] (C) Summary. Turkey is acutely aware of the Al Qaeda Network (AQN) threat and is actively collecting against it, an MFA official told us May 20. Turkey cannot, however, engage in broad "profiling" of young male travelers. Urged to consider new border security and information-sharing arrange [...] | 2008-05-21 13:35:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL ASEC IZ SY TU |
08ANKARA979 | TURKISH JUDICIARY LASHES OUT AT GOVERNMENT - AND [...] (C) Summary and comment. In a May 21 statement, the Court of Appeals (Yargitay) publicly accused the government of pressuring the judiciary while two critical cases are pending, one of them the closure case against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). The court criticized the gover [...] | 2008-05-23 09:47:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV TU |
08ANKARA984 | CUBA: REVIEW OF TURKEY FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III [...] (C) Summary: Turkey's relations with Cuba are limited, and its investment on the island is nonexistent. The two countries conduct a yearly Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting, chaired in March in Ankara by Cuba's Minister for Foreign Economic Relations and Foreign Investment and Turkey's [...] | 2008-05-23 12:16:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ETTC EINT PREL TU CU |
08ANKARA99 | TURKEY AT A CROSSROADS ON SOUTHEAST, [...] (C) Summary and comment: Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat (please protect),ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) vice chair, political veteran and ethnic Kurd, believes President Gul and PM Erdogan's recent White House meetings created an opportunity for progress on Turkey's Kurdish issue. It [...] | 2008-01-17 14:47:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER PHUM TU IZ |
08ANKARA996 | ERDOGAN'S GAP PLAN - LONG ON RHETORIC, SHORT ON [...] (C) Summary. During a May 27 visit to Diyarbakir, Prime Minister Erdogan turned an official speech into a two-hour political rally. His aim was to detail plans to complete the Southeast Development Project (GAP, in Turkish). After 90 minutes of platitudes about his administration's contribu [...] | 2008-05-28 04:13:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN EAID PREL PTER TU |
08ANTANANARIVO25 | PRESIDENT SAMBI DETERMINED TO LIBERATE ANJOUAN [...] (C) SUMMARY: Following Assistant Secretary Jendayi Frazer,s first visit to the Union of the Comoros (septel),Ambassador Marquardt held a number of meetings with President Sambi, high-level Union Government officials, and members of the international community to discuss the possibility of a [...] | 2008-01-14 15:49:00 | Embassy Antananarivo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM MOPS CN |
08ANTANANARIVO504 | FRENCH AMBASSADOR PUSHED OUT OF MADAGASCAR [...] (U) Barely six months into his tour, Gildas Le Lidec, the French Ambassador to Madagascar, announced his imminent departure at the 14 of July National Day celebrations held at his residence. Shocking most of the assembly, including Foreign Minister Marcel Ranjeva, who was present as President [...] | 2008-07-16 12:11:00 | Embassy Antananarivo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV FR MA |
08ANTANANARIVO540 | MADAGASCAR'S PRESIDENT - PASSIONATE FOR AGRICULTURE [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Charge accompanied visiting agribusiness speaker Dr. Arthur Siaway in a call on President Marc Ravalomanana (at his request) for 75 minutes August 4. When encouraged to allow local markets of agricultural goods to reflect global prices as a way to stimulate production, Rava [...] | 2008-08-05 10:05:00 | Embassy Antananarivo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAGR ECON PGOV MA |
08ANTANANARIVO644 | GROWING OPPOSITION FOCUSED ON CAPITAL FEUD [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Prompted by the recent involvement of increasingly higher-profile opposition leaders, President Ravalomanana and his allies have been forced to publicly confront growing discontent with the administration, if not address its causes. In the capital, a nine-month battle between t [...] | 2008-09-24 09:16:00 | Embassy Antananarivo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM MA XW |
08ANTANANARIVO691 | MAYOR TO PRESIDENT: JUST LET ME DO MY JOB [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a meeting between Antananarivo Mayor Andry Rajoelina and Ambassador Marquardt, the Mayor outlined his ongoing difficulties with President Ravalomanana and his party, TIM, painting himself as an eager but frustrated reformer who wants nothing more than to do his job. While he b [...] | 2008-10-09 13:19:00 | Embassy Antananarivo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV MA |
08ANTANANARIVO759 | COMORAN PRESIDENT SAMBI'S IRAN TIES ARE UNPOPULAR [...] (C) SUMMARY: Union of the Comoros President Sambi faces criticism at home for his efforts to enhance ties with Iran, mostly because moderate Sunni Comoros is wary of Shi'ism. Iran has opened a "foundation" office in Moroni to fund schools and an Iranian Red Crescent clinic. Most Comorans and [...] | 2008-11-12 09:00:00 | Embassy Antananarivo | CONFIDENTIAL | ASEC PREL PTER CN IR |
08ANTANANARIVO847 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED: MADAGASCAR HESITANT ON UNESCO [...] (C) On December 17, EmbOff delivered reftel demarche to Acting Director of Multilateral Cooperation Harifera Rabemananjara. She reported that the GOM had received a request to support the Egyptian candidate, Farouk Hosni, as well as a Moroccan candidate (NOTE: Press reports indicate that the [...] | 2008-12-18 13:04:00 | Embassy Antananarivo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNESCO MA |
08ANTANANARIVO849 | MADAGASCAR: PRESIDENT AND MAYOR TAKING THEIR [...] (C) SUMMARY: The year-long feud between Antananarivo Mayor Andry Rajoelina and President Marc Ravalomanana entered a new and more volatile chapter on the one year anniversary of Rajoelina's 2007 election. Following the GOM's surprise closure on December 13 of VIVA TV, owned by Rajoelina, the [...] | 2008-12-19 07:51:00 | Embassy Antananarivo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM MA |
08ANTANANARIVO879 | IMF DISPLEASED OVER GOM POLICY DECISIONS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Responding to open source reports concerning several recent GOM economic policy decisions, IMF and World Bank officials raised their concerns in a 12 December letter to Minister of Finance and Budget Haja Nirina Razafinjatovo. In the last month, the government has purchased an [...] | 2008-12-30 13:48:00 | Embassy Antananarivo | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN PREL PGOV MA |
08ASHGABAT1009 | SCO SUMMIT IN DUSHANBE: TURKMENISTAN WILL NOT [...] (C) Per reftel request, Embassy delivered non-paper to Turkmenistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 1 regarding the August Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Dushanbe. Deputy Premier/Foreign Minister of Foreign Affairs Rashid Meredov told the Charge August 4 that Presi [...] | 2008-08-04 10:40:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR MOPS AFIN TX |
08ASHGABAT1016 | TURKMENISTAN: CURRENCY REFORM A NET POSITIVE [...] (C) SUMMARY. In the first few months of relative stability since currency unification, prices remain high and locals struggle to adjust. The investment climate seems to have visibly improved, however, despite the continued lack of a stable financial framework to support entrepreneurs and p [...] | 2008-08-05 14:02:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON EFIN TX |
08ASHGABAT1024 | TURKMENISTAN'S AIR NAV FEE PROPOSAL [...] (U) This is an action request. See para. 9. 2. (C) SUMMARY: The Turkmenistan government has proposed an administrative solution to resolve the air navigation fee issue in which bills presented to USG aircraft commanders will now only show a total charge for all ground and other services [...] | 2008-08-06 10:22:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAIR MARR MCAP MOPS TX |
08ASHGABAT1031 | TURKMENISTAN: EMERGING STORY CONTRADICTS OFFICIAL [...] (C) President Berdimuhamedov accepted the resignation "for health reasons" of Minister of Textiles Jemal Goklenova during an August 1 Cabinet of Ministers meeting. Goklenova, related to Berdimuhamedov through his wife (reftel),dropped totally off the map during former President Niyazov,s lat [...] | 2008-08-07 13:30:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR EIND ETRD TX |
08ASHGABAT1035 | TURKMENISTAN: DISCOURAGING AN IRAN-TURKEY NATURAL [...] No summary [...] | 2008-08-08 08:28:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENERG EPET ETTC TX |
08ASHGABAT1036 | TURKMENISTAN: EMBASSY EMPLOYEE JENNET [...] (SBU) Deputy Foreign Minister Wepa Hajiyev called in the Charge on August 8 to inform her that Embassy employee Jennet Gulichdurdiyeva, the daughter of an RFE/RL reporter, would be allowed to leave the country. Hajiyev said Gulichdurdiyeva is free to travel to any place, and there would be no [...] | 2008-08-08 15:05:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM TX |
08ASHGABAT1039 | TURKMENISTAN: WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM [...] (C) During a discussion of regional pipeline issues, Deputy Chairman/Foreign Minister Meredov told Charge August 11 that Turkmenistan is still waiting for a response from Azerbaijan to Turkmenistan's concrete proposal on oil and gas cooperation. He emphasized that the proposal was serious and [...] | 2008-08-11 14:14:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT1056 | TURKMENISTAN: CITIBANK LOOKING FOR BUSINESS [...] (C) Two officials from Citibank are visiting Turkmenistan for annual client meetings: a Citibank Vice President and Senior Correspondent Banker from Citibank's Bank Services Group and a Relationship Manager of Citibank's Central Asia and Transcaucasia Department. Citibank has provided money [...] | 2008-08-13 12:40:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN TX |
08ASHGABAT1065 | INTEK -- BACKGROUND ON A UNIQUELY SUCCESSFUL [...] (C) SUMMARY: Intek is a successful information technology, printing, and technical education company that was founded right after independence by Artur Ovezmuradov. A FLEX alumna is head of Corporate Sales discussed the company's long and impressive list of government, corporate, and intern [...] | 2008-08-15 13:13:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR EIND TX |
08ASHGABAT1067 | TURKMENISTAN/AZERBAIJAN: U.S. BUSINESSMAN CLAIMS [...] (C) The AMCIT country manager for Bertling Logistics, a Houston-based firm that provides logistical support for many of the foreign oil companies active in Turkmenistan, said during an August 15 meeting that he has been told that there has been more than one incident involving Azeri gunboats i [...] | 2008-08-16 06:38:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EPET AJ IR TX |
08ASHGABAT1068 | TURKMENISTAN: DATE FOR ADOPTION OF REVISED [...] (U) During an August 15 cabinet meeting, the president announced that the 2000-plus member National Halk Maslahaty (People's Council) will convene on 26 September. During the session, the body will formally adopt the revised national constitution, and will also reportedly discuss a president [...] | 2008-08-18 08:35:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM UNGA TX |
08ASHGABAT1070 | TURKMENISTAN: UN CENTER FOR PREVENTATIVE [...] (C) Fedor Klimtchouk, Deputy Head of the UN Regional Center for Preventative Diplomacy for Central Asia and Senior Political Affairs Officer, said on August 15 that President Berdimuhamedov asked Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and Head of Center Ambassador Miroslav Jenca d [...] | 2008-08-18 09:11:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EPET AORC TX |
08ASHGABAT1079 | BOEING FACING CHALLENGES FROM BOMBARDIER AND [...] (C) SUMMARY: In promoting its business relationship with the Government of Turkmenistan since independence, Boeing Corporation has provided many services -- some free of charge -- in order to help Turkmenistan and to promote customer loyalty. Until recently, this strategy worked well. Howev [...] | 2008-08-18 13:11:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EAIR EIND TX |
08ASHGABAT1083 | TURKMENISTAN: EQUAL PAY COMMENTS CREATING NEW [...] (C) SUMMARY: Foreign oil firms and hydrocarbon service companies are reporting that Turkmenistan's hydrocarbon officials are pressuring them to begin paying their local employees the same wages as they pay their expatriate workers. This echoes similar calls that President Berdimuhamedov has [...] | 2008-08-19 11:36:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON EPET ELAB TX |
08ASHGABAT109 | TURKMENISTAN'S HYDROCARBONS SECTOR: U.S. FIRMS [...] (C) SUMMARY: U.S. hydrocarbon firms have seen little progress since November (Ref. A) in terms of receiving responses from the Government of Turkmenistan to their offers. Looking to the future, Chevron has appointed an Amcit country manager and is opening an office in Turkmenistan. However [...] | 2008-01-22 11:52:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ENRG EPET ENIV TX |
08ASHGABAT1093 | TURKMENISTAN: STILL MULLING REDENOMINATION AND [...] (C) During an August 19 dinner, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Head of Mission Neil McKain told Charge that Turkmenistan's Central Bank is still uncertain exactly how to manage redenomination, which is scheduled to be implemented on January 1, 2009, or what to use as the den [...] | 2008-08-20 13:52:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EFIN TX |
08ASHGABAT1098 | TURKMENISTAN: TOUCHING BASE WITH RELIGIOUS [...] (C) SUMMARY: During a routine embassy religious roundtable meeting on August 19, members of seven minority religious groups in Turkmenistan -- representing both registered and unregistered religious groups -- generally noted that their situation is improving, even though a number of complai [...] | 2008-08-21 10:55:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KIRF KDEM TX |
08ASHGABAT1099 | TURKMENISTAN/UNGA: VICE PREMIER FOR FOREIGN [...] (C) Turkmenistan's Vice Premier for Foreign Affairs, Rashid Meredov, told A/DCM today that he will represent Turkmenistan at the UN General Assembly. While he still cannot give his exact arrival/departure dates, he expects to travel after September 26, when Turkmenistan's National People's C [...] | 2008-08-21 10:57:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL OTRA OVIP UNGA TX |
08ASHGABAT1105 | TURKMENISTAN: RUSSIA-GEORGIA CONFLICT - SHAPING [...] No summary [...] | 2008-08-22 14:08:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR RU GG TX |
08ASHGABAT1111 | TURKMENISTAN: STEERING A NEUTRAL COURSE WITH THE [...] (C) During a conversation on August 25, Georgian Ambassador Aleksi Petriashvili told the Charge that despite the official August 16 MFA press statement expressing condolences to the family and friends of the deceased in South Ossetia (Ref A),no Turkmen official came to sign the embassy condo [...] | 2008-08-25 10:33:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL GG TX |
08ASHGABAT1130 | TURKMENISTAN: CNPC'S GROWING PRESENCE HAS IMPACT [...] (C) SUMMARY: An Emboff who spends a great deal of time in Lebap Province has been observing the impact of the growing Chinese National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) presence. Over the last few months, a growing number of Chinese workers have become visible in Turkmenabat, and the company's [...] | 2008-08-27 11:43:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON EPET EINV CH TX |
08ASHGABAT1131 | TURKMENISTAN: MURADOV OUT AS STATE AGENCY [...] (C) Chevron's Country Manager called us late on August 27 to report that, when he attempted to send documents to the Executive Director of the State Agency for Management and Use of Hydrocarbon Resources, his intern was told that Bayrammurat Muradov is no longer Executive Director. Instead, t [...] | 2008-08-27 12:29:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT1137 | MARATHON PATIENTLY KEEPING LINES OF COMMUNICATION [...] (C) Marathon Oil Company Vice President Declan O'Byrne and several of his colleagues on August 27 provided Charge with an update on their negotiations with the government. They had given a presentation to a core group of Turkmen oil and gas experts the day before on the joint project definit [...] | 2008-08-28 12:19:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET EINV TX |
08ASHGABAT1138 | TURKMENISTAN: ENERGY COMPANIES HAVE POSITIVE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Energy companies now operating in Turkmenistan are viewing the new Petroleum Law as a good first step in making it easier to do business here, and see the State Agency for Management and Use of Hydrocarbon Resources' central role in implementing the law as a sign that the gover [...] | 2008-08-28 13:18:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EPET EINV TX |
08ASHGABAT1139 | TURKMENISTAN: CHEVRON PREPARING FOR NEGOTIATIONS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Chevron has received two letters from Minister of Oil and Gas Baymurat Hojamuhammedov stating that Turkmenistan is ready to open negotiations on the company's proposal to work natural gas onshore. The country manager talked with both Hojamuhammedov and the Executive Director of [...] | 2008-08-28 13:20:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT1142 | TURKMENISTAN: BURIED HILL EXPANDING ITS PRESENCE, [...] (C) SUMMARY: Buried Hill is expanding its presence in Ashgabat, and its work in the disputed Block III region is moving forward. The company's general manager here is downplaying the April incident with Azerbaijani coast guard authorities, and said company vessels had neither been visited [...] | 2008-08-29 11:57:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET AJ TX |
08ASHGABAT1144 | TURKMENISTAN: CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION A LIKELY [...] (C) It appears that the Turkmen may have decided against participation in a conference sponsored by a USAID implementing partner in order to avoid unwanted pressure from Russia. USAID sent an invitation for one representative from the Ministry of Education and one from the Institute for Demo [...] | 2008-08-29 13:26:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAID KJUS TX |
08ASHGABAT1153 | TURKMENISTAN: REASONS FOR HYDROCARBON SECTOR [...] (C) SUMMARY: A week after President Berdimuhamedov's August 27 decision to shake up Turkmenistan's hydrocarbon leadership, there continues to be much speculation about his reasons for making the changes. All post's sources agree that there are no indications that the Executive Director of t [...] | 2008-09-03 13:30:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET PINR TX |
08ASHGABAT1154 | TURKMENISTAN: DURDYMURADOV RESUMES TEACHING, [...] (C) Poloff spoke to Sazak Durdymuradov by phone to get an update on his situation. Durdymuradov, the RFE/RL correspondent detained in a psychiatric facility for two weeks last June (Ref A),said that he had resumed his teaching job at a school in Baharly when schools re-opened this week. H [...] | 2008-09-03 13:36:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM TX |
08ASHGABAT1155 | BERDIMUHAMEDOV EMPHASIZES TURKMENISTAN'S [...] (C) During a September 3 meeting with Deputy Assistant Secretary George Krol (septel),President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, emphasizing the country's neutral position on the conflict in Georgia, said Turkmenistan will not support Georgia, Russia, or South Ossetia. He said it is always tragi [...] | 2008-09-03 17:16:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL TX |
08ASHGABAT1156 | TURKMENISTAN: REASONS FOR HYDROCARBON SECTOR [...] (C) SUMMARY: A week after President Berdimuhamedov's August 27 decision to shake up Turkmenistan's hydrocarbon leadership, there continues to be much speculation about his reasons for making the changes. All post's sources agree that there are no indications that the Executive Director of t [...] | 2008-09-03 17:18:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET PINR TX |
08ASHGABAT1157 | TURKMENISTAN: BERDIMUHAMEDOV SAYS NO DELIMITATION, [...] (C) During a wide-ranging meeting September 3 with Deputy Assistant Secretary George Krol (septel),President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said Turkmenistan has no problem with a trans-Caspian pipeline, but the need for delimitation is standing in the way. If delimitation is not solved, how can [...] | 2008-09-03 17:27:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT1158 | DAS KROL DISCUSSES TURKMENISTAN/CENTRAL ASIA WITH [...] (C) SUMMARY: During a September 2 lunch with members of Ashgabat's foreign diplomatic corps, Deputy Assistant Secretary George Krol raised regional issues of direct concern to the United States and western governments. There was much discussion the situation in Turkmenistan and the region, es [...] | 2008-09-03 17:45:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL TX |
08ASHGABAT1167 | FINAL TURKMENISTAN CONSTITUTION LIKELY TO CONTAIN [...] (C) SUMMARY: Institute for Democracy and Human Rights Director Shirin Akhmedova recently told UNDP's senior representative that the government is seriously considering recommendations the international community passed it on August 20 and may well accept most of them. With acceptance of ma [...] | 2008-09-04 16:07:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM TX |
08ASHGABAT1168 | TURKMENISTAN: FOREIGN ENERGY COMPANIES PRESS ON [...] (C) SUMMARY: Over the summer, some foreign oil and gas companies, hoping to make progress on proposals they submitted to the government months ago, were in a "wait and see" mode, after Turkmenistan's hydrocarbon officials gave them subtle hints that responses could be forthcoming or policie [...] | 2008-09-04 16:29:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT1169 | TURKMENISTAN: EXXONMOBIL STILL TESTING THE WATERS [...] (C) During a September 2 meeting, a visiting ExxonMobil representative told the A/DCM that his company is continuing to test the waters with the Government of Turkmenistan. The company is continuing to meet with hydrocarbon officials -- most recently with TurkmenGaz on September 1 and 2 -- in [...] | 2008-09-04 16:32:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT1180 | TURKMENISTAN: RECEPTIVE TO TURKISH ENERGY [...] (C) SUMMARY: Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Guler's visit laid the groundwork for expanding the Turkish role in Turkmenistan's oil and gas industry and also could strengthen and enhance the two countries' electricity relationship. It is possible that Turkmen officials were quite receptive to [...] | 2008-09-06 08:06:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EINV EPET ENRG EIND IR TU TX |
08ASHGABAT1181 | TURKMENISTAN: LOTUS ENERJI OFFICIALS SAY AUDIT [...] (C) Officials of the Turkish energy company Lotus Enerji told Charge September 5 that an audit done by the seismic imaging company WesternGeco confirms large gas deposits in South Yoloten. Although an audit by Gaffney-Kline, which is due to be made public in late September, is necessary in or [...] | 2008-09-06 09:08:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT1186 | TURKMENISTAN: BERDIMUHAMEDOV EXPRESSES [...] (C) SUMMARY: During a friendly meeting lasting almost two hours September 3 with Deputy Assistant Secretary George Krol, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov: -- stressed the importance of the bilateral relationship, including commercial ties and cooperation. -- encouraged U.S. companies to [...] | 2008-09-09 05:25:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PINR PREL ECON EPET ETRD TX |
08ASHGABAT1187 | TURKMENISTAN: FM MEREDOV DISCUSSES BILATERAL [...] (C) SUMMARY: During a two-hour meeting on September 2 and a three-hour private lunch on September 4 that included Charge, Deputy Chairman/Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov expressed appreciation for cooperation with the United States and dialogue with the embassy. He underscored Turkmenistan's [...] | 2008-09-09 06:38:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL ECON EPET SOCI TX |
08ASHGABAT1190 | UK CHARGE D'AFFAIRES BAFFLED BY TURKMEN OFFICIALS' [...] (C) SUMMARY: The UK Charge d'Affaires in Ashgabat is puzzled by the reluctance of Turkmen government officials to contact or meet with him or members of the Embassy staff. In a meeting with emboff, he said that they avoid official meetings or briefings, and rarely attend social events when [...] | 2008-09-09 09:49:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL TX |
08ASHGABAT1197 | TURKMENISTAN: UN RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS SPECIAL [...] (C) SUMMARY: At the conclusion of her week-long mission to Turkmenistan, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief told Charge that she has seen major improvements since 2007 in the country's attitude towards religious freedoms, but is still very concerned about the treatment [...] | 2008-09-10 16:35:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL EAID SOCI KIRF TX |
08ASHGABAT1205 | TURKEMNISTAN: HUNGARY'S NABUCCO AMBASSADOR INVITES [...] (C) Hungary's Ambassador at Large for the Nabucco Pipeline Project Mihaly Bayer met September 10 with Charge. He was in Ashgabat to deliver an invitation to President Berdimuhamedov to attend a Nabucco Summit in Hungary January 26-27, 2009. Bayer had just come from Baku where he had delivered [...] | 2008-09-11 10:00:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON EPET RU TX |
08ASHGABAT1209 | TURKMENISTAN: SHOOTING INCIDENT IN KHITROVKA [...] (C) SUMMARY: Late on September 9, two men, one armed with an AK-47, killed a soldier in a three-person foot patrol and wounded another soldier and the policeman with him. The suspects escaped. Police sources claim the suspects were extremists or at least influenced by outsiders. It is unc [...] | 2008-09-11 14:12:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER SOCI KCRM TX |
08ASHGABAT1218 | TURKMENISTAN: HEAD OF UN PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY [...] (C) SUMMARY: Deputy Assistant Secretary George Krol met September 4 with United Nations Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy Head of Office Miroslav Jenca to discuss regional issues, including water, energy, and Afghanistan. Jenca described Turkmenistan's proposed UN resolution on energy [...] | 2008-09-15 08:52:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PBIO PREL ECON ENRG EPET UN TX |
08ASHGABAT1230 | TURKMENISTAN: HEAD OF UN PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY [...] (C) SUMMARY: Deputy Assistant Secretary George Krol met September 4 with United Nations Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy Head of Office Miroslav Jenca to discuss regional issues, including water, energy, and Afghanistan. Jenca described Turkmenistan's proposed UN resolution on energy s [...] | 2008-09-15 13:02:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PBIO PREL ECON ENRG EPET UN TX |
08ASHGABAT1231 | TURKMENISTAN: HEAD OF UN PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY [...] (C) SUMMARY: Deputy Assistant Secretary George Krol met September 4 with United Nations Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy Head of Office Miroslav Jenca to discuss regional issues, including water, energy, and Afghanistan. Jenca described Turkmenistan's proposed UN resolution on energy s [...] | 2008-09-15 13:03:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PBIO PREL ECON ENRG EPET UN TX |
08ASHGABAT1237 | TURKMENISTAN: AUSTRIAN ENERGY COMPANY OMV SMELLS [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Austrian energy company OMV has been having trouble communicating its development ideas to government officials in Ashgabat, and its regional representative believes that the Russian military actions in Georgia may be causing some hand wringing at the highest levels. A key [...] | 2008-09-16 13:31:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET TX AU |
08ASHGABAT1240 | TURKMENISTAN: BERDIMUHAMEDOV RESTATES THE FAMILIAR [...] (C) SUMMARY: During a meeting September 8 which lasted more than 2 1/2 hours, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov told Special Envoy for European Energy C. Boyden Gray and U.S. Coordinator for Eurasian Energy Affairs Steve Mann that an audit by the British company Gaffney-Kline, due to be rele [...] | 2008-09-17 10:07:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PBTS PGOV PHUM PREL ECON EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT1247 | TURKMENISTAN: HYDROCARBONS OFFICIALS RESTATE [...] (C) During a September 18 meeting with Charge, the AmCit country manager for Chevron's Turkmenistan office said a number of Turkmenistan hydrocarbons officials reiterated to him the national preference for Turkmen companies (TurkmenNeft and TurkmenGas) to do the onshore work. September 12-18, [...] | 2008-09-18 13:33:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT1248 | AMERICAN SUPPLY COMPANY SURPRISED BY [...] (C) On September 18, emboffs met with Greg Ballou, the Amcit business development manager for Gateway Ventures International, a U.S. company with offices across Eurasia, the Middle East and Asia. The company's business activities appear to be broad, but the company's recently-registered off [...] | 2008-09-18 13:44:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EINV EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT1249 | EBRD ENDEAVORS TO INCREASE ITS BUSINESS IN [...] (C) SUMMARY: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Resident Office Head Neil McKain (please strictly protect throughout) is working hard to increase EBRD's operational effectiveness in Turkmenistan, by concluding deals and actively seeking cooperation with other donors. EB [...] | 2008-09-18 14:17:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAID ECON AORC TX |
08ASHGABAT1255 | TURKMENISTAN: PAKISTANI DCM SEES MUCH ROOM FOR [...] (C) A Pakistani diplomat told Emboff in a recent conversation that Turkmenistan, with its poor investment climate, is doing itself a real disservice. In a conversation with Emboff on September 18, Deputy Head of Mission Ali Araim said that he hoped that the government of Turkmenistan will com [...] | 2008-09-23 03:51:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL PK TX |
08ASHGABAT1256 | TURKMENISTAN: STATE COUNTER NARCOTICS HEAD SAYS [...] (C) State Counter-narcotics Service Chairman Murat Islamov asked DATT and Office of Military Cooperation Chief for U.S. assistance in helping his Service to develop a special forces capability to counter armed drug traffickers. He asked specifically for special forces or counter-terrorism trai [...] | 2008-09-23 11:50:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR MOPS SOCI SNAR TX |
08ASHGABAT1257 | KYRGYZ ENERGY MINISTER DISCUSSES PURCHASING [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Berdimuhamedov and Kyrgyz Minister of Industry, Energy, and Fuel Resources Saparbek Balkibekov discussed in meetings in Ashgabat on September 17 Kyrgyzstan's need to purchase electricity for the upcoming winter and interest in purchasing petrochemical products in the f [...] | 2008-09-23 12:13:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EIND ENRG EPET ETRD KG UZ TI TX |
08ASHGABAT1258 | TURKMENISTAN: PAKISTANI DIPLOMAT SHARES HIS VIEWS [...] (C) In a recent conversation with emboff, a senior Pakistan Embassy diplomat described his country as having had an "up and down" relationship with Iran for the last 20 years. He called Iranians "difficult people", and said Pakistan's relations with them were at a low during the years prior [...] | 2008-09-23 12:27:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM IR PK TX |
08ASHGABAT1271 | TURKMENISTAN: SOURCE SAYS THAT DSL WILL COST $500 [...] (C) SUMMARY: Turkmen officials announced at the opening of the Turkmentel communications trade show on September 24 that Turkmenistan would offer DSL service starting in October. According to a fellow diplomat's source at the Ministry of Communication, DSL service will cost $500 per month, [...] | 2008-09-25 14:33:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EIND TINT TX |
08ASHGABAT1286 | TURKMENISTAN: SOURCE SAYS FIRING OF CUSTOMS CHIEF [...] (C) According to UN Office on Drugs and Crime Turkmenistan Office Project Coordinator Ercan Saka (please protect),President Berdimuhamedov fired State Customs Service Chairman Muratberdi Annaliyev in June because the president wanted Yaylym Berdiyev, at that time chairman of the State Migrat [...] | 2008-09-26 13:45:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SNAR TX |
08ASHGABAT1287 | TURKMENISTAN: UN CENTER FOR PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY [...] (C) SUMMARY: UN Center for Preventive Diplomacy Head of Office Miroslav Jenca believes that water issues will be less of a problem overall in Central Asia during the upcoming winter than it was for last winter. The international community is preparing to help Kyrgyzstan, which is likely to fa [...] | 2008-09-27 08:26:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SENV SNAR TX |
08ASHGABAT1297 | TURKMENISTAN: SUPREME AUDIT CHAMBER CHAIRMAN [...] (C) Longtime, well-connected Embassy source, EU-Tacis Advisor in Turkmenistan Michael Wilson (please protect),said at a meeting on September 29 that Supreme Audit Chamber Chairman Tuvakmammet Jepbarov was responsible for the dismissal of Minister of Economy and Development Gurbanmyrat Gurban [...] | 2008-09-29 14:02:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR ECON TX |
08ASHGABAT1305 | TURKMENISTAN: TURKMEN AIRLINES CHAIRMAN [...] (C) The September 26 Neytralniy Turkmenistan" newspaper reported that the Chairman of Turkmen Airlines, Gurbanyaz Tirkishov, was severely reprimanded in a presidential decree for shortcomings regarding the training of technical-engineering personnel on servicing modern aircraft and for the un [...] | 2008-09-30 12:24:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON EAIR ETRD TX |
08ASHGABAT1306 | TURKMENISTAN: CONOCOPHILLIPS' PSA AWAITING OK OF [...] (C) SUMMARY: Lukoil's country director for Turkmenistan is frustrated by the continued delay in signing the PSA that they and operations partner ConocoPhillips negotiated in July. Both companies now must wait for new State Agency Director Kakayev to approve the agreement, and then work out mo [...] | 2008-09-30 13:04:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET PGOV PREL RS TX |
08ASHGABAT1308 | TURKMENISTAN: OSCE NEEDS ASSESSMENT TEAM DOUBTFUL [...] (C) SUMMARY: In advance of meetings with Turkmen officials, OSCE/ODIHR representatives in Ashgabat on a needs assessment mission seemed resigned to the notion that Turkmenistan's election laws will not be revised in advance of the December 14 parliamentary elections. Therefore, they are do [...] | 2008-10-01 08:03:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM TX |
08ASHGABAT1320 | TURKMENISTAN: KHITROVKA CASUALTY FIGURES [...] (C) Questions still surround the September 12-13 shoot-out btween police/military and an armed gang (Ref A). One question is the number of casualties that resulted from the 24-hour shoot-out. A Turkish embassy source shared with us on September 30 a casualty list he had received from a source [...] | 2008-10-01 14:51:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SNAR SOCI KCRM KISL TX |
08ASHGABAT1324 | TURKMENISTAN: TAGIYEV SAYS GAFFNEY-KLINE AUDIT [...] (C) Wintershall manager Kal Sandhu told Charge October 3 that Deputy Chairman for Oil and Gas Tachberdi Tagiyev had recently told him that the just completed Gaffney-Kline audit shows that Turkmenistan has 24 trillion cubic meters in gas reserves in South Yoloten, Osman, and Yashlar fields. Ta [...] | 2008-10-04 07:39:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON EPET ETRD TX |
08ASHGABAT1325 | TURKMENISTAN: CONOCOPHILLIPS REP COMMENTS ON [...] (C) SUMMARY: ConocoPhillips' External Affairs Director told emboffs that she believes the State Agency for the Management and Use of Hydrocarbons is in disarray as it plans for major reorganization and fresh staffing under Director Kakayev's supervision. Kakayev himself is experiencing a l [...] | 2008-10-07 09:24:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT1329 | TURKMENISTAN: RELATIONS WITH GERMAN COMPANIES [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov will visit Germany November 13-16 for meetings with German officials and with German business executives, including with BASF/Wintershall, the largest German investor in Turkmenistan. According to Wintershall's resident manager, the Turkmen app [...] | 2008-10-07 14:08:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PINR PREL ECON EPET ETRD TX |
08ASHGABAT1333 | TURKMENISTAN: COMMERCE DAS DYCK TELLS MINISTER OF [...] (C) SUMMARY: Turkmenistan's Minister of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations told visiting Department of Commerce DAS Paul Dyck September 29 that he hopes that increased U.S.-Turkmenistan trade relations will move the U.S. up from Turkmenistan's 16th place trading partner to "the top ten or b [...] | 2008-10-08 07:48:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN PGOV PREL TX |
08ASHGABAT1334 | TURKMENISTAN: KAKAYEV REPEATS "NO FOREIGN [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a meeting with Department of Commerce officials, State Agency for the Management and Use of Hydrocarbons Director Kakayev reinforced previous government statements that Turkmenistan will develop its own onshore hydrocarbon resources. Kakayev said only President Berdimuhamed [...] | 2008-10-08 07:52:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EINV EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT1336 | DONORS AGREE THAT TURKMENISTAN WILL CONTINUE TO [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Various donors from the international community gathered on September 29 to discuss the state of Turkmenistan's reforms with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Europe and Eurasia Paul Dyck and U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration Director [...] | 2008-10-08 08:10:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EAID EFIN ETRD EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT1337 | UNDP FACILITATING ELECTORAL REFORM IN TURKMENISTAN [...] (C) SUMMARY: UNDP has been conducting a variety of elections-related seminars focused on raising government officials' awareness of international election standards and proper election procedures. The training is considered to be a crucial first step in reforming election processes and ele [...] | 2008-10-08 08:52:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM TX |
08ASHGABAT1338 | TURKMENISTAN: GERMAN AID ORGANIZATION SUCCEEDING [...] (C) SUMMARY: The German Technical Cooperation Organization GTZ is continuing to conduct conferences and seminars on legal reform issues in Turkmenistan, but is not currently working with the government on revision of criminal and civil codes, although it had proposed that project as an area [...] | 2008-10-08 12:03:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM EAID KDEM TX |
08ASHGABAT1341 | TURKMENISTAN: LOCAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY COMPLAINS [...] (C) SUMMARY: The director of the only private Turkmen construction company has complained about nonpayment for its renovation of office space, allegedly at the behest of a U.S. energy firm. The energy firm, Midland Oil and Gas, is actually a UK entity with U.S.-based management. The work, p [...] | 2008-10-09 12:14:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON EINV ENGR EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT1344 | TURKMENISTAN: MIDLAND OIL AND GAS PURSUING SERVICE [...] (C) SUMMARY: The local agent for Midland Oil and Gas ("Midland"),a UK entity based in New York, said Midland is close to concluding an agreement to provide drilling rigs worth USD 400 million to Turkmen Oil. The company is also looking for an operating partner to develop three offshore bloc [...] | 2008-10-09 12:22:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON EINV EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT1345 | TURKMENISTAN AND IRAN: FLOATING PRICE GAS DEAL [...] (C) A Turkish diplomat confirmed to us today that notwithstanding earlier press reports to the contrary, no deal has been reached whereby Iran would purchase gas from Turkmenistan according to a floating price formula beginning next year. The diplomat, Hakan Chengiz (please protect),told embo [...] | 2008-10-10 03:27:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL EPET IR TX |
08ASHGABAT1346 | SCHOLASTIC BOOKS DISCOVERS THE COMPLEXITIES OF [...] (C) The Amcit International Business Development Manager of U.S. children's book publisher Scholastic, Inc. participated in Turkmenistan's Third Annual International Publishing Fair as an invited guest of the State Publishing Service, October 7-10. Scholastic was the sole U.S. publisher repr [...] | 2008-10-10 10:11:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON ETRD SCUL TX |
08ASHGABAT1349 | TURKMENISTAN: PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN'S VISIT [...] (C) SUMMARY: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accompanied by a large delegation, paid a short official visit to Ashgabat last week that focused on business investment in Turkmenistan. During the trip, he met with President Berdimuhamedov, Turkmen officials and Turkish citizens resi [...] | 2008-10-10 13:04:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON ETRD TU TX |
08ASHGABAT1352 | TURKMENISTAN: DONORS DISCUSS POSSIBILITIES FOR [...] (C) SUMMARY: During a recent meeting hosted by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) resident representative, donor country diplomats said that there is more discussion about developing the private sector in Turkmenistan than ever before. Some were doubtful, however, t [...] | 2008-10-11 08:33:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON EFIN EINV EPET AORC TX |
08ASHGABAT1354 | TURKMENISTAN: CHEVRON REGISTRATION NEARLY [...] (C) The registration for Chevron's office in Turkmenistan is nearly done and should be completed by the end of the month, the company's Amcit country manager told Charge October 10. Registration officials informed Chevron that its preliminary registration certificate would be ready within a f [...] | 2008-10-14 08:08:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EPET ETRD TX |
08ASHGABAT1371 | TURKMENISTAN: POSSIBLE ISSUE INVOLVING NEW [...] (C) SUMMARY: There are indications that the Turkmen government may have stopped issuing new Turkmen travel passports to citizens who hold dual citizenship. Most of those who applied for the new passport in July received it within a week to two weeks. Post knows of three individuals with d [...] | 2008-10-16 13:23:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM CPAS TX |
08ASHGABAT1375 | TURKMENISTAN: NEW BOARD OF TRADE OPENS [...] (SBU) As part of the numerous new building openings in the run-up to Turkmenistan's independence day holiday, on October 20 the new building that houses the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations, as well as the Board of Trade, opened. This Board of Trade is different from others or [...] | 2008-10-20 13:33:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON EFIN ETRD TX |
08ASHGABAT1377 | NEW TURKISH CONSTRUCTION COMPANY OPENS SHOP IN [...] (C) SUMMARY: Another Turkish construction company, Yapi Taahhut Tasarim Inshaat ("Yapi"),has entered the Turkmenistan market. Leading Yapi's Ashgabat office is a young Turk who until recently worked at rival company Polimeks and who brings with him significant experience in Turkmenistan's [...] | 2008-10-20 13:41:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINV EIND TX TU |
08ASHGABAT1379 | TURKMENISTAN: WITH NO INVITATION, UN PONDERS ROLE [...] (C) SUMMARY: UN representatives are pondering their options in regard to the organization's potential role during the December parliamentary elections. They believe that Turkmen government officials are expecting them to participate in some way, although UN offices here have not received a [...] | 2008-10-20 14:01:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM UN TX |
08ASHGABAT1386 | SECURITY CHIEF BECOMES TURKMENISTAN'S FIFTH GENERAL [...] (U) An October 20 presidential decree conferred the military rank of general-major on Minister of National Security Charymyrat Amanov (formerly a colonel). The decree noted Amanov's "conscientious performance of military duties" and his "personal contribution to the strengthening of Turkmeni [...] | 2008-10-21 13:06:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV MARR TX |
08ASHGABAT1387 | TURKMENISTAN: ENTREPRENEUR DOES NOT FORSEE A [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a meeting with econoff, a local entrepreneur who currently represents various American firms explained how he got his start through purchasing used equipment in Dubai. He set up a Dubai company in order to get around Turkmenistan's restrictive laws and local banking problems [...] | 2008-10-21 13:17:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON ETRD TX |
08ASHGABAT1390 | TURKMENISTAN: CONOCOPHILLIPS SENSES ITS PROSPECTS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Stonewalling by the State Agency for Management and Use of Hydrocarbon Resources, combined with reports of Turkmenistan government negotiations with BP, have made ConocoPhillips concerned that its prospects for Block 21 are slipping away. Moreover, despite repeated overtures by [...] | 2008-10-22 11:44:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET PGOV PREL TX |
08ASHGABAT1395 | TURKMENISTAN: FAMILY OF IMPRISONED VALERI PAL [...] (C) SUMMARY: Post confirmed reports that Valeri Pal's health is in serious decline in a prison near Mary. Mrs. Pal shared documentation related to the case against her husband, which raises curious questions about its investigation and prosecution. Provincial judicial authorities may have [...] | 2008-10-22 14:00:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM TX |
08ASHGABAT1399 | EXPAT SOURCES SAY THAT ITERA GAVE TURKMENISTAN A [...] (C) SUMMARY: According to expatriate sources in Ashgabat, a yacht that recently set sail on the Caspian Sea -- reportedly worth 60 million euros -- is actually a gift from Russian company Itera. Itera is working on signing a deal jointly with Russian state-owned companies Rosneft and Zarubezhneft a [...] | 2008-10-23 13:28:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR EPET EINV ETRD EWWT SCUL RS TX |
08ASHGABAT1406 | TURKMENISTAN: BERDIMUHAMEDOV'S NEW YEAR [...] (SBU) President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov's December 28 New Year party provided a glimpse of his government at work -- and at play. The Ministry of Culture and Broadcasting organized it as a dinner-cabaret (to be televised later) in the south wing of the central Exhibition Palace. Guests in [...] | 2008-01-02 08:00:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR SOCI TX |
08ASHGABAT1410 | DELAY OF TURKMEN-AFGHAN POWER LINE PROJECT [...] (C) SUMMARY: According to various sources in Ashgabat, the delay in concluding an agreement to build a Turkmen-Afghan power line is the result of complications on the Afghan side. While the Turkmen reportedly remain prepared to finance and build their portion of the project, the Afghans' ina [...] | 2008-10-24 12:16:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG EAID PREL AF TX |
08ASHGABAT1411 | TURKMENISTAN: WESTERN BUSINESSMAN DISCUSSES [...] (C) SUMMARY: A western businessman resident in Turkmenistan recently shared news and views of Turkmenistan's political and economic worlds, related to presidential ceremonies, airport Customs operations, government policy on advertisements, Turkmenbashy port refurbishment, and the business c [...] | 2008-10-24 12:53:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR ECON EIND EPET ETRD EWWT TX RS KS |
08ASHGABAT1417 | IRAN/TURKMENISTAN: OIL MINISTER VISITS ASHGABAT; [...] (SBU) According to the October 28th edition of the Russian-language Neytralniy Turkmenistan" and Iranian press reports, Oil Minister Gholam Hossein Nozari attended the Independence Day festivities in Ashgabat on October 27 and met with President Berdimuhamedov to discuss bilateral energy coope [...] | 2008-10-29 12:23:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET PGOV PINR PREL IR TX |
08ASHGABAT1420 | TURKMENISTAN: HUNGARIAN AMBASSADOR TO TEHERAN ON [...] (C) Summary: The Hungarian ambassador to Iran and Turkmenistan, based in Teheran, spoke at length with the Charge earlier October 28, giving a read-out on Iran's worsening economic situation, the upcoming Iranian and U.S. presidential elections, views on the Israel-Palestinian conflict and Ira [...] | 2008-10-30 06:19:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL ECON EPET IR TX |
08ASHGABAT1421 | TURKMENISTAN/ROMANIA: RELATIONS ARE GOOD, BUT NOT [...] (C) SUMMARY: According to the Romanian Charge, relations between his country and Turkmenistan are fairly good. Nevertheless, there are several areas of concern, including Turkmenistan's request that Romania convince EU member states not to be so critical of Turkmenistan's human rights record. [...] | 2008-10-30 15:10:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL ECON TX |
08ASHGABAT1422 | TURKMENISTAN: GEORGIAN AMBASSADOR SAYS RUSSIA IS [...] (C) Georgian Ambassador to Turkmenistan Alexi Petriashvili (please protect) told econoff on October 29 that he is running for a position on the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ),and that he is leaving for New York to campaign for the position on November [...] | 2008-10-30 15:13:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL GG UN AORC RS TX |
08ASHGABAT1424 | TURKMENISTAN: UN PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY CENTER HEAD [...] (C) UN Preventive Diplomacy Center head Miroslav Jenca briefed us on his most recent consultations in the region, including his trips to Tashkent and Dushanbe. He said the Uzbeks raised their 6 plus 3 proposal on Afghanistan with him. The Uzbeks strongly advocated for the involvement of the [...] | 2008-10-31 12:31:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL TX |
08ASHGABAT1425 | TURKMENISTAN: CHEVRON OFFER OF TRAINING [...] (C) The Chevron Amcit country manager told Charge October 30 that the company's proposals to provide training to Turkmen officials may be starting to bear some fruit. In early October, he sent a letter to State Agency for the Management and Use of Hydrocarbon Resources Director Yagshygeldi Ka [...] | 2008-10-31 12:37:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT1426 | TURKMENISTAN: MURADOV'S RESIGNATION IN SEPTEMBER [...] (C) SUMMARY: A longtime expat advisor, resident in Ashgabat, shared his views about recent developments, Turkmen bureaucracy and obstacles to reform. He mentioned that the former State Hydrocarbon Agency chairman resigned in order to avoid being fired for disloyalty, having been seen as "too [...] | 2008-11-01 07:40:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET ETRD TX |
08ASHGABAT1431 | TURKMENISTAN: EXXONMOBIL STILL CASTING ABOUT FOR [...] (C) On November 3, ExxonMobil Caspian Area Manager Rob Young and Regional Upstream Coordinator David Rekhviashvili met with the Charge to discuss ExxonMobil's interest in doing an onshore project in Turkmenistan. Young said they were here to make a proposal to the Turkmenistan government to d [...] | 2008-11-03 12:33:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET PREL PGOV ENRG EINV TX |
08ASHGABAT1432 | TURKMENISTAN'S CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY: A [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: As a longtime Turkmenistan expatriate resident recently observed, Turkey's arrangements with Turkmenistan let them get away with a lot, but Turkish companies -- particularly construction companies -- are also vulnerable to arrest, deportation, and other unpleasantries when thi [...] | 2008-11-03 14:05:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EIND KCOR TX TU RS |
08ASHGABAT1434 | TURKMENISTAN: UNICEF SEEKING BROADER MANDATE FOR [...] (C) SUMMARY: According to the acting representative for UNICEF in Turkmenistan, the organization's current and future program plans focus largely on health and education. The organization has ambitious plans to expand its activities. A good relationship with the government is helping to ma [...] | 2008-11-04 07:20:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SOCI UN TX |
08ASHGABAT1452 | TURKMENISTAN AIRLINES EMPLOYEES RECEIVE BIG PAY [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: On October 16, President Berdimuhamedov announced that salaries of Turkmenistan Airlines employees would double. Meanwhile, he has reprimanded the national airline's chief several times this year, most recently on September 26. One airport employee believes that the pay rais [...] | 2008-11-05 12:21:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EAIR EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT1453 | TURKMENISTAN: POTENTIAL MEJLIS CANDIDATE AND HIS [...] (C) Poloff met a lawyer affiliated with the Ilkinjiler Farmer's Cooperative in Mary at the Embassy-sponsored Presidential Election Reception on November 5. Abdulrahman Bayramov said a citizens group had recently attempted to initiate procedures in order to nominate him as a candidate for Me [...] | 2008-11-06 03:38:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM TX |
08ASHGABAT1454 | TURKMENISTAN: PAKISTANI DIPLOMAT SKEPTICAL ON IPI PIPELINE [...] No summary [...] | 2008-11-06 03:38:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET IR PGOV PINR PK PREL TX |
08ASHGABAT1463 | TURKMENISTAN: BERDIMUHAMEDOV SON-IN-LAW TO HEAD [...] (C) President Berdimuhamedov's son-in-law, Yhlasgeldi Amanov (DPOB: Ashgabat, July 19, 1983),is currently living in London and setting up an overseas office of the State Agency for Management and Use of Hydrocarbon Resources, according to UK embassy sources. At first, the British were unawar [...] | 2008-11-06 11:53:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT1466 | TURKMENISTAN POSSIBLY AFFECTED BY RUSSIAN [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: According to a local expat source, Turkmenistan is feeling the effects of Russia's economic problems. Most significant would be decreased revenue from Turkmenistan's gas exports. Turkmenistan has also seriously overcommitted itself on future gas exports, including to Russia [...] | 2008-11-06 14:17:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EFIN EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT1467 | TURKMENISTAN: EBRD NOTES PROGRESS ON REFORMS, BUT [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The local European Bank for Reconstruction and Development ("EBRD") office head (please protect) said that he is encouraged by what appears to be some loosening of government control in the financial sector, both in areas such as loan policy as well as interactions with intern [...] | 2008-11-06 14:26:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EFIN EIND AORC TX |
08ASHGABAT1468 | TURKMENISTAN/CHINA: BILATERAL RELATIONS ARE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Recently arrived Chinese ambassador Wu Hongbin describes bilateral relations as positive because of mutual respect and understanding between the two nations. He underscored that China's chief interest in Turkmenistan is energy and that his country's pipeline project serves as a c [...] | 2008-11-07 03:54:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT1487 | TURKMENISTAN: MORE HURDLES IN A CHALLENGING [...] (C) SUMMARY: A resident IFI representative recently shared reasons for construction delays at some sites in Ashgabat: credit problems and a breakdown in the cement supply chain. According to this source, a Turkish industrial magnate active in Turkmenistan has said the Turkmen are consistent [...] | 2008-11-13 12:11:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | EIND EFIN ETRD RU TX TU UP UZ AORC |
08ASHGABAT1489 | GEORGIAN AMBASSADOR TO TURKMENISTAN LOSES BID FOR [...] (C) Georgian Ambassador to Turkmenistan Alexi Petriashvili (please protect) told econoff on November 11 that his bid for a position on the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) (reftel) was unsuccessful: the Russian candidate won. He said that most countrie [...] | 2008-11-13 14:14:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN AORC TX |
08ASHGABAT1492 | TURKMENISTAN: PRIVATE HOTEL OWNER (AND SABIT [...] (C) On November 7 econoff stayed at the Shahabad Hotel in Dashoguz city, a private hotel owned and operated by U.S. Department of Commerce Special American Business Internship Program (SABIT) alumnus Ramanberger Ibragimov. Ibragimov's pride in his hotel, located on the second floor of a build [...] | 2008-11-14 12:42:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON EIND SOCI TX |
08ASHGABAT1493 | EFFECTS OF WORLDWIDE ECONOMIC CRISIS ON [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Turkmenistan is unlikely to be strongly affected by the international economic crisis, because its banking sector is so cut off from the rest of the world's banking system and because the country has no debt. However, local economists predict for the first time that Turkmenist [...] | 2008-11-14 13:06:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EFIN ECON SOCI TX |
08ASHGABAT1500 | TURKMENISTAN: MARATHON WILLING TO BE PATIENT, BUT [...] (C) SUMMARY. During the upcoming international oil and gas conference, Marathon executives are looking for substantive engagement with GOTX officials about the company's proposed integrated gas-to-fuels project. Since the signing of a confidentiality agreement and presentations about the pro [...] | 2008-11-18 11:37:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ECON EIND PGOV PREL TX |
08ASHGABAT1508 | DELOITTE TAX NOT YET REGISTERED, BUT CONFIDENT [...] (C) SUMMARY: Deloitte Tax LLP is working on registering an office in Ashgabat in order to be where its cutomers are. Company representatives describe plans to set up the office as "cautiously optimistic." Deloitte delayed registration for some time because of bureaucratic requirements, incl [...] | 2008-11-21 08:38:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EFIN EPET ETRD KTIA TX |
08ASHGABAT1509 | TURKMENISTAN: CATHOLIC PRIESTS' VILLAGE VISITS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Father Andrzej Madej, Charg at the Vatican Embassy and head of the local unregistered parish that operates under the auspices of the Embassy, asked a group of missionary friends in the U.S., Germany, and Slovakia to assist him during the absence of his assistant priest. The Amc [...] | 2008-11-21 13:21:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM SCUL SOCI KIRF TX |
08ASHGABAT1511 | TURKMENISTAN: UNODC COUNTER-NARCOTICS TRAINING [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a recent conversation with emboff, UNODC Turkmenistan's National Projects Officer gave a read-out on the agency's latest counter narcotics training course in Ashgabat. The participants were officials from several Turkmen government agencies involved in counter-narcotics efforts [...] | 2008-11-21 13:49:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SNAR IR TX |
08ASHGABAT1512 | TURKMEN PRESIDENT BERDIMUHAMEDOV: "WE'LL DO IT [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Berdimuhamedov, accompanied by Foreign Minister Meredov, received U.S. Coordinator for Eurasian Energy Issues, Ambassador Mann, accompanied by Charge Miles, for an hour and a half conversation touching on Berdimuhamedov,s just concluded trip to Korea, Germany a [...] | 2008-11-21 13:52:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EPET PBTS PGOV PHUM PREL TX |
08ASHGABAT1522 | TURKMEN FOREIGN MINISTER: MORE OF THE SAME [...] No summary [...] | 2008-11-24 12:47:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EPET PBTS PGOV PHUM PREL TX |
08ASHGABAT1527 | TURKMENISTAN: TRAVEL BAN FOR ORAZOV FAMILY [...] (C) On November 14, Svetlana Orazova, sister of opposition activist Khudayberdiy Orazov, who is resident overseas, met with poloff to discuss the family's continuing inability to depart Turkmenistan. Orazova said at present, her husband, Ovez Annayev, is in immediate need of medical care fo [...] | 2008-11-25 11:38:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM TX |
08ASHGABAT1531 | IRAN/TURKMENISTAN: DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER HAJIYEV [...] No summary [...] | 2008-11-26 08:57:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM IR TX |
08ASHGABAT1533 | VISIT OF TRANSCOM COMMANDER GENERAL MCNABB TO [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: General Duncan McNabb, the commander of Transportation Command, visited Ashgabat November 20. The purpose of the visit was to discuss the proposed Northern Distribution Network (also known as NGLOC). As a result of the late arrival and Turkmen schedule changes, most of the pl [...] | 2008-11-26 09:49:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR MOPS TX |
08ASHGABAT1534 | TURKMENISTAN: DESPITE DISAPPROVAL BY SOME [...] (C) Econoff visited the American Corner in the provincial capital of Mary on November 13 to find out the status of U.S. exchange programs. Mary American Corner Regional Representative Albina Burashnikova said that local education authorities still discouraged teachers from coming to the Amer [...] | 2008-11-26 10:24:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM SOCI KPAO TX |
08ASHGABAT154 | TURKMENISTAN: USCENTCOM COMMANDER ADMIRAL [...] (SBU) PARTICIPANTS: UNITED STATES: USCENTCOM Commander William J. Fallon USCENTCOM PolAd Henry Ensher Embassy Ashgabat Defense Attache LTC James Zink Charge d'affaires (note-taker) TURKMENISTAN: President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Rashit Meredov [...] | 2008-01-31 10:46:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM EAID EPET SNAR SCUL KPAO AJ |
08ASHGABAT155 | TURKMENISTAN: USCENTCOM COMMANDER ADMIRAL [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: USCENTCOM Commander Admiral William J. Fallon, discussed with Defense Minister General Agageldi Mammetgeldiyev and State Border Service Chief General-Major Bayram Alovov Turkmenistan's security situation, ongoing military reforms, and regional issues during separate meetings o [...] | 2008-01-31 10:49:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR MARR MASS SNAR IR AF RS TX |
08ASHGABAT1550 | TURKMEN FOREIGN MINISTER: MORE OF THE SAME [...] (C) Summary. On November 21, Foreign Minister Meredov received U.S Coordinator for Eurasian Energy Diplomacy Ambassador Steven Mann, accompanied by Charge Richard Miles, for an hour-long conversation which was very similar in content to Ambassador Mann's conversation on November 20 with Pres [...] | 2008-12-02 07:59:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EPET PBTS PGOV PHUM PREL TX |
08ASHGABAT1551 | CHARGE RAISES NORTHERN DISTRIBUTION NETWORK (NDN) [...] (C) Summary: Charge Miles raised the issue of the Northern Distribution Network (NDN) with Turkmen Foreign Minister Meredov. Meredov listened carefully to Charge,s points but then re-played the well-known Turkmen (negative) position on the issue. Charge emphasized that the issue was impo [...] | 2008-12-02 12:21:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MOPS PREL TX |
08ASHGABAT1552 | FM MEREDOV PROVIDES OVERVIEW OF U.S.- TURKMENISTAN [...] (C) SUMMARY: During a recent call by Charge d'Affaires Richard Miles on Turkmenistan Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, the Minister provided his perspective on U.S.-Turkmenistan relations and areas for expanded engagement. Addressing the political, economic and cultural spheres, Meredov outlin [...] | 2008-12-03 07:32:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON AJ TU TX |
08ASHGABAT1556 | IRAN: HUNGARIAN DIPLOMAT TALKS OF LIFE IN THE [...] (C) Summary: In a meeting with emboffs, a Hungarian diplomat posted in Tehran described what it is like to live and work in the Islamic Republic. He confirmed that Iran's economy is in very bad shape, and that people are becoming more and more critical of the government's ineptitude. Iranians [...] | 2008-12-03 10:23:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM PGOV IR TX |
08ASHGABAT1560 | TURKMENISTAN: SERAHS CANDIDATES/OFFICIALS DISCUSS [...] (C) Summary: On November 25, poloff visited the town of Serahs, located in Ahal Welayat (province) on the Iranian border, and met with local officials and two candidates in the upcoming Mejlis elections. Both candidates for the 32nd electoral district seat appeared genuinely motivated by a de [...] | 2008-12-03 12:42:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL TX IR |
08ASHGABAT1588 | TURKMENISTAN OIL AND GAS EXHIBITION: LARGE [...] (C) SUMMARY. The recent international oil and gas exhibition in Ashgabat attracted participation from a wide-range of foreign companies looking for opportunities in Turkmenistan. Government officials repeated their willingness to work with foreign partners. However, the gap between Turkmen [...] | 2008-12-08 12:12:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ECON ETRD PREL PGOV IR TX |
08ASHGABAT1589 | TURKMENISTAN: ELECTION PREPARATIONS IN BALKAN [...] (C) SUMMARY: During a pre-election visit to two cities in Balkan province, poloff met with two groups of election officials eager to answer questions and show-off their preparations for election day. Each of the 11 seats in the province are contested by two or three candidates. The candidate [...] | 2008-12-08 12:12:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PGOV PHUM SOCI TX |
08ASHGABAT1590 | TURKMENISTAN: HEAD OF HYDROCARBONS AGENCY [...] (C) SUMMARY: Engineering firm KBR's regional representative recounted a conversation he had with Turkmenistan's State Hydrocarbons Agency chief during which the official compared letting IOCs work in Turkmenistan to a "tsunami." The official also indicated that the agency is overwhelmed by co [...] | 2008-12-08 12:17:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET PGOV ECON EIND TX |
08ASHGABAT1598 | TURKMENISTAN: READOUT ON TRILATERAL SUMMIT FROM [...] (C) SUMMARY: According to the Turkish DCM, the November 29 trilateral summit between the Turkmen, Turkish and Azeri presidents covered a range of issues, with no particular breakthroughs. On energy, the Turkish president urged the Turkmen to develop a gas export route to the West, a suggesti [...] | 2008-12-09 10:43:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON EPET TU AZ TX |
08ASHGABAT1602 | TURKMEN ELECTION OFFICIALS AND NGO REPS EXCHANGE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: During a December 2-4 working visit to Ashgabat, representatives from the International Foundation for Electoral Systems ("IFES") met with officials of the Central Election Commission ("CEC"),as well as other international organizations and local contacts, to discuss internatio [...] | 2008-12-15 08:37:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM TX |
08ASHGABAT1611 | TURKMENISTAN: BAYRAMALY LAWYER AND WOULD-BE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Farmers' Union lawyer Abdulrahman Bayramov was found guilty on December 16 of misappropriating land and misusing state property, and given a four year prison sentence. An appeal of the verdict will be filed in ten days. Supporters opined that the primary reason for his prosec [...] | 2008-12-17 13:17:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM TX |
08ASHGABAT1619 | TURKMENISTAN: HUNGARIAN ENVOY VISITS TO PROMOTE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Hungary's special envoy for Nabucco was in Turkmenistan December 16-17 to promote Turkmen participation at the January Nabucco summit in Budapest. Hungary's proactiveness on Nabucco results from its desire to reduce its energy dependence on Russia. He highlighted the summit's pl [...] | 2008-12-18 11:22:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ECON PGOV PREL HU TX |
08ASHGABAT1642 | TURKMENISTAN'S TELECOMMUNICATIONS OFFICIALS SHOW [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) contractor and information and communications technology senior sector expert, Diane Landau, discussed a USTDA-sponsored study tour to the United States for Turkmen officials that will take place in the spring for representatives from [...] | 2008-12-30 07:53:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EIND SCUL TINT TX |
08ASHGABAT1643 | RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR PROVIDES OVERVIEW OF RELATIONS [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a recent meeting with the Charge, the Russian Ambassador discussed Russian activity in Turkmenistan. Russian oil and gas firms are pursuing production projects, with two firms close to finalizing agreements. The Ambassador appeared well informed about the Chinese gas pipeline [...] | 2008-12-30 07:55:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EPET ECON RU TX |
08ASHGABAT1644 | LOCAL GAZPROM OFFICIAL DISCUSSES FIRM'S PROSPECTS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Despite ongoing discussion of an expanded Caspian gas pipeline to Russia, a local Gazprom official recently suggested that the project's prospects might be dimmed by the current financial crisis. Both political and commercial factors would influence an ultimate decision. Agreeme [...] | 2008-12-30 07:58:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ECON EIND PREL TX |
08ASHGABAT165 | TURKMENISTAN: FM MEREDOV DESCRIBES TO AMB. MANN [...] (C) SUMMARY: During a January 29 meeting with U.S. Coordinator for Eurasian Energy Diplomacy AmbassadorSteven Mann, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers/Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov said Turkmenistan wants to find the legal basis for joint development with Azerbaijan of the disputed [...] | 2008-02-04 05:22:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM EPET AJ TX |
08ASHGABAT1653 | TURKMENGAS WILL RELY ON SERVICES COMPANIES TO [...] (C) SUMMARY: According to the Chairman of Turkmengas, the company will rely on foreign oilfield services companies for the development of Turkmenistan's major gas deposits. He suggested that negotiations with such firms are ongoing, but would not share details. Concerning possible involvement [...] | 2008-12-30 12:05:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ECON PGOV TX |
08ASHGABAT166 | TURKMENISTAN: DEPUTY CHAIRMAN TAGIYEV -- THE [...] (C) SUMMARY: On January 29, Turkmenistan's Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers for hydrocarbon issues, Tachberdi Tagiyev, told U.S. Coordinator for Eurasian Energy Diplomacy Ambassador Steven Mann things are going well for Turkmenistan. The country is discovering promising new hydro [...] | 2008-02-04 05:36:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET EINV TX |
08ASHGABAT167 | TURKMENISTAN: STATE HYDROCARBON AGENCY STILL ON [...] (C) SUMMARY: On January 29, Executive Director of the State Agency for Management and Use of Hydrocarbon Resources Byrammurat Muradov told U.S. Coordinator for Eurasian Energy Diplomacy Ambassador Steven Mann his agency is very close to reaching an agreement with ConocoPhillips on two offshor [...] | 2008-02-04 06:01:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EPET EINV TX |
08ASHGABAT169 | TURKMENISTAN: MIDLAND OIL SEEKS HYDROCARBON DEAL [...] (C) The Chairman of the Board and President of the U.S.-based Midland Oil and Gas Company Robert Murphy visited Ashgabat January 29-February 2 with a delegation of consortium members to see whether he could work out a hydrocarbon deal. Murphy met on January 30 with President Berdimuhamedov, [...] | 2008-02-04 10:49:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EPET EINV TX |
08ASHGABAT170 | IRAN'S NATURAL GAS WOES [...] (C) Iran has no gas to sell to customers and carries on gas negotiations with various countries in an attempt to show it is not isolated, Turkish Ambassador Hakki Akil told the Charge during a February 1 lunch. In a discussion that covered a number of Caspian and Central Asian energy issues [...] | 2008-02-04 11:04:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON EPET IR TU TX |
08ASHGABAT181 | TURKMENISTAN: PRESIDENT CREATES TWO NEW [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: During a February 2 Cabinet of Ministers meeting on provincial development, President Berdimuhamedov announced that he was splitting the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF) into two entities: a Ministry of Finance, and a Ministry of Economy and Development. Berdimuhamedov [...] | 2008-02-05 11:30:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON EFIN TX |
08ASHGABAT186 | TURKMENISTAN: MIDLAND OIL MOVES FORWARD [...] (C) Chairman of the Board and President of the U.S.-based Midland Oil and Gas Company Robert Murphy telephoned the Charge on February 6 to provide a rushed brief on the results of his consortium delegation's visit to Ashgabat that began on January 29 (reftel). He said his overall consortium [...] | 2008-02-06 10:03:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET EINV ETRD EIND KS TX |
08ASHGABAT188 | TURKMENISTAN GAS PRICE HIKE: BEHIND THE SCENES [...] (C) A long-time Embassy diplomatic source, who has resided in Ashgabat for many years, told us a behind-the-scenes account of what happened following President Berdimuhamedov's announcement at a January 11 cabinet meeting that Turkmenistan would introduce higher gasoline prices (reftel) that [...] | 2008-02-06 12:44:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EPET EFIN TX |
08ASHGABAT196 | TURKMENISTAN: CHALLENGES ABOUND ON ROAD TO [...] (C) SUMMARY: A recent visit by a World Bank delegation focused on education provided the delegation with an opportunity to learn more about the challenges and changes to Turkmenistan's education system. Donors told the delegation that a bureaucracy, more used to hunkering down than innovation [...] | 2008-02-07 12:30:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EAID SOCI TX |
08ASHGABAT2 | TURKMENISTAN: BERDIMUHAMEDOV'S NEW YEAR [...] (SBU) President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov's December 28 New Year party provided a glimpse of his government at work -- and at play. The Ministry of Culture and Broadcasting organized it as a dinner-cabaret (to be televised later) in the south wing of the central Exhibition Palace. Guests in [...] | 2008-01-02 09:54:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR SOCI TX |
08ASHGABAT204 | TURKMENISTAN: DETAILS EMERGE ABOUT NEW [...] (C) SUMMARY: A symbol of Turkmenistan's new commitment to combating narcotics trafficking, the State Agency for Combating Narcotics that President Berdimuhamedov established January 18, will have nearly 700 employees and will function much as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) doe [...] | 2008-02-08 11:59:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR EAID SNAR TX |
08ASHGABAT210 | TURKMENISTAN: SOME TURKISH VIEWS ON TURKMENISTAN [...] (C) On February 1, Turkish Ambassador Hakki Akil met with the Charge to discuss regional energy issues (reftels). He said it is important to explain to Turkmenistan that allowing major Western companies to work in the Caspian and onshore would promote the country's economic and political ind [...] | 2008-02-11 08:59:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON EPET TU AJ TX |
08ASHGABAT211 | TURKMENISTAN: FOREIGN MINISTER DENIES NATURAL-GAS [...] (C) Charge met at OOB February 11 with Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov to deliver talking points in para seven below as a non-paper. Meredov closely read the points and then commented, "You should not believe every rumor you hear." Charge assured Meredov his evidence was documentary and exte [...] | 2008-02-11 11:40:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET EU RS HU TX |
08ASHGABAT217 | DOING BUSINESS IN TURKMENISTAN [...] (C) SUMMARY: A resident American businessman explained how he is able to navigate the local business culture, where paying bribes and corruption are endemic. The only way he is able to avoid paying bribes and still do business is to work with another foreign company (usually Turkish) as lead o [...] | 2008-02-12 08:28:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON KCOR TX |
08ASHGABAT219 | TURKMENISTAN: BERDIMUHAMEDOV'S FIRST YEAR IN [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: During his first year in office, Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has delivered more change than most here expected or even thought was realistically possible for immediate post-Niyazov Turkmenistan. Spurred by a wish to make Turkmenistan a respected member [...] | 2008-02-12 10:25:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM ECON SNAR SOCI KDEM TX |
08ASHGABAT223 | TURKMENISTAN'S BERDIMUHAMEDOV ONE YEAR ON: LET'S [...] (C) When "The Eternally Great Saparmurat Turkmenbashi" Niyazov died on December 21, 2006, U.S. foreign policy took the opportunity to approach Turkmenistan's soon-to-be new president, offering to "turn the page" in our bilateral relations. To the extent Turkmenistan was ready to engage with [...] | 2008-02-12 10:51:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL TX |
08ASHGABAT225 | TURKMENISTAN: SKEPTICAL AMU DARYA VALLEY [...] (C) Although the Government of Turkmenistan continues to maintain that it is taking steps to prevent flooding along the Amu Darya River, residents and officials in flood-prone districts are not taking those assurances at face value, according a local Embassy staff member whose sister works for [...] | 2008-02-12 13:18:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EAID SOCI TX |
08ASHGABAT239 | TURKMENISTAN: CITIZENS UPSET OVER GAS PRICE RISE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Contrary to assertions that Turkmenistan's Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers for Oil and Gas Tagiyev made during a February 13 cabinet meeting, efforts to raise gasoline prices by almost 800% (reftel) are not going well. As-yet unsubstantiated rumors of unrest focused [...] | 2008-02-14 11:25:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EPET ECON TX |
08ASHGABAT255 | TURKMENISTAN'S FLAG DAY: ANOTHER NIYAZOV DOG [...] (SBU) Turkmenistan celebrated February 19 as Flag Day, a new national holiday previously marked as former President Niyazov's birthday. As usual for public holidays in Turkmenistan, multiple elaborate public events were scheduled the day before and the actual day of the holiday, and rehearse [...] | 2008-02-20 11:40:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SOCI TX |
08ASHGABAT258 | TURKMENSTAN: NGOS COMMENT ON CURRENT [...] (C) SUMMARY: According to the three non-governmental organizations active in assisting trafficking victims in Turkmenistan, Trafficking in Persons (TIP) is currently not an overwhelming problem, but could grow in Turkmenistan if economic conditions become more difficult. While these organiz [...] | 2008-02-21 08:22:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREF ELAB KWMN SMIG ASEC TX |
08ASHGABAT278 | TURKMENISTAN: MIDLAND OIL FRUSTRATED [...] (C) Charge met February 27 with Chairman of the Board and President of the U.S.-based Midland Oil and Gas Company Robert Murphy. When they first met on February 1, and again when Murphy provided an update on February 6, he was confident Midland was in pre-qualification status for five major [...] | 2008-02-27 11:44:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EINV EPET SOCI TX |
08ASHGABAT307 | TURKMENISTAN'S HYDROCARBONS: FLOUNDERING IN [...] (C) SUMMARY. During back-to-back meetings on Feburary 29 with U.S. Coordinator for Eurasian Energy Diplomacy Ambassador Steven Mann, Turkmenistan's Deputy Chairman for Oil and Gas Tachberdi Tagiyev, and Executive Director of the State Agency for Management and Use of Hydrocarbon Resources By [...] | 2008-03-06 06:43:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET EINV AJ TX |
08ASHGABAT32 | TURKMENISTAN: BUREAUCRATIC INTRIGUE IN THE [...] (C) SUMMARY: A little digging behind the "technical problem" explanation for the postponement of a visit revealed bureaucratic maneuvering within Turkmenistan's Ministry of Health. A deputy minister stepped in it by extending an invitation that had not been cleared by his boss. Now, colleagu [...] | 2008-01-08 11:36:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR SOCI TX |
08ASHGABAT33 | TURKMENISTAN: PRESIDENT PRESSURING STATE AGENCY [...] (C) SUMMARY: Bayrammyrat Muradov, the Executive Director of Turkmenistan's State Agency for Management and Use of Hydrocarbon Resources, who the president publicly but indirectly criticized during a December 18 cabinet meeting (reftel),is reportedly under growing pressure and could lose hi [...] | 2008-01-08 11:59:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT333 | TURKMENISTAN: BHP BILLITON CONSIDERS ENTERING [...] (C) BHP Billiton Petroleum, a Houston-based petroleum company that identifies itself as one of the largest producers in the Gulf of Mexico, is looking at bidding on one of Turkmenistan's Caspian Sea blocks, according to Commercial Director Larry Killion during a March 7 meeting with the Charg [...] | 2008-03-12 11:29:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT338 | TURKMENISTAN: CHEVRON SUBMITS DETAILED [...] (C) SUMMARY: Chevron Country Manager Doug Uchikura told the Charge during a March 11 meeting that he had delivered a 200-plus page detailed "indicative offer" earlier that morning to the office of the Executive Director of the State Agency for Management and Use of Hydrocarbon Resources. The [...] | 2008-03-13 10:31:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EPET EINV TX |
08ASHGABAT346 | EU AND TURKMENISTAN MAKING PROGRESS ON [...] (C) SUMMARY. The European Union (EU) is negotiating an energy cooperation memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Turkmenistan that would, among other things, set the stage for promoting alternative gas transportation routes that would avoid Russia. The latest draft which the European Commis [...] | 2008-03-17 11:42:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EPET ENRG EU TX |
08ASHGABAT35 | TURKMENISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER LISTS POLICY [...] (C) SUMMARY: Charge met for an hour January 8 with Foreign Minister Rashit Meredov to press outstanding issues, to deliver new demarches, and to elicit a preview of Turkmenistan's foreign policy priorities for the new year (another issue reported septel). Meredov reaffirmed President Berdim [...] | 2008-01-08 12:32:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM MARR ETRD KDEM TX |
08ASHGABAT358 | TURKMENISTAN: MORE "YIKES MOMENTS" AT THE [...] (C) On March 19, Hydrocarbon State Agency Director Muradov -- admitted the Government of Turkmenistan will not meet the final deadline to submit names for the next USTDA training in the United States; -- said he wants to find an international law firm or oil and gas consultancy that will [...] | 2008-03-19 10:25:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT363 | TURKMENISTAN: TAKING STOCK [...] (C) SUMMARY: Our new relationship with Turkmenistan is now over a year old, and it's time to take stock. After several score U.S. delegations, including a number of very high-level visits, we have a better view of the contour of the relationship and the personalities of the leaders. In gen [...] | 2008-03-24 05:56:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL RS TX |
08ASHGABAT365 | TURKMENISTAN: CHEVRON TO PARTNER WITH WINTERSHALL [...] (C) SUMMARY: Country Manager for German oil firm Wintershall, Cal Sandhu (protect throughout),told EmbOff during a March 20 tour d'horizon his company and Chevron are negotiating a partnership in Turkmenistan that could be announced as early as June. More speculatively, he also suggested t [...] | 2008-03-24 12:17:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR EPET GE TX |
08ASHGABAT366 | TURKMENISTAN: NATIONAL BANK OF PAKISTAN REP ON [...] (C) SUMMARY: Redenomination of Turkmenistan's manat could happen earlier than January 1, 2009, according to General Manager of the National Bank of Pakistan representational office M. Rizwan Khan. He suggested that there is some disagreement within Turkmenistan's financial circles over the [...] | 2008-03-24 12:35:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON EFIN TX |
08ASHGABAT373 | TURKMENISTAN: AMCIT EVANGELICAL GROUP BRINGS [...] (C) The AmCit Evangelical group, Friends of the Turkmen, has returned to Ashgabat for its semi-annual visit. This time the group included one of the officials from the International Foundation, the DC-area organization that does the administrative work for the 2009 National Prayer Breakfast [...] | 2008-03-25 12:02:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON KIRF TX |
08ASHGABAT378 | TUKRMENISTAN: WORLD BANK REP DISCUSSES [...] (C) SUMMARY: A local representative of the World Bank Liaison Office in Turkmenistan said on March 24 that World Bank Regional Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Shigeo Katsu was satisfied with the substantive meetings held during his second visit to Turkmenistan, although moving min [...] | 2008-03-26 10:35:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON EFIN KCRM TX |
08ASHGABAT379 | ASHGABAT SURVEILLANCE DETECTION PROGRAM [...] (U) This is an action request, please see paragraph 6. 2. (C) Reftels correctly assert that Embassy Ashgabats Surveillance Detection (SD) operations have been severely restricted by the Government of Turkmenistan (GOT) and that it is unlikely that the GOT will agree to authorize normal SD operati [...] | 2008-03-26 11:44:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | AMGT APER ASEC |
08ASHGABAT386 | TURKMENISTAN: ENTREPRENEURS' MEETING WITH [...] (C) SUMMARY: A Turkmen entrepreneur (and Cochran fellow) who attended President Berdimuhamedov's March 17 announcement of a new effort to develop private entrepreneurship in Turkmenistan told an embassy FSN March 25 that the event was very constructive and open. The entrepreneurs, chosen ahe [...] | 2008-03-27 12:19:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON EAGR TX |
08ASHGABAT403 | TURKMENISTAN: FM MEREDOV, BRIEFLY, TERSELY [...] SBU) Charge met with Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov for a half hour on March 31. Several issues are reported separately. THE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP 2. (C) Noting this was the first opportunity they had to speak since Coordinator for Eurasian Energy Diplomacy Ambassador Steven Mann vi [...] | 2008-03-31 10:54:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KPAO AJ TX |
08ASHGABAT405 | TURKMENISTAN: EXXONMOBIL MOVING SLOWLY [...] (C) On March 28, ExxonMobil Caspian Area Manager Robert Young told the Charge that ExxonMobil is "struggling" to see whether there are any big, tough, challenging hydrocarbon production projects -- the type of project ExxonMobil does best -- in Turkmenistan. Things are going slowly, because [...] | 2008-04-01 08:08:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EPET EINV TX |
08ASHGABAT406 | TURKMENISTAN: FM MEREDOV, LESS BRIEF, LESS [...] (C) In an April 1 follow-up to their March 31 meeting (ref),Charge found a significantly relaxed Foreign Minister Meredov. Though he had promised only 10 minutes, the meeting extended to 45 minutes. 2. (SBU) Meredov confirmed Turkmenistan would participate in the Summer 2008 TIFA meetin [...] | 2008-04-01 10:45:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM SCUL KPAO KDEM TX |
08ASHGABAT408 | TURKMENISTAN: LEADER OF UNREGISTERED RELIGIOUS [...] (C) SUMMARY: The leader of an unregistered evangelical religious group in the city of Mary has been banned from traveling outside of Turkmenistan, and his home raided -- and religious material seized -- by security authorities in the middle of a religious meeting. Meanwhile, the Council of [...] | 2008-04-01 11:17:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM SOCI KIRF TX |
08ASHGABAT411 | TURKMENISTAN: MARY CITY TEACHERS CONTINUE TO [...] (C) During a visit to the American Corner in the provincial city of Mary on March 26, American Corner Director Albina Burashnikova told EmbOff that she thinks that the governor's office is behind school directors warning teachers that visiting the American Corner could put their jobs in jeopa [...] | 2008-04-02 09:15:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM SOCI KPAO TX |
08ASHGABAT415 | TURKMENISTAN: CHEVRON GETTING A HEARING [...] (C) Chevron's Turkmenistan Country Manager, Doug Uchikura, told EmbOff April 2 that, following his March 11 submission of a detailed bid to drillQlow the salt in the Amu Darya basin (reftel),he had a "very positive" one-on-one meeting with the Executive Director of the State Agency for Manag [...] | 2008-04-03 08:22:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EPET EINV TX |
08ASHGABAT419 | TURKMENISTAN: GENERAL OBSERVATIONS FROM A VISIT [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: EmbOff recently traveled to the city of Mary, the capital of the province of the same name. As she walked around town and stopped at various venues, she had an opportunity to talk to a number of local residents. They revealed a degree of ambivalence about transition and refor [...] | 2008-04-03 12:04:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON SOCI TX |
08ASHGABAT420 | REQUEST FOR RESIDENTIAL GUARD COVERAGE AT DCM [...] (U) This is an action request: please see paragraph 2. 2. (U) Post requests a permanent 24/7 residential guard post (5821) Non-ICASS Residential Security) at the Deputy Chief of Mission Residence (DCR). Post's FY 2009 Field Budget Plan will account for this increase in staff. 3. (SBU) D [...] | 2008-04-03 12:11:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | APER ASEC |
08ASHGABAT422 | TURKMENISTAN: TNK-BP'S NEGOTIATIONS MOVING SLOWLY [...] (C) During an April 2 meeting with Charge, TNK-BP Vice President for International Affairs Shawn McCormick (former U.S. National Security Council staffer) and Country Manager Oleg Lonovenko reported their company set up its office in Ashgabat in September 2007, separate from the office that BP [...] | 2008-04-03 12:46:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EPET EINV TX |
08ASHGABAT433 | TURKMENISTAN: UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON RELIGION [...] (C) SUMMARY: The UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion will visit Turkmenistan in mid-September, according to OHCHR Regional Representative Matilda Bogner. The current revision of the law by a U.S. expert, funded by USAID, may provide an opportunity to bring the law up to internationa [...] | 2008-04-07 11:30:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KIRF TX |
08ASHGABAT436 | TURKMENISTAN: GTZ REENERGIZES COOPERATION WITH [...] (C) SUMMARY: After nearly six years, during which its active operations in Turkmenistan were suspended, the German Technical Cooperation agency (GTZ) has returned and will provide assistance on amending current legislation as well as on new draft laws. The first laws to be tackled include th [...] | 2008-04-08 09:59:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM EAID KDEM GE TX |
08ASHGABAT44 | TURKMENISTAN: PETRONAS SEEKS OPTIONS TO EXPORT [...] (C) SUMMARY: While the Malaysia-based hydrocarbon company Petronas continues to move forward with plans to begin producing natural gas in Turkmenistan's Livonov block, it still has not reached any final conclusions about how to transport that gas to market, according to the company's country [...] | 2008-01-10 05:33:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EPET AZ TX |
08ASHGABAT453 | TURKMENISTAN: FOR CHEVRON, IT'S NOW A MATTER OF [...] (C) SUMMARY: According to Chevron's country manager, Chevron's April 5 presentation to officials from Turkmenistan's hydrocarbon sector (reftel) went smoothly, but Turkmenistan is still unwilling to come to the table to negotiate the company's bid to work onshore sub-salt gas fields. While [...] | 2008-04-11 06:52:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT454 | TURKMENISTAN: IRANIAN AMBASSADOR ALLEGES U.S. [...] (C) During an April 10 reception hosted by the Baku-based Ambassador of Switzerland, Alain Guidetti, who had just presented his credentials to the Government of Turkmenistan, Charge found himself in a group conversation with the Ambassadors of Georgia, the United Kingdom, Tajikistan, and Iran [...] | 2008-04-11 07:08:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EPET IR RS TX |
08ASHGABAT456 | TURKMENISTAN: UNDP PULLS PLUG ON TURKMEN TRIP TO [...] (C) UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Inita Paulovica told EmbOff April 10 that UNDP had canceled a planned trip to Geneva for two Turkmen officials to observe the first Universal Periodic Review (reftel). The two had intended to use the trip to help Turkmenistan prepare its own document [...] | 2008-04-11 12:24:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL EAID UN TX |
08ASHGABAT458 | TURKMENISTAN: OMV REP ASSERTS NABUCCO IS THE EC [...] (SBU) Charge met April 11 with Baku-based Austrian Energy firm OMV Caspian Region Country Manager Wolfgang Sporrer who also introduced himself as the Nabucco representative for Turkmenistan. He was in Ashgabat for the April 9-10 EU Troika Central Asian Ministerial, and for the next-day Turkm [...] | 2008-04-14 04:09:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EPET EU AU RS IR TX |
08ASHGABAT472 | EC TROIKA IN TURKMENISTAN: THE HEADLINE WAS [...] (C) SUMMARY: The April 9-10 EU Troika-Central Asia Ministerial added to Turkmenistan's international and regional credentials. The media headline from the event was Turkmenistan guarantees at least 10 bcm/y natural gas for Europe/Nabucco, although it took a while for media commentators to r [...] | 2008-04-15 11:24:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM EAID EPET KG KZ TI TX UZ EU |
08ASHGABAT479 | TURKMENISTAN: MORE ON SHAKE-UPS OF ECONOMIC AND [...] (C) SUMMARY: At an extended Cabinet of Ministers meeting April 14 that included a discussion of economic and financial reforms (Ref A),President Berdimuhamedov made a number of personnel changes. According to the well-connected local representative of the European Bank for Reconstruction an [...] | 2008-04-16 09:02:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR EFIN TX |
08ASHGABAT49 | TURKMENISTAN: HYDROCARBON AGENCY'S MURADOV [...] (U) See action request in para 11. 2. (C) SUMMARY: During a January 10 meeting, the Executive Director of Turkmenistan's State Agency for Management and Use of Hydrocarbon Resources, Byrammurat Muradov, told the Charge that press reports that each of the three countries involved in const [...] | 2008-01-10 12:47:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EPET RS KZ TX |
08ASHGABAT490 | TURKMENISTAN: AUTHORITIES HARASSING RFE/RL [...] (C) On April 16 and 18, RFE/RL reporter Halmurat Gulychdurdiyev updated Post on current pressures by the government against him and another reporter to discourage them from reporting for RFE/RL. Gulychdurdiyev said harassment of RFE/RL reporters was intensifying again, although it had abate [...] | 2008-04-18 09:36:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PHUM TX |
08ASHGABAT502 | TURKMENISTAN: YOUNG ECONOMIST SPECULATES ON [...] (C) On a plane to Istanbul on April 5, EconOff sat next to Nury Meredov (strictly protect),a former economic advisor employed on a contractual basis at Turkmenistan's Embassy in Washington. Meredov was on his way to Malaysia to participate in a Government of Malaysia-sponsored, two-week sem [...] | 2008-04-22 11:36:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON SOCI TX |
08ASHGABAT507 | TURKMENISTAN: RFE REPORTER GYLYCHDURDIYEV'S [...] (C) SUMMARY: Although Halmurat Gylychdurdiyev is a longtime reporter for RFE/RL, he also has a more than ten year-old bone to pick with Turkmenistan's government. His ongoing fight over a financial dispute in the 1990s is a contributing factor why authorities put pressure on him and his fa [...] | 2008-04-23 12:47:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM TX |
08ASHGABAT510 | TURKMENISTAN: U/S JEFFERY'S DINNER WITH [...] (C) SUMMARY: The success of economic reform in Turkmenistan is by no means assured, select members of Ashgabat's diplomatic corps told Under Secretary for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs Reuben Jeffery III during a free-wheeling dinner on April 21. Although the president appears c [...] | 2008-04-24 05:10:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON EAID EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT511 | TURKMENISTAN: U/S JEFFERY'S APRIL 21 VISIT [...] (C) SUMMARY: Under Secretary for Economic, Energy, and Agricultural Affairs and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs Reuben Jeffery visited Ashgabat on April 21. The overall tone of the visit was decidedly positive, even though several of the meetings were head-bangingly Soviet. Alt [...] | 2008-04-24 05:12:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON EPET EAID TX |
08ASHGABAT513 | TURKMENISTAN: TURKISH CONSTRUCTION COMPANY [...] (C) SUMMARY: Selakhattin Yetim (please strictly protect throughout),Deputy General Director of the third-largest Turkish construction company in Turkmenistan, Sehil Inshaat, said that President Berdimuhamedov was justified in his comments criticizing the work of some Turkish construction co [...] | 2008-04-24 13:50:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON TX |
08ASHGABAT523 | TURKMENISTAN: CURRENCY DEVALUATION -- A WORK IN [...] (C) SUMMARY: On April 19 and April 24, the Central Bank of Turkmenistan significantly changed the manat-dollar exchange rate twice, reducing the value of the dollar by 33 percent. On April 14 the president made a vague statement that made many think that the exchange rates would be unified [...] | 2008-04-25 13:46:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EFIN TX |
08ASHGABAT524 | TURKMENISTAN: STATE MEDIA UNSURE HOW TO MEET THE [...] (C) President Berdimuhamedov gave state media a May deadline to make significant improvements in the quality of its broadcasting. Despite the president's calls for creativity and higher quality news and programming, it appears state media is not able at this stage to meet these demands. In [...] | 2008-04-28 04:05:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PINR PREL EAID SCUL KPAO TX |
08ASHGABAT532 | TURKMENISTAN: CHRISTIAN PASTOR DETAINED FOR [...] (C) SUMMARY: Local police in Turkmenbashi raided a religious gathering April 23 and detained a registered church's pastor and two foreign visitors. The threats to plant false evidence on the pastor and the intense interrogation demonstrate how local security structures can still abuse thei [...] | 2008-04-28 14:02:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KIRF TX |
08ASHGABAT537 | TURKMENISTAN: BP INTERESTED IN OPENING AN OFFICE, [...] (C) BP President for Business Development in Russia and Central Asia John-Paul Stalder told the Charge April 28 that BP is moving forward with plans to open an office in Ashgabat. The registration process will take 3-6 months, and BP foresees that the toughest problem will be finding appropr [...] | 2008-04-29 11:10:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ENRG EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT551 | AT LONG LAST, A UNIFIED EXCHANGE RATE IN [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: On May 1, the Central Bank of Turkmenistan announced a unified exchange rate of 14,250 manat per $1. The final impact of the four-month process for unifying the dual exchange rate is yet unclear. Immediately evident is the fact that the arbitrary devaluation of the dollar ha [...] | 2008-05-01 12:36:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EIND ETRD EPET SOCI TX |
08ASHGABAT552 | PAYMENT OF AIR NAVIGATION AND OTHER FEES BY U.S. [...] (U) This is an action request. See para. 6. (C) SUMMARY: The Turkmenistan government informed us that it will stop charging air navigation fees to USG aircraft, as long as the Turkmenistan National Civil Aviation Service (Turkmenhowayollary - THY) continues to receive the same amount of i [...] | 2008-05-01 14:46:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAIR MARR MCAP MOPS US TX |
08ASHGABAT568 | TURKMENISTAN/IRAN: NATURAL GAS "AGREEMENT" LEAVES [...] (C) Although Iran and Turkmenistan agreed April 25 to resume delivery of Turkmenistan's natural gas to Iran, they are still negotiating both the price and volume of natural gas deliveries, the Iranian ambassador told Poland's Ambassador Marciej Lang during a May 5 diplomatic event. The two s [...] | 2008-05-05 12:55:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EPET IR TX |
08ASHGABAT570 | TURKMENISTAN: MAGTYMGULY SHELTERED FROM ECONOMIC [...] (C) SUMMARY: Although life seems increasingly tough in most of Turkmenistan's agricultural areas, the district of Magtymguly, located west of Ashgabat close to Turkmenistan's border with Iran, seems to be weathering the country's inflation and unemployment slightly better than other rural ar [...] | 2008-05-05 13:24:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EAGR ECON SOCI IR TX |
08ASHGABAT572 | TURKMENISTAN: CADDO EXPLORATION LOOKS TO LONG TERM [...] (C) Houston-based Caddo Exploration is looking at becoming involved in Turkmenistan's hydrocarbon production, according to the company's president, Neel Duncan. Although Caddo is "willing to drill almost anywhere" in the short-term, the company really wants to become involved in on-shore pro [...] | 2008-05-06 09:25:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EPET PREL TX |
08ASHGABAT573 | TURKMENISTAN: SUN-FACING NIYAZOV STATUE HEADING [...] (C) SUMMARY: Many Ashgabat residents were surprised when Turkmenistan's President Berdimuhamedov directed on May 3 that the Arch of Neutrality, with its rotating gold-plated statue of former president Saparmurat Niyazov, should be moved from its current location in downtown Ashgabat to the m [...] | 2008-05-06 11:09:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SOCI SCUL TX |
08ASHGABAT588 | TURKMENISTAN: CHEVRON WANTS TO RACHET UP LEVEL OF [...] (C) SUMMARY: Recognizing that the competition for on-shore contracts for drilling in the Amu Darya basin in eastern Turkmenistan is increasing, Chevron is focusing on bringing Turkmen officials to the negotiation table soonest. After Deputy Premier for Oil and Gas Tagiyev and Executive Direc [...] | 2008-05-07 10:21:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON ENRG EPET TX CH |
08ASHGABAT589 | TURKMENISTAN: LARGEST TURKISH CONSTRUCTION COMPANY [...] (C) During a routine meeting on May 5 with the Planning Manager of the Turkish construction company, Polimeks (reftel),EconOff coincidentally met the Business Development Manager of the newly created Polimeks Energy Corporation, Deniz Tura. Tura said that Polimeks Energy is interested in fo [...] | 2008-05-07 10:45:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET PREL TU TX |
08ASHGABAT591 | TURKMENISTAN: GOVERNMENT FOCUSING ENERGIES ON [...] (C) SUMMARY: A meeting with a Turkmen constitutional expert provided post with some insight into the process of constitutional reform that is now underway. All other legislative reform work has been halted and appropriate human resources are being focused on developing proposals that will [...] | 2008-05-08 08:08:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM TX |
08ASHGABAT599 | TURKMENISTAN'S BLACK MARKET IN EXCHANGE -- HOW IT [...] (C) SUMMARY: Officials from various of Turkmenistan's ministries and state enterprises have profited from a system, run by the Central Bank, where money from dollar denominated "special" accounts were originally valued at the official rate and sold at the higher black market or "unofficial rat [...] | 2008-05-08 13:27:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON EFIN SOCI TX |
08ASHGABAT600 | TURKMENISTAN: NORWAY'S STATOILHYDRO OFFERS TO [...] (C) SUMMARY. Like many other foreign oil companies, Norway's Statoilhydro is looking for a formula that will allow it to get a contract to drill for natural gas in Turkmenistan's on-shore fields, the company's Vice President for Caspian Operations, Kristian Hausken, told EmbOff May 8. Hauske [...] | 2008-05-08 15:07:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EPET NO TX |
08ASHGABAT602 | TURKMENISTAN: PRESIDENT BERDIMUHAMEDOV INCREASES [...] (C) Over recent months, there has been a noticeable increase in security around President Berdimuhamedov. For example, both RSO and defense attaches from various embassies have noticed that there are more police (including plainclothes officers) on the street when the president moves around [...] | 2008-05-09 06:05:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ASEC PTER SOCI TX |
08ASHGABAT605 | TURKMENISTAN: A FRUSTRATED MIDLAND CONTINUES TO [...] (C) Murad Sariyev, a former U.S. UGRAD exchange student who now works as an interpreter for Midland Oil and Gas, told EmbOff May 7 that his new employers continue to wait -- with no results yet -- for a contract to do business in Turkmenistan. (NOTE: Midland Chairman Robert Murphy told Char [...] | 2008-05-12 12:13:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT61 | STATE AGENCY'S MURADOV TELLS SENATOR LUGAR [...] (C) SUMMARY: Executive Director of Turkmenistan's State Agency for Management and Use of Hydrocarbon Resources, Bayrammurat Muradov, told Senator Richard Lugar on January 11 Turkmenistan needs energy revenue to fund its development, and increasing foreign direct investment in Turkmenistan's [...] | 2008-01-14 12:30:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT62 | TURKMENISTAN: SFRC MINORITY CHAIRMAN SENATOR [...] (C) PARTICIPANTS: UNITED STATES: Senator Richard Lugar Kenneth A. Meyers III, Republican Senior Professional Staff Charge d'affaires (note-taker) TURKMENISTAN: President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers for Foreign Affairs [...] | 2008-01-14 12:37:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EAGR EPET EU AZ GG RS TX |
08ASHGABAT626 | TURKMENISTAN: CHEVRON UPDATE [...] (C) During a May 14 briefing to update the Charge on the current state of play of Chevron's bid to produce deep sub-salt natural gas in Turkmenistan's Amu Darya basin, Chevron Country Manager Doug Uchikura repeated most of the information contained Ref A. However, he added that Chevron is dr [...] | 2008-05-15 10:19:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT632 | TURKMENISTAN EXPANDING COOPERATION WITH NATO, [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for Caucasus and Central Asia Robert Simmons discussed NATO's ongoing relationship with Turkmenistan and NATO's interest in an agreement for a commercial-based ground transport route for non-lethal goods through Turkmenistan to s [...] | 2008-05-15 11:56:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR MARR SNAR NATO TX |
08ASHGABAT649 | ASHGABAT DCMR FUNDING REALIGNMENT OF FUNDS FROM [...] (U) This is an action request, please see paragraph 4. 2. (C) Per email instructions, post is requesting the realignment of funds to cover the cost of 3 new Deputy Chief of Mission residence guard positions. Due to the termination of the Surveillance Detection program at post, three membe [...] | 2008-05-20 12:29:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | AMGT APER ASEC |
08ASHGABAT651 | TURKMENISTAN: SAUDI AMBASSADOR SAYS OVER 1,000 [...] (C) On May 19, Saudi Arabian Ambassador Abdel Aziz Al-Ghadeer told Charge that in 2007 1,100 Turkmen had received special Saudi hajj visas, in addition to the planeload of 188 pilgrims officially sponsored and funded by Turkmenistan's government (reftel). The ambassador somewhat reluctantly [...] | 2008-05-21 07:18:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KIRF TU SA TX |
08ASHGABAT652 | TURKMENISTAN: UNSETTLED TIMES, BUT NO REVOLUTION [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Even though 2008 has brought a number of economic displacements that have put new pressures on people used to minimal price raises and an extensive system of subsidies, Turkmenistan remains far from revolt. Grumbling -- a new phenomenon that would never have been heard, or pe [...] | 2008-05-21 08:25:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON SOCI TX |
08ASHGABAT665 | LOCAL IMF REPRESENTATIVE UPBEAT ABOUT [...] (C) SUMMARY: Local International Monetary Fund (IMF) Liaison/Research Officer Jennet Hojanazarova is very optimistic about economic and financial reforms underway in Turkmenistan. According the Hojanazarova, the current team of economic leaders is working well together, and that they are al [...] | 2008-05-23 13:44:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON EFIN TX |
08ASHGABAT666 | TURKMEN-AZERI JOINT CASPIAN EXPLOITATION: A WILL [...] (C) SUMMARY: During a readout of President Berdimuhamedov's May 19-20 visit to Baku, Hydrocarbon State Agency Director Muradov said: -- the will exists in both Ashgabat and Baku for trans-Caspian transportation of Turkmenistan's natural gas through Azerbaijan to Europe, and for a bi-nation [...] | 2008-05-27 09:33:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET AJ TX |
08ASHGABAT667 | TURKMENISTAN-EU ENERGY MOU MIGHT OPEN NEW DOORS [...] (C) During his early-November 2007 visit to Brussels, President Berdimuhamedov agreed that Turkmenistan and the European Union would draw up and sign an energy memorandum of understanding (MOU). The original intention was that Deputy Prime Minister for Oil and Gas Tachberdi Tagiyev would retu [...] | 2008-05-27 11:09:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON EPET EU TX |
08ASHGABAT668 | TURKMENISTAN: HUMAN RIGHTS NON-PAPER DELIVERED [...] (SBU) As instructed reftel, Charge delivered on May 27 to Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov the English original and Russian translation of the non-paper, "Steps for Further Democratic Reform and Human Rights Protection," noting SCA Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher coul [...] | 2008-05-27 12:25:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM TX |
08ASHGABAT669 | TURKMENISTAN: DELL INC. TAKES ANOTHER LOOK; SEES [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Dell Inc. Regional Manager for the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) (except Russia and Ukraine) from Dell Inc. visited Ashgabat to investigate reshaping their business in Turkmenistan. Dell has been active in Turkmenistan since 2006, mostly selling workstations to t [...] | 2008-05-27 12:35:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ETRD TINT KZ RS UP TX |
08ASHGABAT680 | TURKMENISTAN: BERDIMUHAMEDOV PLIES AND A/S [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov told Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher: -- Turkmenistan is committed to funding and building two new power stations to provide electricity to Afghanistan, and strongly supports the Trans-Afghani [...] | 2008-05-29 10:03:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM ECON EPET KEDM AF TX |
08ASHGABAT681 | TURKMENISTAN: FOREIGN MINISTER TO BOUCHER: [...] (C) SUMMARY: During a May 28 meeting with Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher, Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov welcomed broader cooperation in the education sector, especially in exchange programs. He did not rule out [...] | 2008-05-29 11:35:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM EPET SCUL AF TX |
08ASHGABAT683 | TURKMENISTAN ANNOUNCES AMENDMENTS TO BUSINESS [...] (U) Official Russian-language government newspaper, "Neytralniy Turkmenistan," published on May 12 amendments to the "Law on Licensing Businesses," originally published on June 14, 1999. Several days later, an article entitled "Your license" explained that substantive changes were made to Ar [...] | 2008-05-29 11:50:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON EFIN TX |
08ASHGABAT684 | TURKMENISTAN: TAKING ITS TIME TO OPEN [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Although the Government of Turkmenistan up to now has pursued a policy of banning foreign companies from its gas fields onshore (foreign companies are working the Caspian oilfields),Turkmenistan may be reconsidering this policy. At the heart of this new thinking is a need to [...] | 2008-05-29 12:16:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT695 | TURKMENISTAN'S HYDROCARBON SECTOR: THE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Technocratic and generalist participants in a U.S. Trade and Development Agency-sponsored study visit for officials from Turkmenistan's hydrocarbon sector offered different explanations for why Turkmenistan's oil company is facing declining production. The technocrats -- enginee [...] | 2008-05-30 12:09:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR EPET EINV TX |
08ASHGABAT697 | TURKMENISTAN'S PETROLEUM LAW UNDER REVISION [...] (C) SUMMARY: Turkmenistan's hydrocarbon agencies are working on changes to the country's Petroleum Law. One set of changes would seek to address major complaints by subcontractors in the hydrocarbon sector, exempting them from paying value-added and many other taxes, and making it easier fo [...] | 2008-05-30 13:44:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT722 | TURKMENISTAN: FOREIGN MINISTER OPEN-MINDED ON [...] (C) SUMMARY: During a nearly two-hour meeting on June 4 with U.S. Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy C. Boyden Gray, Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov: -- praised U.S.-Turkmenistan energy cooperation; -- expressed cautious interest in an idea that could by-pass the cur [...] | 2008-06-06 08:35:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EPET AJ TX |
08ASHGABAT726 | TURKMENISTAN: RADIO LIBERTY REPORTERS FACING [...] (C) SUMMARY: Four RFE/RL reporters are attempting to travel out of Turkmenistan for training and meetings. One of the reporters was already prevented from leaving for training on April 24, but all believe they might be barred from traveling between now and June 15. Post delivered points to [...] | 2008-06-06 12:41:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM TX |
08ASHGABAT734 | TURKMENISTAN: SPECIAL ENVOY GRAY HEARS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Both Deputy Prime Minister for Oil and Gas Tagiyev and Hydrocarbon State Agency Director Muradov told U.S. Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy C. Boyden Gray on June 5 Turkmenistan welcomes investment by U.S. companies and promotes multiple export routes, including Westward across [...] | 2008-06-09 07:57:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET RS AJ TX |
08ASHGABAT737 | TURKMENISTAN: GLOBAL ENERGY CAPITAL SEEKS [...] (C) During a meeting on June 6, Global Energy Capital's AmCit managing partners told Charge that their company, which focuses on providing direct equity for direct investment in frontier and emerging energy markets, is looking at investing in Turkmenistan. The two, visiting Ashgabat to attend [...] | 2008-06-09 12:00:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EPET EINV TX |
08ASHGABAT740 | TURKMENISTAN: EXXONMOBIL INCHING FORWARD [...] (C) ExxonMobil's Caspian Manager Rob YOung (please protect) told the Charge June 6 that his company is still hoping to get a contract to work in Turkmenistan's onshore gas fields, but has not yet submitted a bid. ExxonMobil wants to get a better sense of what the Government of Turkmenistan w [...] | 2008-06-10 10:52:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT741 | TURKMENISTAN: MARATHON CLOSE TO SIGNING [...] (C) SUMMARY: Marathon International Petroleum Limited is very close to signing a confidentiality agreement that would allow it to carry out a definitional study for a project that would, if allowed to go forward, involve construction of an onshore gas extraction rig, a gas processing facility [...] | 2008-06-10 10:55:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EPET EINV TX |
08ASHGABAT743 | TURKMENISTAN: MIROSLAV JENCA ARRIVES TO HEAD UN [...] (C) SUMMARY: UN Secretary General's Special Representative Ambassador Miroslav Jenca arrived June 9 in Ashgabat to head the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia. He describes his role as "diplomat" rather than "project officer." In their initial meeting, Foreign Min [...] | 2008-06-11 08:31:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN TX |
08ASHGABAT745 | TURKMENISTAN: TREASURY DELEGATION ENCOUNTERS A [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: A team of four U.S. Department of the Treasury assistance advisors representing public finance and management, economic policy, and banking visited Ashgabat June 2-6 to evaluate possible areas of technical cooperation with Turkmenistan. The delegation met with various governm [...] | 2008-06-11 12:25:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON EFIN TX |
08ASHGABAT746 | TURKMENISTAN: DELIVERY OF RESPONSE TO MSG SPE [...] No summary [...] | 2008-06-11 12:29:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ASEC TX |
08ASHGABAT748 | TURKMENISTAN: BERDIMUHAMEDOV FOLLOWS HIS OWN [...] (C) SUMMARY: At the June 6 CIS Summit in St. Petersburg, President Berdimuhamedov reaffirmed Turkmenistan's neutrality and held bilateral meetings. While expressing support for the relatively new goal of expanding economic ties among the CIS states, he again reminded attendees and observer [...] | 2008-06-12 06:42:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EINV KCIS RS UP TX |
08ASHGABAT763 | TURKMENISTAN: STRIKE CONFIRMED AT BURREN [...] (C) SUMMARY: Deutsche Welle reported June 10 that there had been a violent demonstration by up to 600 workers at the field just south of Balkanabat (formerly Nebitdag) whose production sharing agreement Italian oil company Eni had purchased in November 2007 from Burren Energy. According to [...] | 2008-06-16 12:25:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ELAB EPET SOCI TX |
08ASHGABAT765 | TURKMENISTAN: ICITAP TRAINING SUCCESSFUL, [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: A June 2-13 Department of Justice International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) course for Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) investigators and forensic experts went very well, with another crop of very motivated and hard-working Turkmen investigato [...] | 2008-06-16 12:52:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EAID SNAR KCRM TX |
08ASHGABAT771 | TURKMENISTAN: AUSTRIA'S OMV JUMPS INTO THE ENERGY [...] (C) SUMMARY: During a June 17 meeting, Austrian oil company OMV's Country Manager for the Caspian Region, Wolfgang Sporrer, told the Charge that his company will propose two separate gas deals to Turkmenistan: a simple gas-at-the-border purchase (OMV is willing to build the pipeline to tra [...] | 2008-06-17 13:14:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET AJ RU AU TX |
08ASHGABAT778 | TURKMENISTAN: HUNGARY'S NABUCCO AMBASSADOR MAKES [...] (C) SUMMARY: Hungary's new Ambassador-at-Large for the Nabucco Pipeline Project, Mihaly Bayer, told the Charge June 18 that, though Nabucco has "full European Union (EU) backing," less-than-united support from individual capitals and a multiplicity of interests at play in Brussels are slowin [...] | 2008-06-19 10:42:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EPET EU HU TX |
08ASHGABAT780 | TURKMENISTAN: RELATIVE OF OVERSEAS OPPOSITION [...] (C) SUMMARY: Allowed to depart Turkmenistan for heart surgery in Moscow in May 2007, Ovez Annayev, brother-in-law of exile opposition leader and former Central Bank Chairman Khudaiberdy Orazov, is not being allowed to return to Moscow following a short trip home earlier this month to see his [...] | 2008-06-19 12:39:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM OSCE TX |
08ASHGABAT783 | TURKMENISTAN: CUSTOMS CHIEF FIRED AMID REPORTS OF [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Following briefings from senior officials of military and law enforcement agencies, President Berdimuhamedov fired Turkmenistan's Chief of the State Customs Service and reshuffled State Customs Service and State Immigration Service personnel during a June 19, 2008, meeting of [...] | 2008-06-20 10:39:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ETRD KCRM TX |
08ASHGABAT787 | TURKMEN OFFICIALS INTERESTED IN USDA EXCHANGE [...] (C) SUMMARY: U.S. Department of Agriculture Program Officer Amy Freitas met on June 9-10 with representatives of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture, and Niyazov Agriculture University to discuss possible implementation of a U.S. Department of Agriculture-sponsored faculty exc [...] | 2008-06-20 12:34:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON EAGR EAID SOCI TX |
08ASHGABAT79 | TURKMENISTAN: PRESIDENT USUALLY NOT IMPRISONING [...] (C) SUMMARY: Little solid information exists about the fates of former ministers and deputy ministers President Berdimuhamedov fired during his first year in office. The one official whose arrest (for corruption) Post was able to confirm -- former Minister of Railroads Orazberdy Hudayberdiy [...] | 2008-01-16 07:22:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PINR KDEM TX |
08ASHGABAT803 | TURKMENISTAN: WHY THINGS DON'T WORK WELL [...] (C) Charge met with Ministry of Foreign Affairs America's Director Serdar Bashimov the evening of June 26 after Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Rashid Mererdov once again abruptly cancelled a meeting on three urgent matters because, as very frequently happens, he was summoned to the Pr [...] | 2008-06-27 06:43:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL TX |
08ASHGABAT807 | TURKMENISTAN: SENIOR RFE/RL REPORTER CONFIRMS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reporter Halmurat Gylychdurdiyev has confirmed recent reports that a Turkmen contributor to the Azatlyk radio program has been arrested and tortured by the MNB. Sazak Durdymuradov, a school teacher for 35 years, focused his contributions [...] | 2008-06-27 11:59:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM TX |
08ASHGABAT808 | TURKMENISTAN: RFE/RL NEWS COLLECTION PRACTICES [...] (C) SUMMARY: A Turkmenistan-based RFE/RL reporter told Poloff on June 26 that a June 23 RFE/RL story that he was uncertain where the report that hundreds of families were being forcibly resettled -- possibly due to their ethnicity -- to frontier outposts in an effort to populate new territor [...] | 2008-06-27 12:34:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM SOCI TX |
08ASHGABAT811 | TURKMENISTAN: CHARGE TO FM MEREDOV: RELEASE [...] (C) When Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov called him in June 30 on other business, Charge took the opportunity to raise the issue of detained Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty contributor Sazak Durdymuradov, and passed to the minister a copy of the Department's June 27 press statement. 2. (C [...] | 2008-06-30 08:44:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM TX |
08ASHGABAT814 | TURKMENISTAN: RFE/RL REPORTER'S SON AT WITS' END [...] (C) Turkmenabat-based Turkmen Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reporter Osmanguly Halliyev and his son, Umid, told EmbOff during a June 30 meeting that Umid, who has been studying Arabic at the Institute of Foreign Languages, had just been expelled from the school. The Institute's ac [...] | 2008-07-01 06:43:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM SCUL TX |
08ASHGABAT819 | TURKMENISTAN: CURRENT STATE OF RELATIONS WITH [...] (C) SUMMARY: Since President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov took office in February 2007, Turkmenistan's relations with Russia have been gradually expanding, especially the economic relationship. However, contrary to Russian press reports, the degree to which the Turkmen government has been ente [...] | 2008-07-02 05:36:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON ETRD EPET MARR RS TX |
08ASHGABAT820 | TURKMENISTAN: EMBASSY REJECTS MFA "CORRECTION" [...] (C) SUMMARY: In responding to the Embassy's demarche on Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty contributor Sazak Durdymuradov, First Deputy Foreign Ministery Wepa Hajiyev characterized the case as an internal affair about student-teacher ethics and professional responsibilities. The Charge rejected [...] | 2008-07-02 09:37:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM KPAO TX |
08ASHGABAT824 | TURKMENISTAN: EU RAISES HUMAN RIGHTS CASES OF [...] (C) SUMMARY: An EU delegation met for nine hours with Government of Turkmenistan officials on June 24, discussing steps the government could take to improve civil, religious, media, and other rights in the country. In the course of the meeting, the delegation also passed an EU-vetted list o [...] | 2008-07-02 10:50:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM EU TX |
08ASHGABAT826 | TURKMENISTAN: RFE/RL CONTRIBUTOR DURDYMURADOV [...] (C) SUMMARY: On July 4, a half hour before he was to leave for the airport to greet Russian Federation President Dmitriy Medvedev, Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov urgently called in the Charge. Meredov conveyed the official position of his government that detained Radi [...] | 2008-07-07 06:18:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM TX |
08ASHGABAT827 | TURKMENISTAN: GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES REJECT [...] (C) Local OSCE Human Dimension Officer Benjamin Moreau told PolOff June 25 that OSCE had recently held a meeting with Institute for Democracy and Human Rights Director Shirin Akhmedova and other government officials to discuss Turkmenistan,s view of the draft election law assessment that th [...] | 2008-07-07 06:41:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM OSCE TX |
08ASHGABAT829 | TURKMENISTAN: GOVERNMENT CONSIDERING CHANGES TO [...] (C) British Petroleum (BP) is continuing its efforts to register a new office in Ashgabat -- although very slowly, the company's Country Manager for Turkmenistan told EmbOff during a July 3 meeting. For the time being, the country manager is continuing to commute between his home in Baku and [...] | 2008-07-07 09:35:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT830 | TURKMENISTAN: GAZPROM CEO LEAVES ASHGABAT [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a last-minute effort to reach at least a general agreement with the Government of Turkmenistan on 2009 gas prices and volumes before Russian President Medvedev's July 4 visit, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller met with President Berdimuhamedov on July 1 -- but to no avail. Turkmenis [...] | 2008-07-07 11:08:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EPET RS TX |
08ASHGABAT848 | TURKMENISTAN: MEMBER OF OLD INTELLIGENTSIA SITS [...] (C) SUMMARY: The son of a man imprisoned in fall 2006 on corruption charges has approached the Embassy for advice on how to get his father freed. The son has told the Embassy that the corruption charges against the father, who tried to found a political party in Turkmenistan in 1991, were f [...] | 2008-07-08 04:43:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM TX |
08ASHGABAT849 | TURKMENISTAN: CHALIK ENERJI DELINQUENT ON [...] (C) Almost 18 months ago, Turkmenistan had a major blowout in its South Yoloten gas field in an exploratory drilling operation operated by Turkish company Chalik Enerji. After weeks of trying to handle the blowout, Chalik Enerji signed a contract on an emergency basis with U.S. company Cudd [...] | 2008-07-08 06:45:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EPET ECON TU TX |
08ASHGABAT850 | TURKMENISTAN: STATE AGENCY'S MURADOV [...] (C) SUMMARY: Charge paid a farewell call on Executive Director of the Hydrocarbon State Agnecy Bayrammurad Muradov on July 7. Muradov (almost) confirmed that Turkmenistan is seriously reconsidering its past hard-line policy of no Western energy majors working onshore other than in service-c [...] | 2008-07-08 08:05:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET RS KZ AJ TX |
08ASHGABAT851 | TURKMENISTAN: DASHOGUZ FARMER EXPERIMENTS WITH [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: In a creative marketing approach, IPC Group has been placing free loaner agricultural equipment in farms managed by an influential farmer, Sadulla Rozmetov, in Dashoguz Province for the last 18 months. While working with private influencers like Rozmetov is good for business, [...] | 2008-07-08 08:19:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON EAGR EAID SOCI TX |
08ASHGABAT853 | TURKMENISTAN: NEW UNION OF ENTREPRENEURS EMERGES [...] (C) In late March 2008, as part of a new initiative to promote small and medium enterprise development, President Berdimuhamedov announced that he was closing Turkmenistan's Union of Entrepreneurs and establishing a new Union of Entrepreneurs and Industrialists (reftel). At the time, most ob [...] | 2008-07-08 11:39:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON TX |
08ASHGABAT861 | TURKMENISTAN/RUSSIA: MEDVEDEV VISIT NUDGES [...] (C) SUMMARY: Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev's July 4-5 visit to Ashgabat might have succeeded in modestly advancing the new president's personal relationship with Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, but did not lead to any major breakthroughs. The two sides signed a seri [...] | 2008-07-09 12:19:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON EPET MARR RU TX |
08ASHGABAT864 | TURKMENISTAN: CONTRARY TO REPORTS, RELEASED [...] (C) SUMMARY: During a July 9 meeting with EmbOff, recently released RFE/RL contributor Sazak Durdymuradov appeared to be healthy and relaxed. Durdymuradov said that he had not been physcially or mentally tortured or mistreated in any way, but confirmed that doctors in the psychiatric facili [...] | 2008-07-10 11:54:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM TX |
08ASHGABAT866 | TURKMENISTAN: DASHOGUZ RELIGIOUS GROUP TWO STEPS [...] (C) Shokhrat Shirmedov, a leader of the Turkmen Baptist Church in Dashoguz, told EmbOff on July 10 that both the local provincial Council on Religious Affairs (CRA) office and the central CRA office in Ashgabat had informed him about two and a half months ago that they had approved the church' [...] | 2008-07-10 12:26:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KIRF TX |
08ASHGABAT871 | TURKMENISTAN/HUNGARY: PM GYURCSANY PUSHES [...] (C) SUMMARY: Hungarian ambassador Gyorgy Busztin, resident in Tehran, told Charge and DCM July 10 that Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany's eight hours with President Berdimuhamedov on July 9 was dominated by a single issue: the Nabucco pipeline. While Busztin indicated that Berdimu [...] | 2008-07-11 07:18:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EPET HU TX |
08ASHGABAT879 | TURKMENISTAN: SON OF A POSSIBLE HUMAN RIGHTS CASE [...] (C) Shanazar Shaberdiyev, who first approached an emboff several weeks ago looking for advice on how he might get his father -- imprisoned on corruption charges -- freed (reftel),told poloff on July 14 that, for a reasonably small bribe of 600,000-1,000,000 manat (about $40-$70),he could bri [...] | 2008-07-14 10:58:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM TX |
08ASHGABAT884 | TURKMENISTAN/AZERBAIJAN: DETAIL FROM OIL COMPANY [...] (C) SUMMARY: The country manager for German oil company Wintershall told us that the early-April standoff between two Azeri border guard gunboats and an international oil company involved Petronas, in block I, rather than Buried Hill in block III, a block that contains a boundary under disput [...] | 2008-07-14 12:38:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EPET MOPS AJ TX |
08ASHGABAT885 | TURKMENISTAN: OSCE TRAINING EXPOSES TURKMEN [...] (C) An OSCE-sponsored team made up of a prosecutor from the Republic of Georgia and a judge from the UK recently spent two weeks in Turkmenistan giving seminars on British jurisprudence. The British judge told emboff July 11 that they had held sessions in Turkmenbashy, Turkmenabat, Mary, and [...] | 2008-07-14 13:29:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KJUS TX |
08ASHGABAT886 | TURKMENISTAN: BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT STILL [...] (C) SUMMARY: According to a U.S. information technology expert who has been in Turkmenistan for about one year, the business environment has become more obstructionist. Over the past year, in order to clear deals between his company and Turkmen state agencies, he has encountered increasing [...] | 2008-07-15 06:03:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON EINV EFIN TX |
08ASHGABAT89 | TURKMENISTAN: NEW ENERGY-SECTOR PROJECTS [...] (C) During his January 17 farewell call on the Charge before he moves to Abu Dhabi, Chalik Holding executive Aziz Chengel (please protect) discussed several of Turkmenistan's new projects in the energy sector. UAE COURTS, BUT ITERA SCORES 2. (C) Turkmenistan intends to build two new ure [...] | 2008-01-17 11:28:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EPET EINV ENRG TX |
08ASHGABAT893 | TURKMENISTAN: IT'S ALL IN THE (BERDIMUHAMEDOV'S) [...] (C) SUMMARY: Turkmenistan's President Berdimuhamedov has a large extended family, with four children and five sisters. Like many of his counterparts elsewhere in the region, he apparently is pursuing a policy of favoring family members and relatives. Over the last year, he has appointed re [...] | 2008-07-15 13:28:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL EFIN TX |
08ASHGABAT894 | TURKMENISTAN: HYDROCARBON TOUR D'HORIZON WITH [...] (C) SUMMARY: During a July 11 tour d'horizon meeting, German oil company Wintershall's country manager told emboff that Wintershall is beginning exploratory drilling the week of July 14 in the southern part of block 11. In an effort to promote rapid exploration of Block III, for which Canadi [...] | 2008-07-15 13:36:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT896 | TURKMENISTAN/AIR NAV FEES: DFM PROMISES TO SPEED [...] (C) On July 15, Charge met with DFM Wepa Hajiyev to discuss a variety of issues, including air navigation fees (reftel). Charge informed Hajiyev that DATT had contacted Turkmenistan Aviation (THY) officials, as MFA officials had suggested, in order to meet on the issue. However, THY Deputy [...] | 2008-07-16 12:14:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAIR MARR MCAP MOPS TX |
08ASHGABAT897 | TURKMENISTAN: USAID IMPLEMENTER'S VISA EXTENSION [...] (C) On July 15, Charge met with DFM Wepa Hajiyev to discuss the denial of a visa extension to the Chief of Party for the Aglinks project administered by Winrock International in Turkmenistan. Hajiyev said Turkmenistan is pleased with its cooperation with USAID and wants to provide the best c [...] | 2008-07-16 12:38:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EAID ECON TX |
08ASHGABAT901 | TURKMENISTAN: DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSES [...] (C) SUMMARY: During a July 16 meeting with the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) Regional Director for Europe and Eurasia, Dan Stein, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Hajiyev acknowledged that Turkmenistan must upgrade the knowledge of its petrochemical specialists. He also welcom [...] | 2008-07-17 09:21:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EAID EPET TINT TX AZ |
08ASHGABAT903 | TURKMENISTAN: PETRONAS NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION TO [...] (C) During a July 15 meeting, Malaysian petroleum firm Petronas general manager in Turkmenistan Mohammed Ridzan Mohammed Sharif told emboff that his company is now planning on producing only 5 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year in Turkmenistan's block I (Livanov). (NOTE: This stat [...] | 2008-07-17 10:59:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT916 | TURKMENISTAN: FORMER DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADER MAY [...] (C) The former First Secretary of the Democratic Party and Galkynysh (Revival) national movement, Onjyk Musayev, has been imprisoned, according to an FSN's relative who lives close to the village where Musayev's mother lives. Musayev, who resigned his job for health reasons during a June 22 [...] | 2008-07-18 13:18:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV TX |
08ASHGABAT917 | TURKMENISTAN: STATE AGENCY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR [...] (C) SUMMARY: During a July 16 meeting, the Executive Director of Turkmenistan's State Agency for Management and Use of Hydrocarbon Resources, Bayrammurat Muradov, told U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) Regional Manager for Europe and Eurasia Dan Stein that the State Agency was please [...] | 2008-07-18 13:18:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EPET AJ TX |
08ASHGABAT931 | TURKMENISTAN: AGREEMENT REACHED WITH IRAN ON GAS [...] (C) Turkmenistan and Iran have reached an agreement on gas. According to Turkish Ambassador Huseyin Bichkali, who was informed by the Iranian ambassador, Turkmenistan and Iran have agreed that Iran will pay $175 per tcm for a five-year period. Bichkali said the accord was reached several we [...] | 2008-07-23 08:25:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON EPET IR TX |
08ASHGABAT955 | TURKMENISTAN: ROMANIANS SAY BERDIMUHAMEDOV PROMISED TO CUT BACK GAS TO RUSSIA TO FILL NABUCCO [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Berdimuhamedov's July 16 trip to Romania appears to have been a success, yielding constructive agreements that will expand the political and economic bilateral relationship and Romania's assistance with development in the areas of education, water management, and investment. [...] | 2008-07-24 12:17:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON EPET TX RO |
08ASHGABAT958 | TURKMENISTAN/AZERBAIJAN: GAC MARINE OFFERS DETAIL [...] (C) SUMMARY: The country manager of GAC Marine, the company that was providing towing services for the rig intercepted by Azeri border guard vessels on April 11 told A/DCM on July 24 that the rig and vessels were at no time anywhere close to the median line that Azerbaijan claims at its bord [...] | 2008-07-24 14:03:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EPET AJ TX |
08ASHGABAT961 | TURKMENISTAN: MORE DETAILS ON 2007-2008 FREEDOM [...] (C) SUMMARY: Freedom of travel issues in Turkmenistan were the focus of a July 22 RFE/RL article that put post local employee Jennet Gylychdurdiyeva, who has a health condition that cannot be treated in Ashgabat, in the spotlight. Gylychdurdiyeva, the daughter of RFE/RL senior reporter Hal [...] | 2008-07-25 07:49:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM TX |
08ASHGABAT963 | TURKMENISTAN PUBLISHES DRAFT CONSTITUTION [...] (C) SUMMARY: On July 22, state media published the new draft constitution, now under consideration by the parliament. Post's initial examination of the draft seems to indicate that while a few minor tweaks and some rewording have taken place, the draft largely resembles the country's 1992 [...] | 2008-07-25 13:38:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM TX |
08ASHGABAT964 | TURKMENISTAN/AZERBAIJAN: SUMMER OF DISCONTENT [...] (C) SUMMARY: While commercial contacts between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan apparently have continued to expand, the two countries' budding political dialogue by all accounts has taken a nosedive. While not solely responsible for the cooling of efforts to find a political resolution of the [...] | 2008-07-25 14:21:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EPET AJ TX |
08ASHGABAT965 | DELOITTE TAX LLP IN PROCESS OF REGISTERING IN [...] (C) U.S. Department of the Treasury officials Alan Robidoux, Regional Tax Administration Advisor, and William Remington, Associate Director for Tax Policy and Tax Administration, met with Ovez Agayev and Jennet Karlyeva of Deloitte Tax LLP on July 25. Agayev is a Muskie program alumnus and g [...] | 2008-07-28 08:01:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON EFIN TX |
08ASHGABAT972 | TURKMENISTAN VOWS NOT TO BLOCK HDIM AGENDA [...] (SBU) On July 28, MFA Americas Department Director Serdar Bashimov met with Charge to deliver Turkmenistan's reply to the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting demarche contained Ref. A. He made the following points: -- Turkmenistan appreciates the language noting positive developments in [...] | 2008-07-28 12:13:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL KDEM OSCE TX |
08ASHGABAT973 | TURKMENISTAN: BURIED HILL SAYS IT IS UNFAZED BY [...] (C) SUMMARY: Canadian oil firm Buried Hill, which has a contract from the Government of Turkmenistan to develop hydrocarbons in the Serdar/Kyapaz field in block III, is moving forward very slowly in its plans. It concluded 2-D seismic imaging in February, and hopes to drill three explorator [...] | 2008-07-28 12:25:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EPET AJ TX |
08ASHGABAT981 | TURKMENISTAN: AT FRONT END OF PREPARATION TO MEET [...] (U) SUMMARY: A U.S. Department of Treasury team focusing on assessing Turkmenistan's anti-money laundering law enforcement capacity met with relevant state financial, legal, and legislative entities, as well as two of the three foreign banks currently operating here. Turkmenistan's banks a [...] | 2008-07-29 12:59:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EFIN TX |
08ASHGABAT982 | TURKMENISTAN: NATIONAL LIBRARY DIRECTOR WANTS REAL [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: A meeting with the new National Library director revealed new opportunities for deeper cooperation and engagement. While the Library falls under the normally cooperative Ministry of Culture, the new director's frankness and leadership style were a refreshing contrast to what we [...] | 2008-07-30 07:53:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SCUL KPAO TX |
08ASHGABAT984 | TURKMENISTAN: BROKEN WATER PUMP LEAVES [...] (C) Most of Balkan Province, including the Caspian port city of Turkmenbashy, has not had access to fresh water for at least a week, according to the country manager of Wintershall, Cal Sandhu (strictly protect). Sandhu claims that the explanation he has received is that a pump on the main l [...] | 2008-07-30 11:55:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT993 | TURKMENISTAN: FOUR JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES ADHERENTS [...] (C) Senior Jehovah's Witness representative Andrei Zhbanov confirmed to poloff July 30 that a police raid on the apartment of a Jehovah's Witness adherent in Balkanabat had taken place on May 6. As also reported in a press release issued by the religious organization's headquarters in New Y [...] | 2008-07-30 13:36:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KIRF TX |
08ASHGABAT994 | TURKMENISTAN: MOTHER OF FORMER AMERICAS DESK [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Embassy was recently approached by a woman claiming to be the mother of a former MFA Americas desk officer who was arrested by Turkmen authorities in 2005 for engaging in espionage on behalf of Russia. The woman requested assistance in passing a letter, in which her son cla [...] | 2008-07-31 08:08:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM TX |
08ASHGABAT996 | TURKMENISTAN: STATE AGENCY HEAD TELLS CHEVRON IT [...] (C) During a brief July 31 meeting, Chevron's AMCIT country manager told emboff that he had a very positive July 30 meeting with the Executive Director of Turkmenistan's State Agency for Management and Use of Hydrocarbon Resources, Bayrammurat Muradov. This was the second meeting between the [...] | 2008-07-31 12:01:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EPET TX |
08ASHGABAT997 | TURKMENISTAN: GAZPROM REACHES AGREEMENT WITH [...] (C) SUMMARY: Despite much hype in the Russian media that Gazprom has locked in its monopoly on Turkmenistan's gas, it appears that, during a July 25 visit to Turkmenistan, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller reportedly reached agreement only on a pricing formula for Turkmenistan's natural gas exports i [...] | 2008-07-31 12:22:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EPET RU CH TX |
08ASMARA102 | UPDATE: MURDER OF ERITREAN BUSINESSMAN FIKRE [...] (C) A mid-ranking Eritrean National Security Agency (ANS) officer told Emboff how Eritrean businessman Fikremariam Andemariam (Fikre) had been murdered in jail in October 2007, a crime which prompted the later assassination attempt on the Deputy Chief of the ANS overseeing the investigation int [...] | 2008-02-27 12:26:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KCRM ER |
08ASMARA155 | ARS ON AL-SHABAAB, SOMALI RECONCILIATION [...] (C) Summary: Senior members of the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) warned the ambassador March 19 that the unpopular Ethiopian "occupation" of Somalia is causing Somalis to hail al-Shabaab gunmen as heroes and freedom fighters. The ARS members stressed that al-Shabaab's value [...] | 2008-03-24 12:18:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINS PTER SO ER |
08ASMARA158 | SPLM OFFICIAL: ARREST, TORTURE AND POLITICAL [...] (C) Summary: On March 13, DCM met with Amar Najm Eddine al-Jak (Amar),a Khartoum spokesman for the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM),who had been spirited from Sudan to Asmara by the SPLM after being arrested and tortured by Sudanese National Security services (reftel). Amar relay [...] | 2008-03-25 11:16:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM PREF SU ER |
08ASMARA160 | CHINESE REPORTEDLY FUNDING CHADIAN OPPOSITION [...] (C) On March 13, DCM met with Amar Najm Eddine al-Jak (Amar),a Khartoum spokesman for the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM),who had been spirited from Sudan to Asmara by the SPLM after being arrested and tortured by Sudanese National Security services (reftel). In the meeting, Am [...] | 2008-03-26 08:45:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL SU CD CH ER |
08ASMARA161 | SUDANESE PRISON OFFICIALS HOODWINK AMNESTY [...] (C) On March 13, DCM met with Amar Najm Eddine al-Jak (Amar),a Khartoum spokesman for the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM),who had been spirited from Sudan to Asmara by the SPLM after being arrested and tortured by Sudanese National Security services (reftel). In the meeting, Am [...] | 2008-03-26 08:48:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PREF SU ER ET |
08ASMARA18 | UNMEE FUEL UPDATE [...] (C) Summary: UNMEE Force Commander Major General Mohammad Taisir (protect) estimates UNMEE can continue operations at the current reduced levels until January 31. After that UNMEE would have to dip into its strategic fuel reserve, which Taisir said is only sufficient to move UNMEE's troops ba [...] | 2008-01-14 08:37:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | KPKO PBTS PREL MOPS ASEC ER ET XW |
08ASMARA188 | LIGHTS FOR ALL, BREAD FOR THE SELECT [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) is investing its limited resources heavily in renewable energy, particularly solar and wind power, for the rural sector. At the same time, the rural sector is most heavily hit by shortages of staples such as wheat and flour, creatin [...] | 2008-04-03 14:48:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EAGR ENRG EAID PGOV ER |
08ASMARA19 | ERITREAN REPATRIATIONS AND IDP RESETTLEMENT [...] (C) Summary: Eritrea ICRC Head of Delegation Catherine Deman (strictly protect) told the ambassador January 4 that her organization in the past twelve months has assisted in reducing the number of Eritrean internally displaced persons (IDP) from 30,000 to 5,000 and that in December around 40 [...] | 2008-01-14 08:48:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PHUM EAID PREL ICRC ER ET XW |
08ASMARA198 | RARE INSIGHTS FROM PFDJ INSIDER [...] (C) Summary: Hagos Ghebrehiwot gave subtle signals to the ambassador that the Eritreans were ready to work with, rather than against, the United States on bilateral and regional interests. Considered to be strictly the bagman and CEO of party-run enterprises, Hagos displayed surprising poli [...] | 2008-04-04 08:45:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON ER |
08ASMARA2 | LIBYANS IN ERITREA [...] (C) We're Number One ------------------------ Libya has recently increased by 400% its diplomatic presence in Eritrea (up from 7 to 28 diplomats),making the Libyan Arab Brotherhood Bureau the largest diplomatic mission in Asmara, surpassing in size even the embassy of the former colonial p [...] | 2008-01-02 06:07:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL LY ER |
08ASMARA20 | SUSPICIOUS NASAIR [...] (C) An Asmara-based European ambassador told the ambassador January 11 that Nasair, a relatively new and shadowy airline based in Massawa, Eritrea, is owned and controlled by Sudanese intelligence. Nasair, which operates scheduled flights to Kenya, Sudan, Chad, and UAE, is a registered Eritre [...] | 2008-01-14 10:18:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | EAIR PTER PREL ER SU XW |
08ASMARA205 | CATHOLIC CHURCH WINS A ROUND [...] (C) A Catholic priest at Asmara's Cathedral told PolOff April 8 that the GSE has issued seminary students identification cards exempting them from national service. This recent policy represents an about-face by the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE),who months earlier threatened to sei [...] | 2008-04-10 06:31:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | KIRF PHUM SOCI PGOV ER |
08ASMARA207 | PFDJ INVADES THE SCHOOLS [...] (SBU) On March 26, the American School in Asmara implemented its first mandatory political-education meeting, a new requirement directed by the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE). These meetings are instituted by the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ),the nation's sole po [...] | 2008-04-11 07:50:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PROP PHUM ER |
08ASMARA211 | PFDJ MONEY-MAN SPEAKS ON ERITREA'S WAR ECONOMY [...] (C) People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) money-man Hagos "The Sack" Ghebrehiwot told the ambassador on April 2 that Eritrea's current economic polices are "directly tied to the situation" on the border rather than driven by Marxist ideology, and that Eritrea's economy must remain on [...] | 2008-04-15 07:00:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV ER |
08ASMARA212 | 3,225 CHRISTIANS IN PRISON (AND COUNTING) [...] (C) SUMMARY: Reverend Zecharias Abraham (strictly protect) of the Mehrete Yesus Evangelical Presbyterian Church met with PolOff on April 10 to discuss the status of the Christian churches in Eritrea. Rev. Zecharias provided updated numbers on imprisoned Christians, and his views on the new G [...] | 2008-04-15 12:50:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KIRF PGOV ER |
08ASMARA227 | DJIBOUTI AMBASSADOR ON BORDER TENSION [...] (C) Somalia and the Eritrea)Djibouti Border: --------------------------------------------- --- "The Somali problem is not foreign to the border issue," claims Djibouti's ambassador to Eritrea. Ambassador Ahmed Issa Gabobeh, the dean of Asmara's diplomatic corps, warned against applying rat [...] | 2008-04-23 13:08:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PBTS ER DJ |
08ASMARA235 | ANOTHER NGO CONTEMPLATING LEAVING ERITREA [...] (C) The Lutheran World Foundation (LWF),one of the few remaining non-governmental organizations operating in Eritrea, may close its doors in the upcoming year if the operating environment worsens, stated representative Jan Schutte on April 10. Schutte commented on the extreme difficulties i [...] | 2008-04-29 12:20:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EAID ER |
08ASMARA247 | ERITREA PLANS TO SEEK FULL MEMBERSHIP IN ARAB [...] (C) Eritrea plans to seek full membership in the Arab League and to sponsor a "new generation of opposition" in Darfur, according to an Asmara-based Egyptian diplomat. 2. (C) On May 2, Egyptian Political Chief Hassam Abdallah Nooreldin (Hassam) briefed DCM on a meeting several days prior be [...] | 2008-05-06 14:20:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR SU ER |
08ASMARA248 | ERITREA - MAJOR AUSTRALIAN GOLD STRIKE [...] (SBU) Summary: Australia's Sub-Sahara Resources exploration company reports it has discovered a deposit of 1.04 million ounces of gold in north-central Eritrea worth one billion dollars at today's prices (about equal to Eritrea's GDP). This gold deposit is similar in size to the Vancouver-ba [...] | 2008-05-07 09:00:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | EMIN ECON PGOV PINS PREL ER |
08ASMARA249 | ARS READY TO TALK [...] (C) SUMMARY: The leadership of the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) is committed to UN-brokered discussions with representatives of the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) scheduled to commence May 10 in Djibouti. Their willingness to enter into these talks should not be mis [...] | 2008-05-07 14:17:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ER SO DJ |
08ASMARA25 | PUBLIC BEATING BY EDF SOLDIERS [...] (C) Embassy source informed A/PolOff that she witnessed the severe beating of a young Eritrean male in the compound of a small military camp near the Orota Hospital in Asmara on the evening of January 11, 2008. The exterior gates of this military compound are always partially open due to the f [...] | 2008-01-16 13:35:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV MOPS ER |
08ASMARA252 | SANU RESOURCES' MINING PROSPECTS [...] (SBU) Summary: Canada's Sanu Resources exploration company reported successful drilling results indicating large deposits of copper and zinc near Nevsun's Bisha Mining Project (reftel A). Only a small amount of gold was also discovered at this site, but Sanu anticipates "finding more gold ne [...] | 2008-05-09 08:34:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | EMIN ECON PGOV PINR PREL ER |
08ASMARA253 | NEW GSE MACHINATIONS WITH DARFUR OPPOSITION [...] (C) Summary. Eritrea is seeking to create a "new generation of opposition" in Darfur, according to an Asmara-based Egyptian diplomat. His assertion was supported by a Sudanese Embassy officer in a subsequent meeting, who viewed the latest GSE initiative with indifference. End Summary. ER [...] | 2008-05-09 09:46:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR SU ER |
08ASMARA254 | ERITREA PESSIMISTIC ON SUDAN'S CPA [...] (C) Summary: Eritrea's point man on Sudan, Abdella Jabir, believes "the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) will not succeed because the SPLM's leadership is weak." He revealed that Eritrea has 40 monitors on the Chad-Sudan border and commented that Libya is "unreliable" as its priorities shift [...] | 2008-05-12 14:49:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ER SU SO |
08ASMARA258 | ERITREA'S DIESEL DIET [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. Diesel fuel remains an extremely scarce commodity in Eritrea. UN agencies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have not received their diesel allocations from the Eritrean government since April 10. Many of the Eritrean government's civilian vehicles are [...] | 2008-05-14 07:47:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV ENER PINR ER |
08ASMARA264 | ERITREA AND SAUDI ARABIA MEND TIES, A BIT [...] (C) ERITREA SEEKS REGIONAL COOPERATION: President Isaias' April 27 long-sought audience with King Abdullah began with an Eritrean request for close cooperation on Somalia, Sudan-Chad, and Darfur, according to the Saudi ambassador in Asmara, Nasser M. Al-Reshaidan. Expressing disappointment w [...] | 2008-05-14 13:43:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON ER SA |
08ASMARA266 | ANOTHER ASMARA LIBERATION DAY: ROUND-UPS AND [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Within the last two weeks, Embassy Asmara has noticed a substantial increase in military presence and citizen round-ups, as well as anti-U.S. sentiments voiced by President Isaias Afwerki in the lead-up to the May 24 Liberation Day celebration. End Summary. NO ID EQUALS "VERY [...] | 2008-05-15 14:23:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PROP PGOV ER |
08ASMARA27 | CODEL PAYNE MEETS SOMALI ARS REPRESENTATIVES [...] (U) Summary. On January 4 CODEL Payne met with five representatives of the Alliance for the Reliberation of Somalia (ARS) at the Intercontinental Hotel in Asmara. ARS members stated their views of U.S. policies in the Horn of Africa, the reasons for and consequences of the Ethiopian invasion [...] | 2008-01-17 08:19:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | KPKO PGOV PREL PTER ER SO |
08ASMARA275 | ISAIAS VISITS IRAN; GARNERS ECONOMIC AGREEMENTS [...] (SBU) President Isaias Afwerki's May 19-20 state visit to Tehran and meetings with Iranian President Ahmadinejad and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have received front page coverage in the Eritrean government-controlled media. President Isaias' visit included an interview with Iran's Press TV, the ful [...] | 2008-05-22 14:07:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR IR ER |
08ASMARA277 | DETAINED EGYPTIAN SAILORS RETURN HOME [...] (C) On May 21, Egyptian DCM Hassam Abdallah Nooreldin told Poloff that the 40 Egyptian sailors, who were arrested in spring 2007 and detained for a year in the port city of Massawa by the Eritrean government, have finally been released and returned to Egypt. The sailors were never charged wit [...] | 2008-05-23 06:55:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM CASC EG ER |
08ASMARA29 | ASMARA - UNMEE COMBATING SEA AND TIP [...] (U) Per Reftel A, the following is Post's Sexual Expolitation and Abuse (SEA) and Trafficking In Persons (TIP) report. 2. (SBU) There continue to be very few reported cases of either SEA or TIP involving UN Peacekeeping Mission to Eritrea and Ethiopia (UNMEE) personnel in Eritrea. The Chie [...] | 2008-01-17 13:26:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | KPKO PREL ER |
08ASMARA290 | GSE ACTIVELY SEEKS TO DIVIDE ARS [...] (C) Summary: A Finnish Parliamentarian who recently travelled from meetings with Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) members in Djibouti to meet with ARS members in Asmara emphasized that both sides expressed their desire to reunite. However, Asmara members have been discouraged f [...] | 2008-05-29 14:17:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SO ER |
08ASMARA304 | THE ROUNDABOUT METHOD OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM [...] (C) Reverend Zecharias Abraham (strictly protect) of the Mehrete Yesus Evangelical Presbyterian Church informed PolOff during a late May meeting of the manner in which information from Compass Direct is verified. (Note: Compass Direct is a Christian nongovernmental organization (NGO) that docu [...] | 2008-06-10 10:49:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KIRF SF ER |
08ASMARA309 | ARS REJECTIONISTS TO RALLY IN ASMARA [...] (C) SUMMARY: Members of the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) who reject the June 9 reconciliation agreement with the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) reportedly will hold a conference in Asmara on June 15 in an attempt to unseat Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed as ARS leader - t [...] | 2008-06-11 09:29:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SO ER |
08ASMARA311 | BORDER CLASH - MUM'S THE WORD IN ASMARA [...] (C) SUMMARY: Eritrean government, party, media, and military officials are maintaining complete silence on the June 10-11 border clashes with Djibouti. No Eritrean media outlets have reported the incidents and the citizenry of Asmara are going about their daily routines in grim normalcy. Th [...] | 2008-06-11 13:28:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MOPS PBTS ER DJ |
08ASMARA312 | ERITREAN FUEL DYNAMICS [...] Summary: A confluence of internal and external factors has resulted in a diesel fuel shortage in Eritrea since December. The overall quantity of fuel imports, most especially diesel and gasoline, have declined over the past five years. Eritrea continues to subsidize the sale of diesel, in [...] | 2008-06-12 08:59:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV ENRG PINR ER |
08ASMARA313 | ASSAB - ERITREA'S USELESS PORT [...] (C) UNMEE Chief of Mission Support Maurice Critchley (protect) informed Emboff the port of Assab may be unusable. In the course of his duties with UNMEE, Critchley has transited Assab numerous times when traveling by UN flights between Eritrea and Ethiopia. (Note: UNMEE's flight between Erit [...] | 2008-06-12 11:07:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | EWWT ECON PINR PGOV ER |
08ASMARA314 | SUDAN TO PROVIDE FUEL TO ERITREA [...] (C) Sudan will provide fuel-starved Eritrea with substantial quantities of refined product "probably within the next two weeks," according to Sudan's ambassador in Asmara, Salah El-Hassen. 2. (C) El-Hassen commented June 11 to the ambassador that Sudanese refineries at Port Sudan and near [...] | 2008-06-12 14:20:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG EPET PREL ER SU |
08ASMARA315 | ISAIAS HOLDS A GRUDGE [...] (C) WHY ERITREA IS BEING SO STUBBORN: In mid-April, just as the tension on the Eritrea-Djibouti border was first rising, President Isaias telephoned President Guelleh and suggested that the two of them work together to resolve the issue, according to Yemane Ghebreab, the Eritrean ruling party [...] | 2008-06-12 15:15:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ER DJ SO SU |
08ASMARA320 | GSE'S LATEST HARASSMENT OF RELIGIOUS GROUPS [...] (C) The Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) continues to harass both approved and compliant (registered, but not yet approved),religious groups. On June 5, the Eritrean military expropriated property of the Catholic Church near the Expo circle in Asmara. The Church was reportedly given [...] | 2008-06-13 09:09:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KIRF ER |
08ASMARA322 | ERITREA'S FUNCTIONAL YET TEETERING ELECTRICAL [...] (SBU) Summary: Eritrea's electrical system provided remarkable electricity availability to communities connected to the main grid for several years. Without expensive overhauls of the seven main heavy fuel oil (HFO) fired generators during the next few years, however, Eritrea can expect bro [...] | 2008-06-16 13:36:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG PGOV PINR ER |
08ASMARA324 | EGYPT'S ERITREAN DEPORTEES LAND IN MASSAWA [...] (C) Summary: Embassy inquiries regarding Egypt's deportation of Eritreans were met with deception, lack of knowledge, and surprising openness from different sources. A well-placed Embassy source informed Emboffs of Egypt Air's deportation flights to Massawa, a location more concealed for Eg [...] | 2008-06-17 14:29:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PREL SU EG ER |
08ASMARA328 | ERITREA GARNERS MORE MONEY FROM THE EC [...] (C) SUMMARY: On June 15, President Isaias Afwerki met with Louis Michel, European Commission (EC) Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, to discuss plans for further development aid to Eritrea. Michel reportedly broached several topics of humanitarian and diplomatic concern with a [...] | 2008-06-19 08:30:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EAID PREL PHUM ER DJ |
08ASMARA33 | WHAT,S ERITREA UP TO IN SUDAN? [...] (C) Summary: Finnish MP and former EC Special Envoy for Sudan Pekka Havisto told the ambassador January 18 that Eritrea is working to help fulfill the "Garang Dream" in Sudan, wherein marginalized people in the South, East, and in Darfur cooperate to counterbalance the National Congress Party [...] | 2008-01-23 13:28:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ER SU |
08ASMARA334 | OLF CLAIMS TO BE FIGHTING FOR DEMOCRACY [...] (C) Summary: The Chairman of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF),Daawud Ibsa, believes his organization's support among Ethiopia's largest ethnic group bodes well for the OLF's chances in the event of fair elections in Ethiopia. He complained to the ambassador June 19 that PM Meles has failed [...] | 2008-06-24 14:25:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PINS PREL PGOV KDEM ER ET |
08ASMARA337 | ERITREAN FUEL AND ELECTRICITY: FROM BAD TO WORSE [...] (C) Summary: Eritrea's electricity supplier announced that on June 27 electricity supplies in Asmara will shut down for 11 hours per day for an indefinite period. A run on gasoline occurred on June 26, leading filling stations to suspend servicing customers. All forms of cooking fuel remai [...] | 2008-06-26 13:03:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV ENRG PINR ASEC ER |
08ASMARA339 | UPDATE ON UNMEE OPERATIONS IN ASMARA [...] (C) UNMEE Deputy Chief Security Officer (DCSO) provided RSO and UK Deputy Head of Mission (DHM) with an update June 30 on UNMEE operations in Eritrea. UNMEE has ceased operations in Assab and UNMEE flights are no longer stopping there to refuel. After an approximately two-month wait, the Eri [...] | 2008-06-30 13:44:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | MOPS KPKO PREL PGOV ASEC ER |
08ASMARA341 | DIASPORA YOUTH WARY OF MILITARY TRAINING CAMPS [...] (C) SUMMARY: The number of Eritrean diaspora youth volunteering to spend part of their summer in the Sawa military training camp has significantly declined in recent years. Conditions in the military camps remain poor while reports of abuse and death of those conscripted continue to surface. [...] | 2008-07-03 07:52:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SOCI PHUM ER |
08ASMARA349 | IMPRISONED FSN RELEASED [...] (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador met with former local guard Aklilu Yohannes (strictly protect) on July 9, who was imprisoned underground for nearly a year without charge. Aklilu was additionally imprisoned for 12 days in 2005 for belonging to an unregistered church. While in prison, Aklilu reports b [...] | 2008-07-11 06:53:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV APER KIRF SOCI ASEC ER |
08ASMARA353 | MYSTERY SURROUNDS ERITREAN DEPORTEES FROM EGYPT [...] (C) SUMMARY: Mystery and conflicting statements continue to surround the status of the Eritreans recently deported from Egypt (reftel). While the UNHCR reports that some have been returned to their homes and some returned to national service, the MFA insists that each individual has been safel [...] | 2008-07-15 07:04:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PHUM PGOV SOCI ER |
08ASMARA356 | CARGIL'S BUSINESS ACTIVITIES IN ERITREA [...] (SBU) Cargil's business activities are thriving in Eritrea, according to Redaegzy Gebremedhin (protect),the company's Eritrean representative. Cargil has operated in Eritrea since 1998, and sold 250,000 tons of grain, sugar, and other agricultural commodities to Eritrea in 2007. It is likel [...] | 2008-07-16 08:03:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EAGR ER |
08ASMARA359 | NO WAY TO RUN A HOTEL IN ERITREA [...] (C) SUMMARY. Asmara's Intercontinental Hotel is often seen as a beacon of modernity, efficiency, and comfort in an otherwise bleak Eritrean landscape. However, the Intercon's newly arrived expatriate manager (protect),in a July 17 meeting with the ambassador and A/DCM, painted a dire picture [...] | 2008-07-21 07:31:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON BEXP ER |
08ASMARA362 | ERITREA TEMPORARILY AVOIDS FUEL CRISIS [...] (C) Summary: Eritrea managed to avoid an electricity supply disaster in June by finding a new supplier of generator lubricant. An unknown supplier is sending a barge to restock Eritrea's depleted automotive and aviation fuel supplies. Embassy Asmara will receive its diesel fuel the week of [...] | 2008-07-21 08:34:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL ENRG PINR ASEC ER |
08ASMARA363 | COOKING FUEL SHORTAGES MET WITH RATIONING [...] (C) Kerosene, used extensively for cooking in Eritrea, was distributed at market prices until April, but is now available only with a ration card. This is similar to other commodities, such as food staples, automotive diesel, and liquid propane. Families are limited to one gallon per month, [...] | 2008-07-22 05:25:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV ENRG ER |
08ASMARA364 | ERITREA'S DYSFUNCTIONAL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY [...] (SBU) Summary: The "temporary" measures which constricted the activities of Eritrea's private construction and contracting companies in 2006 continue, and have effectively squeezed the private sector out of business, according to a member of the European Commission (EC). Eritrean constructio [...] | 2008-07-22 05:26:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EIND EAID ELAB PINR ER |
08ASMARA365 | INSIGHTS ON ERTIREA'S FUEL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM [...] (C) Summary: Total's Manager in Eritrea described an inefficient fuel distribution system being hamstrung by state control. Desire to dominate and control all aspects of the economy led to the rejection of mutually beneficial proposals to relieve Eritrea's diesel shortage. Total is breaking [...] | 2008-07-22 05:32:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV ENRG ER |
08ASMARA366 | ASMARA,S UNFAIR EGYPTIAN TRADE FAIR [...] (C) SUMMARY: An Egyptian trade fair in Asmara concluded July 18, after a week-long shopping frenzy generated by Eritreans restricted by their tyrannical government from traveling abroad or buying almost anything in Eritrea. The regime extracted a high price from Egypt for agreeing to allow t [...] | 2008-07-22 12:04:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ERTD PREL PGOV EG ER |
08ASMARA368 | ARS HARDLINERS SELECT SHEIKH AWEYS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Members of the Alliance for the Re-Liberation for Somalia (ARS) who oppose the June 9 Djibouti reconciliation accords met in Asmara July 3 - 22. Claiming to represent the ARS Central Committee, the militant ARS faction selected Sheikh Aweys as its leader, purported to have expell [...] | 2008-07-23 13:46:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ER SO |
08ASMARA384 | JEM IN ERTIREA [...] (C) SUMMARY: Darfur's Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) maintains a liaison office in Asmara headed by Osman Wash, JEM's Secretary for Justice and Legal Affairs. A number of JEM "former fighters" also reside in Eritrea. JEM is reportedly seeking to persuade Eritrea to host a Sudanese all- [...] | 2008-08-05 11:34:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINS ER SU |
08ASMARA386 | DUTCH INTERCHURCH AID DEPARTS ERITREA AFTER 30 [...] No summary [...] | 2008-08-08 10:05:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EAGR ER |
08ASMARA387 | DUTCH INTERCHURCH AID DEPARTS ERITREA AFTER 30 [...] No summary [...] | 2008-08-08 10:05:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EAGR ER |
08ASMARA388 | DUTCH INTERCHURCH AID DEPARTS ERITREA AFTER 30 [...] (C) John Veron, Director of the Dutch InterChurch Aid (DIA) office in Eritrea, informed the ambassador August 4 that DIA will be departing Eritrea in the next three months after a presence of nearly 30 years, reducing the number of NGOs in Eritrea to seven. While the official memo sent to the [...] | 2008-08-08 10:05:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EAGR ER |
08ASMARA389 | GSE SUPPLIES FOREIGN ERITREANS WITH INCREASED [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) rations basic commodities through government-owned stores. Though the majority of Eritreans complain that the rations allowed are not enough to sustain the average family, so-called Beles (Eritreans living abroad who return to Eritrea f [...] | 2008-08-08 10:05:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV SOCI ER |
08ASMARA39 | CONDITIONS IN TRACK B PRISON [...] (C) An UNMEE official informed Poloff of the conditions in Track B, an underground prison located on the former site of Kagnew Station. The official said an Eritrean UNMEE staff member was summarily arrested in November 2007 for not possessing his demobilization card, which is proof of comple [...] | 2008-01-29 14:23:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL PINR ER |
08ASMARA390 | DUTCH INTERCHURCH AID DEPARTS ERITREA AFTER 30 [...] No summary [...] | 2008-08-08 10:05:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EAGR ER |
08ASMARA392 | DUTCH INTERCHURCH AID DEPARTS ERITREA AFTER 30 [...] (C) John Veron, Director of the Dutch InterChurch Aid (DIA) office in Eritrea, informed the ambassador August 4 that DIA will be departing Eritrea in the next three months after a presence of nearly 30 years, reducing the number of NGOs in Eritrea to seven. While the official memo sent to the [...] | 2008-08-08 10:06:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EAGR ER |
08ASMARA394 | GSE CONFISCATES AMCIT PASSPORT AND $9,000 [...] (C) SUMMARY: On August 4, an American citizen reported that the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) confiscated from him $8,550 of undeclared funds and $700 of declared funds at the Asmara airport. Officials later informed the AmCit that one of his $100 bills was counterfeit; they then c [...] | 2008-08-08 10:40:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | CASC CPAS PREL PGOV ER |
08ASMARA4 | ERITREAN CASUALTY FIGURES FROM DECEMBER 26 BORDER [...] (C) On December 28 an Embassy source spoke with a mid-level member of Eritrea's National Security Agency (ANS) about the December 26 border clash between Eritrean and Ethiopian forces. The ANS officer said that Eritrean military casualties from the clash were 5 dead and 24 captured. There w [...] | 2008-01-04 07:43:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | MOPS PREL PBTS ER ET |
08ASMARA401 | ASMARA'S INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL TOLD TO CLOSE [...] (C) TWO MONTHS TO PACK AND GO: The Amcit manager of Asmara's Intercontinental Hotel (strictly protect) told the ambassador August 8 that the government of Eritrea had abrogated Intercontinental's management contract of the country's best hotel; the company was given until October 5 to clear ou [...] | 2008-08-13 12:13:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON BEXP PGOV ER |
08ASMARA408 | ARS HARD-LINER ADMITS DISSENTION IN RANKS [...] (C) PolOff met on August 12 with Mahad Yusuf, Inspector General and Central Committee member of the hard-line branch of the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS). Yusuf explained that the hard-liners have now consolidated their beliefs into two quarreling ideologies: patriotic and Is [...] | 2008-08-15 07:39:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER SO ER |
08ASMARA413 | EGYPT NO LONGER A "SISTER" TO ERITREA [...] (C) An Egyptian diplomat admitted to PolOff that diplomatic relations between Eritrean and Egypt have become strained over recent months. In addition to having to endure the restrictive in-country travel policies (requiring all foreign diplomats to request in-country travel 10 days in advance [...] | 2008-08-20 11:40:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EG ER |
08ASMARA428 | ERITREANS USING FRAUDULENT TRAVEL DOCUMENTS [...] No summary [...] | 2008-08-27 14:22:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | CVIS KFRD CPAS CMFT ASEC ER |
08ASMARA430 | GSE CLAMPS DOWN ON VOA [...] (C) The international supervisor for Voice of America's (VOA) Horn of Africa broadcasting, confided that the Asmara stringer, Ms. Senait Habtu (protect),has been forced to discontinue reporting. According to VOA, Minister of Information Ali Abdu warned her to stop reporting for VOA. The gove [...] | 2008-08-28 08:02:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PROP PGOV ER |
08ASMARA438 | EARLY SIGNS OF FOOD INSECURITY [...] (C) Eritreans are starting to manifest signs of malnutrition in villages surrounding Asmara. RSO met with a reliable Embassy source who had visited villages approximately 30 km. NW of Asmara on the road to Keren. The villagers showed signs of malnutrition including visible loss of hair and [...] | 2008-09-03 14:00:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ASEC ER PGOV PHUM |
08ASMARA440 | ERITREA UNDECIDED ON KOSOVO [...] No summary [...] | 2008-09-05 07:25:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN UNGA KV ER |
08ASMARA441 | GSE ARRESTS 38TH CHRISTIAN LEADER [...] No summary [...] | 2008-09-05 07:41:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | KIRF PHUM PGOV ER |
08ASMARA452 | ARS HARD-LINERS FINALIZE A NEW IDENTITY [...] (C) SUMMARY: Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) hard-liners are in the process of finalizing their split from the ARS leadership now based in Djibouti. The hard-liners have drawn up plans to transform their organization into the Movement for the Establishment of the Third Republ [...] | 2008-09-16 08:28:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SO ER |
08ASMARA453 | PFDJ "MONEY-MAN" IN HOT WATER [...] (C) Hagos Ghebrehiwot, the Eritrean regime's "money-man," has reportedly been at least partially relieved of his responsibilities. Hagos is responsible for overseeing the regimes's economic interests, including its financial accounts in Malta (reftel). Hagos is suspected for pocketing money [...] | 2008-09-16 08:40:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ER |
08ASMARA454 | ISAIAS ADDRESSES DAKAR AGREEMENT CONTACT GROUP [...] (SBU) Summary: President Isaias made a two-hour appearance on September 12 at the fifth meeting of the Dakar Agreement Contact Group. Appearing physically fit and mentally sharp, Isaias delivered in good English a constructive speech supportive of the Contact Group's efforts to reconcile Ch [...] | 2008-09-16 09:31:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KPKO ER |
08ASMARA457 | FIFTH SUDAN-CHAD CONTACT GROUP MEETING: EDGING [...] (U) SUMMARY: At the September 12 ministerial-level portion of the fifth Sudan-Chad Contact Group (CG) meeting, the foreign ministers of Sudan and Chad had agreed to re-open their respective embassies and exchange ambassadors. However, Chad's commitment to this course of action seemed weak. Th [...] | 2008-09-16 13:57:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV CD SU ER |
08ASMARA459 | ERITREA EXPROPRIATES $1.3 MILLION PROPERTY FROM [...] (C) An American citizen of Eritrean origin informed Emboff that in September 2007 the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) expropriated 15 acres of land containing lumber trees and 2,000 coffee plants worth approximately $1.3 million. The land is in the Filfil area, approximately 30 mile [...] | 2008-09-17 08:04:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | CASC ER KIDE PGOV |
08ASMARA465 | UPDATE ON ERITREANS DEPORTED FROM EGYPT [...] No summary [...] | 2008-09-18 11:12:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PHUM PGOV SOCI ER EG |
08ASMARA466 | ERITREA IMPORTS 55,000 METRIC TONS OF GRAIN FROM [...] (C) Cargill's representative in Eritrea informed Emboff that on September 27 Eritrea will receive 55,000 metric tons (MT) of grain from Cargill Corporation. According to Cargill, 27,599 MT of sorghum grown in the U.S. was sold to Eritrea for $421/MT ($11.6 million). An additional 27,500 MT [...] | 2008-09-18 11:16:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | EAGR ETRD ER |
08ASMARA488 | INSIGHTS ON ERITREA'S STATE-OWNED FISHING INDUSTRY [...] (SBU) Summary: Eritrea will sustainably harvest 80,000 metric tons (MT) of fish per year, according to Minister of Fisheries Ahmed Haj Ali. Eritrea recently built three port facilities and purchased eight industrial fishing vessels and put them under the control of the parQatal NatQal Fishing [...] | 2008-10-07 08:12:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIS PGOV ECON ER |
08ASMARA490 | BISHA MINING'S REMAINING CHALLENGES [...] (C) Summary: Bisha Mining's Stan Rogers said extraction of gold is on schedule to begin in 2010. The present condition of roads and bridges between the mining site and the port cannot handle the weight of the trucks, and 25 megawatts of electricity are needed to operate the mine. Financing [...] | 2008-10-07 12:26:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | EMIN PGOV ER |
08ASMARA492 | GSE GOES ALL OUT TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST CHRISTIAN [...] (C) SUMMARY: PolOff met with Reverend Zecharias Abraham (protect) of the Mehrete Yesus Evangelical Presbyterian Church Sept 26 to discuss religious freedom violations perpetrated by the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE). Zecharias reported three recent developments in the GSE's efforts [...] | 2008-10-07 14:30:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KIRF KE ER |
08ASMARA493 | ERITREAN AIRLINES' DYSFUNCTIONAL OPERATIONS [...] (C) Summary: Eritrean Airlines' operations are hampered by internal conflicts, incompetent management, and general socio-economic conditions in Eritrea. The Eritrean government appointed managers based on patronage rather than skill or experience, resulting in poor decision making and an unc [...] | 2008-10-08 12:40:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | EAIR ECON ER |
08ASMARA494 | A SORDID TALE OF UNMEE CORRUPTION [...] (C) Summary: A well-placed UNMEE contact recounted a long and twisted tale of personal empire building and corruption during UNMEE's presence in Eritrea. High-ranking UNMEE officials enhanced their careers at the expense of the mission and personally profited from their positions. The cont [...] | 2008-10-08 14:14:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KPKO ER |
08ASMARA506 | AFRICA UNION PULLS OUT OF ERITREA [...] No summary [...] | 2008-10-17 07:41:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KPKO ER |
08ASMARA519 | WORLD BANK SUSPENDS ERITREA DISBURSEMENTS [...] (C) DEADLINE MISSED, CASH-FLOW HALTED ----------------------------------------- As the cash-strapped government of Eritrea missed yet another World Bank repayment deadline, the World Bank Country Director (please protect) told Emboffs October 24 that the Bank, in accordance with policy and r [...] | 2008-10-27 10:09:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN PREL EAID PGOV ER |
08ASMARA525 | ISAIAS AND PFDJ OFFICIAL MEET WITH PUBLIC DISSENT [...] (C) SUMMARY: Both President Isaias Afwerki and the ruling party's political chief Yemane Ghebreab faced strong dissent during their respective meetings with the Eritrean populace, contrary to glowing reviews plastered across the state-owned media outlets. An unusually feisty expatriate crowd in [...] | 2008-10-30 10:07:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | SOCI PGOV ER |
08ASMARA526 | ERITREAN AMBASSADOR IN KENYA COMPLICIT IN [...] (C) SUMMARY: Former Eritrean Orthodox Bishop Hadgu Gebrehimanot (protect) gave visiting Embassy Asmara PolOff a detailed description of his harassment and assault by Eritrean embassy officials in Nairobi, including reported threats from Eritrean Ambassador Saleh Umar. According to Bishop Hagd [...] | 2008-10-30 11:19:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | KIRF PREL PROP PHUM PGOV KE ER |
08ASMARA527 | GSE ABUSE EXTENDS BEYOND ERITREAN BORDERS [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) maintains a tight watch over its diaspora community, using its embassies as information-gathering hubs and its employees as agents of harassment. Eritrean refugees in Nairobi detailed a well-oiled system of monitoring and harassment or [...] | 2008-10-30 11:23:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | SOCI PREL PHUM PGOV KE ER |
08ASMARA529 | ERITREAN TROOPS SENT TO HARVEST GRAIN [...] (C) Rifles Swapped for Sickles ---------------------------------- Troops from Eritrea's large standing army have been deployed to grain-producing areas to harvest the country's sparse barley and sorghum crops. Emboffs have witnessed units of uniformed soldiers harvesting barley with small s [...] | 2008-11-03 13:04:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EAGR MOPS ER |
08ASMARA532 | ERITREA: A WEAK PARTNER FOR SOUTHERN SUDAN [...] (C) Summary. Despite goodwill on both sides, strong political and economic ties between southern Sudan and Eritrea have been slow to develop, according to the Government of Southern Sudan's liaison mission chief in Asmara, Phillip Natana. Although Darfur is an issue where the GSE could pote [...] | 2008-11-04 13:31:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SU ER |
08ASMARA534 | OLF CHAIRMAN SURVIVES "COUP ATTEMPT" [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Asmara-based chairman of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF),Daawud Ibsa, claims to have consolidated control of the party after a failed takeover attempt by General Kamal Galchuu, a deserter from the Ethiopian army who reputedly wanted to launch the OLF on a more militant traj [...] | 2008-11-05 11:46:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINS PREF ER ET |
08ASMARA535 | DARFUR REBEL GROUPS FIND ASMARA INHOSPITABLE [...] (C) In a meeting November 3, Abdul Beghi, a political officer with the Revolutionary Democratic Forces Front (RDFF),admitted to the shrinking presence of Darfur groups and their high-level representatives in Asmara, echoing the observations of the Government of Southern Sudan liaison officer [...] | 2008-11-05 12:31:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SU ER |
08ASMARA537 | JEM OFFICIAL ON REGIONAL DYNAMICS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Osman A. Wash, JEM's Asmara-based Secretary for Legal Affairs, averred that disgruntled pro-government gunmen were behind the recent kidnapping of Chinese oil workers in Southern Kordofan. He detailed Eritrean support for the JEM in Eritrea, was dubious about the Qatari initiati [...] | 2008-11-06 05:21:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINS SU ER |
08ASMARA540 | SHEIKH DAHIR HASSAN AWEYS SPOTTED AT LUNCH [...] (C) RSO observed Sheikh Dahir Hassan Aweys at the Lion Hotel restaurant in Asmara on 11/06/08. At approximately 1400 hrs, Aweys, accompanied by three unknown males entered the restaurant, which was empty of other patrons except for those at the RSO's table. Aweys looked at the RSO's table, w [...] | 2008-11-10 04:57:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER ASEC PGOV ER SO |
08ASMARA541 | ONE GOLD MINE MOVING FORWARD [...] (C) Summary: Most mining exploration companies have temporarily halted exploration and extraction activities in Eritrea due to difficulties securing financing. Nevsun's Bisha project, slated to begin extraction operations in 2010, is the sole exception. Eritrea's Ministry of Energy and Mine [...] | 2008-11-10 12:57:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | EMIN PGOV ER |
08ASMARA544 | HARD-LINE ARS LEADERSHIP [...] (C) Dr. Salah Ali from the hard-line ARS faction informed Emboffs on November 6 that Sheik Dahir Aweys is the official leader of the hard-line ARS, claiming to hold the posts of both overall ARS Chairman and Chairman of the ARS Executive Committee. Ali's supposed role is Chairman of the Centra [...] | 2008-11-12 11:33:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINS SO ER |
08ASMARA555 | SKINNY VILLAGERS AND STUNTED CROPS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Poor rains left crops in the Eritrean village of Weki (protect) stunted and yielding very little food. The Eritrean government prohibits the villagers from keeping what little crops they've harvested, forcing them to sell their produce only to the government at controlled prices [...] | 2008-11-19 08:30:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | EAGR PGOV ER |
08ASMARA558 | ERITREA'S PRECARIOUS ENERGY SITUATION [...] (C) SUMMARY: Eritrea's electrical grid narrowly averted a complete shutdown due to lack of generator lubricant in October, according to Total Oil's country manager. The Eritrean government is still in arrears on payments made for fuel delivered in December 2007, and is now receiving all of [...] | 2008-11-21 09:36:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG PGOV ER |
08ASMARA565 | REGIONAL MEETING ON FOOD SHORTAGES AND CRIME IN [...] (C) During a community meeting with regional administrators in the village of Adi Segodo (located approximately 3 miles NW of Asmara) on 11/23/08, local residents asked the administrator for increased rations, stating the 10 kilos of sorghum per month was not enough to feed their families. A [...] | 2008-12-01 09:20:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ASEC ER PGOV PHUM PREL |
08ASMARA569 | PRIVATE SAUDIS PROVIDE MOST ARS FUNDING [...] No summary [...] | 2008-12-01 14:00:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINS ASEC SO ER |
08ASMARA575 | HOW TO ESCAPE FROM ERITREA [...] (C) SUMMARY: All young Eritreans have "a plan" for getting out of the country. Those who must leave illegally, however, face potential capture by Eritrean police and military from the early planning stages up to when they cross the border. Post compiled information from numerous sources, i [...] | 2008-12-04 11:11:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREF KTIP ER |
08ASMARA577 | IRAN REFURBISHING AND OPERATING ERITREAN OIL [...] (C) The Eritrean government has reportedly sold, leased, or granted operating rights of its Russian-built oil refinery in Assab. A reliable embassy source stated an unknown "Arab" country would be operating this refinery. BBC reported on 11/25/08 that according to the Eritrean website www.E [...] | 2008-12-04 14:33:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ENRG ER ASEC IR |
08ASMARA586 | ASMARA ANGST [...] (C) Asmara is awash in speculation about domestic instability stemming from food shortages, economic decline, and stepped-up repression from the Isaias regime. In an isolated society with no media freedoms, Eritreans depend on "bado seleste," (akin to the grapevine or bush telegraph) for info [...] | 2008-12-11 04:57:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | MOPS PGOV SOCI ASEC ER |
08ASMARA591 | LOCAL STAFF HARANGUED WHILE DONATING BOOKS [...] (C) On December 11, public affairs section local staff reported being closely scrutinized by a plainclothes Eritrean National Security Agent (ENSA) during a routine book drop-off to the American Corner in Dekemhare, 25 miles south of Asmara. According to one local staff, the agent rifled thro [...] | 2008-12-12 09:03:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PROP ER |
08ASMARA592 | SLM/UNITY OFFICIAL ON DARFUR DYNAMICS [...] (C) DARFUR FRACTIONALIZATION: Darfur rebel leader Sharif Harir, SLM/Unity's chief of Foreign Relations, claims his organization has surpassed JEM in terms of size and clout to become the largest of the many Darfuri rebel groups. Meeting with Emboffs at the Peacebuilding Center for the Horn of [...] | 2008-12-12 09:24:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINS SU ER |
08ASMARA598 | NGO SURVIVAL IN ERITREA [...] (C) SUMMARY: PolOff met with three of the more prominent NGOs left in Eritrea to discuss operational hardships. The NGOs (Lutheran World Federation, LWF; Catholic Relief Services, CRS; and Oxfam) each described a tightening of restrictive measures making it next to impossible to operate. The [...] | 2008-12-17 12:51:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID PHUM PGOV PREL ER |
08ASMARA605 | GSE ARRESTS EVANGELICALS AND JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES [...] (C) The Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) strengthened its efforts to clamp down on banned religious groups during the month of December. For the past two weeks, the GSE has rounded up leaders of evangelical churches, including a prominent doctor closely associated with the American-b [...] | 2008-12-24 11:55:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KIRF PGOV ER |
08ASMARA609 | SHEIK HASSAN DAHIR AWEYS' OPTIONS LIMITED BY [...] (C) SUMMARY: A well-placed Somali contact said UN-imposed travel restictions on Sheik Aweys limit his ability to play a role in Somali national reconciliation, and non-Islamist hardline ARS members believe Aweys is the key to peace in Somalia and neutralizing al-Shabaab. The Eritrean governme [...] | 2008-12-31 12:31:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINS ASEC SO ER |
08ASMARA72 | REPORTED ARRESTS OF IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS FOR [...] No summary [...] | 2008-02-14 07:38:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON PINR ER |
08ASMARA79 | WORLD BANK: PROGRAMS IN ERITREA [...] (SBU) Summary: Poloff met with visiting World Bank Economist Tracy Lane and Eritrean World Bank Country Director Chris Lovelace on February 14 to discuss FY2008 and proposed FY2009-2010 projects in Eritrea. Lane discussed two repeat projects, time tables, and costs, as well as the Bank's str [...] | 2008-02-19 11:10:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PREL ER |
08ASMARA89 | ERITREAN MFA ON UNMEE, COUNTER-TERRORISM, AND [...] (C) SUMMARY: Fessehazion Petros, the second-ranking official in Eritrea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met with the ambassador for ninety minutes February 21 and discussed UNMEE, regional dynamics, counter-terrorism, Kosovo, and bilateral issues. He reiterated a litany of perceived slights t [...] | 2008-02-21 13:35:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPKO PTER ER |
08ASMARA92 | ERITREA'S DIESEL SITUATION: SHORTAGE OR POLITICAL [...] (SBU) Summary: Claims by the Government of the State of Eritrea(GSE) since December that UNMEE's fuel crisis results from its own shortage of supply, raises the question "What is the situation with Eritrea's fuel supply?" Diesel fuel stocks in Eritrea have decreased over the past few years fo [...] | 2008-02-22 08:35:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | KPKO ECON EPET PGOV PREL ER |
08ASMARA95 | GSE INTERNAL DEBATE OVER SAWA [...] (C) High-ranking Eritrean officials are said to be debating which ministry should provide funding for Sawa Secondary School, a government-run boarding school/military camp located in the Gash Barka region near the Sudanese border. The Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) requires all Erit [...] | 2008-02-25 08:41:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SOCI PHUM MOPS PINR ER |
08ASMARA97 | ELF FOUNDING FATHER DIES IN PRISON [...] (U) Taha Mohammad Nur, one of six intellectuals who founded the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) in Cairo in 1960, died in an Eritrean prison in mid-February. The ELF, largely supported by lowland Muslims, was decimated by Isaias Afwerki's Eritrean Peoples Liberation Front in the late 1970s an [...] | 2008-02-25 11:54:00 | Embassy Asmara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KISL ER |
08ASTANA1107 | KAZAKHSTAN - CHANGES MADE TO RELIGION LAW [...] (C) The Mazhilis passed on first reading a revised text of amendments to Kazakhstan's religion law. Some of the most problematic provisions were removed from this latest version, though at the same time, new provisions were added which raise concerns. The amendments must go through a second [...] | 2008-06-12 11:44:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KIRF KDEM KZ |
08ASTANA1121 | TIMUR KULIBAYEV VISITS THE EMBASSY [...] (C) Summary: Timur Kulibayev, Chairman of KazEnergy Association and son-in-law of President Nazarbayev, met with the Ambassador on June 12 and toured the Embassy. During his conversation with the Ambassador, Kulibayev discussed changes at KazMunayGas, described relations with Russia as improvin [...] | 2008-06-16 11:39:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET KZ |
08ASTANA1194 | KAZAKHSTAN - PRESIDENT NAZARBAYEV DISCUSSES MADRID [...] (U) President Nazarbayev touched on Kazakhstan's Madrid commitments on democratic reform at the conclusion of his June 29 speech to the annual session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, which is being held in Astana from June 29 to July 2. This is the first time that Nazarbayev has publicly [...] | 2008-06-30 11:12:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM PHUM OSCE PREL KZ |
08ASTANA1209 | KASHAGAN UPDATE: GOK CONFIRMS DELAY OF COMMERCIAL [...] No summary [...] | 2008-07-03 05:29:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET KZ |
08ASTANA1212 | KAZAKHSTAN: AZERBAIJAN STILL SLOW TO COOPERATE ON [...] (C) Summary: Azerbaijan has still not approved a Heads of Agreement on trans-Caspian transportation despite assurances to Kazakhstan that they would approve the agreement by June 15. Azerbaijan is also encouraging Kazakhstan to use the Baku - Novorossiysk pipeline and downplaying Baku - Supsa [...] | 2008-07-03 08:44:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET KZ |
08ASTANA1222 | KAZAKHSTAN - CODEL HASTINGS MEETS WITH PRESIDENT [...] (C) President Nazarbayev told CODEL Hastings on June 29 that Kazakhstan is committed to deepening its cooperation with the U.S. He explained that Kazakhstan's crude production would increase significantly in the coming years, and that transport remains the big issue to resolve. Nazarbayev rem [...] | 2008-07-08 12:04:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM ECON EPET KZ |
08ASTANA1223 | KAZAKHSTAN - DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON KOSOVO [...] (C) As the Ambassador was unable to arrange a meeting with Foreign Minister Tazhin, Pol-Econ Chief delivered reftel demarche on Kosovo independence to MFA Americas Department head Talgat Kaliyev on July 3. Kaliyev indicated that Kazakhstan's position on Kosovo remained unchanged. He also dou [...] | 2008-07-08 12:04:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KPKO KV KZ |
08ASTANA1309 | KAZAKHSTAN - BURKITBAYEV SURPRISE CHOICE AS NEW [...] (C) Serik Burkitbayev, chairman of "Samgau," replaced Uzakbay Karabalin as KazMunayGas president on May 29. Burkitbayev is a long-time government insider with a mixed record. Contacts at KazMunayGas and western oil and gas companies called the move a surprise and saw no obvious explanation fo [...] | 2008-07-21 11:29:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET PGOV EINV PINR KZ |
08ASTANA1360 | KAZAKHSTAN - EURASIAN ENERGY COORDINATOR MANN [...] (C) Samruk Deputy Chairman Kairgeldy Kabyldin told visiting Eurasian Energy Diplomacy Coordinator Steven Mann on July 24 that the international oil and gas companies have insisted on ownership stakes in the pipeline portion of the Kazakhstan-Caspian Transportation System (KCTS) -- i.e., the pi [...] | 2008-07-28 08:51:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET PREL PGOV EINV KZ AJ TX GG |
08ASTANA1374 | KAZAKHSTAN - PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR YERTYSBAYEV [...] (C) Nazarbayev advisor (and former Culture and Information Minister) Yermukhamet Yertysbayev told the Ambassador on July 21 that the government is looking for a way to bring in a multi-party parliament before taking over the OSCE chairmanship in 2010. Early elections, he explained, are not li [...] | 2008-07-31 11:55:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM PHUM KZ |
08ASTANA1375 | KAZAKHSTAN - GOVERNMENT TAKING FURTHER MEASURES [...] (C) A Wall Street Journal article in which Rakhat Aliyev made new charges of corruption against President Nazarbayev and his family appears to have provoked the government to strike back with an anti-Aliyev media campaign and a threat of new charges against him. Some of Aliyev's allegations to [...] | 2008-07-31 12:20:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KCRM ECON KZ |
08ASTANA1381 | KAZAKHSTAN - SPECIAL ENVOY GRAY DISCUSSES ENERGY [...] (C) During July 22 meetings, Kazakhstani government officials expressed optimism to visiting Special Envoy Boyden Gray regarding the restructuring of Kashagan. They explained that Kazakhstan was moving forward with Azerbaijan and the companies on the Kazakhstan-Caspian Transportation System ( [...] | 2008-08-01 14:48:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV PGOV PREL KZ |
08ASTANA1382 | KAZAKHSTAN - SPECIAL ENVOY GRAY DISCUSSES ENERGY [...] (C) During July 22 meetings, Kazakhstani government officials expressed optimism to visiting Special Envoy Boyden Gray regarding the restructuring of Kashagan. They explained that Kazakhstan was moving forward with Azerbaijan and the companies on the Kazakhstan-Caspian Transportation System ( [...] | 2008-08-04 02:11:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV PGOV PREL KZ |
08ASTANA1499 | KAZAKHSTAN - DAS KROL DISCUSSES IAEA BOG, MADRID [...] (C) In a July 22 meeting in Astana, SCA DAS George Krol stressed to DFM Kairat Sarybai the urgency of Kazakhstan's moving forward on its candidacy for the MESA seat on the IAEA Board of Governors (BOG). Sarybai said he has heard from Vienna that most of the Arab members of the MESA group have [...] | 2008-08-12 06:47:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL IAEA EAID PGOV KDEM KZ |
08ASTANA1510 | KAZAKHSTAN - DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON AUGUST SCO [...] (C) The Ambassador raised reftel demarche points on the August SCO Summit with Foreign Minister Tazhin on August 5, stressing that the U.S. hoped that the SCO would not admit Iran to SCO membership or adopt any statement critical of the U.S. presence at Manas air base. While not responding di [...] | 2008-08-13 11:33:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MOPS PGOV PREL AFIN KZ |
08ASTANA1519 | KAZAKHSTAN SEES SEVERAL ISSUES WITH NUCLEAR [...] (C) We delivered reftel points on the latest developments regarding the U.S.-India civil nuclear initiative to Sergei Saveliyev, the MFA's Director of International Organizations and International Security, on August 15. Saveliyev told us that as far as he knew, the GOK's Vienna mission had [...] | 2008-08-15 11:39:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL AORC IN KZ |
08ASTANA1525 | KAZAKHSTAN - DEMARCHE DELIVERED REGARDING SUICIDE [...] No summary [...] | 2008-08-18 08:57:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER KAWC PHUM PINR KDRG PREL KZ |
08ASTANA1558 | TFGG01: KAZAKHSTAN CAUTIOUS ON GEORGIA-RUSSIA [...] (C) Kazakhstan will likely continue its cautious approach toward the Georgian-Russian conflict to preserve its equities with both countries. Nevertheless, the Kazakhstanis appear genuinely concerned about the long-term implications of Russia's actions for other CIS states. While Kazakhstan is [...] | 2008-08-21 07:11:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EAID KZ GG RS |
08ASTANA1574 | KAZAKHSTAN - DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTER SEMBINOV [...] (C) In an August 22 meeting with the Deputy Chief of Mission and visiting Marshall Center Director Dr. John Rose, Deputy Defense Minister Lt Gen Bulat Sembinov expressed an interest in discussing further mil-mil cooperation with the U.S. and NATO. He explained that while there were elements i [...] | 2008-08-27 02:08:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL NATO MOPS KZ |
08ASTANA1608 | KAZAKHSTAN - DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON RUSSIAN [...] (C) The Deputy Chief of Mission delivered ref A demarche on Russia's recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia to DFM Kairat Sarybay on August 27. The DCM also raised the Kazakhstan-specific points from ref B, and noted that Kazakhstan was in a unique position of influence because of its good [...] | 2008-08-27 07:39:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV RS GG KZ |
08ASTANA1697 | KAZAKHSTANI LEADERSHIP PROMISES BOUCHER FOLLOW [...] (C) Prime Minister Masimov and Foreign Minister Tazhin, citing President Nazarbayev's public commitment, told Assistant Secretary Boucher on September 2 that Kazakhstan would follow through on its Madrid commitments on democratic reform. Masimov looked forward to next steps on the Public-Priv [...] | 2008-09-08 07:59:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KDEM OSCE ECON KZ |
08ASTANA1711 | KAZAKHSTAN - COURTS SUSPEND JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES [...] (C) In recent months, courts in southern Kazakhstan have ordered three chapters of Jehovah's Witnesses to suspend their activities for six months for holding meetings at venues other than their registered addresses. Similar cases heard by courts in other regions of the country have been dism [...] | 2008-09-10 06:41:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KIRF KDEM PGOV KZ |
08ASTANA1723 | KAZAKHSTAN UNDECIDED ON KOSOVO ICJ REFERRAL [...] (C) We delivered reftel points on Serbia's proposed referral of Kosovo independence to the ICJ to Zhanar Kulzhanova, Counselor in the MFA's International Organizations Department. Kulzhanova told us that the GOK has not yet developed a position on the issue. She reminded us that Kazakhstan [...] | 2008-09-11 07:04:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNGA KV KZ |
08ASTANA1726 | KAZAKHSTAN: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON UNGA THIRD [...] (C) We delivered ref A/ref B points on UNGA Third Committee human rights priorities to Zhanar Kulzhanova, Counselor in the MFA's International Organizations Department, on September 10. Kulzhanova agreed that the growing use of "no action motions" in the Third Committee was an issue. She m [...] | 2008-09-11 08:50:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL UN KZ |
08ASTANA1774 | KAZAKHSTANIS TELL NATO THEY WANT TO ENHANCE [...] (C) NATO Deputy Secretary General Claudio Bisogniero held meetings in Astana on September 11 with Defense Minister Akhmetov, Foreign Minister Tazhin, Security Council Secretary Suleymenov, and officials from the Ministry of Emergency Situations. In a readout he gave to resident NATO-country a [...] | 2008-09-15 11:22:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV NATO KZ |
08ASTANA1808 | KAZAKHSTAN - WHEAT EXPORTS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE IN [...] (C) According to the Egyptian Embassy, Kazakhstani wheat exports to Egypt are an important issue in Kazakhstan-Egypt bilateral relations and were a main topic of discussion for the August 29 visit to Astana of Egyptian Trade and Industry Minister Rachid Mohamed Rachid. Egypt is interested in [...] | 2008-09-17 11:37:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAGR PTER KZ EG |
08ASTANA1819 | KAZAKHSTAN'S SENATE ELECTIONS NOT REALLY A TEST [...] (SBU) Kazakhstan's Senate elections will take place on October 4, when local and regional maslikhats (legislatures) will vote to fill 16 Senate seats. The government has launched a wide media campaign to raise the profile of these usually low-key elections and has invited international organi [...] | 2008-09-19 11:58:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM KZ |
08ASTANA1849 | KAZAKHSTAN - RELIGION LAW AMENDMENTS HEADED TOWARD [...] No summary [...] | 2008-09-22 11:38:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KIRF PGOV KZ |
08ASTANA1850 | KAZAKHSTAN - RELIGION LAW AMENDMENTS HEADED TOWARD [...] (C) The Mazhilis will hold its second reading on a package of amendments to Kazakhstan's religion law on September 24. The latest text is an improvement over the June version that was passed at the first reading, although it still includes several problematic provisions. Civil society and r [...] | 2008-09-22 12:33:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KIRF PGOV KZ |
08ASTANA1858 | KAZAKHSTAN - DEMARCHE DELIVERED REGARDING MESA [...] (C) Charge delivered reftel demarche to Deputy Foreign Minister Sarybay on September 23, stressing that the U.S. is marshalling support for Afghanistan's candidacy for the open IAEA BOG MESA seat, but would like to assist Kazakhstan in resolving questions about its membership in the IAEA MESA [...] | 2008-09-23 11:57:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | IAEA PARM MNUC KZ |
08ASTANA1867 | KAZAKHSTAN HOLDS "DESIGN BASIS THREAT" GLOBAL [...] (C) Participants from eight countries and various Kazakhstani government bodies and organizations attended Kazakhstan's second Global Initiative (GI) exercise of 2008 during September 10-13. The event, which took place at facilities of the Ulba Metallurgical Plant in Ust-Kamenogorsk, was dedi [...] | 2008-09-25 02:03:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | KNNP MNUC PREL KZ |
08ASTANA1872 | KAZAKHSTAN - CRIMINAL CASE OPENED UP AGAINST KEY [...] (SBU) The Ministry of Internal Affairs announced on September 24 that it has opened a criminal case against several key opposition figures -- Azat's Bulat Abilov, OSDP's Amirzhan Kosanov, Alga's Vladimir Kozlov, and the Shanyrak movement's Asylbek Kozhakhmetov -- for allegedly concealing the w [...] | 2008-09-25 11:13:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM KCRM KZ |
08ASTANA1944 | KAZAKHSTAN: DECISION NOT TO BUILD POTI GRAIN [...] (U) In contradiction to earlier Kazakhstani government claims, it now appears that Kazakhstan's decision not to build a grain terminal at Georgia's Poti port was actually a commercial one that had no connection to the recent Georgia conflict, according to several sources. 2. (C) Prime Minis [...] | 2008-10-01 11:15:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAGR EINV RS GG KZ |
08ASTANA2042 | KAZAKHSTAN: AMBASSADOR'S INITIAL CALLS ON [...] (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador called on Chinese Ambassador Cheng Guoping on October 14 and joined Russian Ambassador Mikhail Nikolayevich Bocharnikov for lunch at his Embassy on October 15. Although both were rather formal on first meeting, Ambassador Cheng seemed the somewhat less guarded. Both [...] | 2008-10-16 06:01:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL GG RS CH KZ |
08ASTANA206 | OIL COMPANIES AND AMBASSADORS DISCUSS OIL AND GAS [...] (C) Foreign oil company representatives told visiting Eurasian Energy Diplomacy Coordinator Ambassador Mann on January 25 that much remains to be worked out in finalizing the details of the new Kashagan agreement, including the role of KazMunaiGaz (KMG). The EC head of delegation to Kazakhsta [...] | 2008-02-04 08:04:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ECON PREL KZ |
08ASTANA2080 | KAZAKHSTAN: FM TAZHIN THANKS AMBASSADOR KHALILZAD [...] (C) SUMMARY: During an October 17 meeting, Foreign Minister Tazhin thanked U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Khalilzad for his attendance at the Common World ministerial. Tazhin told Khalilzad that he expected Kazakhstan to finalize an agreement with NATO on land transit of supplies for [...] | 2008-10-20 11:31:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAID EINV KISL KDEM AF KZ |
08ASTANA2081 | KAZAKHSTAN: TIMUR KULIBAYEV DISCUSSES OIL [...] (C) SUMMARY: Timur Kulibayev, Chairman of the oil and gas industry association KazEnergy and billionaire son-in-law of President Nazarbayev, met with the Ambassador and visiting Eurasian Energy Diplomacy Coordinator Ambassador Steve Mann on October 7 to discuss oil transportation issues, the [...] | 2008-10-20 11:59:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EPET EINV GG AJ RS KZ |
08ASTANA2082 | KAZAKHSTAN: KAZMUNAIGAS VICE PRESIDENT IDENOV [...] (C) SUMMARY: On October 6, Maksat Idenov, First Vice President of Kazakhstan's national oil company KazMunaiGaz (KMG) and Chairman of KazTransOil, told Ambassador Mann his frustrations and expectations for the future development of Kashagan, the largest oil and gas field outside the Middle E [...] | 2008-10-20 12:05:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EPET EINV KZ |
08ASTANA2118 | KAZAKHSTAN: BRITISH FCO,S CASPIAN ENERGY ADVISOR [...] (C) During an October 15 meeting with the Ambassador, Angus Miller, Caspian Region Energy Advisor to Britain's Foreign and Commonwealth Office, expressed his concerns that Kazakhstan will not be able to expand its maritime capacity quickly enough to handle the expected volumes of Kazakhstani c [...] | 2008-10-24 11:34:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EPET EWWT AJ KZ |
08ASTANA2147 | KAZAKHSTAN: FM TAZHIN REAFFIRMS MADRID [...] (C) SUMMARY: During an October 29 meeting with the Ambassador, Foreign Minister Tazhin: -- reaffirmed Kazakhstan's commitment to fulfilling its Madrid commitments; -- made a case for building a more mature bilateral relationship by noting his government's desire to be released from the [...] | 2008-10-30 11:02:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM ETRD KDEM KNNP IZ AF KZ |
08ASTANA2148 | KAZAKHSTAN: NUR OTAN DISCUSSES PARTY ACTIVITIES [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: During an October 29 meeting with the Ambassador, Nur Otan party First Deputy Chairman Darkhan Kaletayev explained that Nur Otan aims to become a party of "real deeds." The party sees itself as a conduit between the public and government, helping to solve socio-economic and ot [...] | 2008-10-30 11:12:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PINR EAID SOCI KDEM KZ |
08ASTANA2162 | KAZAKHSTAN: AUSTRIA ASKS WHERE IS RAKHAT ALIYEV [...] (C) During a pull-aside at a commercial-diplomatic event in Astana on October 31, Austrian Ambassador Ursula Fahringer asked if the United States has any current information on the whereabouts of the former Kazakhstani Ambassador to Austria and President Nazarbayev's ex-son-in-law, Rakhat Aliy [...] | 2008-11-03 03:33:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR KCRM AU KZ |
08ASTANA2163 | KAZAKHSTAN: SOUTH KOREAN AMBASSADOR ON ECONOMIC, [...] (C) SUMMARY: The South Korean Ambassador in Astana said Seoul -- is considering an economic summit for South Asia as a way to raise its profile in the region; -- would be willing to play a greater "quiet diplomacy" role in promoting democracy; -- considered creating a South and Centra [...] | 2008-11-03 05:03:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON KDEM RS KS KZ |
08ASTANA2178 | KAZAKHSTAN: CIVIL SOCIETY EXPRESSES CONCERNS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: On October 30, civil society leaders briefed several Astana-based diplomatic missions on Kazakhstan's progress on its Madrid commitments on democratic reform and on religion legislation pending in parliament. In their view, the government is not going far enough in fulfilling [...] | 2008-11-04 11:38:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM KIRF KZ |
08ASTANA2179 | KAZAKHSTAN: ECONOMIC CRISIS AND AFGHANISTAN [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) held a meeting of SCO heads of government in Astana on October 30. All four SCO observer states, as well as Afghanistan, also sent high-level representatives to the event. The SCO heads of government called for greater coordination in [...] | 2008-11-04 11:46:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON EPET AF KZ |
08ASTANA2244 | KAZAKHSTAN: AMBASSADOR DELIVERS DEMARCHE ON UNGA [...] (C) The Ambasassador delivered reftel demarche encouraging support for UNGA Third Committee human rights resolutions on Iran, North Korea, and Burma to Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Sarybay on November 12. The Ambassador requested that Kazakhstan once again support the North Korea and Burma [...] | 2008-11-12 11:42:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL KZ |
08ASTANA225 | KAZAKHSTAN: GOK AND KMG DISCUSS KASHAGAN, OIL AND [...] (C) Senior Kazakhstani officials and KazMunaiGaz (KMG) executives told visiting Eurasian Energy Diplomacy Coordinator Ambassador Mann on January 25 that they welcomed the Administration's decision to reestablish the energy coordinator's office. They explained that the GOK pressed to renegotia [...] | 2008-02-04 13:35:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ECON PREL KZ |
08ASTANA2255 | KAZAKHSTAN: ISRAELI AMBASSADOR SAYS ELITE [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Israeli Ambassador in Astana asserts many in the elite are dissatisfied about President Nazarbayev,s alleged isolation and lack of a plan of succession. The Israeli Embassy,s main functional interest is trade, with &modest military sales8 that include unmanned aerial vehicl [...] | 2008-11-14 09:59:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR ETRD MASS KIRF UZ TI IS KZ |
08ASTANA2267 | KAZAKHSTAN: FOREIGN MINISTER TAZHIN BRIEFED ON [...] (C) The Ambassador delivered reftel demarche on U.S. policy on Afghan reconciliation to Foreign Minister Marat Tazhin on November 18, stressing that reconciliation comes with strict conditions that insurgents must lay down their arms, return to normal life, recognize the democratically elected [...] | 2008-11-18 11:03:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER AF KZ |
08ASTANA2297 | KAZAKHSTAN: MINISTRY OF DEFENSE REQUESTS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The Ambassador called on Minister of Defense Akhmetov and, separately, Deputy Minister of Defense General Sembinov on November 19. The two meetings illustrate the generally sound U.S.-Kazakhstan military relationship, but they also illustrate Kazakhstan's multi-vector foreign [...] | 2008-11-24 08:19:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MARR AF KZ |
08ASTANA2364 | CHINESE AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES CHINA'S WIDE-RANGING [...] (C) SUMMARY: On November 25, China's Ambassador to Kazakhstan Guoping Cheng called on the Ambassador to brief him on Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao's visit to Kazakhstan for the October 29 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) ministerial meeting in Astana, and Cheng's views on the role [...] | 2008-11-26 11:51:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON EINV CH RS TX UZ KZ |
08ASTANA2384 | KAZAKHSTAN OFFERS TRANSCOM "AGREEMENT IN [...] (C) SUMMARY: During his visit to Astana on November 21, TRANSCOM CDR General Duncan McNabb and his delegation received general agreement from the Government of Kazakhstan for its territory to be used for a non-lethal Northern Distribution Network (NDN). The Deputy Secretary of the president [...] | 2008-12-03 06:30:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MARR AF GM KZ |
08ASTANA239 | KAZAKHSTAN: INFORMING NON-MEMBERS OF THE RESULTS [...] No summary [...] | 2008-02-07 06:49:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM MTRCE KSCA ETTC TSPA |
08ASTANA240 | KAZAKHSTAN: HCOC "INREACH" [...] No summary [...] | 2008-02-07 06:50:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MTCRE MNUC KSCA ETTC TSPA |
08ASTANA2421 | PREVENTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SYRIA'S TECHNICAL [...] (SBU) We delivered reftel points and non-paper requesting support on preventing the implementation of Syria's technical cooperation project on December 9 to Sergey Savelyev, Deputy Director of the MFA,s Department of Multilateral Cooperation. Savelyev said he would report back to us any comm [...] | 2008-12-09 09:54:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | KNNP MNUC PARM IAEA TRGY SY KZ |
08ASTANA2445 | KAZAKHSTAN: AMBASSADOR IDRISOV ON RAKHAT ALIYEV, [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Ambassador met Kazakhstan's Ambassador Erlan Idrisov for lunch at the Georgetown Club in Washington on December 5. They discussed -- President Nursultan Nazarbayev's exiled ex-son-in-law and how he is an irritant in the U.S.-Kazakhstan bilateral relationship; -- presid [...] | 2008-12-10 11:00:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON SOCI KDEM RS KZ |
08ASTANA2492 | KAZAKHSTAN: FOREIGN MINISTER TAZHIN [...] (C) In an alleged internal government memo, a copy of which we received from a contact at the NGO Freedom House, Foreign Minister Marat Tazhin wrote to Prime Minister Karim Masimov that the government should postpone adopting amendments to Kazakhstan's religion legislation until after its 20 [...] | 2008-12-19 09:04:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM KIRF KZ |
08ASTANA2551 | KAZAKHSTAN HANDS OVER NON-PAPER AND COURT DOSSIER [...] (C) SUMMARY: A government of Kazakhstan non-paper alleges that President Nursultan Nazarbayev's exiled ex-son-in-law Rakhat Aliyev has hired U.S. public relations firms to build the case that he is a political dissident standing up to a tyrannical and corrupt Nazarbayev, with the ultimate go [...] | 2008-12-24 10:29:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PROP KCRM KZ |
08ASTANA2553 | KAZAKHSTAN LIKELY TO APPROVE TRANSCOM'S NORTHERN [...] (C) SUMMARY: Kazahkstan is close to making a positive decision to participate in TRANSCOM'S Northern Distribution Network. On December 26, Security Council Secretary Kairbek Suleymenov said he would instruct his staff immediately to draft a decision memo for President Nursultan Nazarbayev. [...] | 2008-12-29 04:27:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MARR KZ |
08ASTANA2576 | KAZAKHSTAN: DINNER WITH STATE SECRETARY [...] (C) SUMMARY: Kazakhstan's self-described Number Two and President Nazarbayev's confidante, State Secretary Kanat Saudabayev, told the Ambassador on December 29: -- Kazakhstan would give TRANSCOM a positive reply to the U.S. request to include Kazakhstan as an essential link in the Northern [...] | 2008-12-31 05:53:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR ECON MARR RS KZ |
08ASTANA338 | CHEVRON INCIDENT REFLECTS CHANGING DYNAMICS IN [...] No summary [...] | 2008-02-15 11:18:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET PINR KZ |
08ASTANA341 | KAZAKHSTANI LEADERSHIP DISCUSSES ECONOMIC ISSUES, [...] (C) Prime Minister Masimov told Assistant Secretary Boucher during a February 11 meeting that he was seeking to implement further structural economic reforms in Kazakhstan, including tax reform. The government would also be focusing greater attention on developing human capital. Masimov stre [...] | 2008-02-19 03:52:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EPET PREL WTO KZ |
08ASTANA354 | DESPITE OBSTACLES, KAZAKHSTAN MAINTAINS [...] (C) Summary: KazMunayGas, (KMG) Executive Director for Oil Transportation Arman Darbayev expects the Parliament to soon ratify the Azerbaijan ) Kazakhstan Inter-governmental Agreement on Trans-Caspian transport. KMG is establishing a sister company focused on Trans-Caspian transport issues. [...] | 2008-02-20 10:56:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET PINR KZ |
08ASTANA357 | KAZAKHSTAN: KNB INTENSIFIES INVESTIGATION OF GRACE [...] (C) Summary: On January 25, Committee for National Security (KNB) agents raided yet another Grace Presbyterian Church, this time in Almaty. The raid is the latest step in an ongoing KNB investigation of the denomination, which began with August 2007 raids on two churches and several church-re [...] | 2008-02-21 09:14:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PREL KIRF KDEM KZ |
08ASTANA40 | CPC PIPELINE EXPANSION MOVES FORWARD, BUT [...] Summary: (C) During his December 20 visit to Moscow, President Nazarbayev announced that Russia and Kazakhstan have agreed in principle to increase the capacity of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) pipeline. Arman Darbayev, KazMunayGas Executive Director for Oil Transportation, later told [...] | 2008-01-09 11:59:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON PREL KZ |
08ASTANA405 | KAZAKHSTAN SEARCHES FOR NEW ENERGY SECTOR MODEL [...] (C) Summary: Kazakhstani officials have made a series of announcements since the beginning of 2008 indicating that Kazakhstan intends to take a tougher stance with foreign energy investors. Prime Minister Masimov has banned new production-sharing agreements, called for a new tax code for natu [...] | 2008-02-29 11:48:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET PGOV PREL KZ |
08ASTANA480 | KAZAKHSTAN: PRESSURE BUILDING FOR NEW OIL EXPORT [...] (C) Summary: On February 27, ExxonMobil Kazakhstan General Manager Steven Rose gave the Ambassador a detailed overview of ExxonMobil's presentation to Kazakhstan on the Kazakhstan Caspian Transportation System (KCTS). ExxonMobil is attempting to be the Kashagan consortium's lead voice in KCT [...] | 2008-03-11 09:37:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET KZ |
08ASTANA494 | KAZAKHSTAN'S GAS EXPORTS: NOT YET ABUNDANT, BUT [...] (C) Summary: Kazakhstan, along with Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, plans to sell its gas exports at "European prices" in 2009. KazMunayGas President Uzakbay Karabalin announced Kazakhstan's intent at a meeting in Moscow between Gazprom and energy officials from Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uz [...] | 2008-03-12 11:13:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PRL EPET KZ |
08ASTANA50 | KAZAKHSTAN: PENTECOSTAL CHURCH, CHRISTIAN [...] (C) Summary: Kazakhstan is home to the world's largest Russian language Christian satellite television network and a steadily growing, openly evangelical Pentecostal church, surprising facts considering the negative attention the country sometimes receives for its treatment of groups that are [...] | 2008-01-11 11:20:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM KZ PGOV PHUM PREL |
08ASTANA522 | YUSHCHENKO'S VISIT TO KAZAKHSTAN PAYS NO IMMEDIATE [...] (C) Summary: Presidents Yushchenko and Nazarbayev both described Kazakhstan - Ukraine relations as excellent during Yushchenko's March 5-6 visit to Kazakhstan. No agreements were reached, however, on energy cooperation. Instead, President Nazarbayev publicly pronounced that Kazakhstan will n [...] | 2008-03-17 08:35:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET KZ |
08ASTANA56 | HIGH-LEVEL KASHAGAN TALKS SCHEDULED IN ASTANA FOR [...] (C) Summary: Further Kashagan negotiations are scheduled for January 13 in Astana. CEOs from all consortium members (except Total) expected to participate. Kashagan was a topic of discussion during Senator Richard Lugar's January 10-11 visit to Astana, with Ministry of Energy and Natural Re [...] | 2008-01-11 12:44:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON PREL KZ |
08ASTANA64 | KAZAKHSTAN: PROGRESS ON PFP TRAINING CENTER, BUT [...] (C) Summary: Kazakhstan appears poised to move forward on opening up a Partnership for Peace (PfP) training center, as it had promised to do by the end of 2008. However, concerns remain about progress in Kazakhstan's cooperation with NATO. End Summary. 2. (C) Tugay Tuncer, Astana-based NA [...] | 2008-01-14 10:19:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | KZ NATO PREL |
08ASTANA65 | KAZAKHSTAN: CHEVRON FACES THE SQUEEZE AT TENGHIZ [...] (C) Summary: Chevron executives Guy Hollingsworth and James Johnson told the Ambassador on January 11 that Chevron is facing "sanctity of contract" issues at its two most significant fields in Kazakhstan, Tenghiz and Karachaganak. Earlier in the day, the two had warned Prime Minister Masimov [...] | 2008-01-14 10:54:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON PREL KZ |
08ASTANA66 | SENATOR LUGAR MEETS WITH GOVERNMENT LEADERS IN [...] (C) Summary: During his January 9-11 visit to Astana Senator Richard Lugar discussed energy, non-proliferation, regional security, and economic cooperation issues in a series of meetings with high-ranking officials. Kazakhstani officials praised Senator Lugar for his long support of Kazakhsta [...] | 2008-01-14 11:34:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET ENRG KZ |
08ASTANA729 | WITH IGA ON TRANS-CASPIAN OIL TRANSPORT RATIFIED, [...] (C) Summary: On March 26, Kazakhstan's Parliament ratified an intergovernmental agreement with Azerbaijan on trans-Caspian oil transportation. According to the Kazakhstanis, Azerbaijan appears "not in a hurry" in trans-Caspian talks and, sensing Kazakhstan's vulnerabilities, is driving a hard [...] | 2008-04-15 08:31:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET KZ |
08ASTANA754 | TURMOIL AT KMG - FIRST VP IDENOV MAY BE OUT THE [...] (C) KazMunaiGas (KMG) First Vice President Maksat Idenov called the Ambassador from Dubai on April 14 and told him that he is on the verge of leaving KMG. According to Idenov, KMG President Uzakbay Karabalin met earlier that day with President Nazarbayev to complain about Idenov's activities a [...] | 2008-04-15 11:50:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET KZ |
08ASTANA760 | LIFESTYLES OF THE KAZAZHSTANI LEADERSHIP [...] (C) Kazakhstan's political elites appear to enjoy typical hobbies -- such as travel, horseback riding, and skiing. Not surprisingly, however, they are able to indulge in their hobbies on a grand scale, whether flying Elton John to Kazakhstan for a concert or trading domestic property for a pal [...] | 2008-04-17 10:35:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR KZ |
08ASTANA767 | KAZAKHSTAN: NEW LEGISLATION THREATENS RELIGIOUS [...] (SBU) On April 2, a group of parliamentarians introduced draft amendments to Kazakhstan's laws governing religious organizations. Among other things, the amendments would require all religious groups in the country to re-register under more restrictive procedures; limit the activities of smal [...] | 2008-04-18 11:52:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KIRF KDEM PREL KZ |
08ASTANA768 | KAZAKHSTAN AND INDIA SEEK TO REVIVE BILATERAL TIES [...] (C) Bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and India started off strongly following Kazakhstani independence, but the momentum has slowed since then. Both sides appear to be interested in reviving ties, and President Nazarbayev is expected to visit to India in November -- his first trip ther [...] | 2008-04-18 12:11:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON ETRD KZ IN |
08ASTANA769 | AMBASSADOR OPENS AMERICAN CORNER, MEETS WITH KEY [...] (C) The Ambassador attended the official opening of the eighth American Corner in Kazakhstan on April 8 at the Aktobe branch of the Republican Science Technical Library. While in Aktobe, he also held meetings with oblast (regional) and city officials, NGO's representatives, and local businessm [...] | 2008-04-18 12:35:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON SOCI KZ |
08ASTANA779 | GOK INCREASES PRESSURE ON TENGHIZCHEVROIL OVER [...] (C) Summary: Kazakhstani authorities continue to closely scrutinize TenghizChevroil (TCO),which has already paid hundreds of millions of dollars in fines in recent years. Consortium representatives describe a working environment made difficult by government harassment and constant requests fo [...] | 2008-04-21 11:52:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET KZ |
08ASTANA798 | KAZAKHSTAN - DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON DISCOURAGING [...] (C) Pol-Econ Chief delivered reftel demarche on discouraging Russia from upgrading relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia to MFA Americas Department head Talgat Kaliyev on April 25. Kaliyev promised to relay the substance to his MFA superiors. He reminded Pol-Econ Chief that Kazakhstan ha [...] | 2008-04-25 06:32:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL GG RS KZ |
08ASTANA827 | KAZAKHSTAN - ARREST OF UZBEK CITIZEN CONNECTED TO [...] (C) On April 25, Pol-Econ chief raised with MFA Americas Department head Talgat Kaliyev media reports that on April 20, Kazakhstani law enforcement authorities in Almaty had arrested Uzbek citizen Rafik Rakhmonov on various counts of participating in the 2005 Andijan events. A UNHCR spokesper [...] | 2008-04-25 11:44:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PHUM PREL KZ UZ |
08ASTANA848 | KAZAKHSTAN - UPDATE ON AFGHANISTAN ASSISTANCE PLANS [...] (SBU) Pol-Econ Chief met on April 29 with MFA Asian Cooperation Department Advisor Yerzhan Kalekenov to discuss Kazakhstan's assistance plans for Afghanistan and its participation in the upcoming Afghanistan support conference in Paris. 2. (SBU) As previously reported, Kazakhstan allocated [...] | 2008-04-29 11:57:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID PREL PGOV KZ AF |
08ASTANA905 | KAZAKHSTAN: KMG EXPERT DISCUSSES CPC EXPANSION, [...] (C) Summary: KazMunaiGas' Executive Director for Oil Transportation Arman Darbayev believes that Russia has, for the first time, created a framework that may make CPC expansion possible. He disputes reports, however, that expansion will be directly linked to Kazakhstan's supplying oil to the [...] | 2008-05-13 10:44:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON ENRG EPET KZ |
08ASTANA91 | KAZAKHSTAN: ALL SIDES SMILING WITH KASHAGAN DEAL [...] (C) In a marathon negotiating session on January 13, the Kashagan consortium partners reached agreement in principle with the Government of Kazakhstan (GOK) on restructuring the ownership and operatorship of the project, overcoming two main stumbling blocks. ENI had objected to a new operatin [...] | 2008-01-18 08:44:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ECON KZ |
08ASUNCION107 | YELLOW FEVER UPDATE [...] (SBU) Paraguay now has seven confirmed cases of yellow fever. Of 66 additional suspected cases, 25 have been ruled out; seven resulted in deaths. The GOP had 800,000 vaccines available last week, and an additional 750,000 will be arriving in country shortly from Peru and PAHO. The USD 50,00 [...] | 2008-02-20 10:44:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID PREL AEMR CASC MASS SOCI TBIO AFSN PGOV |
08ASUNCION115 | COURT APPROVES PRESIDENT'S SENATE CANDIDACY [...] (U) Paraguay's Electoral Court upheld President Nicanor Duarte Frutos, Senate candidacy February 12. The decision rejected challenges by both National Solidarity Party president Carlos Filizzola February 4 and Beloved Fatherland presidential candidate Pedro Fadul February 5. The opposition [...] | 2008-02-25 11:12:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PA |
08ASUNCION127 | COLORADO CASTIGLIONI: "I WAS ROBBED" [...] (C) Former Colorado presidential candidate and dissident Luis Castiglioni personally confirmed to Ambassador February 25 reports that President Duarte and "oficialista" candidate Blanca Ovelar stole the Colorado primary. Castiglioni said it became clear that Ovelar's faction was stealing the [...] | 2008-02-27 14:32:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PA |
08ASUNCION131 | PRESIDENT INVESTIGATED FOR MONEY LAUNDERING [...] (U) Prosecutors in Paraguay's financial crimes specialized unit launched an investigation February 28 against President Nicanor Duarte Frutos on suspicion of violating Paraguay's anti-money laundering statutes. The unit's lead prosecutor, Carlos Arregui, appointed two prosecutors, Rene Ferna [...] | 2008-02-29 10:26:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | SNAR PGOV PREL PA |
08ASUNCION135 | AMBASSADOR AND FADUL: ON THE SAME PAGE [...] (C) Beloved Fatherland Party (PQ) presidential candidate Pedro Fadul told Ambassador February 26 that the more Paraguayans turn out to vote, the greater the chance an opposition party will win the April 20 national elections. Fadul said one of the PQ's biggest challenges is a lack of funding, [...] | 2008-03-03 18:53:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PA |
08ASUNCION140 | PARAGUAYAN RESPONSE TO DEATH OF FARC COMMANDER [...] (SBU) President Nicanor Duarte Frutos condemned March 4 Colombia's actions in killing FARC Commander Raul Reyes, stating that Paraguay condemned Colombia's "external agression" and reaffirmed "the sovereignty of nations" such as Ecuador. A confidential message from the Paraguayan government [...] | 2008-03-06 10:36:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL CO ER PA |
08ASUNCION148 | "GOT VIAGRA?" PARAGUAY RISES TO THE OCCASION [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: After almost two years of legal and illegal maneuvering, one of the largest cases of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) violations prosecuted in Paraguay concluded March 6 with the destruction of the seized shipment of counterfeited medicines. With a combined local market value [...] | 2008-03-11 19:33:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV ECPS PREL PA |
08ASUNCION163 | LUGO'S AMCHAM SPEECH LACKS SUBSTANCE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Patriotic Alliance for Change (APC) presidential candidate Fernando Lugo outlined his six-point plan for governing to the Paraguayan-American Chamber of Commerce March 11. Three goals were economic -- agrarian reform, "economic growth with social equity," and "emergency" job creat [...] | 2008-03-14 12:29:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PREL PGOV PA |
08ASUNCION178 | BLANCA OVELAR'S VISION FOR PARAGUAY [...] (C) SUMMARY: Colorado Party standard-bearer told Ambassador March 18 she will seek to broaden and deepen relations with the United States should she win Paraguay's April 20 presidential elections. She spoke of the need to reform the state, fight corruption, increase citizen participation in [...] | 2008-03-19 21:28:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON PA |
08ASUNCION181 | FORMER PPL MEMBERS ANNOUNCE EXISTENCE OF [...] (C) SUMMARY: Former Free Fatherland Party (PPL) members announced March 17 the existence of the Paraguayan People's Army (EPP),an armed revolutionary group operating in Concepcion Department. Their comments followed a March 12 incident in which the EPP claimed responsibility for vandalizing [...] | 2008-03-25 13:34:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER ASEC PINS PA |
08ASUNCION195 | THREE WEEKS 'TIL ELECTIONS [...] (SBU) Please see Action Requests contained in paragraph 18. 2. (C) With three weeks remaining before the April 20 national elections, Colorado Party candidate Blanca Ovelar represents the status quo and the continuation of 61 years of uninterrupted Colorado rule. Patriotic Alliance for Chang [...] | 2008-03-31 14:37:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL CASC ECON SNAR PGOV PA |
08ASUNCION196 | CRAWLING CRABS TO FLYING GEESE: OVELAR'S ECONOMIC [...] (C) SUMMARY: Colorado presidential candidate Blanca Ovelar presented February 28 her economic platform to the American-Paraguayan Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM). Ovelar's main themes were building an economic agenda based on active collaboration between civil society, the public, and private se [...] | 2008-03-31 14:52:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PREL PGOV PA |
08ASUNCION198 | COLORADO SENATOR IMPLORES THE US TO "DO MORE" [...] (C) Multiple-term Colorado Senator (and brother of former Foreign Minister Leila Rachid) Bader Rachid told Pol/Econ Chief and RLA March 26 that the United States is "failing" in its approach to Latin America and Paraguay and that it should "do more" in the region. He argued that the United Sta [...] | 2008-04-01 11:49:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SNAR PGOV PA XM |
08ASUNCION199 | FADUL IMPRESSES AMCHAM [...] (C) SUMMARY: Pedro Fadul, presidential candidate for the Beloved Fatherland (PQ) Party, told the Paraguayan-American Chamber of Commerce March 18 that although business and government should work together to promote economic and social development, the private sector should be the economy,s dr [...] | 2008-04-01 11:54:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PA |
08ASUNCION228 | PARAGUAY-VENEZUELA ENERGY AGREEMENTS [...] (C) SUMMARY. Paraguay signed April 1 in Caracas a food-for-oil Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Venezuela. The MOU includes Paraguay's agro technology transfers to Venezuela, and an option for Venezuelan public and private investment in the sector. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Maduro wi [...] | 2008-04-09 22:08:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN PGOV PREL PA VZ |
08ASUNCION233 | UN CONFIRMS PARAGUAY TOP POT PRODUCER IN SOUTH [...] (U) The United Nation's International Narcotics Control Board (INCB, or JIFE in Spanish) declared Paraguay the top South American producer of marijuana in its 2007 report, published March 5. The report (available on www.incb.org website) noted that Paraguay now is by far the region's primary [...] | 2008-04-11 17:39:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | SNAR PREL PGOV PA |
08ASUNCION234 | ELECTION CAMPAIGNS REACH FEVERED PITCH [...] (C) With the April 20 elections just one week away, Patriotic Alliance for Change (APC) presidential candidate Fernando Lugo continues to lead the race by a small margin. Although Lugo may have a narrow lead, most analysts believe the Colorado Party can make up 7-8 points on election day via [...] | 2008-04-14 13:59:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ASEC ECON SNAR PGOV PA |
08ASUNCION238 | AND THE WINNER IS.... TOO CLOSE TO CALL WITH ONE [...] (C) Two new polls released April 11 show divergent results just one week before Paraguay's April 20 national elections. A major poll conducted by COIN for leading daily Ultima Hora shows a virtual three-way tie for president, with Fernando Lugo at 34.5 percent, Lino Oviedo with 28.9 percent, [...] | 2008-04-14 22:43:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PA |
08ASUNCION239 | A PRIMER ON GENERAL OVIEDO [...] (C) SUMMARY: National Union of Ethical Citizens (UNACE) presidential candidate Lino Oviedo, one of the top three contenders for the presidency in the April 20 national elections, has a long (and somewhat dark) history in Paraguayan politics. This message is intended to provide a chronological [...] | 2008-04-15 16:58:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PA |
08ASUNCION245 | OVIEDO PITCHES FREE MARKET AND DEMOCRATIC REFORMS [...] (SBU) Coup-plotting general turned presidential candidate Lino Oviedo told U.S. business representatives March 27 that his plan for governing is based on economic development, decentralized government, and reform. Oviedo said he will privatize corrupt and inefficient government-owned enterpri [...] | 2008-04-16 14:34:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON PGOV PA |
08ASUNCION248 | ROUNDING UP VENEZUELANS, ECUADORIANS AND THE LIKE [...] (SBU) President Duarte denounced April 15 the presence in Paraguay of Venezuelan and Ecuadorian "experts in social agitation" passing themselves off as elections observers. He accused citizens of Ecuador, Bolivia and Venezuela of placing "explosives" in community radio stations in San Pedro. T [...] | 2008-04-16 18:44:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ASEC PREL PINS XM PA |
08ASUNCION256 | PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES DEFINE THEIR FOREIGN [...] (C) SUMMARY: Paraguay's four major presidential candidates express interest in expanding and strengthening regional relations. They offer differing views on engaging or disengaging with hemispheric actors, including the United States and Venezuela. Fernando Lugo and Blanca Ovelar express i [...] | 2008-04-18 11:59:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL CASC ECON SNAR PGOV PA |
08ASUNCION258 | BOMB THREAT AT OAS DELEGATES' HOTEL [...] (SBU) At 0815 on April 18, the hotel "La Mission," where the delegates of the Organization of American States (OAS) electoral mission for Paraguay's elections April 20 are staying, received a bomb threat. The hotel's administrative secretary received a call from an unidentified male who SIPD [...] | 2008-04-18 17:08:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER ASEC OAS PA |
08ASUNCION259 | OAS AND IFES KEEPING PRESSURE ON ELECTORAL COURT [...] (C) The National Electoral Court (TSJE) is ready for Paraguay's April 20 elections. The Organization of American States (OAS) and IFES electoral missions report that the TSJE accepted and has acted on all ten of the political opposition's recommendations regarding the electoral process. The [...] | 2008-04-18 17:46:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PA |
08ASUNCION260 | MILITARY COMMITTED TO THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Paraguayan Armed Forces Commander General Soto stated publicly April 16 that the military would respect the electoral process. The military played a major role in past elections, but efforts by Soto to institutionalize and professionalize the military -- banishing politics from [...] | 2008-04-18 20:00:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PINS MOPS ASEC CASC SNAR PGOV PA |
08ASUNCION263 | LUGO LANDSLIDE FOR CHANGE IN PARAGUAY [...] SUMMARY: Former bishop Fernando Lugo is Paraguay's president-elect. Despite high tensions, the elections were seemingly fraud free with record turnout. With all exit polls indicating a clear win for Patriotic Alliance for Change (APC) candidate Lugo, confirmed by official quick count resul [...] | 2008-04-21 02:56:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PA |
08ASUNCION273 | ARCHBISHOP CUQUEJO ON LUGO AND THE ELECTION [...] (C) SUMMARY: Asuncion's Archbishop Cuquejo told Pol/Econ Chief April 23 he believes the Catholic Church will neither ex-communicate president-elect Fernando Lugo nor accept his resignation from the clergy, but would deal with Lugo as Paraguay's president. He said the Colorado Party's April 20 [...] | 2008-04-24 00:03:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PA |
08ASUNCION275 | AMBASSADOR'S FIRST MEETING WITH LUGO AS [...] (C) Ambassador reviewed U.S. assistance in his April 24 meeting with President-elect Fernando Lugo, their first since Paraguay's April 20 national elections. Ambassador opened by mentioning President Bush's April 24 congratulatory telephone call to Lugo; a beaming Lugo said they had a "nice ch [...] | 2008-04-25 12:27:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON MARR CVIS PA |
08ASUNCION314 | PARAGUAYAN RESERVATIONS REGARDING SOUTH AMERICAN [...] (C) The Paraguayan government gave its initial, albeit qualified, support for the creation of the South American Defense Council during a May 6 visit by Brazilian Defense Minister Nelson Jobim. Military sources told DATT May 6 that Paraguay has reservations about the Defense Council, and spe [...] | 2008-05-12 21:48:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PREL MASS PA |
08ASUNCION32 | COLORADOS CAN'T COME TO TERMS [...] (SBU) With the results of the December 16 Colorado Party presidential primary still pending, the ruling party's internal conflict between supporters of Luis Castiglioni and President Duarte's hand-picked successor, Blanca Ovelar, is intensifying. Both sides continue to claim victory, although [...] | 2008-01-15 18:27:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PA |
08ASUNCION353 | IT'S OFFICIAL: PARAGUAY'S ELECTION RESULTS [...] (U) SUMMARY: Paraguay's National Elections Tribunal released official election results May 24 and declared Fernando Lugo president-elect with 40.8 percent of the vote (reftel). Final results indicated that the current political opposition (including Liberals, National Union of Ethical Citize [...] | 2008-05-30 15:55:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PA |
08ASUNCION360 | VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT FEDERICO FRANCO: A PROFILE [...] No summary [...] | 2008-06-02 18:19:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PINR PGOV PREL PA |
08ASUNCION365 | TERMS OF REFERENCE CONCURRENCE FOR 6TH SPECIAL [...] (U) The Ambassador, Office of Defense Cooperation Paraguay (ODC),and the Paraguayan Military Forces Commander concur with the 6th Special Operations Squadron (6th SOS) Counter Narco-Terrorism Terms of Reference (TOR) and deployment as outlined here (reftel). In accordance with the TOR, the f [...] | 2008-06-03 12:07:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM MARR MASS PGOV SOCI PINS SNAR PA |
08ASUNCION37 | COLORADO DEMONSTRATION PLANNED FOR JANUARY 18 [...] (C) Colorado Party presidential pre-candidate Luis Castiglioni announced his supporters will hold a "massive" demonstration late January 18 in support of electoral justice. In light of President Duarte's January 15 maneuvers to maintain control of the National Electoral Court (TSJE) by remov [...] | 2008-01-17 16:58:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PA |
08ASUNCION373 | RESPONSE TO REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF [...] (U) This cable responds to questions regarding implementation of Title III of the LIBERTAD Act and the relationship between the Cuban and Paraguayan governments (ref A). 2. (C) Has the host country, in Post's opinion, worked to promote the advancement of democracy and human rights in Cub [...] | 2008-06-04 21:47:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ETTC PREL KDEM CVIS PHUM PREF CU PA |
08ASUNCION379 | REVISED: TERMS OF REFERENCE CONCURRENCE FOR 6TH [...] (U) The Ambassador, Office of Defense Cooperation Paraguay (ODC),Drug Enforcement Agency Attache, and the Paraguayan Military Forces Commander concur with the 6th Special Operations Squadron (6th SOS) Counter Narco-Terrorism Terms of Reference (TOR) and deployment as outlined here (reftel). I [...] | 2008-06-10 20:58:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM MARR MASS PGOV SOCI PINS SNAR PA |
08ASUNCION400 | TERMS OF REFERENCE CONCURRENCE FOR NAVAL SPECIAL [...] (U) The Ambassador, Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) Paraguay, and the Paraguayan Military Forces Commander concur with the Terms of Reference (TOR) and deployment as outlined here (reftel). In accordance with the TOR, the following information is provided: A. (U) Chief of Mission (COM) [...] | 2008-06-19 12:29:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM MARR MASS PGOV SOCI PINS SNAR PA |
08ASUNCION403 | CANCELLATION OF JOINT COMBINED EXCHANGE TRAINING [...] (C) Chief of Mission and Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) Paraguay nonconcur with the Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) mission (reference SPA2008JCET420WH) scheduled for August 10 - September 18, 2008, due to political sensitivities in Paraguay. Paraguayan Armed Forces Commander Gen [...] | 2008-06-19 22:25:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM MARR MASS PGOV SOCI PINS SNAR PA |
08ASUNCION406 | PARAGUAYAN SUPREME COURT VACANCIES [...] (C) Paraguay's notoriously politicized judiciary remains a major impediment to continued democratic progress. While the Supreme Court has made recent strides in terms of putting in place new transparency and accountability systems, the selection process for judges remains opaque and linked to [...] | 2008-06-20 18:07:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KJUS PA |
08ASUNCION415 | TUG OF WAR OVER PRESIDENT DUARTE'S RESIGNATION [...] (C) As planned, President Duarte Frutos submitted his resignation to Congress early June 23 in an effort to prepare to take his Senate seat with the new Congress July 1. Duarte's presidential term expires August 15, when President-elect Fernando Lugo takes office. Since Duarte may not constit [...] | 2008-06-24 14:33:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PA |
08ASUNCION42 | WHA DAS MCMULLEN VISITS PARAGUAY [...] (C) SUMMARY: During his January 9-11, 2008 visit to Asuncion, WHA DAS Chris McMullen co-led the USG delegation to the Three-Plus-One meeting (septel),and also conducted separate meetings with the Paraguayan Foreign Ministry, Brazilian diplomatic representatives, and business sector leaders. [...] | 2008-01-18 13:32:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PA |
08ASUNCION45 | GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS PLAY MUSICAL CHAIRS BEFORE [...] (C) President Duarte named Senator Roberto Gonzalez January 17 to head the Ministry of Public Works and Communications. Gonzalez, who has been serving as presidential hopeful Blanca Ovelar's campaign manager, replaced Rogelio Benitez, who resigned to run for a senate seat on Ovelar's ticket [...] | 2008-01-21 15:19:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PA |
08ASUNCION470 | PARAGUAY GOING GLOBAL WITH PEACEKEEPING UNIT [...] (C) The 175-member Paraguayan United Nations Peace Keeping Operations Multi-Role Engineer Company -- Paraguay's first unit dedicated to global peacekeeping under its own command -- celebrated its official dedication June 6. Once it deploys in the second half of 2008, the unit will join 1,662 [...] | 2008-07-09 14:49:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MASS MOPS PGOV PREL PA |
08ASUNCION475 | NEW PARAGUAYAN CONGRESS GETS DOWN TO BUSINESS [...] (C) The new Paraguayan Congress took office June 30 and elected its leadership. President-elect Fernando Lugo's Patriotic Alliance for Change (APC) and Lino Oviedo's UNACE Party announced June 30 a political alliance which led to the election of UNACE Senator Enrique Gonzalez Quintana as Sena [...] | 2008-07-09 21:39:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PA |
08ASUNCION476 | PARAGUAYANS OUTRAGED AT EU IMMIGRATION ACCORD [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Paraguayan Chamber of Deputies and Foreign Ministry declared the European Union Parliament's new immigration accord a violation of human rights. The Foreign Ministry's Special Affairs Minister Victor Hugo Pena said June 25 that the Paraguayan government considers the EU acc [...] | 2008-07-09 21:41:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | EUN OAS PREL SMIG PA |
08ASUNCION48 | COLORADOS' ELECTION TRIBUNAL DECLARES OVELAR [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Colorado Party has declared President Duarte's chosen successor, Blanca Ovelar, as the party's candidate for April's presidential elections. Former Vice President Castiglioni, however, has legally appealed to block Ovelar's formal insciption as the Colorado candidate, claimin [...] | 2008-01-22 18:51:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PA |
08ASUNCION512 | LUGO'S SURPRISE VISIT TO NICARAGUA [...] (C) President-elect Fernando Lugo made a surprise visit to Nicaragua July 18 to celebrate the 29th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution. Lugo joined Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Honduras President Manuel Zelaya, and Aleida March, the widow of Erne [...] | 2008-07-25 14:50:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PA |
08ASUNCION535 | SCENE-SETTER FOR LUGO INAUGURATION [...] (C) Embassy Asuncion warmly welcomes Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez and members of the U.S. delegation attending the August 15 inauguration of President Fernando Lugo. The Lugo administration represents the first interruption in Colorado Party rule in 61 years. Your visit provides an o [...] | 2008-08-01 18:01:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON PGOV SNAR PA |
08ASUNCION538 | POPE GRANTS LUGO WAIVER TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Vatican issued a decree July 30 announcing that Pope Benedict XVI granted President-elect Fernando Lugo a special waiver dispensing him of his clerical duties -- the first of its kind in Catholic history. Lugo advisors told Acting DCM that Lugo's biggest worry for months had [...] | 2008-08-04 16:41:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PA |
08ASUNCION545 | AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL DINNER WITH LUGO [...] (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador and A/DCM met with President-elect Fernando Lugo and Foreign Minister-designate Alejandro Hamed Franco August 1, Ambassador Cason's last night in Paraguay before departing post August 2. While Hamed said very little, Lugo's demeanor was warm and engaging. Ambassador a [...] | 2008-08-05 22:10:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON PGOV PA |
08ASUNCION575 | SEC. GUTIERREZ ASSURES LUGO OF US FRIENDSHIP [...] (C) SUMMARY: President-elect Lugo received Secretary of Commerce Gutierrez and the U.S. delegation to his inauguration August 14, one day before taking his oath as president. Lugo told Secretary Gutierrez that he was pleased with U.S. cooperation and assistance. Gutierrez stressed that despit [...] | 2008-08-19 21:43:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON PGOV PA |
08ASUNCION583 | SEC GUTIERREZ LUNCH WITH LUGO'S ECONOMIC TEAM [...] (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador Ayalde hosted a lunch for Secretary Gutierrez and the U.S. delegation to Lugo's inauguration and Lugo's economic team August 14. Finance Minster Borda outlined an expansive agenda of economic policy priorities: pro-growth macro-economic policies; public sector reform to [...] | 2008-08-22 14:46:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | ECIN PREL ECON ETRD PGOV EIND PA |
08ASUNCION590 | CHAVEZ BREAKS ALL THE RULES [...] (C) SUMMARY: Venezuelan President Chavez attempted to steal President Lugo's limelight on and around his August 15 inauguration, but most of his efforts backfired, making him the object of widespread criticism in the Paraguayan press. Chavez did, however, get a good amount of "face time" with [...] | 2008-08-25 22:33:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PA |
08ASUNCION598 | SENATE TUG-OF-WAR OVER DUARTE'S SENATE SEAT [...] (C) SUMMARY: Senate President Enrique Gonzalez Quintana swore former president and Colorado senator-elect Nicanor Duarte Frutos in as senator August 26 without quorum or Senate vote -- provoking outrage in the Senate. Hours later, Liberal Senate Vice President Oscar Denis Sanchez convened an [...] | 2008-08-28 13:01:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PA |
08ASUNCION606 | LUGO AND HAMED FRIENDLY WITH A/S SHANNON BUT LIGHT [...] (C) SUMMARY: In his August 28 meeting with President Lugo, Assistant Secretary Shannon reinforced Secretary Gutierrez' message to Lugo about U.S. interests in strengthening commercial ties, and also expressed support for Lugo's social agenda. Above all else, Lugo said he wants to strengthen P [...] | 2008-08-29 18:30:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON PREL SNAR PA |
08ASUNCION611 | COUP RUMORS: JUST ANOTHER DAY IN PARAGUAY [...] (C) After swirling rumors and exaggerated press reports of an attempted coup on September 1, President Lugo appeared on national television with his military cabinet behind him. Lugo assured his people that he remained in control and that he would not tolerate any attempts to undermine Paraguay [...] | 2008-09-02 21:04:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PA |
08ASUNCION62 | THREE PLUS ONE READOUT [...] (C) The January 10-11 Three-Plus-One Security Dialogue with Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and the United States in Asuncion played out as expected, with fruitful coordination on the margins of the meeting, but plenary interventions from the three focused primarily on crime fighting and preserving [...] | 2008-01-29 17:16:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER KCRM PGOV GTIP SNAR PA BR AR |
08ASUNCION624 | LUGO FOCUSES ON COUNTERNARCOTICS, MICROENTERPRISE [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Lugo expressed interest in closer counternarcotics cooperation with the United States and requested U.S. assistance with microenterprise development during a Friday, August 29 dinner with the Ambassador. Lugo made clear that he does not trust some of his closest advisors [...] | 2008-09-05 18:58:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SNAR PGOV ECON PA |
08ASUNCION646 | A/S SHANNON'S VISIT TO PARAGUAY [...] (C) SUMMARY: WHA Assistant Secretary Shannon visited Paraguay August 28-29 to meet President Lugo (reftel) and -- as he articulated to Paraguay's press -- to discuss ways the United States and Paraguay can work together to combat corruption, strengthen democratic institutions, improve health c [...] | 2008-09-15 13:13:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON PGOV PA |
08ASUNCION660 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON AMBASSADORS IN BOLIVIA AND [...] No summary [...] | 2008-09-18 22:19:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM ASEC BL PA |
08ASUNCION665 | INSIDE SCOOP ON REGIONAL POLITICS AND UNASUR [...] (C) Chilean Ambassador Fabio Vio Ugarte told Ambassador September 17 that he met privately with Chilean President Bachelet when he returned to Santiago for a COM meeting to prepare for the UNASUR Summit. To his surprise, she firmly stated her dislike for Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Howev [...] | 2008-09-25 20:06:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PA |
08ASUNCION667 | TERMS OF REFERENCE CONCURRENCE FOR CIVIL MILITARY [...] (U) The Ambassador, Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) Paraguay, and the Paraguayan Military Forces Commander concur with the Terms of Reference (TOR) and deployment as outlined here. In accordance with the TOR, the following information is provided: A. (U) Chief of Mission (COM) Liliana [...] | 2008-09-26 20:48:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM MARR MASS PGOV SOCI PINS SNAR PA |
08ASUNCION671 | NEW AIR CARRIERS COMING TO PARAGUAY [...] (U) The international carriers TACA and PLUNA will service Paraguay before the end of 2008. The Uruguayan-owned carrier PLUNA (First Uruguayan Lines of Air Navigation) is expected to begin its service to Paraguay on October 29 with four weekly direct flights to Montevideo. PLUNA will also offe [...] | 2008-10-01 14:51:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | EAIR ECON EINV ETRD PA |
08ASUNCION691 | TRADE-TALK: PARAGUAY'S OPPOSITION IN THE WTO [...] (C) SUMMARY: The new Paraguayan Government of Fernando Lugo is soon to decide whether to lift Paraguay's three-year old opposition in the WTO to U.S. requests for waivers for AGOA, CBERA, and ATPA trade preference programs. Commerce Minister clearly wants to reverse Paraguay's position. Howev [...] | 2008-10-09 18:56:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN PGOV EIND ECON EINV ETRD PREL PA |
08ASUNCION696 | SCENE-SETTER FOR BUSH-LUGO MEETING: PARAGUAY [...] (C) President Fernando Lugo's administration represents the first break in Colorado Party's 61-year stranglehold on power; as such, it is shaking the foundations of Paraguayan society. President Bush's October 27 meeting with President Lugo offers the United States an opportunity to reaffirm it [...] | 2008-10-14 18:49:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON PGOV SNAR PA |
08ASUNCION7 | LIBERAL PARTY POLITICS [...] (C) Hermes "Rambo" Saguier (protect),an opposition Liberal Party leader and one of presidential hopeful Fernando Lugo's advisors, told Pol/Econ Chief December 28 that the Liberal Party will not likely announce its December 9 primary results (designating Lugo's running mate) before early Febru [...] | 2008-01-03 12:40:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PA |
08ASUNCION701 | ANTI-DRUG AGENTS ARREST FIRST CAPITAL COMMAND [...] (C) Paraguay's National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD) arrested six members of the Sao Paulo-based gang First Capital Command October 13 operating near Pedro Juan Caballero (PJC),Amambay Department. SENAD agents -- with the assistance of the U.S.-trained Paraguayan Military Forces' Joint Imm [...] | 2008-10-15 17:39:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | SNAR MOPS PGOV BR BL PA |
08ASUNCION721 | NEGATIVE PUBLIC REACTION TO PARAGUAY-VENEZUELA [...] (C) SUMMARY: Paraguay and Venezuela signed 13 agreements August 16 which attempt to establish the framework for extensive Venezuelan activity in Paraguay. Constitutionally, Congress is required to authorize agreements with a foreign government, and reproached the Executive for not submitting [...] | 2008-10-24 15:48:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON PGOV PA |
08ASUNCION722 | TENSIONS WITH BRAZIL INCREASE OVER LAND AND [...] (C) Paraguay's bilateral relations with Brazil soured in October over Brazilian military exercises on the Paraguayan border and an increase in invasions of land owned by Brazilian-Paraguayans. Although Brazil informed Paraguay of its plans to conduct military exercises, Paraguayan officials c [...] | 2008-10-24 18:41:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER ASEC PINS PGOV PREL PA BR AR ES |
08ASUNCION740 | PARAGUAY AND TAIWAN MAINTAIN DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS [...] (C) Paraguay's new Lugo government redefined Paraguay's relationship with the Republic of China (Taiwan) when it announced August 31 that it would no longer actively support Taiwan's interests in the United Nations. Taiwan reacted by hinting September 11 that it might cut off financial aid to [...] | 2008-11-03 19:09:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PA CH TW |
08ASUNCION747 | SCENE-SETTER FOR CODEL ENGEL TO PARAGUAY [...] (C) Embassy Asuncion warmly welcomes Codel Engel November 11-13. President Fernando Lugo's administration represents the first break in the Colorado Party's 61-year streak in power; as such, it is shaking the foundations of Paraguayan society. Just on the heels of President Lugo's October 27 [...] | 2008-11-04 12:32:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON PGOV SNAR PA |
08ASUNCION79 | THREATS TO DISQUALIFY LUGO [...] (U) The Colorado Party's focus -- and with it the media spotlight -- has shifted from its disputed primary elections to confronting presidential hopeful and resigned Catholic bishop Fernando Lugo following the January 20 announcement that presidential candidate Blanca Ovelar had been declared [...] | 2008-02-06 19:37:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PA |
08ASUNCION814 | PARAGUAY SHAKES UP SECURITY FORCES LEADERSHIP [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The Lugo administration in late November appointed new leadership in the Military Forces and the National Police in the biggest change in Paraguay's security apparatus in decades. By retiring many scores of security officials and promoting a new cadre of leaders, the Lugo adm [...] | 2008-12-09 13:16:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER ASEC MARR PINS PGOV PREL PA |
08ASUNCION840 | FORMER ITAIPU DAM DIRECTOR INDICTED FOR CORRUPTION [...] (SBU) Paraguayan prosecutors indicted former Itaipu Binational Enterprise (EBI) director (and current Colorado Senator) Victor Bernal Garay December 11 on corruption charges related to the alleged misuse of Itaipu Dam funds. Judge Patricia Gonzalez, who oversees Bernal's case, indicated Decem [...] | 2008-12-17 18:40:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON PHUM PA |
08ASUNCION843 | RESPONSE TO REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF [...] (U) This cable responds to questions regarding implementation of Title III of the LIBERTAD Act and the relationship between the Cuban and Paraguayan governments (ref A and B). 2. (C) Has the host country, in Post's opinion, worked to promote the advancement of democracy and human rights i [...] | 2008-12-17 19:06:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ETTC PREL KDEM CVIS PHUM PREF CU PA |
08ASUNCION857 | AMBASSADOR IN CIUDAD DEL ESTE: REFORMS STILL [...] (C) Political, law enforcement, and private sector representatives told Ambassador in Ciudad del Este December 9-10 that the Paraguayan government needs significant political, economic, and judicial reform. Prosecutors, business leaders, and activists expressed concern over political corrupt [...] | 2008-12-23 14:38:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON SNAR PTER PHUM PA |
08ASUNCION869 | AG SECTOR UNCERTAINTY BREEDS PESSIMISM [...] (C) SUMMARY: Major Paraguayan soy producers are skeptical of President Lugo's economic plans, particularly agriculture policy. Recent declines of 30 to 40 percent in commodity prices are a serious but manageable concern. The government's intention to tax production, however, generates a strong [...] | 2008-12-29 21:38:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN PGOV EIND ECON EINV ETRD PREL PA |
08ASUNCION877 | PARAGUAYANS UNCOVER MORE EVIDENCE OF [...] (C) SUMMARY: A leading Paraguayan human rights activist discovered numerous personal records belonging to political prisoners tortured during the Stroessner regime (1954-89) in a building then used by the Interior Ministry. Further evidence of Stroessner-era human rights abuses will be rele [...] | 2008-12-31 18:49:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PA |
08ASUNCION99 | AMBASSADOR'S FIRST MEETING WITH CANDIDATE LUGO [...] (C) In his first meeting with bishop-turned-presidential front-runner Fernando Lugo, Ambassador delivered a strong message that the United States wants good relations with whomever becomes Paraguay's next president, and we have numerous opportunities to work together toward common interests. [...] | 2008-02-14 15:05:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SNAR PGOV PA |
08ATHENS1009 | GREECE/MACEDONIA: GRUEVSKI LETTER ON MINORITIES [...] (U) This message has been cleared with Embassy Skopje. ------- SUMMARY ------- 2. (C) Greece reacted negatively to a July 14 letter from Macedonian PM Gruevski to PM Karamanlis requesting that Greece address issues related to property restitution and citizenship of ethnic Macedonians [...] | 2008-07-15 13:42:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM MK GR |
08ATHENS1015 | GREECE: EXPANDED NATO TRAINING MSSION-IRAQ PAPERS [...] (C) On 11 July, A/Pol Counselor and Poloff delivered ref A points on NTM-I to Ambassador Heracles Asteriades, Director of the MFA D-2 Directorate for the North Atlantic Treaty (NATO) and the Western European Union (WEU). A/Pol Counselor emphasized that now that the NAC had taken a decision to [...] | 2008-07-16 09:13:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | GR IZ MARR PGOV PREL NATO |
08ATHENS1018 | GREEK MFA ON JULY 22-23 GAERC ISSUES [...] (C) On 15 July, PolOfficer and PolAssistant delivered ref A points and discussed issues likely to be addressed at the July 22-23 EU Foreign Ministers' meeting (GAERC) with MFA European Correspondent Antonia Katsourou. She responded with the following points: -- Iran: Katsourou said Greec [...] | 2008-07-16 14:41:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGKV PREL EU GR PHUM IR SO SU CD ZI UP |
08ATHENS1019 | GAZPROM "REPAIR ISSUES" LEAVE GREECE WITH FIVE [...] (C) Claiming the need to undertake extensive "repair works" on its natural gas pipeline through Bulgaria, Gazprom has drastically reduced gas flows to Greece. According to Natural Gas Company of Greece (DEPA) President Makis Papageorgiou in a July 16 conversation with A/DCM, the cuts leave G [...] | 2008-07-16 14:47:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG EPET GR |
08ATHENS1023 | SCENE SETTER FOR ATHENS GREECE (U) [...] (SBU) Welcome back to Athens, we look forward to your important visit which comes at an important time in the U.S.-Greece bilateral relationship. Since your visit last July, ADM Fitzgerald (2-3 April),Lt Gen McFann (2 July),and LTG Eikenberry (3 July) visited Athens and met with key Greek m [...] | 2008-07-17 08:17:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MOPS NATO TU MK GR |
08ATHENS1027 | GREECE/MACEDONIA: KARAMANLIS RESPONDS TO GRUEVSKI [...] (U) Greek Prime Minister Karamanlis has responded in a July 18 public letter (full text in para 4) to the July 14 letter from Macedonian Prime Minister Gruevski (ref A) in which Gruevski asks that Greece address issues related to property restitution and citizenship of ethnic Macedonians who [...] | 2008-07-18 14:49:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV NATO MK GR |
08ATHENS1028 | SOMALI PIRACY: GREEK SUPPORT FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF [...] No summary [...] | 2008-07-18 15:42:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | EWWT KCRM KCRS KJUS PHSA PREL SOCI XA XW GR |
08ATHENS1030 | GREECE/MACEDONIA: FURTHER PERSPECTIVES ON [...] (C) Embassy Skopje has provided useful ideas on steps the U.S. might take to advance the name negotiations. In that spirit we want to offer Embassy Athens' thoughts on where the Greeks currently are on this issue, and what it might take for them to conclude a deal. We believe the Greeks are [...] | 2008-07-21 08:13:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV NATO MK GR |
08ATHENS1034 | KEEPING PRESSURE ON THE FARC POINTS DELIVERED [...] (C) A/Pol Counselor met July 21 with Christos Maniakis Grivas, Deputy Director of the MFA A-8 Department for Latin America and the Caribbean, to make reftel points on keeping the pressure on the FARC. Maniakis Grivas listened carefully and said that he would ensure that the MFA Political Dire [...] | 2008-07-21 15:24:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL COL VE HR EU PTER AF SNAR PGOV GR |
08ATHENS1060 | DEPA AND BOTAS: CLOSE, BUT NO CIGAR [...] (U) This i a joint Embassy Athens-Embassy Ankara cable. 2. (C) Summary. Greek and Turkish natural gas companies DEPA and BOTAS are close to an agreement to supply Greece increased quantities of gas at a time of great Greek need. According to DEPA, two key issues remain outstanding: how [...] | 2008-07-24 14:59:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG GR |
08ATHENS1070 | GREECE/SYRIA: GREEK VIEWS ON DEALING WITH THE SARG [...] (C) A/Pol Counselor delivered ref A points on the Syrian Arab Republic Government (SARG) on 7/24 to George Ayfandis, acting Director of the MFA A-6 Directorate for Arab Countries and the Middle East. Ayfandis said that Greece shared U.S. concerns about the SARG, highlighting, in particular, S [...] | 2008-07-25 13:31:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SY LE EU RS TU NO SW |
08ATHENS1095 | P-1 REFERRAL FOR U.S. RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM: WARDA, [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Embassy has identified Iraqi citizen Johnson Hermiz Warda as a candidate for the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program as a Priority 1 referral. Warda submitted a written request to the Embassy for refugee resettlement to the United States based on his prior employment in Iraq wit [...] | 2008-07-31 10:53:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF CVIS KDEM PGOV PHUM GR IZ |
08ATHENS1122 | VISA WAIVER: GREEK FM BAKOYANNIS PRESSES FOR [...] (C) In separate conversations with Ambassador, FM Bakoyannis and her Chef de Cabinet Ambassador Halistanis pressed for the U.S. response to the Greek comments on the Visa Waiver (VWP) MOU draft from March and closely linked Greek signature and ratification of the HSPD-6 text on terrorist data [...] | 2008-08-05 09:43:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL CVIS PTER GR |
08ATHENS1132 | URGING THE EU TO MAINTAIN TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ON [...] (C) We delivered reftel points on maintaining travel restrictions on the Karadzic family to Antonia Katzourou, European Correspondent for the MFA A11 Directorate that deals with EU Common and Foreign Security Policy and to Asterios Tsiourvas, MFA Desk Officer for Serbia, Kosovo and Montenegro. [...] | 2008-08-07 05:44:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM GR |
08ATHENS114 | GREECE: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON UN HUMAN RIGHTS [...] (SBU) On January 24, Acting Political Counselor delivered reftel demarche points to Director of the D1 Directorate for International Organizations, Ambassador Alexandros Rallis. Rllis stated that he had already sent our previously faxed points to the Greek mission in Geneva and had also forward [...] | 2008-01-24 14:40:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL GR IS |
08ATHENS1149 | NEW BURMA SANCTIONS [...] (C) On August 8, PolAssistant delivered reftel points on the New Burma sanctions to MFA Deputy Director of the A10 Directorate for Asia and Oceania Antoula Balanou. In an August 11 follow-up, Balanou mentioned that the most recent GAERC meeting of EU foreign ministers had not addressed the i [...] | 2008-08-11 08:57:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ETRD BMGT GR |
08ATHENS115 | GREEK VIEWS ON ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN ISSUES [...] (U) This message contains an action request for Department. See paragraph 4. 2. (C) DepPolCouns and PolOff discussed ref a points on Israeli-Palestinian issues with MFA A6 Middle East Directorate deputy head Giorgos Ayfantis. On the demarche overall, Ayfantis complemented the author for a [...] | 2008-01-25 08:23:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EAID OPRC KPAL IS GR |
08ATHENS1152 | GEORGIA CRISIS: GREEKS SCRAMBLING TO FORMULATE [...] (C) Charge delivere U.S. position on a Qdemning Russian militar Constantinos Bitsios, @M Karamanlis, and to Ha FM Bakoyannis. Bitsiososition had not yet be(###) need for calm in deliberations. Lalacos likewise demurred from providing a Greek position, noting that FM Bakoyannis would enunciate [...] | 2008-08-11 14:24:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | AEMR ASEC CASC MARR PREL PINR AMGT KFLO GR |
08ATHENS1156 | TFGG01: GREEKS WILL FOLLOW FRENCH LEAD ON GEORGIA [...] (C) SUMMARY: The GOG has still not announced an official position on the crisis in Georgia, probably due to its concerns about alienating either the Russians or Georgians, with both of whom Greece maintains close ties. But our conversations with MFA and other high-placed interlocutors indicate Gree [...] | 2008-08-12 15:26:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL GG GR |
08ATHENS1183 | TFGG1: GREEK FM ON GEORGIA CRISIS, OSCE MONITORS [...] (C) Following the August 19 NATO Special Ministerial to address the on-going crisis in Georgia (reftel),Greek FM Dora Bakoyannis issued a statement, which contained both favorable and unfavorable elements in terms of U.S. policy and generally adhered to the positions of the "old Europe" NATO [...] | 2008-08-20 15:17:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MOPS GG GR |
08ATHENS1216 | TFGG01: GREECE'S BUSINESS-AS-USUAL WITH RUSSIA [...] (C) SUMMARY: Despite strong statements at NATO and the EU by FM Bakoyannis supporting Georgian territorial integrity and condemning Russia's recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states, the GOG at the same time is moving ahead with several "business-as-usual" events with Ru [...] | 2008-08-28 17:51:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV GG GR RS |
08ATHENS1243 | GREECE/EU: GYMNICH POINTS DELIVERED [...] (C) On September 2, A/Political Counselor delivered ref A points on Georgia and EU/Russia relations in advance of the September 5-6 Gymnich, and ref B points on other issues on the Gymnich agenda to MFA European correspondent Antonia Katzoulou. Katzoulou had the following observations: -- [...] | 2008-09-03 15:28:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EU GG GR RU |
08ATHENS1261 | GREEKS UNCERTAIN ON KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION AT UNGA [...] (C) A/Political Counselor raised reftel points on a possible UNGA resolution requesting an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Kosovo's declaration of independence with Ambassador Eleftherios Angelopoulos, Director of the MFA A3 Directorate for Southeastern Europ [...] | 2008-09-05 13:28:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNGA UN KV SR GR |
08ATHENS127 | GREECE/MACEDONIA: GREEK NEGOTIATOR NOT OPTIMISTIC [...] (C) Ambassador and DCM met January 24 with Ambassador Adamintos Vasilakis for a readout of the January 21 Ohrid negotiations on the Macedonian name issue, chaired by Matthew Nimetz. Vasilakis said that the opening remarks by FM Milososki contained some of the same "unhelpful" statements he s [...] | 2008-01-28 14:44:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV NATO MK GR |
08ATHENS1270 | GREECE CLAIMS TURKEY DUMPED ILLEGAL ALIENS IN [...] (C) Greece has demarched Turkey following news reports that the Greek Coast Guard filmed the Turkish Coast Guard dumping illegal aliens off a ship into Greek territorial waters in the Aegean Sea. A Greek MFA official told us that the evidence of the alien dumping is strong and that it is not [...] | 2008-09-08 14:10:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PBTS TU GR |
08ATHENS1287 | GREEK VIEWS ON SEPTEMBER GAERC ISSUES [...] (C) DepPolCouns delivered ref A and C points on the September 15-16 meeting of EU foreign ministers (GAERC) to MFA European Correspondent Ant/nia Katzourou and took the oppo2tunity 4o ask for a readout of the September 5-6 G9mnich meeting. On the latter, Katzourou said 3he had ngt gotten a de [...] | 2008-09-10 11:23:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM GR RS SU ZI YI EUN |
08ATHENS1290 | GREECE/CYPRUS: GOG SUPPORTS UN PROCESS BUT WORRIED [...] (C) PM Karamanlis and FM Bakoyannis are pleased with the momentum on Cyprus, sending positive signals about the September 3 start of UN-brokered talks. Cyprus has been center stage in Athens with visits from UN Special Envoy Downer and Cypriot Foreign Minister Kyprianou. PM Karamanlis and F [...] | 2008-09-10 14:50:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV GR CY UN |
08ATHENS1298 | GREECE: UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIRD COMMITTEE 2008 [...] (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche on September 9 to Loukas Tsokos, First Secretary at the MFA D1 Directorate of UN and International Organizations. The D1 office received the points but had no substantive comment and passed them to the D2 Directorate of Human Rights. Post will report any f [...] | 2008-09-12 11:17:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | GR PGOV PREL PHUM |
08ATHENS1299 | GOG TO EMB SKOPJE DCM: POSITION FIRM BUT READY TO [...] (C) SUMMARY: Greece is prepared to make a deal on the name dispute with Macedonia "tomorrow," senior Greek officials told visiting Embassy Skopje DCM Navratil in meetings August 22 in Athens, but Greece's position on a composite name and its universal international usage -- "ergo omnes" -- rema [...] | 2008-09-12 12:16:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL GR MK |
08ATHENS1301 | GREECE/NATO: NO SUBSTANTIVE REPLY ON ISAF OPLAN TO [...] (C) Upon receipt of reftel, we engaged with GOG interlocutors to press Greece to be supportive of an amendment to the ISAF OPLAN to authorize ISAF forces to interdict narcotics production and trafficking facilities where such action would offer a direct military advantage. On August 12, Polof [...] | 2008-09-12 14:43:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MOPS NATO PGOV PREL SNAR GR |
08ATHENS1302 | AMID ALLEGATIONS, MINISTER OF MERCHANT MARINE [...] (U) Minister of Merchant Marine and Island Policy George Voulgarakis resigned as Minister on September 12 amid various allegations linking him to scandal, including his wife's ties to a controversial government/church land swap and his involvement in the creation of an off-shore company that [...] | 2008-09-12 14:54:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL GR |
08ATHENS1336 | APPROACHING GREECE ON REBUTTING RUSSIAN GENOCIDE [...] (C) DCM discussed ref A points on rebutting Russia's claims against Georgia with the Prime Minister's diplomatic advisor Constantinos Bitsios. She noted the speciousness of the Russian claims of genocide, the lack of supporting evidence from international NGOs, and our request for Greece to u [...] | 2008-09-19 12:44:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM GR GG RS |
08ATHENS1348 | GREECE/NATO: POINTS DELIVERED ON "NO BUSINESS AS [...] (C) On 22 September, Poloff delivered ref points on "no business as usual" in NATO-Russia relations to Andreas Kintis, NATO desk officer in the MFA's D2 Directorate for NATO and Western European Union (WEU) Affairs. Kintis said he would forward the information to his superiors and to the Gr [...] | 2008-09-22 13:40:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | NATO PGOV PREL GR GG RS |
08ATHENS1349 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED: U.S. AMBASSADORS IN BOLIVIA [...] No summary [...] | 2008-09-22 14:01:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM BL VE GR |
08ATHENS1356 | GREECE/NATO: DEMARCHE ON ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO [...] (C) On September 19, Poloff delivered reftel points requesting for additional support to the NATO Training mission-Iraq to Andreas Kintis, NATO desk officer in the MFA's D2 Directorate for NATO and Western European Union (WEU) Affairs. Kintis said he would forward the information to his su [...] | 2008-09-24 13:53:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | GR PGOV PREL MARR NATO IZ |
08ATHENS1380 | TOUGH TIMES FOR PM KARAMANLIS [...] (C) Recent weeks have not been kind to PM Karamanlis. His ruling New Democracy (ND) party is now polling lower than major opposition party PASOK. His razor-thin two-vote majority in Parliament has been further reduced to a one-vote majority, following a September 30 expulsion from the ruling [...] | 2008-09-30 17:45:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV GR |
08ATHENS1383 | AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY: SOLICITING GREEK [...] (C) On September 23, Ambassador Speckhard raised with MFA Secretary General Agathocles reftel request for Greece to contribute USD 30 million per year from 2010 to 2014 in additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan National Army. Agathocles responded that Greece placed a high p [...] | 2008-10-01 10:21:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MOPS PGOV PREL AF |
08ATHENS1387 | GREEK SLANDS: A GATEWAY TO EUROPE FOR ILLEGAL [...] (SBU) ver-increasing numbers of illegal immigrants Afghans, Iraqis, Palestinians, Somalis, and ohers) are using boats and rafts to travel fro Turkey to Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, making the islands the preferred route for these immigrants into the EU. The wave of newcomers has all but o [...] | 2008-10-02 05:39:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PRL PGOV PBTS PTER PHUM GR |
08ATHENS1399 | GREEK PM STAYS THE COURSE DESPITE OBSTACLES [...] (SBU) Buffeted by scandals and allegations of financial mismanagement, as well as dissent within his own New Democracy party (ref A),PM Karamanlis called an emergency cabinet meeting on October 2 to reassert his authority and strengthen resolve to continue forward with the government's reform [...] | 2008-10-03 14:54:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EFIN ECON GR |
08ATHENS1400 | GREECE/NATO: GREECE WITHDRAWS FROM NATO AEGEAN [...] (C) Greece informed NATO military authorities October 6 that it has withdrawn from a NATO table top exercise ("Noble Aspect 08") on the Aegean. Greece sought to include "tracks" of a civilian aircraft overflying Agios Efstratios island (reftel) - an island that Turkey maintains is "demilitari [...] | 2008-10-06 15:08:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | MOPS NATO PGOV PREL TU GR |
08ATHENS1405 | GREECE/KOSOVO: SEEKING EU CONSENSUS TO ABSTAIN ON [...] (C) On October 6, Ambassador Speckhard raised with Ambassador Constantinos Halistanis, FM Bakoyannis' Chief of Staff, reftel points on the Kosovo ICJ resolution at the UNGA. The Ambassador highlighted the potentially harmful effects of referring Kosovo's independence to the ICJ, as it could [...] | 2008-10-07 15:22:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNGA UN KV SR GR |
08ATHENS1411 | ENVIRONMENTALISTS FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT IN GREECE [...] (C) Summary: As part of the Embassy's initiative to expand its dialogue on the environment, the Ambassador hosted a September 23 lunch for Greek NGO environmentalists. A key point raised included the challenges of protecting the environment against big business interests, such as tourism an [...] | 2008-10-09 04:37:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | KGHG EAGR SENV ENRG TRGY GR |
08ATHENS1427 | GREECE/MACEDONIA: FM BAKOYANNIS POSITIVE ON NIMETZ [...] (C) In a 10/9 conversation with Ambassador Speckhard, FM Bakoyannis said Greece considered UN mediator Nimetz' latest proposal to be a "good basis," but with some remaining areas for refinement - particularly stronger provisions on bilateral usage of the new name. Bakoyannis laid out the GOG [...] | 2008-10-10 11:15:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV CVIS MK GR |
08ATHENS1453 | EEB DAS HENGEL DISCUSSES BANK SADERAT AND NEW [...] (C) During a meeting with EEB DAS for Energy, Sanctions and Commodities Doug Hengel on October, 14, Bank of Greece Director of Bank Supervision Panagiotis Kyriakopoulos outlined the measures the Bank of Greece is taking against Iranian Bank Saderat. Kyriakopoulos indicated that while the Bank [...] | 2008-10-17 14:08:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | MNUC ECON KNNP IR GR KTFN EFIN |
08ATHENS1470 | GREECE MTCR DEMARCHE DELIVERED: U.S. REPORT ON [...] No summary [...] | 2008-10-23 14:01:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MTCRE PARM KSCA TSPA ETTC GR |
08ATHENS1476 | VATOPAIDION SCANDAL CLAIMS ANOTHER VICTIM IN GREEK [...] (C) On October 23, one of Prime Minister Karamanlis's closest aides, Minister of State and GoG spokesman Theodoris Roussopoulos, resigned in connection with the Vatopaidion real estate scandal -- the second minister to do since September. Roussopoulos is expected to remain in his seat in Parl [...] | 2008-10-27 07:07:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL GR |
08ATHENS148 | GREECE/TURKEY: MFA TERMS KARAMANLIS VISIT [...] (C) MFA officials termed PM Karamanlis' January 23 - 25 trip to Turkey "positive but not concrete." They were pleased by statements by PM Erdogan that "could be seen as positive openings" on the status of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul, on the Aegean "casus belli," and on broader Ae [...] | 2008-01-31 14:20:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KIRF PHUM SOCI TU GR |
08ATHENS1498 | GREECE/MACEDONIA: FM BAKOYANNIS BRIEFS PARLIAMENT [...] (C) FM Bakoyannis told the Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Foreign Affairs October 29 that Greece will work from the most recent Nimetz proposal as a basis, but that certain (unspecified) changes are required. She asserted that Greece seeks a new, compound name with a geographic quali [...] | 2008-10-31 13:58:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV NATO MK GR |
08ATHENS1512 | GREECE WORRIED ABOUT DEVELOPMENTS IN BOSNIA [...] (C) A/Political Counselor met 11/4 with Dimitris Tsoungas, Deputy Director of the MFA A3 Balkans Directorate, to follow-up on ref A points on engaging the EU on Bosnia. The points had previously been delivered to Tsoungas and the MFA's EU Correspondent to inform Greek preparations for the EU [...] | 2008-11-04 13:24:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV GR BK EU |
08ATHENS152 | NO INVITATION FOR MACEDONIAN CHURCH LEADERS TO [...] (U) This message has been cleared by Embassy Skopje. 2. (C) After news emerged Wednesday that leaders of the Macedonian Orthodox Church intended to attend the funeral liturgy of Greek Archbishop Christodoulos in Athens on Thursday, Greek Church authorities declared that the Macedonians were [...] | 2008-02-01 15:28:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KIRF MK GR |
08ATHENS1528 | GREECE/TERRORISM: NOVEMBER 17 SOUNDS OFF, [...] (SBU) An imprisoned assassin from Greece's most famous domestic terrorist group, November 17 (17N),recently published an unrepentant manifesto in a Greek newspaper, while another group with a similar ideology, Revolutionary Struggle (RS),may have launched a new bomb attack, possibly its firs [...] | 2008-11-07 14:04:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV ASEC GR |
08ATHENS1539 | GEORGIAN FM VISIT TO ATHENS: GREEK, GEORGIAN [...] (C) SUMMARY: During her November 6-7 visit to Athens, Georgian FM Tkeshelashvili discussed with FM Bakoyannis and other Greek interlocutors problems with the OSCE observer mission in Georgia, the recent donors' conferences, the plight of IDPs, the Geneva talks, energy pipelines, and domestic i [...] | 2008-11-10 15:41:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV OSCE GR RS GG |
08ATHENS1541 | GREECE: AMBASSADOR RAISES MLAT, TIP, IPR WITH [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a November 6 meeting, Ambassador Speckhard raised with Georgios Panagiotopoulos, President and Justice of the Greek Council of State (an equivalent to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court),several legal issues: 1) the need for Greece to move expeditiously in ratifying the U [...] | 2008-11-12 07:47:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM KTIP KCRM GR |
08ATHENS1542 | GREECE ON EXPULSION OF DEA FROM BOLIVIA [...] No summary [...] | 2008-11-12 10:52:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SNAR KDEM GR XM BL |
08ATHENS1570 | GREECE/TURKEY: NAVAL STANDOFF OVER OIL EXPLORATION [...] (C) In a 11/17 meeting with Ambassador Speckhard, MFA Secretary General Aristides Agathocles confirmed that the immediate crisis is "over" with Turkey over a Norwegian ship accompanied by a Turkish frigate that had been conducting oil exploration approximately eighty miles south of the Greek [...] | 2008-11-18 15:57:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM MOPS GR TU |
08ATHENS1572 | GREECE SUPPORTING IRAQI DIPLOMATS WITH TRAINING, [...] (U) On November 17, the Greek MFA announced that its Diplomatic Academy would be hosting a two-week training program in Athens November 17-28 for ten young Iraqi diplomats. The MFA announcement said the aim of the training was to strengthen friendship and understanding between Greece and Ira [...] | 2008-11-20 09:28:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | GR IZ PGOV PHUM PREL AF EAID KPAO |
08ATHENS1575 | GREECE/MACEDONIA: GREEK NAME NEGOTIATOR BRIEFS [...] (SBU) In a hastily arranged November 19 briefing for all NATO and EU Diplomatic Missions and the European Commission Representative, Greek name negotiator Adamantios Vassilakis made the following points: -- Greece intends to continue to work on a solution under the auspices of UN Envoy Nime [...] | 2008-11-20 16:06:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV NATO EU MK GR |
08ATHENS1589 | GREECE/OSCE: FM BAKOYANNIS LAYS OUT OSCE PRIORITIES [...] (C) Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, who will be OSCE Chairman-in-Office (CIO) in 2009, laid out her priorities for the OSCE in a November 13 speech at the Greek Foreign Ministry. She emphasized the importance of OSCE cooperation with other IOs, including the UN, the EU, and NATO. Sh [...] | 2008-11-25 14:17:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM OSCE GR RS NATO EUN GG |
08ATHENS1600 | GREECE AND ALBANIA AGREE ON MILITARY CEMETERIES IN [...] (U) On November 21, the Greek Foreign Ministry announced that Greece and Albania had reached agreement on the establishment of two military cemeteries in Albania (reftel). The two cemeteries, which will honor Greek soldiers killed in Albania in WWII, will be located in Gjirokaster and Kelcyr [...] | 2008-11-26 12:42:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | GR PGOV PREL AL |
08ATHENS1605 | GREECE/OSCE: GREEK VIEWS ON HELSINKI MINISTERIAL [...] (C) A/Political Counselor met 11/28 with Deputy Head of the MFA OSCE Chairmanship Task Force, Louis-Alkiviadis Abadis, to deliver reftel points on the U.S. priorities for the Helsinki OSCE Ministerial. Abadis had the following comments on our points: -- Ministerial Declaration: He noted t [...] | 2008-11-28 14:36:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL OSCE GR RS GG AM AJ |
08ATHENS1606 | GREECE/CONVENTION ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS - GOG [...] No summary [...] | 2008-11-28 14:45:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM NATO MOPS PREL GR |
08ATHENS1635 | GREECE/CHINA: GREEKS SEE PRC AS MORE "AGGRESSIVE" [...] (C) SUMMARY: Chinese Embassy and Greek MFA readouts painted very different pictures of Chinese President Hu's recent visit to Athens. The Chinese saw the visit as fulfilling three goals: repaying Greece for President Papoulias' visit during the Olympics; cementing the Chinese-Greece "comprehe [...] | 2008-12-05 14:57:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN ETRD GR PGOV PREL CH |
08ATHENS1643 | GREECE: UNPRECEDENTED ANARCHIST VIOLENCE FOLLOWING [...] (C) SUMMARY: On December 6-7, anarchist rioters caused extensive damage in downtown Athens and other Greek cities following the shooting by police of a 15-year-old protester Saturday evening. Lower key protests continued on Monday, but the situation remained volatile. The Education Minister [...] | 2008-12-08 15:31:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER SOCI GR |
08ATHENS1653 | GREECE AND THE LIBERTAD ACT [...] (C) Per reftel request, Embassy Athens offers the following information on the general state of Greece-Cuba relations as they pertain to the Libertad Act. 2. (C) We assess that Greece will continue to follow the EU common position to support the development of democracy and human rights in [...] | 2008-12-10 13:28:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD PREL ETTC PGOV GR CU |
08ATHENS1667 | GREECE TO JOIN PIRACY CONTACT GROUP [...] (C) Summary and Comment: Greece is willing to increase its already active role in international efforts to combat piracy off the Horn of Africa. Greece informed us December 12 that it would become a founding member of our proposed contact group on piracy, and recommended that the UN urge all s [...] | 2008-12-12 12:58:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | MOPS PBTS PHSA PTER UNSC EUN SO GR |
08ATHENS1668 | GREECE/TURKEY TALKS ON ILLEGAL MIGRANTS: LITTLE [...] (SBU) A Greek delegation visited Ankara in mid-November for the third round of discussions aimed at improving implementation of the protocol the two countries signed in 2001 on re-admission of illegal migrants. Over the last two years, the number of migrants using Greece's Aegean islands as a [...] | 2008-12-12 13:23:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PBTS PHUM PTER TU IZ SO AF IT GR |
08ATHENS1669 | GREEK RIOTS: DECEMBER 12 UPDATE [...] (C) The level of violence dropped in Greece over the night of December 11, but there were still attacks on police stations. On December 12 two demonstrations took place. Police are concerned that anarchists will try to use an evening rally on December 12 to enter Parliament and perhaps the Pr [...] | 2008-12-12 13:30:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM ASEC GR |
08ATHENS1687 | PM KARAMANLIS DISCUSSES RIOTS, VATOPAIDION [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: In a widely publicized December 16 speech to his ruling New Democracy (ND) party caucus in Parliament, Prime Minister Karamanlis took what is now a familiar line of sharply criticizing the actions of the accused police officer while simultaneously condemning the street violence a [...] | 2008-12-17 16:31:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON SOCI GR |
08ATHENS1688 | NATO/AFGHANISTAN: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON ELECTION [...] (C) A/Political Counselor delivered reftel points related to requirements for elections support in Afghanistan to Theodoros Daskarolis, Deputy Director of the MFA D2 Directorate for NATO Affairs. Daskarolis replied that Greece is aware of the requirement and following the force generation pr [...] | 2008-12-18 10:00:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | NATO PREL MOPS MARR AF GR |
08ATHENS1693 | PROTECTIN TGI: GREECE'S REGULATORY AUTHORITY FOR [...] (C) Smmary. Greece's Regulatory Authority for Energy (RAE) is in the forefront of efforts to advance TGI's completion. In a December 15 conversation, RAE's Vice-President, Michael Thomadakis, outlined his organization's work to creQa faiQd transparent gas network code that promotes energy di [...] | 2008-12-18 14:04:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG GR |
08ATHENS1706 | GREECE: NO SUBSTANTIVE RESPONSE ON DEMARCHES [...] No summary [...] | 2008-12-22 09:47:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV GR AMGT AORC APER UNGA UNESCO GG |
08ATHENS1707 | GREECE/UNESCO: POINTS DELIVERED ON UNESCO [...] (C) PolOff delivered reftel points on the UNESCO Director-General election on December 16 to Emmanuel Papadoyorgakis, Counselor for UN issues of the Greek MFA D1 Directorate for UN and International Organizations and Conferences. Papadoyorgakis remarked that it would be "difficult" to find a [...] | 2008-12-22 13:29:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UNESCO GR |
08ATHENS1728 | GREEK FM URGES ACTIVE EU ROLE IN GAZA CONFLICT, [...] (SBU) SUMARY: Events in Gaza temporarily pushed domestic concerns, such as anarchist violence, the Vatopaidion scandal, and economic troubles, off Greek front pages, giving the Karamanlis government a much-needed breather after weeks of bruising criticism and declining poll figures (reftels). [...] | 2008-12-30 11:05:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER MOPS SOCI GR IS |
08ATHENS196 | OSCE/KOSOVO: GREECE OPPOSES BERLIN MECHANISM [...] (C) A/Political Counselor met with MFA Ambassador Petros Avierinos, Director of the D3 Directorate for OSCE and Council of Europe Affairs, to make reftel points on the possibility of Serbia invoking the OSCE's Berlin Mechanism following a declaration of independence from Kosovo. Avierinos was [...] | 2008-02-12 13:15:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV YI KV EU OSCE GR |
08ATHENS201 | IRAN ELECTIONS: GREECE PREFERS EU STATEMENT IN [...] (C) On February 12, DepPolCouns delivered reftel points on Iranian elections and a third sanctions resolution to MFA A6 Directorate for Middle East Affairs deputy head Giorgos Ayfantis. PolOff also delivered sanctions points to MFA D1 Directorate for International Organizations, which handles [...] | 2008-02-13 12:20:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL UNSC KDEM IR GR |
08ATHENS205 | GREECE/MACEDONIA -- CONTINUED INSISTENCE ON [...] (C) In our ongoing conversations on the Macedonia name issue, we have been highlighting the importance of the Interim Agreement, emphasizing the need to respond seriously and positively to Nimetz' framework and proposals, and pointing out the gaps we see in Greece's current approach. Uniforml [...] | 2008-02-13 15:58:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV NATO MK GR |
08ATHENS207 | KOSOVO: GREECE NOT "AMONG THE FIRST" TO RECOGNIZE [...] (C) On 2/13 Ambassador Speckhard and DCM raised ref B points on encouraging recognition of Kosovo with PM Karamanlis' diplomatic advisors Alexandros Sandis, Constandinos Bitsios, and Marina Skordeli. Sandis and Bitsios acknowledged that independence is imminent, but reiterated that Greece wi [...] | 2008-02-14 12:01:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL YI KV GR |
08ATHENS21 | PM KARAMANLIS TOUGH ON MACEDONIA NAME, PRAGMATIC [...] (C) SUMMARY: In his first meeting with the Ambassador, Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis took a hard line on te Macedonia name issue, saying he had "done hs part," while Skopje had become increasingly intransigent. A mutually acceptable solution -- which could include a composite name of "New, [...] | 2008-01-05 12:58:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV GR |
08ATHENS213 | CONTRARIAN FORMER FM PANGALOS ON MACEDONIA, [...] (C) In a cordial introductory meeting wit Ambassador, former PASOK Foreign Minister (196-1999) Theodoros Pangalos -- known during his tenure at the MFA for a sharp tongue and undiplomatic approach -- said he thought the name issue between Greece and Macedonia was "ridiculous" and a "disaster f [...] | 2008-02-15 08:53:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL GR |
08ATHENS214 | GREEK POSITION ON FEBRUARY 18-19 GAERC [...] No summary [...] | 2008-02-15 15:23:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | EUN PHUN PREL PGOV KVIR IS IR CD BM GR |
08ATHENS217 | GREEK MFA ON RUSSIA/ABKHAZIA AND GREECE/RUSSIA [...] (C) SUMMARY: Greek MFA Russian affairs directorate chief Ambassador Tsamados said Greece had seen little evidence indicating Russia was serious about recognizing Abkhazia as independent and had no interest in altering Soviet-era borders. The GOG was not pleased by Putin's recent comments comp [...] | 2008-02-15 16:52:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | GR PGOV PREL GG RU KNAR |
08ATHENS223 | MGKV01: GREEK INITIAL REACTION TO KOSOVO [...] (C) Heavy snowstorms, UN Envoy Nimetz,s imminent arrival for the next round of talks on the Macedonia name issue, and Cyrus elections have drawn Greek attention away from Kosovo's independence declaration. SEPTEL will report on ongoing conversations on recognition. During a February 19 press [...] | 2008-02-19 14:56:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL YI KV GR |
08ATHENS224 | MGKV01: GREECE/KOSOVO: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON U.S. [...] No summary [...] | 2008-02-19 15:31:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN UNMIK PGOV YI EU KVIR GR |
08ATHENS226 | GREECE: CFE INSPECTION PLANNING AND DECONFLICTION [...] No summary [...] | 2008-02-19 16:25:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | KCFE NATO PARM PREL GR |
08ATHENS23 | SEX, SUICIDE, AND DVDS: SCANDAL IN GREECE [...] (U) PM Karamanlis' much-touted anti-corruption campaign is under heavy fire from the opposition following eruption of a scandal involving former Culture Ministry Secretary General and Karamanlis confidant Christos Zahopoulos, who resigned in mid-December then attempted suicide by throwing himse [...] | 2008-01-08 13:46:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV GR |
08ATHENS246 | GREEK GOVERNMENT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT CYPRIOT ELECTIONS [...] (C) On February 21, MFA A2 Cyprus Department Director Ambassador Dimitris Yannakakis told A/PolCouns that the GOG is monitoring the Cypriot elections with cautious optimism. Greece notes positively the fact that both Dimitris Christofias and Iannis Kasoulides have expressed readiness to deal w [...] | 2008-02-22 15:13:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL CY GR |
08ATHENS255 | GREEK LEADERSHIP HERALDS CHRISTOFIAS VICTORY AS [...] (C) Summary and Comment: Greek officials and party leadership from across the political spectrum heralded Demetris Christofias' February 24 presidential election victory as a new era for all Cypriots -- Greek and Turkish alike. The Greeks welcome Christofias, readiness to constructively enga [...] | 2008-02-25 13:30:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL CY GR |
08ATHENS257 | BSEC THINK-TANKERS ON BLACK SEA PROSPECTS [...] (C) On February 20, Ambassador hosted Dr. Dimitrios Triantaphyllou and Amb. Tedo Japaridze, respectively, director and deputy director of the International Center for Black Sea Studies (ICBSS),the think tank of the organization for Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC). In a wide-ranging dis [...] | 2008-02-25 14:26:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV GR ZS XH |
08ATHENS260 | GREECE FACING ONSLAUGHT OF IMMIGRANTS [...] (C) The immigration statistics for 2007 reveal that Greece continues to face a sharp increase of migrants attempting to cross into Greece as a destination point or a stop-over en route to other parts of Europe and beyond. Asylum applications have increased four times from the previous year wh [...] | 2008-02-25 15:13:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREF PHUM SOCI TU GR |
08ATHENS261 | CUBA: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON U.S. POSITION FOR [...] No summary [...] | 2008-02-25 15:27:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EU GR CU |
08ATHENS269 | GREECE/MACEDONIA: GREEK NAME NEGOTIATOR TELLS DIP [...] (SBU) Greek name negotiator Adamantios Vassilakis briefed the diplomatic corps on 2/26 on the state of play on the name issue. His key messages were: -- Greece believes Macedonia maintains extensive irredentist designs on Greek territory (and he provided handouts and books); -- Greece is co [...] | 2008-02-26 15:58:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV NATO MK GR |
08ATHENS271 | AMBASSADOR MEETS NEW GREEK ARCHBISHOP [...] (C) On February 25, Ambassador Speckhard met with newly elected Greek Orthodox Archbishop Ieronymos II. The Archbishop told the Ambassador that coordinated efforts, discipline, and the absence of fanaticism were all necessary to achieve advances in human dignity. The Archbishop pledged his b [...] | 2008-02-26 16:07:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KIRF SOCI PINR GR |
08ATHENS272 | GREECE TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST SERBIAN VIOLENCE [...] (C) On 2/26, Ambassador Speckhard met with MFA Secretary General Agathocles to request that Greece take steps both in private with Serbian officials and publicly to discourage any suggestion that violence against the United States and other states who have recognized Kosovo is justified, and t [...] | 2008-02-26 16:33:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SR YI KV GR |
08ATHENS273 | CONSTRUCTION BEGINS IN ANCIENT JEWISH CEMETERY [...] (C) Notwithstanding our long-standing advice to the contrary and assurances from the GOG to consult with us and the Thessaloniki Jewish Community, Greece has begun construction for a metro station in Thessaloniki in an area that falls within the ancient Jewish Cemetery. Ambassador Speckhard [...] | 2008-02-26 16:40:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SOCI KIRF GR |
08ATHENS277 | GRECE TO WAIT FOR EU POSITION ON ELBARADEI REPORT [...] No summary [...] | 2008-02-27 11:36:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | NOTAG |
08ATHENS291 | DISCOURAGING EU DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONER'S VISIT [...] No summary [...] | 2008-02-29 11:24:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM EU CU GR |
08ATHENS300 | GREECE/TURKEY: TGS CONCERNS DOMINATE [...] (C) Summary and Comment: Athens has kept its ears to the ground and eyes toward Ankara in the month following Karamanlis, historic visit to Turkey (reftel). While we have not seen indications of a serious effort to capitalize on the momentum created by his trip, the GOG is cautiously optimist [...] | 2008-03-03 06:52:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV NATO TU GR |
08ATHENS309 | DEAMRCHE DELIVERED ON PIRACY OFF SOMALIA [...] (U) On February 26, DepPolCouns delivered reftel demarche points to Ambassador Alexandros Rallis, Acting Director of the D1 Directorate for the United Nations and International Organizations and to Political Director Vassilopoulos at the A9 Division for Subsuaharan Africa at the MFA. 2. (C) [...] | 2008-03-04 08:29:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | KCRM PBTS PREL UNGA UNSC IMO GR |
08ATHENS313 | FM BAKOYANNIS ON MACEDONIA, KOSOVO, AFGHANISTAN, [...] (C) In a March 3 meeting, FM Bakoyannis told Ambassador Speckhard that she will tell NATO FMs March 6 that Greece is not ready for a NATO invitation for Macedonia and expects Alliance solidarity on this issue. Greece remains ready to make a deal on a composite name -- using "upper" or "new" [...] | 2008-03-04 15:08:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV CMGT CVIS MK NATO AF GR |
08ATHENS321 | GREECE: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON UN SECURITY COUNCIL [...] (C) On March 4, 2008, EmbOff delivered reftel points on UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1803 on Iran to MFA First Counselor Dionyssios Kyvetos. Kyvetos responded that the GOG was acting in accordance with EU regulations regarding the passing of the resolution. He added that his Germ [...] | 2008-03-05 15:03:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | KNNP MNUC PARM IR GR |
08ATHENS323 | GREECE/NATO: MFA NATO DIRECTOR ON MACEDONIA, [...] (C) In a March 5 meeting with A/Political Counselor, Ambassador Iraklis Asteriadis, MFA Director of the D2 Directorate for NATO and WEU Affairs, affirmed that FM Bakoyannis will tell NATO FMs at the March 6 informal that Greece cannot agree to a NATO invitation for Macedonia absent an agreeme [...] | 2008-03-05 15:19:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV NATO GR MK AF GG UP |
08ATHENS330 | GAERC DEMARCHE: GREECE EXPECTS "NO DECISIONS" [...] No summary [...] | 2008-03-06 12:44:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EU ZL PK AFIN ZI IR GG IS SY LE |
08ATHENS336 | SLOVAKIA PM FICO VISITS ATHENS/KOSOVO ON THE AGENDA [...] (SBU) Slovak PM Robert Fico paid a one-day visit to Athens March 3, meeting with President Papoulias, PM Karamanlis, and Foreign Minister Bakoyannis. According to Greek MFA officials, this visit had been planned for "several months." 2. (U) In public statements, the two PMs said they had [...] | 2008-03-07 10:31:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL GR LO KV YI |
08ATHENS337 | SLOVAKIA PM LVO ON THE AGENDA [...] (SBU) Slovak PM Robert Fico paid a one-day visit to Athens March 3, meeting with President Papoulias, PM Karamanlis, and Foreign Minister Bakoyannis. According to Greek MFA officials, this visit had been planned for "several months." 2. (U) In public statements, the two PMs said they had [...] | 2008-03-07 13:25:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL GR LO KV YI |
08ATHENS338 | GAERC DEMARCHE: GREECE EXPECTS "NO DECISIONS" [...] No summary [...] | 2008-03-07 13:28:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EU ZL PK AFIN ZI IR GG IS SY LE |
08ATHENS341 | GAERC DEMARCHE: GREECE EXPECTS "NO DECISIONS" [...] No summary [...] | 2008-03-07 13:29:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EU ZL PK AFIN ZI IR GG IS SY LE |
08ATHENS342 | GREECE/NATO: MFA NATO DIRECTOR ON MACEDONIA, [...] (C) In a March 5 meeting ith A/Political Counselor, Ambassador Iraklis Asteriadis, MFA Director of the D2 Directorate for NATO and WEU Affairs, affirmed that FM Bakoyannis will tell NATO FMs at the March 6 informal that Greece cannot agree to a NATO invitation for Macedona absent an agreement [...] | 2008-03-07 13:29:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV NATO GR MK AF GG UP |
08ATHENS346 | GAERC DEMARCHE: GREECE EXPECTS "NO DECISIONS" [...] No summary [...] | 2008-03-07 13:29:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EU ZL PK AFIN ZI IR GG IS SY LE |
08ATHENS347 | GREECE/NATO: MFA NATO DIRECTOR ON MACEDONIA, [...] (C) In a March 5 meeting with A/Political Counselor, Ambassador Iraklis Asteriadis, MFA Director of the D2 Directorate for NATO and WEU Affairs, affirmed that FM Bakoyannis will tell NATO FMs at the March 6 informal that Greece cannot agree to a NATO invitation for Macedonia absent an agreeme [...] | 2008-03-07 13:29:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV NATO GR MK AF GG UP |
08ATHENS348 | GREECE: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON UN SECURITY COUNCIL [...] (C) On March 4, 2008, EmbOff delivered reftel points on UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1803 on Iran to MFA First Counselor Dionyssios Kyvetos. Kyvetos responded that the GOG was acting in accordance with EU regulations regarding the passing of the resolution. He added that his Germ [...] | 2008-03-07 13:29:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | KNNP MNUC PARM IR GR |
08ATHENS367 | GREECE/CYPRUS: CHRISTOFIAS' FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT [...] (U) This message has been cleared with Embassy Nicosia. ------- SUMMARY ------- 2. (C) During his March 4 - 6 visit to Athens, newly elected Cypriot President Christofias emphasized his interest in rejuvenating UN-led efforts to achieve a settlement. In public, he reiterated that the [...] | 2008-03-07 15:39:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KV YI CY GR |
08ATHENS369 | LEBANON: GREECE UNLIKELY TO ATTEND MARCH 14 BEIRUT [...] (C) A/Political Counselor delivered reftel points on encouraging attendance at the March 14, 2008 convention in Beirut to Georgos Ayfantis, Deputy Director of the MFA A6 Directorate for Arab Countries and the Middle East. Ayfantis said Athens was unaware of the convention, but after hearing [...] | 2008-03-11 08:31:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER MASS PARM SY IS LE |
08ATHENS371 | GREECE/AFGHANISTAN: DEFENSE MINISTER MANAGES [...] (C) Ambassador Speckhard met with Defense Minister Meimarakis March 7 to press for increased Greek contributions to ISAF. Meimarakis said Greece recognizes the importance of the mission and wants to do more but that more time is needed to prepare the public. Greece cannot provide helicopters [...] | 2008-03-11 11:44:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | NATO PREL MOPS MARR AF GR MK |
08ATHENS377 | IRAN'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS -- GREECE SUPPORTS [...] No summary [...] | 2008-03-12 10:13:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV IR KDEM PHUM PREL GR |
08ATHENS378 | MERCHANT MARINE MINISTER VOULGARAKIS ON MACENDONIA [...] (C) In his March 4 courtesy call on Minister of Merchant Marine, Aegean and Island Policy George Voulgarakis, Ambassador Speckhard took the opportunity to press the New Democracy (ND) party insider for maximum flexibility on the Macedonia name issue. Voulgarakis told Ambassador Speckhard h [...] | 2008-03-12 15:34:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINV EWWT GR PGOV PREL MK |
08ATHENS394 | DEPUTY GOVERNOR OF CENTRAL BANK: BANK FUNCTIONING [...] (C) In a meeting on March 13, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Greece Panayotis-Aristidis Thomopoulos told the Economic Counselor and the Economic Deputy that, despite the ongoing bank strike, the Bank of Greece was functioning adequately, albeit at a reduced level. Thomopoulos also discusse [...] | 2008-03-14 16:32:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN ELAB GR PGOV |
08ATHENS411 | GREECE/CFE: NON-PAPER ON FLANK AND NATIONAL [...] (C) On the margins of March 17 meetings on OSCE matters with visiting USOSCE Ambassador Finley and A/DAS Robbins, Greek MFA Director General for International Organizations and International Security and Cooperation Ambassador Nicolaos Kalantzianos said he had an important CFE issue to address [...] | 2008-03-18 13:40:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR MASS KCFE NATO GR |
08ATHENS426 | KOSOVO: SERBIAN FM JEREMIC PRESSES ATHENS [...] (SBU) In a "surprise" short visit to Athens March 19, Serbian FM Jeremic asked that Greece continue not to recognize Kosovo's independence. In public statements he appealed for no further recognitions of Kosovo independence and criticized the decision by Croatia, Hungary, and Bulgaria to rec [...] | 2008-03-19 16:04:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SR YI KV GR MK |
08ATHENS427 | GREECE/OSCE: BILATERAL CONSULTATIONS ON 2009 [...] (U) This is a joint Embassy Athens/USOSCE Cable. 2. (C) Summary. USOSCE Ambassador Finley, EUR A/DAS Robbins, and Embassy Athens and USOSCE personnel met March 17 with Greek officials to consult on Greek plans for the upcoming 2009 Chairmanship of the OSCE. The Greeks have identified ke [...] | 2008-03-20 08:56:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | OSCE PGOV PREL PHUM KRIF GR AF ZL |
08ATHENS432 | JUSTICE MINISTER: RAPID RATIFICATION OF U.S./EU [...] (C) On March 7, Ambassador Speckhard met with Greek Minister of Justice Hatzigakis to encourage rapid ratification of the U.S./EU Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance Agreements before the June 2008 EU/U.S. Summit. The Minister was optimistic they would be ratified by the Greek Parliament b [...] | 2008-03-20 13:13:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL CJAN CPAS ECON KIPR GR |
08ATHENS445 | GREECE: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON REFERENDUM IN BURMA [...] No summary [...] | 2008-03-24 07:19:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL BM GR |
08ATHENS449 | GREECE: LIMITED BILATERAL RELATIONS WITH BELARUS - [...] (U) Poloff delivered subject demarche on March 26 to the MFA A5 Department for CIS Countries, Counselor Elisabeth Fo with Belarus at this time. Lacking a diplomatic mission in Minsk, minimal reporting on Belarussian affairs is covered by the Greek mission in Moscow. The Greek Ambassador las [...] | 2008-03-26 09:40:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM BO EU PREL PGOV |
08ATHENS450 | CFE: GREECE SUPPORTS PROPOSED NATO STATEMENT [...] No summary [...] | 2008-03-26 13:10:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL NATO MARR KCFE GR |
08ATHENS452 | OPPOSITION TABLES NO CONFIDENCE MOTION AGAINST [...] (U) Main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou tabled a motion of no confidence against the Karamanlis administration March 26, following a debate punctuated by sharp exchanges between government and opposition on the issue of social security reform. Although it is unlikely PASOK will mu [...] | 2008-03-26 14:46:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SOCI ECON MK GR |
08ATHENS453 | GREECE RELUCTANTLY ACQUIESCES TO CWC MEETING IN [...] No summary [...] | 2008-03-26 17:49:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PARM PREL KTIA CWC GR |
08ATHENS454 | ISRAEL LOBBIES GREECE ON IRAN [...] (C) On the margins of a meeting with A/PolCouns on non-proliferation matters, Ambassador Rallis, Director of the MFA D1 Directorate for the UN and International Organizations and Conferences and Non-Proliferation, told us that Greece had hosted a delegation from Israel on March 21 at Israel's [...] | 2008-03-27 06:52:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PARM GR IS IR |
08ATHENS492 | NO GREEK AGENDA ITEMS ADVANCED FOR NATO HLG [...] Poloff delivered the refereced letter from the Chair of the High Level Goup (HLG) of NATO's Nuclear Planning Group soliciting agenda items for the HLG meeting schduled for May 8th in Brussels. The letter wasdelivered on March 27 to Mr. Andreas Kintis o the Greek MFA D2 Directorate for NATO an [...] | 2008-04-02 13:49:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR NATO PARM PREL PGOV MCAP MNUC |
08ATHENS504 | GREECE COMMITTED TO INTERNALLY VET IRAN TRAVEL BAN [...] (C) Poloff delivered referenced demarche on April 2 to Loukas Tsokos from the MFA D1 Directorate for UN and International Organizations and Conferences. Tsokos informed Poloff that his office reviewed the points favorably and forwarded them to competent authorities throughout the MFA and at [...] | 2008-04-04 12:40:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | MNUC UNSC KNNP IR GR |
08ATHENS507 | MESSAGE FROM AMBASSADOR SPECKHARD: MEETING WITH [...] (C) Mr. Attorney General, I'm pleased you will be meeting with Greek Minister of Justice Sotiris Hatzigakis on April 11. Although I'm sure your staff has prepared briefing material, I wanted to highlight a few key issues that I would ask that you raise with him. I met with Hatzigakis on Marc [...] | 2008-04-04 15:13:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL KCRM GR |
08ATHENS536 | PASOK MP VENIZELOS' TOUR D'HORIZON ON EVE OF U.S. [...] (C) In a cordial initial meeting, Ambassador discussed current affairs with senior opposition PASOK MP Evangelos Venizelos ranging from his upcoming visit to the U.S., the Macedonia name issue, Kosovo, education reform, and the future of PASOK. Venizelos, whose public persona is a frequently- [...] | 2008-04-16 07:14:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL GR |
08ATHENS537 | AMBASSADOR MARKS INTERNATIONAL ROMA DAY WITH VISIT [...] (U) SUMMARY: In observance of International Roma Day on April 8 (Ref A),Ambassador visited a segregated Roma-only school in the Athenian suburb of Aspropyrgos, where he was met by a host of local government officials and educators bemoaning the woes of having a Roma population in their jurisd [...] | 2008-04-16 07:17:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV GR |
08ATHENS55 | ESDP DEPLOYMENT TO CHAD AND C.A.R.: GREEKS [...] (C) A/Political Counselor delivered reftel points to Greek MFA EU/ESDP Department Head Sofia Grammata on January 14. Grammata responded that Greece is committed to the establishment of an ESDP PKO Mission to Chad and CAR and has already pledged military support for the mission; Greece has p [...] | 2008-01-15 14:44:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV CD MOPS GR UN |
08ATHENS553 | GREEK CONTRIBUTIONS TO ASSIST IRAQI REFUGEES [...] (C) On March 27, EmbOff delivered reftel demarche and non-paper on financial assistance to Iraqi refugees to Greek MFA Iraqi desk officer George Karahalios. Karahalios noted that Greece would follow EU guidance and that traditionally Greece did not offer bilateral assistance but acted through [...] | 2008-04-18 11:56:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | GR PHUM PREF PREL |
08ATHENS563 | GREEK PM MAY RAISE ABKHAZIA/SOUTH OSSETIA WITH [...] (C) SUMMARY: In separate meetings with Charge, MFA SecGen Agathocles and PM deputy diplomatic advisor Bitsios affirmed Greek support for Georgian sovereignty and the worrisome nature of the Kremlin's latest moves to establish "mechanisms" in dealing with Abkhazia and South Ossetia (reftel). B [...] | 2008-04-21 14:36:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL GG RS GR |
08ATHENS566 | MFA CITES THREE CONCERNS WITH OSCE ROLE IN [...] (C) On Aprl Poloff delivered reftel demarche and points to Mr. Sotirios Demestichas of the MFA D3 Directorate for the OSCE and the Council of Europe. Demestichas emphasized that any OSCE engagement with Afghanistan should address what the Afghan government cites as its priorities, and he look [...] | 2008-04-22 09:44:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV BGMT OSCE PREL PTER GR AF |
08ATHENS575 | GREEK VIEWS ON APRIL 29 GAERC ISSUES [...] (C) On April 23, DepPolCouns discussed issues likely to be addressed at the April 29 EU Foreign Ministers meeting (GAERC) with MFA European Correspondent Antonia Katzourou. Katzourou said the GAERC agenda was to be announced on April 24 but agreed that many of the following topics were likely [...] | 2008-04-23 13:12:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | EUN GR PGOV PREL |
08ATHENS576 | DAS BRYZA'S APRIL 10-12 VISIT TO GREECE [...] (C) Summary. Arriving in the wake of the Bucharest Summit, EUR DAS Bryza found his Greek counterparts expressing a strong commitment to work with the United States on a range of issues including, but not limited to, the Macedonia name issue. On Macedonia, his counterparts promised that Greece [...] | 2008-04-23 16:19:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ENRG EPET GR |
08ATHENS598 | P.M. KARAMANLIS TRIP TO RUSSIA: ENERGY [...] (C) According to Raphael Moisis, Chairman of the Greek Energy Council, P.M. Karamanlis and Russian President Putin signed "an important but general" inter-governmental agreement during Karamanlis' April 28-29 visit to Moscow. The IGA, he said, includes provisions that: a. an international hol [...] | 2008-04-30 14:38:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ENRG EPET GR |
08ATHENS611 | GREECE: STEEP UPHILL PROMOTING SOLIDARITY DAY WITH [...] (C) Embassy Country Team discussed possible ways to promote the May 21 "Day of Solidarity with Cuba" (refs a and b). We have informed the GOG of May 21 as the Day of Solidarity with the Cuban people and urged it to undertake its own activities to mark appropriately the occasion. Moreover, we [...] | 2008-05-05 14:30:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PHUM PREL EUN CU GR |
08ATHENS626 | IRAQ: GREEK MFA ON ICI AND DEBT FORGIVENESS [...] (C) DepPolCouns delivered ref A demarche on the May 29 International Compact with Iraq (ICI) Ministerial to MFA A6 Directorate for Middle East Affairs deputy head Giorgos Ayfantis. Ayfantis was unable to say definitively which senior Greek official would attend the Ministerial, but he believe [...] | 2008-05-08 12:45:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID ECON EFIN EINV PGOV PREL IZ GR |
08ATHENS627 | GREECE/MACEDONIA - FOSTERING PROGRESS FROM ATHENS [...] (C) Foreign Minister Bakoyannis and Prime Minister Karamanlis continue the public line that Greece supports Macedonian integration into Euro-Atlantic structures, but only after the name issue is resolved. They continue to profess that the next move must be Macedonia's to agree to a name acce [...] | 2008-05-08 13:09:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV NATO MK GR |
08ATHENS630 | BURMA: GREEK C-130S DELIVERING ASSISTANCE [...] No summary [...] | 2008-05-09 14:26:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAID BM GR |
08ATHENS64 | SEX, SUICIDE AND DVDS PART II: MORE SMOKE, SOME [...] (C) The scandal involving former Culture Ministry Secretary General Christos Zahopoulos (reftel) continues to SIPDIS dominate headlines and television news shows throughout Greece. Lurid photos of Zahopoulos and Evi Tsekou, a former contract employee at the Culture Ministry, supposedly take [...] | 2008-01-16 15:50:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV GR |
08ATHENS647 | GREECE SHARES NATO INTEROPERABILITY CONCERNS ON [...] Poloff delivered reftel A points to Andreas Kintis from the D2 Directorate for NATO and the Western European Union (WEU). Kintis expressed appreciation for the background and Washington's acknowledgment of Greece's position to refrain from the Oslo Process based on concerns stemming from clus [...] | 2008-05-13 12:39:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | MOPS PARM PREL NATO UN GR PGOV |
08ATHENS651 | GREECE/IRAN: WHAT'S CAUSING GREEK RELUCTANCE WITH [...] (C) SUMMARY: Deputy head of the Greek MFA Middle East directorate told us Greek reluctance to sign on to further Iran sanctions stemmed from several factors, including lack of an EU consensus, doubts about the effectiveness of sanctions, belief that greater engagement, not less, provided great [...] | 2008-05-13 15:02:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ETRD TRGY UNSC KNNP IR GR PREL PGOV AORC |
08ATHENS654 | GREECE/TURKEY: GREECE OBJECTS TO TURKISH MFA [...] (C) Greek FM Bakoyannis has publicly objected to statements on the Turkish Foreign Ministry website related to Greece, terming them "absolutely groundless." The Greek MFA has called in a Turkish Embassy representative and delivered a protest note in Ankara. The issue rose to public consciou [...] | 2008-05-14 09:37:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PARM TU GR |
08ATHENS671 | GREECE/MACEDONIA: GREEK NAME NEGOTIATOR ON STATE [...] (C) Ambassador Speckhard and DCM met May 13 with Greek name negotiator Vassilakis to press for robust Greek engagement in resolving the name issue and to probe Greek positions. Vassilakis said FM Bakoyannis is determined to resolve this issue quickly, but the GOG is pessimistic much progress c [...] | 2008-05-16 08:53:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV NATO MK GR |
08ATHENS678 | GREECE/TURKEY: FALLOUT OF NATO DECISION NOT TO [...] (C) We understand NATO authorities have informed Greek military officials that NATO will not provide support for the proposed May 20 "Noble Archer" exercise, which involved overflight of Agios Efstratios island (but which had excluded overflight of the island of Limnos, which has long been a N [...] | 2008-05-16 13:18:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV NATO MOPS TU GR |
08ATHENS706 | GREEK VIEWS ON MAY GAERC [...] (C) DepPolCouns discussed likely issues for the May 26-27 EU Foreign Ministers' meeting (GAERC) with MFA European Correspondent Antonia Katsourou. Key points of the discussion are summarized below by issue topic: -- WESTERN BALKANS: Katsourou believed GAERC discussion would focus in general [...] | 2008-05-21 14:20:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM EU GR |
08ATHENS71 | GREECE: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON SUBMISSION OF ANNUAL [...] No summary [...] | 2008-01-18 07:21:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MTCR MNUC KSCA ETTC TSPA GR |
08ATHENS718 | GREEK MFA HELPFUL ON IRAN NON-PROLIFERATION [...] (SBU) Deputy PolCounselor delivered reftel A demarche on May 19 to the MFA A6 Directorate for Arab Countries and the Middle East, Giorgos Ayfantis . Poloff delivered reftel demarche on May 22 to Loukas Tsokos at the MFA D1 Directorate of UN and International Organizations. Points were also p [...] | 2008-05-22 12:34:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | TRGY PREL PARM MNUC AORC UNSC KNNP IR GR IAEA |
08ATHENS719 | UNHCR DISAPPROVES OF GREECE'S HANDLING OF REFUGEE [...] (C) A stunning April 15 UNHCR report called upon EU Member States to refrain from returning asylum seekers to Greece under the Dublin Protocol until further notice. According to the report, asylum seekers in Greece face undue hardships in having their claims adjudicated due to problems with p [...] | 2008-05-22 14:47:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PGOV PREL PHUM GR |
08ATHENS720 | GREEK MFA IN SHOCK OVER TIP TIER DOWNGRADING [...] (C) On May 22, Ambassador met with MFA SecGen Agathocles at the latter's request to discuss Greece's tier ranking on Trafficking in Persons (TIP). Although information on tier classifications for this year has not yet been publicly released, Agathocles was aware that Greece would likely be do [...] | 2008-05-22 15:44:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PREL GR |
08ATHENS723 | BURMA: GREEK MFA ON ADDITIONAL BURMA POINTS [...] (C) A/Political Counselor delivered ref A points to First Counsellor Anthi Balonou, the Deputy Director of the MFA A 10 Diretorate for Asia and Oceania. Balonou reiterated that Greece would be represented at the May 25 UN-ASEAN co-sponsored conference by the Greek Economic Counselor from Ba [...] | 2008-05-23 11:19:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID PREL PGOV PHUM BM GR |
08ATHENS728 | LIBERTAD ACT: GREECE AND CUBA [...] (C) In response to reftel, post offers the following observations on the general state of Greece-Cuba relations as they pertain to the Libertad Act. 2. (C) Greece generally follows the common EU position on relations with Cuba. Like other EU countries, Greece maintains diplomatic relations [...] | 2008-05-27 13:19:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ETTC PREL PGOV GR CU |
08ATHENS734 | TOUR D'HORIZON WITH FM BAKOYANNIS [...] (C) In a May 23 meeting with Ambassador Speckhard, FM Bakoyannis said she and PM Karamanlis had told Macedonian President Crvenkovski that Greece seeks to conclude the name negotiations quickly. Macedonia must choose an adjective for "Macedonia" that makes clear the country is part of a broad [...] | 2008-05-28 13:52:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV NATO UNSC IR MK GR |
08ATHENS736 | PSI: GREECE OBJECTS TO NAME TO BE USED FOR [...] (C) In a May 28 meeting with DCM, MFA Secretary General Agathocles said Greece would "leave" the PSI fifth anniversary meeting in Washington, should Macedonia be present as "Macedonia" or "Republic of Macedonia." Agathocles said Greece had raised its concerns with how PSI refers to Macedonia [...] | 2008-05-28 15:18:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM NATO MK GR |
08ATHENS764 | PSI: GREEK SHIPBOARDING AGREEMENT NOT DEAD [...] (C) Although Greek Ambassador to Washington Mallias told USG officials and the press that the proposed PSI bilateral shipboarding agreement was "dead," following Greece's departure from the PSI 5th anniversary meetings in Washington due to the seating of Macedonia as the "Republic of Macedoni [...] | 2008-06-03 15:22:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | KNNP KTIA EWWT PHSA PARM PREL GR |
08ATHENS783 | GREECE AND US REACH ACCORD ON HSPD-6 DRAFT TEXT [...] (C) Summary: State Department and Terrorist Screening Center (TSC) representatives engaged in a marathon negotiating session with Greek Foreign Ministry and Hellenic police officials on May 28. After 11 hours, a mutually-acceptable draft of the Homeland Security Presidential Directive-6 (HSP [...] | 2008-06-05 13:10:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PINR ASEC CVIS GR KHLS KVPR |
08ATHENS802 | SARKOZY WOWS ATHENS [...] (SBU) With already established "rock star"-like status in Greece, French President Sarkozy's June 6 visit to Athens solidified Athens' perception of him as Greece's closest partner within the EU. Feted by the President, Prime Minister, and receiving the rare honor of speaking before the Gree [...] | 2008-06-09 13:39:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV FR GR |
08ATHENS818 | UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: GREECE ALSO DISSATISFIED [...] (C) A/Political Counselor met June 10 with Ambassador Mercurios Karafotias, the new Director of the MFA's D1 Directorate for UN and International Organizations and Conferences to deliver reftel points expressing U.S. concerns with the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Karafotias responded tha [...] | 2008-06-10 13:33:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM UN GR |
08ATHENS832 | GREEKS BEARING GIFTS: FM BAKOYANNIS TO ATTEND [...] (C) DepPolCouns reconfirmed that Greek FM Dora Bakoyannis would attend the Berlin conference on supporting the Palestinians with MFA A6 Directorate for Middle East Affairs deputy head Giorgos Ayfantis (refs A and B). Ayfantis said Bakoyannis did not want to show up at the conference "empty ha [...] | 2008-06-11 13:58:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PBTS PHUM KWBG IS GR |
08ATHENS837 | TIP NEXT STEPS DISCUSSED WITH MFA [...] No summary [...] | 2008-06-12 14:52:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | ELAB PGOV PHUM PREL SMIG KCRM KPAO KWMN GR |
08ATHENS845 | GREEK MFA ON JUNE GAERC ISSUES [...] (C) On June 11, DepPolCouns discussed issues likely to be taken up at the June 16-17 EU Foreign Ministers' meeting (GAERC) with Greek MFA European Correspondent Antonia Katzourou (ref A). Her responses below are keyed to likely agenda items: -- IRAN: Katzourou noted that EU foreign policy c [...] | 2008-06-13 14:01:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL PGOV IR IZ IS SY CU GR |
08ATHENS873 | INPUT FOR OSCE HUMAN DIMENSION MEETING [...] (C) Post is grateful for the opportunity per reftel to provide preliminary input on U.S. statements regarding Greece at the upcoming Warsaw OSCE Human Dimension Meeting (HDIM). As context, Embassy notes this is a sensitive period in U.S.-Greece bilateral relations, and the statements made at [...] | 2008-06-19 14:20:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | ELAB PGOV PHUM PREL SMIG KCRM KPAO KWMN GR |
08ATHENS88 | DEFENSE MINISTER: MACEDONIA VETO THREAT [...] (C) Ambassador Speckhard paid an introductory call on Minister of Defense Meimarakis January 18. On Turkey, Meimarakis noted that Greece considers Turkey an ongoing threat, but termed PM Karamanlis' pending trip on January 23 a step forward. Meimarakis reiterated the Greek desire to see Mac [...] | 2008-01-22 14:09:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR MOPS MASS MK AF GR |
08ATHENS899 | GREECE: AS SUMMER HEATS UP, PASOK MELTS DOWN [...] (C) SUMMARY: Despite popular discontent with the New Democracy (ND) government stemming from steep rises in food and fuel costs, continued problems in the universities, and hard-to-swallow pension reforms, leading opposition party PASOK remains behind in the polls and has descended into an int [...] | 2008-06-24 14:22:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL GR |
08ATHENS92 | MANAGING GREECE ON KOSOVO AND MACEDONIA [...] (C) Managing Greece over the next few months is likely to be difficult on the key Balkan issues of Macedonia and Kosovo. To leverage Greek behavior we should: -- Engage the Greeks on Kosovo and Serbia, including through extending an invitation to them to participate in international struct [...] | 2008-01-22 16:24:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MASS NATO MK KI SR GR |
08ATHENS952 | KOSOVO: GREEKS NOT READY TO RECOGNIZE BUT [...] (C) Ambassador Speckhard spoke with FM Bakoyannis July 3 to urge that Greece recognize Kosovo independence, emphasizing the need to take steps that foster regional stability, and noting that it is time for Greece to join the other 20 EU states that have recognized Kosovo. Bakoyannis said Gre [...] | 2008-07-03 11:59:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNMIK PGOV KPKO UN YI EU KV GR |
08ATHENS966 | GREECE/TURKEY - NEXT STEPS ON NATO AEGEAN EXERCISES [...] (C) In the aftermath of NATO's May 2008 decision not to support a Greek exercise that would overfly the island of Agios Efstratios (AE)(ref A),the Greeks are considering developing a new exercise that would again seek to overfly the island. Various Greek contacts have told us that they belie [...] | 2008-07-07 13:31:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | MOPS NATO MARR PREL PGOV TU GR |
08ATHENS967 | FM BAKOYANNIS ON MACEDONIA NAME, HSPD-6, AND [...] (C) In a July 3 conversation, FM Bakoyannis told Amb. Speckhard that although UN Mediator Nimetz' recent meetings had been "positive," she was skeptical that the Macedonians were prepared to "accept and use" a new name. Ambassador Speckhard emphasized the importance of flexibility, noting th [...] | 2008-07-07 15:41:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV CVIS NATO IZ MK IS GR |
08ATHENS972 | GREEKS TO ENVOY KENNEDY: WE'LL KEEP DIGGING IN [...] (C) SUMMARY: THIS IS A JOINT EMBASSY ATHENS AND CONGEN THESSALONIKI MESSAGE. Ambassador J. Christian Kennedy, Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues, visited Athens June 25-26 and Thessaloniki 26-28 to discuss Holocaust restitution issues with Greek officials, with a special focus on the Thessal [...] | 2008-07-08 12:33:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM GR |
08ATHENS985 | GREECE/IRAN: GREECE WON'T HINDER EU CONSENSUS ON [...] (C) DCM spoke July 10 with MFA Secretary General Agathocles to inquire about the Greek position on the EU package of measures to implement UNSCR 1803; DCM said that we understood many in the EU were supportive of a common position with robust measures, but that Greece and a few others were ex [...] | 2008-07-10 13:17:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ETRD ETTC EU GR IR KCRM KNNP KTFN |
08ATHENS996 | GREEK PARLIAMENT'S STEFANOU ON TGI, SOUTH STREAM, [...] (C) In a meeting on July 10, the Secretary General of Parliament, Nikos Stefanou, voiced his support for the TGI pipeline and confirmed the GoG,s strong support for this project. At the same time, he expressed skepticism on South Stream, implying there is no concrete plan in place for its dev [...] | 2008-07-14 05:53:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG GR PGOV PREL RS CVIS KCRM EU EPET |
08BAGHDAD1005 | ANATOMY OF A BAGHDAD RECONCILIATION EFFORT: [...] (U) This is a Baghdad PRT reporting cable. 2. (SBU) Introduction: Reconciliation movements in Baghdad quickly spread through the province following the surge of Coalition Forces and the success of the "Anbar Awakening." Unlike other areas in Iraq with more homogeneous populations, reconci [...] | 2008-04-01 15:21:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER KDEM PINR PHUM IR IZ |
08BAGHDAD1006 | IRAQI NSA RUBAIE ON RECENT SAUDI VISIT [...] (C) In a March 30 meeting with S/I Satterfield and Polmilcouns Ries, National Security Advisor Muwaffaq al-Rubaie said his recent meetings in Saudi Arabia were "very good." During his meetings he outlined common Saudi - Iraqi interests, particularly in combating terror, and told his hosts th [...] | 2008-04-01 16:08:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | IR IZ SA PTER PGOV |
08BAGHDAD101 | AMAR AL-HAKIM ON MALIKI, BILATERAL SECURITY [...] (C) Summary: ISCI Heir Apparent Amar al-Hakim told S/I Satterfield January 13 that ISCI agrees with the USG position that the Maliki government must operate in a more inclusive manner and should start by reactivating the "Three Plus One" leadership mechanism. Amar, who delivered a well-public [...] | 2008-01-14 09:20:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV IZ |
08BAGHDAD1015 | RRT ERBIL: BARZANI ADVISOR SUPPORTS CRACKDOWN ON [...] (C) Summary: Dr. Fuad Hussein, a key advisor to Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Masoud Barzani, told RRTOFF that Barzani voiced his support to PM Maliki's crackdown on criminal gangs and militia in Basra in a March 31 phone call. The call, the first conversation between the two [...] | 2008-04-02 09:30:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER EPET IZ |
08BAGHDAD102 | IRAQI PARLIAMENTARIAN ALLEGES TERRIBLE PRISON [...] No summary [...] | 2008-01-14 11:11:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM ECON KDEM KJUS PGOV IZ |
08BAGHDAD1020 | FADILA BLOC MEMBER DR. BASIM SHARIF ON THE COR, PM [...] (C) Summary: In a frank conversation held at the al-Rasheed Hotel in Baghdad, COR and Fadila bloc member Dr. Basim Sharif al-Hechaimi discussed the recent Iraqi military operation in Basra. Decrying what he considered a unilateral act on the part of the PM, Dr. Basim highlighted the recent ac [...] | 2008-04-02 18:51:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KISL IZ |
08BAGHDAD1023 | IRAQ'S PRIVATE-SECTOR TELECOMS FIRMS FORGE AHEAD [...] (C) SUMMARY: Iraq's private-sector led mobile and wireless telecommunications markets are developing apace. The Kurdistan-based, Barzani family-affiliated Korek Telecom recently concluded an interconnection agreement with Zain, the Kuwaiti-backed leading nationwide operator. The agreement ma [...] | 2008-04-03 09:17:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINT ECPS |
08BAGHDAD1027 | DAWA PARTY OFFICIAL ON BASRAH OPERATION AND [...] (C) Summary: Senior Dawa Party official Haidar al-Abadi told us April 1 that Iraqi public opinion, as demonstrated through claimed pro-GOI demonstrations in Basrah and elsewhere, and the Najaf-based Marja'iyah are strongly behind PM Maliki in his efforts to deal firmly with militias and armed [...] | 2008-04-03 14:38:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ IR |
08BAGHDAD103 | SADRIST SEEKS USG HELP IN "CLIPPING SATAN'S [...] (C) Summary: Jawad al-Hasnawi, a senior Sadrist Trend official and Deputy Governor of Karbala province, told us January 10 that he and a growing number of other Sadrists have come to the conclusion that Iran, not the United States, is Iraq's greatest nemesis, and he proposed that the USG work [...] | 2008-01-14 13:42:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV IZ |
08BAGHDAD1030 | ATTIYAH AND MASHHADANI STAND BY MALIKI, OPTIMISTIC [...] (C) Summary: In separate April 3 conversations with Polcouns, COR Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani and COR Deputy Speaker Sheikh Khalid al-Attiyah both proclaimed their support for PM Maliki's government. Attiyah stated that all Sadrists had ties to Iran, while Mashhadani offered a more nuanced [...] | 2008-04-03 14:48:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV IR IZ |
08BAGHDAD1031 | EPRT: HR ADVISOR AL-JABOORI EXPLAINS SUNNI [...] (U) This is a Baghdad 2 E-PRT reporting cable. 2. (C) On March 25, Sheikh Omar Al-Jaboori, Human Rights Advisor to Vice President Tariq Al-Hashimi told E-PRT Team Leader and BCT Commander during a biweekly reconciliation meeting that prominent Sunni political parties refused to participate [...] | 2008-04-03 15:16:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SOCI SCUL IZ |
08BAGHDAD1033 | BADR'S HADI AL-AMRI ON BASRAH CRACKDOWN AND TALKS [...] (C) Summary: Badr Organization strongman Hadi al-Amri told us April 2 that the recent GOI crackdown in Basrah was a largely successful and long-overdue first step in "the surgical removal of the disease of armed militias," a process that will continue in the coming days. Hadi claimed that Pri [...] | 2008-04-03 18:41:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ IR |
08BAGHDAD1042 | NSA RUBAIE ON PCNS, SOFA/SFA, BASRAH AFTERMATH [...] (C) Summary: In an April 4 meeting with Senior Director for Iraq and Afghanistan Brett McGurk and Polmilcouns, Iraqi National Security Advisor Muwafaq al-Rubaie agreed on the need to capitalize on the positive political atmosphere by releasing a strong, unified statement during the April 5 PC [...] | 2008-04-05 14:35:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV IR IZ PINS |
08BAGHDAD1043 | STUCK BETWEEN AN ARROGANT MAN AND A MAD MAN [...] (C) Summary: Wearing his mediator hat, Dr. Ahmed Chalabi spoke with PolCouns on April 3 to discuss Basra and the Iranian involvement in the conflict, as well as the subsequent Sadrist movement to oust Maliki. Chalabi urged the USG to take great caution in dealing with the Sadrists, and indic [...] | 2008-04-05 14:46:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER IZ IR |
08BAGHDAD1044 | IRAQI OFFICIALS ON MALIKI'S BASRAH CAMPAIGN [...] (C) In a series of March 30 conversations with Iraqi officials including Ali Merza, Director of the National Security Advisor's Joint Planning Committee (JPC),Saiid Jaber from the Crisis Action Cell (CAC) secretariat, and A'amer Al- Musawi, chief of staff to the National Security Advisor (pro [...] | 2008-04-05 14:50:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | EWWT MCAP MOPS PGOV PINS PTER IZ |
08BAGHDAD1045 | VP ADEL ON SECURITY CRACKDOWN, "CONFUSED" [...] (C) Summary: In an April 5 meeting, Vice President Adel Abdel Mehdi told us that the time is ripe for harsh and decisive GOI action against the "cancer" of armed outlaw groups, a measure supported by the Iraqi political class and public and even by Iranian General Qasim Sulaimani. He said th [...] | 2008-04-05 17:47:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ IR |
08BAGHDAD1047 | SAI LEADER SHEIKH AHMED SPEAKS ON HIS NEW [...] (U) This is a PRT Anbar reporting cable. Summary ------- 2. (C) Sheikh Ahmed Abu Risha, leader of the Iraq Awakening Movement, or Sahawa Al-Iraq (SAI),spoke to us on April 2 for over two hours about SAI's movement towards becoming a national political party, his personal attitude on th [...] | 2008-04-06 07:26:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINS KDEM SOCI IZ |
08BAGHDAD1048 | PRT MUTHANNA: POST-BASRAH ATMOSPHERICS [...] (U) This is a PRT Muthanna reporting cable. 2. (C) The new OMS leader in Muthanna is known as Muhannad Abdulhussein al-Karbala'i (although there is suspicion that this is a pseudonym). He cooperated closely with Gov. Marzook during the outbreak of violence in late March, including reachi [...] | 2008-04-06 07:55:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PINS PGOV IR |
08BAGHDAD1055 | ECONOMIC IMPACT OF IRAQ'S ONGOING SECURITY [...] (C) Summary: Post contacts report that the recent Basra security operations have led to economic disruptions throughout Iraq. Basra Province itself has borne the brunt of economic impacts. Supplies of health-related material have been stretched, but the Ministry of Health reports sufficient [...] | 2008-04-06 13:01:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRD EAGR ELTN ENRG PGOV IZ |
08BAGHDAD1056 | PRT WASIT: LOCAL LEADERS ASSESS RECENT VIOLENCE [...] (U) This is a PRT Wasit reporting cable. 2. (C) Summary. On 04 April, PRT TL and IPAO met first with the Wasit Governor and then with the PC Chairman to discuss events of the past week and the current situation in Wasit. Both officials shared their views of the Sadrist movement and their [...] | 2008-04-06 13:07:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV IR IZ PINS PINR |
08BAGHDAD1063 | BORDER SECURITY WORKING GROUP: REQUEST FOR [...] (C) SUMMARY AND REQUEST FOR INSTRUCTIONS: Post requests the Department to instruct posts in capitals of participants in the Border Security Working Group (BSWG) to urge their host governments to support Iraqi efforts to secure agreement on concrete measures aimed at stopping the flow of terror [...] | 2008-04-07 02:10:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PBTS PINS PREL PTER BA EG IR IZ JO KU SA |
08BAGHDAD1065 | MALIKI SCORES BIG AT APRIL 5 PCNS MEETING [...] (C) According to an ISCI representative, the April 5 meeting of the Political Committee for National Security (PCNS),a body comprised of representatives of all political blocs, was attended by President Talabani; Prime Minister Maliki; Deputy PM Barham Saleh; Vice Presidents Adel Abdel Mehdi [...] | 2008-04-07 07:42:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ IR |
08BAGHDAD1066 | POLITICAL NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING [...] (C) The Political National Security Council (PCNS) met Saturday, April 5, 2008 at President Jalal Talabani's residence, with representatives of all the political parties represented in the Parliament. They discussed the security situation, political issues, and economic challenges in Iraq. [...] | 2008-04-07 08:38:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV IZ |
08BAGHDAD107 | FLEDGLING "NATIONAL PROJECT" SEEKS POLITICAL [...] (C) Summary: Billing their fledgling group as a broad-based CoR coalition that cuts across sectarian lines, organizers of the "National Project" told the media January 13 that they hope to attract as many as 145 CoR members from across Iraq's political spectrum with a common goal of fostering [...] | 2008-01-14 18:15:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV IZ |
08BAGHDAD1070 | DPM SALIH: TIME IS RIGHT FOR BIG MOVES ON BASRAH [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a cordial and far ranging conversation at the DPM residence April 6, EMIN introduced to DPM Barham Salih incoming Anti-Corruption Coordinator Ambassador Lawrence Benedict and discussed economic/reconstruction measures the GOI can take in coming days to solidify gains from th [...] | 2008-04-07 14:00:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON EAID EFIN MOPS IZ |
08BAGHDAD1071 | CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION AT PORT NOT YET CREATING [...] (C) Summary: The Deputy Minister of Trade's concerns that Prime Minister Maliki's April 3 decision to put all staff at the Port of Umm Qasr on leave for investigation of corrupt practices may lead to shortages of wheat, rice and other Public Distribution System (PDS) commodities throughout the [...] | 2008-04-07 14:12:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | EAGR ETRD EWWT EFIN ECON PGOV KCOR IZ |
08BAGHDAD1072 | MINFIN HAS MONEY FOR BASRA, BUT IS WAITING ON [...] (C) Summary: At an April 6 meeting, Minister of Finance Bayan Jabr said that the 100 million USD for humanitarian assistance and development in Basra could be funded by taking money from the Basra Provincial Government's capital budget. A line item in the upcoming 2008 supplemental budget could [...] | 2008-04-07 14:18:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON PGOV IZ |
08BAGHDAD1073 | RRT ERBIL: SRSG PREVIEWS DISTRICT VISITS; KURDS [...] (C) Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) Staffan de Mistura briefed RRT that his upcoming visits to Hamdaniya, Makhmour, and Akre districts will lay the groundwork for recommendations to the Presidency Council to begin resolving Article 140. He said his goal is for the UN t [...] | 2008-04-07 14:20:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ |
08BAGHDAD1075 | VP ADEL ON APRIL 5 PCNS AND GOI OFFENSIVE AGAINST [...] (C) Summary: In an April 7 meeting, Vice President Adel Abdel Mehdi said political unity expressed in the April 5 meeting of the Political Council for National Security (PCNS) had built momentum for progress on several fronts, particularly the dissolution of the Jaysh al-Mehdi (JAM) and the r [...] | 2008-04-07 15:34:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ IR |
08BAGHDAD1080 | COR SPEAKER MAHMOUD MASHADANI DEEMS POLITICAL [...] (C) Summary. Council of Representatives (CoR) Speaker Mahmoud Mashadani told us the Political Council for National Security (PCNS) meeting (Saturday, April 5, 2008) was successful in bridging the key differences between the political blocs. He added the CoR will work to ban armed militias fr [...] | 2008-04-07 18:09:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV IZ |
08BAGHDAD1083 | AMIDST CEASE-FIRE, SADRIST MOSQUES IN BAGHDAD BEAT [...] (C) A sampling of several Sadrist-affiliated mosque sermons in the greater Baghdad area from last Friday, April 4, reveals that despite Muqtada as-Sadr's recent cease-fire declaration, tensions between the Sadrists and the GOI and CF continue to run high. Criticism of the GOI and its perceive [...] | 2008-04-08 07:55:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KISL IZ |
08BAGHDAD1084 | D/PM BARHAM SALIH MEETS NEW EMBASSY [...] (C) Summary: In his introductory call on D/PM Barham Salih, AMB. Lawrence Benedict described his mission as identifying how the U.S. could best support GOI anti-corruption initiatives. AMB Benedict asked for D/PM Barham Salih's cooperation in this endeavor. D/PM Barham Salih welcomed AMB [...] | 2008-04-08 11:26:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID ECON KCOR PGOV PREL IQ |
08BAGHDAD1088 | TUWAITHA YELLOWCAKE NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Minister of Science and Technology held a conference call on April 6 at the Embassy to finalize contract negotiations with Cameco, the Canadian buyer of the uranium yellowcake. Negotiations went well, and the contract once finalized and reviewed by the parties may be signed a [...] | 2008-04-08 14:56:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON IZ |
08BAGHDAD1094 | BAGHDAD SITUATION REPORT: APRIL 8, 2200 LOCAL [...] (C) Summary: Muqtada Al-Sadr (MAS) announced on April 8 that he had postponed indefinitely a "million-strong" demonstration originally scheduled for April 9 in Sadr City. The march had been planned to coincide with the fifth anniversary of the fall of Baghdad. News media also reported Sadr t [...] | 2008-04-08 20:01:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINS PTER MOPS IZ |
08BAGHDAD1095 | I WAS KIDNAPPED BY A BUNCH OF AMATEURS [...] (C) Summary. Tahseen Sheikhly, Government of Iraq (GOI) spokesman for the Baghdad Security Plan, told USMI and MNFI personnel during an April 1 debriefing that his kidnappers were a gang of amateurish Jaish al-Mahdi (JAM) thugs. Released after 115 hours of captivity and reunited with his fami [...] | 2008-04-08 20:15:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PGOV PINR PINS PTER IZ |
08BAGHDAD1099 | FADHILA ON THE PCNS, PROSPECTS FOR RECONCILIATION [...] 1. (C) Summary: In a meeting held at the COR on Monday, April 7, Dr. Basim Sharif al-Hechaimi of Fadhila shared his views on the current crisis between the GOI and the Sadrists, including Fadhila's participation in the Political Council for National Security (PCNS) meeting held on Saturday eve [...] | 2008-04-09 02:45:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KISL IZ |
08BAGHDAD11 | KIRKUK: ATMOSPHERICS FROM PRT MARKET WALKS IN LATE [...] (SBU) Summary: The catastrophic summer 2007 explosions in Kirkuk dampened market activity as residents stayed home and merchants limited their hours. While violence continued through September and October, it focused more on GOI officials than residential and market areas and market activity [...] | 2008-01-02 13:17:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EPET ECON PGOV IZ |
08BAGHDAD1105 | SADRIST CONFIDANTE WARNS OF BAD PRESSURE BUILDING [...] (C) Summary: In an April 8 meeting with Poloffs, Ibrahim al-Sumaydai - a local political observer with close ties to senior Sadrist Trend and JAM figures - told us Sadrists see an Iranian hand behind recent events, accusing Tehran of pushing Maliki into a confrontation with the Sadrist movemen [...] | 2008-04-09 13:17:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | IR IZ PGOV |
08BAGHDAD1113 | ISCI'S AMAR AL-HAKIM ON POST-BASRAH UNITY, JAM, [...] (C) Summary: In an April 8 meeting, Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI) heir apparent Amar al-Hakim told us the recent GOI crackdown in Basrah was an important step in affirming Iraq's identity as a nation based on the rule of law and institutions rather than a country ruled by outlaw gang [...] | 2008-04-09 19:08:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ IR |
08BAGHDAD1114 | IRAQIS DEEM THE AMBASSADOR'S TESTIMONY REALISTIC [...] (C) Assessing Iraqi reaction to the Congressional testimony by the Ambassador and General Petraeus has been complicated somewhat by the GOI's April 9 closure and a Baghdad-wide curfew, but initial soundings here and in Iraq's provinces have been largely positive. The most common reaction thus [...] | 2008-04-09 19:11:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ IR |
08BAGHDAD1116 | IESC MEETING MARCH 14 [...] (C) Summary: This cable is a record of the meeting notes from the March 14 Iraqi Executive Steering Committee (IESC) in support of Operation Fardh al-Qanoon (FaQ),chaired by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The lightly attended and relatively brief meeting featured an update on discussions c [...] | 2008-04-09 19:53:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | IZ KDEM PGOV PINR PINS SENV |
08BAGHDAD1117 | BAGHDAD SITUATION REPORT: APRIL 9, 2200 LOCAL [...] (SBU) PRTs and ePRTs report that most neighborhoods in Baghdad have been relatively quiet today, with fewer JAM members in evidence than before and greater IP presence. Sporadic violence continued between Jaysh Al-Mahdi (JAM) elements and Iraqi Security Forces (ISF),and mortar rounds reporte [...] | 2008-04-09 19:58:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV IZ PINS MOPS PREL |
08BAGHDAD1130 | ELECTRICITY MINISTER DETAILS PROGRESS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Minister of Electricity Kareem Wahid on April 9 detailed plans to attract private investment in power projects; complained about the lack of fuel for power; sought travel support from MNF-I for plans to show PM Maliki various projects; revealed intra-Ministerial obstacles to GOI c [...] | 2008-04-10 17:11:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG EPET PREL IZ |
08BAGHDAD1147 | SADIQ AL-RIKABI UPBEAT ON REBUILDING SADR CITY, [...] (C) Summary: Special Assistant to the President Brett McGurk met on April 10 with Sadiq al-Rikabi, political advisor to Prime Minister Maliki. Rikabi detailed a $150 million plan to rebuild Sadr City and Shula, Sadrist-heavy neighborhoods in Baghdad which have seen heavy fighting since late [...] | 2008-04-12 13:45:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINS PINR IZ |
08BAGHDAD1153 | SADR TO COALITION: HEY INFIDEL, WE WILL ALWAYS BE [...] (C) Summary: After more than six months of relative silence, Muqtada al-Sadr has issued three public statement in the past five days. The latest statement on April 12 addressed recent public remarks by Secretary Gates (who Sadr branded a "terrorist") and is a rabble-rousing screed that turns [...] | 2008-04-13 16:39:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ IR |
08BAGHDAD1154 | RRT ERBIL: NEW UNAMI ELECTORAL OFFICER ARRIVES [...] (C) Erbil RRTOff met April 10 with newly-appointed UNAMI Electoral Officer for northern Iraq, Diederik Willems, at his request, for a meet and greet discussion. Willems said that he has met with the Governorate Electoral Officers (GEOs) for Dohuk and Kirkuk, who complained bitterly about the l [...] | 2008-04-14 03:08:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM PINR PHUM IZ |
08BAGHDAD1168 | NECHIRVAN BARZANI HAILS NEW AMITY WITH BAGHDAD [...] (C) Econ Minister-Counselor Charlie Ries, Pol/Mil Minister-Counselor Marcie Ries, and Special Assistant to the President for Iraq and Afghanistan Brett McGurk met on April 12 with Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani. Barzani proclaimed a dramatic upswing in G [...] | 2008-04-14 10:16:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINS PINR IZ |
08BAGHDAD117 | S/I SATTERFIELD PRESSES IRAQI OFFICIALS ON [...] Summary: In the days leading up to the passage of the Justice and Accountability Law on January 12, S/I Satterfield pressed the CoR leadership and other prominent leaders to reach agreement based upon a consensus that included Tawafuq leader VP Tariq al-Hashimi on the proposed amendments and [...] | 2008-01-15 16:47:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV IZ |
08BAGHDAD1181 | CHINESE EMBASSY READOUT ON ECONOMIC ENGAGEMENT IN [...] (C) Summary: According to Chinese Embassy Economic and Trade Counselor Hu Yaowu in Baghdad, two Chinese-Iraqi energy projects, a 1,300 MW electric power plant and an oil field development project both located in Wasit Province, are on hold pending an improvement in security conditions. The Ch [...] | 2008-04-15 15:42:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG EPET ETRD PREL PINR CN IZ |
08BAGHDAD1191 | COUNCIL OF MINISTERS SG ALI ALA'AQ DISCUSSES JOINT [...] (C) Summary: In a meeting held on Monday, April 14, at the Council of Minister's Secretariat (COMSEC),EMIN introduced the Council of Ministers Secretary-General Ali Ala'aq to incoming Anti-Corruption Coordinator Ambassador Lawrence Benedict. During the meeting, Ala'aq, EMIN, and Ambassador [...] | 2008-04-16 16:34:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL IZ |
08BAGHDAD1202 | ANTI-CORRUPTION UPDATE [...] (SBU) Summary and introduction: Following on the heels of a flurry of anti-corruption activity by the Government of Iraq (GOI) over the past three months - the GOI,s first conference on Anti-Corruption (AC) in January, and a second conference in mid-March hosted jointly by UNDP and the World [...] | 2008-04-17 15:06:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON IQ KCOR PGOV UN |
08BAGHDAD1207 | VP ADEL: JAM AND SADRISTS DOWN BUT NOT OUT, IRAN [...] (C) Summary: In an April 16 meeting, Vice President Adel Abdel Mehdi told the Ambassador that Sadrist insiders have confirmed his analysis that Muqtada al-Sadr (who is in Iran, not Iraq) is mainly a symbolic leader of a fragmented and failing movement comprised of diverse bands of thugs, sheik [...] | 2008-04-17 19:15:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ IR |
08BAGHDAD1219 | ADEL AND BARHAM OPTIMISTIC OVER BATTLE WITH JAM [...] (C) Summary: In separate April 15 meetings with Special Assistant to the President Brett McGurk, Vice President Adel Abdel Mehdi and Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh marveled at the new political atmosphere in Baghdad following PM Maliki's offensive in Basrah. Both leaders expressed optimi [...] | 2008-04-20 06:45:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV IR IZ MOPS |
08BAGHDAD1223 | NINEWA: LOW-KEY REACTION IN TAL AFAR TO BASRA [...] (C) Key officials in Tal Afar, the second-largest city in Ninewa province with a large Shia Turkoman population, told PRT Leader and Western Ninewa Branch Office Chief March 30 that they supported Iraqi efforts to contain the violence in Basra generated by Shia militia. Tal Afar appeared focus [...] | 2008-04-20 07:37:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV MARR PHUM PREL IZ |
08BAGHDAD1238 | GOI AMNESTY LAW MEETINGS [...] (C) SUMMARY: GoI officials held two recent meetings to discuss the problems with Amnesty Law implementation and to explore potential solutions. According to Minister of Human Rights Wijdan Salim, the first meeting on April 17 focused on finger-pointing, with participants blaming each other f [...] | 2008-04-21 18:40:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PREL PGOV PINS IZ |
08BAGHDAD1240 | BORDER SECURITY WORKING GROUP IN DAMASCUS: DEFT [...] (C) SUMMARY: SARG MFA allowed the Iraqi delegation considerable latitude to pursue its agenda at Syria's second hosting of the Iraq Neighbors' Border Security Working Group (BSWG) April 13-14 (the first Damascus meeting was in August 2007). Surprisingly, given the state of Syrian Saudi relati [...] | 2008-04-22 02:12:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PBTS PTER IZ KU |
08BAGHDAD1241 | SISTANI REP WARNS AGAINST EXCLUDING SADRISTS [...] (C) Summary: In a sermon delivered on Friday, April 18, at the Imam al-Husayn Shrine in Karbala, Sheikh Abd al-Mahdi al-Karbalai, the representative of the higher religious authority, Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani, addressed a variety of issues, including the upcoming provincial elections, the on [...] | 2008-04-22 10:31:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | KISL PGOV PREL IZ |
08BAGHDAD1244 | PRT WASIT: WHO IS BURNING BADRAH'S FRUIT ORCHARDS? [...] (C) This a PRT Wasit reporting cable. 2. (C) Summary: In April 14 and 18 meetings with the PRT, Badrah Qada mayor Ali Hadi al Meshoeh speculated that Iranian interests were behind a recent series of orchard burnings was linked to the March 18 seizure of a large weapons cache by ISF. Ali [...] | 2008-04-22 12:39:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | IR IZ PINS PGOV |
08BAGHDAD1250 | RUN-UP TO ANBAR PIC - WHO'S IN CHARGE? [...] (C) SUMMARY: In an occasionally animated three-hour meeting between representatives of Coalition Forces, the GOI and the leadership of Anbar province April 7, the senior provincial leaadership pushed back against what it believed to be central government efforts to take provincial security a [...] | 2008-04-23 01:13:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | MASS MCAP MOPS PGOV PINS PREL PTER IZ |
08BAGHDAD1254 | KRG BUILDING ITS OWN POWER GENERATING CAPACITY [...] (C) Summary: A privately-constructed build-own-operate 500 MW power plant located on the outskirts of Irbil at Pir Daoud should be completed by July 2008. Since the supply of associated gas it was designed to run on is not yet available, two of the 125 MW GE turbines have been retrofitted to [...] | 2008-04-23 07:06:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG PGOV EAGR EPET IR IZ |
08BAGHDAD1257 | ALLAWI: IRAQIYYA PARTICIPATING POLITICALLY WITHOUT [...] (C) Summary: The Ambassador and Special Assistant to the President Brett McGurk met on April 17 with Iraqiyya leader Ayad Allawi and MP Adnan Pachachi. Allawi gave little indication of near-term plans to re-enter the cabinet, but remains involved in the political process by participating in [...] | 2008-04-23 09:19:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINS PINR IZ |
08BAGHDAD1258 | SADR CITY SHEIKHS EXPRESS INTEREST IN SOI IN ORDER [...] (C) Summary: Baghdad 3 EPRT Team Leader and the 3BCT/4th ID Commander met on April 19, 2008 with five leading tribal sheikhs from Sadr City. During the course of a cordial two and a half hour meeting and lunch, the sheikhs: -- Expressed strong interest in launching a SOI program in the Ja [...] | 2008-04-23 09:32:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PINS PGOV PTER MARR IZ |
08BAGHDAD127 | PRT KIRKUK: PROGRESS ON RECONCILIATION AS NEW ARAB [...] (U) Summary: Rakan Al-Jabouri assumed the office of Deputy Governor for Kirkuk Province on January 15. Twenty out of 26 Provincial Council members voted in favor of Rakan while another six members submitted blank ballots. The naming of an Arab Deputy Governor in the predominantly Kurdish pr [...] | 2008-01-17 14:46:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ |
08BAGHDAD1271 | IRAQ CONFERENCE - CHANGE OF DATES TO JUNE 17 - 19 [...] No summary [...] | 2008-04-24 08:16:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL IZ MASS MOPS |
08BAGHDAD1274 | SRSG DISCUSSES TURKEY, ELECTIONS AND NEIGHBORS [...] (C) Summary: On April 18, the Ambassador met with UNAMI SRSG Staffan de Mistura to discuss a wide range of issues. The SRSG briefed on his fact-finding mission to Erbil and Ninewa provinces, and his surprise that out of the four districts UNAMI is working on for early recommendations, the two [...] | 2008-04-24 11:24:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ |
08BAGHDAD1276 | ISCI/SADRIST CONTEST IN BAGDHAD; LACK OF BAGHDAD [...] (U) This is a Baghdad PRT reporting cable. 2. (C) Summary: Baghdad province's uneasy power-sharing agreement between the Islamic Supreme Council in Iraq (ISCI) and the Sadrists appears to be unraveling. This cable analyzes how these two factions divvied up the choice positions in provinci [...] | 2008-04-24 14:33:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER IR IZ |
08BAGHDAD1277 | NECHIRVAN BARZANI: NASCENT PROGRESS ON [...] (C) Summary: Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani met on April 17 with the Ambassador and April 19 with S/I Satterfield and Economic Minister-Counselor Ries. Special Assistant to the President Brett McGurk attended both meetings. Barzani reiterated that KRG-G [...] | 2008-04-24 15:21:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINS PINR IZ |
08BAGHDAD1278 | VP ADEL ABDEL MEHDI ON SFA, IRAN, AND CRACKDOWN ON [...] (C) Summary: Just back from a meeting with Prime Minister Maliki, Vice President Adel Abdel Mehdi told the Ambassador on April 23 that Maliki agrees with the USG vision of a two-track negotiation process that will yield a single SOFA/Strategic Framework Agreement. He said Maliki had recounte [...] | 2008-04-24 15:22:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ IR |
08BAGHDAD1291 | ACTING COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER SHOWS LITTLE [...] SUMMARY: (C) Acting Minister of Communications (and fulltime Minister of Youth and Sport) Jasim Mohammed Jafar (UIA/Iraqi Turkomen Front) told Econoffs April 21 that he planned to continue in his current roles at least until August 2008. Jafar said he did not think Prime Minister Nuri al-Mali [...] | 2008-04-25 18:54:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ECPS EINT |
08BAGHDAD1292 | TALABANI CHARACTERISTICALLY ROSY ON CABINET, [...] (C) Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on April 23 met with the Ambassador and S/I Satterfield. Talabani was characteristically upbeat on engaging Iraq,s moderate neighbors, specifically Kuwait, Turkey, and Egypt, and likewise on bringing Fadilah, Iraqiyya, and Tawafuq back into government. He s [...] | 2008-04-26 10:42:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINS PINR IZ |
08BAGHDAD1295 | TRAIN IRAQIS IN IRAQ, NOT ABROAD [...] (U) This is an action request. 2. (C) For the second time since its latest legislative term began just a month ago, Iraq,s Council of Representatives (CoR) is in danger of not being able to muster a quorum in order to take care of important legislative business. The reason? More than th [...] | 2008-04-26 17:01:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINS PINR IZ |
08BAGHDAD1299 | PROVINCIAL POLITICS IN BAGHDAD: ANOTHER KIND OF WAR [...] (U) This is a Baghdad PRT reporting cable. 2. (C) Summary: If we accept the adages that warfare is the expression of politics by other means, and that all politics is local -- it is clear why Baghdad's local political scene is looking more and more like a battlefield. The uneasy power-sha [...] | 2008-04-27 15:19:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER IR IZ |
08BAGHDAD1305 | THE LAST DAYS OF A STATE MINISTRY [...] (C) Summary: In a April 27 meeting with PolOffs, members of the Ministry of State for Women's Affairs (MoSWA) expressed their overwhelming frustrating with the lack of support the Ministry is receiving since the Prime Minister's Office made the informal decision to eliminate the organization i [...] | 2008-04-27 15:43:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM IZ |
08BAGHDAD1306 | IESC MEETING APRIL 25: SADR CITY SERVICES [...] (SBU) Summary: In place of an absent Prime Minister al-Maliki, National Security Advisor Muwafak al-Rubaie chaired the April 26 Iraq Executive Steering Committee (IESC) in support of the Baghdad Security Plan (Fardh al-Qanoon ) FaQ). The meeting focused entirely on the situation in Sadr City [...] | 2008-04-27 17:34:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | IZ KDEM PGOV PINR PINS SENV |
08BAGHDAD1314 | PARLIAMENTARIANS CONCERNED AFTER TOUR OF SADR CITY [...] (C) Summary: Parliamentarians Ala Talabani and Zalwa al-Hashimi met with PolOff on April 28 to discuss their recent trip to Sadr City and the "humanitarian crisis" brewing there. Ala also noted the recent progress on the Civil Society Law, as well as some movement on the Political Parties Law [...] | 2008-04-28 15:34:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM IZ |
08BAGHDAD133 | S/I SATTERFIELD AND FM ZEBARI DISCUSS THE UPCOMING [...] (C) Summary. S/I Satterfield, White House Senior Director for Iraq and Afghanistan Brett McGurk, and PolCouns discussed with Hosyhar Zebari on January 16 the recent 3 plus 1 meetings earlier in the week and plans for negotiating the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). Zebari said the composit [...] | 2008-01-18 13:58:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV IZ |
08BAGHDAD1332 | GOI ACTIVE ON SOLVING AMNESTY IMPLEMENTATION [...] (C) SUMMARY: We are detecting an increased sense of urgency within the GoI concerning implementation of the Amnesty Law. Barham Saleh hosted a third meeting of the core Amnesty group (reftel) on April 21, which led to a decision to have the Ministry of Human Rights track each amnesty releas [...] | 2008-04-29 15:39:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KJUS PREL PGOV PINS IZ |
08BAGHDAD1337 | COR SPEAKER MAHMOUD MASHADANI: NO IRAQI SHOULD BE [...] (C) Summary: On April 26, Council of Representatives (CoR) Speaker Mashadani told the Ambassador that diplomatic representation from Saudi Arabia is needed to bolster Arab relations with Iraq and counteract Iran's growing influence. Regarding the Sadrists, Mashadani shared with the Ambassador [...] | 2008-04-30 08:35:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV IZ |
08BAGHDAD1341 | A GLIMPSE INTO MOLSA ORPHANAGES [...] (C) SUMMARY: PolOffs had a rare opportunity to tour Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs orphanages in Baghdad on April 24. Since a July 2007 scandal when MoLSA orphans were found naked and tied to beds, the USG has had little communication with the ministry on this issue. The two orphanag [...] | 2008-04-30 18:15:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SOCI PHUM IZ |
08BAGHDAD1342 | ZEBARI ON NEIGHBORS MINISTERIAL, STRATEGIC [...] (C) SUMMARY. During an April 27 meeting, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari agreed with Ambassador Crocker and S/I Satterfield that Iraq must host the next Neighbors Ministerial and that the GOI must fast track ambassadorial nominees to key neighboring countries, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in part [...] | 2008-04-30 18:18:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV IZ |
08BAGHDAD1343 | ISCI CHAIR ABDEL AZIZ AL-HAKIM ON ANTI-MILITIA [...] (C) Summary: Flanked by his son and heir-apparent Amar, Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI) Chairman Abdel Aziz al-Hakim told the Ambassador and S/I Satterfield on April 29 that the GOI and the vast majority of Iraqi citizens are tired of crimes perpetrated by armed outlaw gangs (read Muqt [...] | 2008-04-30 19:50:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ IR |
08BAGHDAD1344 | IRAQ'S VOTER REGISTRATION PROCESS [...] (C) Summary: On April 29, officials from USAID implementing partner IFES updated the Embassy Elections Planning Group (EPG) on the current status of the Voter Registration Exercise (VRE),still planned for June 1-30. They described the modalities of checking the voter registry, updating, ad [...] | 2008-05-01 07:13:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ |
08BAGHDAD135 | NINEWA CHRISTIANS DISCUSS NINEVEH PLAIN GOALS WITH [...] (C) At the Ninewa PRT, Christian leaders representing parties including the Assyrian Democratic Movement (ADM) and the Assyrian Patriotic Party (APP) expressed general consensus to CODEL Wolf (Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) and Rep. Joseph Pitts (R-PA)) January 3 on forming a Christian, self-governed [...] | 2008-01-19 08:37:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL PGOV EAID KIRF IZ |
08BAGHDAD1364 | SHIA RELIGIOUS SCHOLAR ON WAY OUT OF SADR CRISIS [...] (C) Summary: In a meeting on May 1, Sheikh Fateh Keshef al-Ghita, an esteemed Shia religious scholar and informal advisor to the Prime Minister, discussed the ongoing political crisis between the GOI and the Sadrists. Stating that, "The time for talking is over," al-Ghita confirmed that the P [...] | 2008-05-02 15:04:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KISL IZ |
08BAGHDAD1366 | REPORTS OF ZAIN'S IMMINENT DEMISE ARE GREATLY [...] (C//REL MCFI) SUMMARY: Several former USG officials and some non-mainstream media reports have claimed that Zain, Iraq's leading mobile telecommunications operator, risks the collapse of its network infrastructure on May 14, 2008, if it fails to conclude negotiations with its private security [...] | 2008-05-02 19:02:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ECPS EINT |
08BAGHDAD1389 | SCENESETTER FOR OPIC PRESIDENT AND CEO MOSBACHER'S [...] (C) Welcome to Iraq. Despite sustained senior level economic engagement with Iraqis during the period of the security surge, security gains have not been cemented in place with jobs and investment. Much is required on many levels to make this happen. Major Barriers to Investment -------- [...] | 2008-05-04 10:20:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRD EFIN EINV EAID OPIC IZ |
08BAGHDAD1391 | IRFFI AGREES NO STOCKHOLM MEETING, DISCUSSES [...] (C) Summary: At our suggestion, IRFFI Co-Chair Ambassador De Martino announced at a May 3 IRFFI Executive Committee Meeting that there would be no IRFFI meeting (either formal or informal) on the margins of the upcoming International Compact with Iraq (ICI) Ministerial Meeting in Stockholm on [...] | 2008-05-04 11:49:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EFIN EAID PREL IZ |
08BAGHDAD1392 | PATRIOTIC UNION OF KURDISTAN MOVING CAUTIOUSLY [...] (C) Summary: The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) party, beset by internal fighting and facing leadership succession concerns, is struggling to negotiate a new, slimmed-down Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) cabinet with rival Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leaders that is acceptable to [...] | 2008-05-04 14:46:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINS PINR IZ |
08BAGHDAD1400 | FRIDAY MOSQUE SERMONS HIGHLIGHT ISCI-SADR ANIMOSITY [...] (C) Summary: Since the escalation of hostilities between the GOI and the Sadrists in late-March, samplings of Friday sermons from ISCI and Sadrist-affiliated mosques throughout Iraq reveal a growing gulf between the two parties. Whereas the majority of ISCI mosques praised the GOI's initial cr [...] | 2008-05-05 14:05:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KISL IZ |
08BAGHDAD1401 | OIL MINISTER ON OIL LAW, CONTRACTS, BUDGET AND GAS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Minister of Oil (MOO) Shahristani told EMIN on May 4 the GOI had not heard anything more from the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) about continuing with negotiations to enact the hydrocarbon framework law (HCL). He is hopeful that he will sign a Technical Service Contract (TSC) t [...] | 2008-05-05 14:54:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON IZ |
08BAGHDAD141 | IRAQ CORRECTIONS SYSTEM PROBLEMS [...] No summary [...] | 2008-01-19 13:34:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV IZ |
08BAGHDAD1417 | FADHILA LEADER SHIMMARY ON COR INTRIGUES [...] (C) Summary: In a May 5 meeting, Fadhilah bloc leader Hassan as-Shimmary and his deputy, Dr. Basim Sharif, hinted at the formation of a new political bloc within the COR, while remaining vague about their intent to join it. Attempting to play down troubling statements that Fadhilah has made ab [...] | 2008-05-06 19:23:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KISL IZ |
08BAGHDAD142 | PRT ANBAR: PROVINCIAL COUNCIL MEMBERS MOVE AGAINST [...] (U) This is a PRT Anbar reporting cable. 2. (C) Summary: Several key members of the Anbar Provincial Council (PC) have moved to end the tenure of interim Provincial Chief of Police (PCOP) Tariq Yousif within a month, signaling the latest round in the struggle for the highly-contested Anbar [...] | 2008-01-19 14:52:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINS IZ |
08BAGHDAD1421 | JABR CLARIFIES SAUDI DEBT ISSUE, REVEALS PLANS FOR [...] (C) Begin Summary: During a wide-ranging conversation May 5, Finance Minister Bayan Jabr clarified the Government of Iraq (GOI) position on the Saudi debt issue. He explained that the GOI believed the total principal amounted to USD 15.7 billion, of which the GOI was prepared to pay 20 percent [...] | 2008-05-07 07:51:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID ECON EFIN IZ PGOV |
08BAGHDAD1422 | FOUNDER OF INDEPENDENT WASIT PARTY WORRIES OVER [...] (U) This is a PRT Wasit reporting cable. 2. (C) On May 3 PRT met with Dr. Magid Rahman Abdullah al Ta'ae, founder of the Wasit Independent Rescue Committee, at FOB Delta. Dr. Magid's "technocratic" Independent Rescue Committee will field candidates for the 2007 Provincial Council electio [...] | 2008-05-07 11:46:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV IZ |
08BAGHDAD1423 | UPDATE ON IRAQ'S DRAFT ELECTION LAW [...] (C) Summary: The draft provincial election law written by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has been sent to the Council of Representatives (CoR); it is expected to have its first reading on May 6. This draft, while somewhat better than previous drafts we have seen from the PMO, is still i [...] | 2008-05-07 11:55:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ |
08BAGHDAD1424 | PM MALIKI RECOGNIZES ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE [...] (C//REL MCFI) SUMMARY: Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki acknowledged several priorities for improving Iraq's energy infrastructure security at a special May 1 meeting of a newly formed Infrastructure Protection Committee (IPC). Discussion of security challenges at the Bayji Oil Refinery (BOR) dur [...] | 2008-05-07 11:55:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EPET ENRG IZ |
08BAGHDAD1425 | ZEBARI ON UNAMI COMPOUND; AMBASSADORIAL [...] (C) SUMMARY. In a May 6 meeting, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told Acting Political Counselor that the GOI would only make a symbolic contribution toward the construction of a new UNAMI compound. Zebari appeared determined to tamp down expectations that UNAMI would get the Al Sijud Pala [...] | 2008-05-07 15:30:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV IZ |
08BAGHDAD1432 | PRT WASIT: PC MEMBERS SEE TOUGH ROAD AHEAD FOR [...] (U) This is a PRT Wasit reporting cable. 2. (C) Summary: In May 3 meetings with the PRT, Provincial Council (PC) members Siraj Ali and Haji Jassem discussed the relations with other Shi'a parties and the challenges facing independents in the next election. Jassem identified the primary c [...] | 2008-05-08 07:33:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV IZ |
08BAGHDAD1444 | PRT WASIT GETS A LAUGH [...] (U) This is a PRT Wasit reporting cable 2. (C) Summary: In Al Kut on May 4, the PRT sponsored what was alledged to be the first comedic play to be performed in Southern Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein. Despite a reported $100,000 bribe offered to the organizer to call off the play [...] | 2008-05-09 11:24:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV IZ |
08BAGHDAD1445 | RRT ERBIL: KRG LEADERSHIP WAITING FOR DE MISTURA [...] (C) Summary: KRG leadership told the Ambassador,s Senior Advisor for Northern Iraq and RRTOffs May 6 that they look forward to hearing SRSG de Mistura,s first cut at resolving boundary disputes, promised for delivery in mid-May. KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani said the KRG must &compro [...] | 2008-05-09 11:28:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR IZ |
08BAGHDAD1446 | NINEWA: KURDISH TACTICS ALIENATE SHIA SHABAK [...] (C/NF) A prominent leader of the minority Shia Shabak and Turkmen communities in eastern Ninewa's al Hamdaniya district said May 5 that heavy-handed Kurdish pressure in 2008 has solidified his constituency's opposition to joining the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG). Islamic Supreme Council [...] | 2008-05-09 11:28:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM IZ |
08BAGHDAD1447 | RRT ERBIL: KRG PM BARZANI FORECASTS HYDROCARBON [...] (C) Summary: Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister told the Ambassador,s Senior Advisor for Northern Iraq and RRTOffs May 6 that he expects the KRG to complete its short list of modifications to the February 2007 text on national hydrocarbon legislation soon. He does not plan, h [...] | 2008-05-09 12:30:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EPET IZ |
08BAGHDAD1451 | KRG UPBEAT ON TALKS WITH TURKEY [...] (C) Summary: On May 5, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) provided the RRT an upbeat assessment of Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani,s May 1 meeting with the Turkish delegation in Baghdad. Both the KRG and GOT principals recalled positive periods in their relationship, criticized the me [...] | 2008-05-10 10:13:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER IZ TU |
08BAGHDAD1453 | PRT MAYSAN: OFFICIALS WORRIED OVER IA OFFENSIVE [...] (U) This is a PRT Maysan reporting cable. 2. (C) Summary: The opening days of a PRT-organized training coursewere marred by ongoing arguments between the political and technocratic attendees, with the political attendees seeming to intimidate the other participants and prevent their speak [...] | 2008-05-10 11:45:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | IR PGOV MOPS |
08BAGHDAD1463 | ENGAGEMENT WITH UNAMI ON HUMAN RIGHTS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Embassy and MNF-I officials briefed Hania Mufti, head of the UNAMI Human Rights Office, on April 18 regarding issues discussed in UNAMI's recent Human Rights report. Topics of discussion centered on UNAMI's recommendations to MNF-I in the July-December 2007 report. Officials [...] | 2008-05-11 08:45:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KJUS IZ PINS UN |
08BAGHDAD1464 | DANISH MOD WANTS DENMARK TO REMAIN ENGAGED IN IRAQ [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a May 6 meeting, Ambassador Crocker and MNF-I Commanding General Petraeus thanked Danish Defense Minister Soren Gade for Denmark's important contributions to the NATO Training Mission-Iraq and provided an overview of the current situation here, with an emphasis on events in B [...] | 2008-05-11 12:22:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV IZ |
08BAGHDAD1466 | BAGHDAD LEAGUE CREATES FORUM FOR MODERATES [...] (U) This is a Baghdad PRT reporting cable. 2. (SBU) Summary: The "Baghdad League," a nascent organization dedicated to supporting social, cultural and educational activities in Baghdad, met Sunday May 3 to review the organization's bylaws and plan the group's activities for the coming mon [...] | 2008-05-11 12:56:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER IR IZ |
08BAGHDAD1467 | WORKING DRAFT OF UIA-SADR TREND CEASE-FIRE [...] (C) Sadrist Trend and UIA representatives continued to discuss a draft cease-fire agreement on May 11th. UIA sources told us that senior Trend officials Sheikh Waleed and Ahmed Ridha had arrived from Sadr City and Najaf to replace Nisar al-Rubaie as chief negotiators for the Trend. The heat [...] | 2008-05-11 13:45:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV IR |
08BAGHDAD147 | MOLSA MINISTER ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT IMPROVING [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a January 13 meeting, the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs expressed his enthusiasm for USG support for alleviating the overcrowded conditions of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, (MOLSA) juvenile facilities. He discussed near-term solutions such as removing squa [...] | 2008-01-21 07:29:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KDEM KJUS PGOV PINS IZ |
08BAGHDAD1476 | DENUNCIATIONS OF GOI CONTINUE IN SADRIST FRIDAY [...] (C) A sampling of Sadrist mosque sermons from Friday, May 9, in the Baghdad area reveals that vitriol against the GOI and Coalition Forces (CF) continues to flow from Sadrist mosques, despite movement toward a tentative ceasefire between the Sadrists and the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA). Claimi [...] | 2008-05-12 14:12:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KISL IZ |
08BAGHDAD1480 | TRADE MINISTRY SEEKS BILLIONS TO FUND PDS IN 2008 [...] (C) SUMMARY: Deputy Minister of Trade Abdul Hadi Kadhim al Hameiri told Emboffs that the Ministry of Trade (MinTrade) needs USD 4 to 4.5 billion to fund the Public Distribution System (PDS) for the remainder of 2008; increased commodities and shipping costs will consume MinTrade's roughly USD 3 [...] | 2008-05-12 14:18:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EAGR EFIN |
08BAGHDAD1481 | TRADE MINISTRY SEEKS BILLIONS TO FUND PDS IN 2008 [...] (C) SUMMARY: Deputy Minister of Trade Abdul Hadi Kadhim al Hameiri told Emboffs that the Ministry of Trade (MinTrade) needs USD 4 to 4.5 billion to fund the Public Distribution System (PDS) for the remainder of 2008; increased commodities and shipping costs will consume MinTrade's roughly USD 3 [...] | 2008-05-12 14:18:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EAGR EFIN |
08BAGHDAD1484 | 2008 KRG BUDGET: $6.4 BILLION AND SMALL GAINS IN [...] (C) Summary: The Kurdistan National Assembly (KNA, regional parliament) passed a 7.6 trillion Iraqi dinar ($6.4 billion) budget to fund the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for 2008. Approval came on April 30, nearly three months earlier than in 2007. The 2008 budget includes 4.7 trill [...] | 2008-05-12 18:09:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN PGOV IZ |
08BAGHDAD1489 | DE MISTURA PLANS MAY 22 DIB ANNOUNCEMENT [...] SUMMARY: In a May 10 meeting, Special Representative Staffan de Mistura told Ambassador Crocker and Senior Advisor Krajeski that he planned to announce UNAMI recommendations regarding the first four internal disputed boundary (DIB) districts (Makhmour, al Hamdaniyah, Amre and Mandali) as soon [...] | 2008-05-13 13:40:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UN IZ |
08BAGHDAD1495 | NEW ACTING MINISTER OF JUSTICE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Minister of Trade Abd al-Falah al-Sudani was appointed as an additional Acting Minister of Justice on May 4. Sudani will help with ministry operations in Baghdad while the existing Acting Minister of Justice Dr. Safa al-Safi is in Basrah. According to Deputy Minister of Justic [...] | 2008-05-14 06:41:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS ECON IZ |
08BAGHDAD1496 | VP ADEL ABDEL MEHDI ON SADR CITY AGREEMENT, IRAN, [...] (C) Summary: In a May 12 meeting, Vice President Adel Abdel Mehdi hailed the May 12 UIA-Sadrist Trend ceasefire agreement as an important step forward in affirming GOI authority by allowing the Iraqi army to enter and conduct operations in Sadr City. The Ambassador urged Adel to join Deputy P [...] | 2008-05-14 07:55:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON EAGR ETRD IZ IR |
08BAGHDAD1497 | MASHADANI BRAVES THE POLITICAL STORM OVER THE [...] (C) Summary: The Council of Representatives (CoR) Speaker Mahmoud Mashadani discussed with the Ambassador on May 11 the second reading of the elections law earlier that day, accusing the Kurds and ISCI of slow-rolling the legislation. He affirmed, nonetheless, the law would pass when the CoR [...] | 2008-05-14 08:01:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV IZ |
08BAGHDAD1498 | LETTER FROM COR SPEAKER MAHMOUD MASHADANI TO [...] (C) Council of Representatives (CoR) Speaker Mahmoud Mashadani delivered a letter to the Ambassador on May 11 addressed to President George W. Bush. The letter was not discussed in the meeting. 2. (C) The verbatim operative text follows as received in English: Begin Text. H.E. George [...] | 2008-05-14 08:03:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV IZ |
08BAGHDAD150 | UPDATE ON THE IRAQI FLAG CONTROVERSY [...] (C) Summary and comment: A brief but impassioned debate over revising the Iraqi flag appears to have yielded an agreement on a one-year placeholder flag, resembling the older one but with less Ba,th party and Arab nationalist symbology. The Kurdistan Alliance in the Council of Representative [...] | 2008-01-21 08:47:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINS PINR IZ |
08BAGHDAD1514 | KRG BOUNDARIES STILL CONTENTIOUS ON EVE OF UNAMI'S [...] (C) Special Advisor for Northern Iraq Tom Krajeski in early May visited Kirkuk, Mosul, and Erbil to discuss the status of Kirkuk and other disputed internal boundaries in the run-up to the first United Nations Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) recommendations on resolving KRG boundaries. Ambassador Kra [...] | 2008-05-15 14:58:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINS PINR IZ |
08BAGHDAD1518 | BARHAM SALIH ON SFA/SOFA, JORDAN TRIP, TALABANI'S [...] (C) SUMMARY: Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih on May 13 updated the Ambassador on the Iraqi side of SFA/SOFA negotiations. He highlighted the Iraqis' top two concerns at present: a stronger pledge to protect Iraq against external aggression, and stronger protection of Iraqi assets against [...] | 2008-05-15 17:35:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINS PINR IZ |
08BAGHDAD153 | NINEWA: PRT BRANCH OFFICE HOSTS ECONOMIC FORUM IN [...] (C) PRT Ninewa's Branch Office in Qayyara, covering southern Ninewa, expanded in January from the one liaison officer who staffed it since mid-2007 to a three-man team of civilian surge and military personnel. The office received superb support from local Coalition Forces to host on January 1 [...] | 2008-01-21 15:01:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON EAID IZ |
08BAGHDAD1532 | COR MEMBER ALLEGES HORRIFIC CONDITIONS AT WOMEN'S [...] (C) SUMMARY: Nada Ibrahim, a parliamentarian in the Hewar party, recounted her May 12 visit to Khadimiya women's prison to PolOff on May 13. She was shocked at the conditions of the prison and the lives of the female detainees. She said the prison had been infiltrated by militias and was ope [...] | 2008-05-18 14:09:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KJUS KDEM PGOV PINS IZ |
08BAGHDAD1538 | JORDAN'S OFFER TO FORGIVE IRAQI DEBT [...] (C) Reftel refers to the Government of Jordan's (GOJ) offer to forgive Iraqi debt, which is believed to amount to approximately USD 1.3 billion. Based upon our conversations with Iraqi Ministry of Finance officials, including Minister Bayan Jabr and Advisor (and principal debt negotiator) Azez [...] | 2008-05-19 12:06:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN EAID PREL IZ |
08BAGHDAD154 | PRT ANBAR: ANBAR HIGHER COMMITTEE ENGAGES GOI [...] (U) This is a PRT Anbar reporting cable. 2. (C) Summary. The six members of the recently-established Anbar Higher Committee (AHC) visited Bagdad January 15-16 in their first engagement as a group with senior GOI officials. The proximate reason was to follow up on unfulfilled GOI commitme [...] | 2008-01-21 15:52:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON PTER IZ |
08BAGHDAD1541 | HOUSE SPEAKER PELOSI AND COR SPEAKER MASHADANI [...] (C) Summary. Council of Representative (CoR) Speaker Mahmoud Mashadani warmly welcomed CODEL Pelosi to Baghdad on May 17 and told CODEL Pelosi and the Ambassador he expects provincial elections will occur by October 1, 2008. He highlighted provisions of the law banning parties with ties to m [...] | 2008-05-19 12:35:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV IZ |
08BAGHDAD1552 | CHRISTIAN ACTIVISTS URGE STRONGER U.S. ENGAGEMENT [...] (C) Pascale Warda, human rights advisor to Council of Representatives (CoR) Speaker Mashadani, said in a May 15 meeting with the Ambassador that she believes the GOI is not yet capable of protecting minority rights in areas administered by the KRG, and that local KRG authorities simply do not [...] | 2008-05-19 16:02:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ |
08BAGHDAD1553 | NEW AMNESTY AMENDMENTS: A THREAT TO CONTINUED [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Council of Ministers approved amendments to the Amnesty Law on May 6 that would exempt more detainees from receiving amnesty due to concerns of granting amnesty to terrorists (reftel). The new provisions would exclude anyone charged with or convicted of crimes of terrorism [...] | 2008-05-19 17:26:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PHUM IZ |
08BAGHDAD1554 | MOHR OPERATATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Ministry of Human Rights (MoHR) operates 14 governorate offices throughout Iraq (excluding the KRG); they are overseen by the director general for governorate affairs, Ghanim Al-Shemari. The Ministry has a clear vision for how the offices in each governorate should be struc [...] | 2008-05-19 18:04:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KJUS IZ |
08BAGHDAD1556 | UNAMI TO PRESENT DISPUTED BOUNDARIES [...] (C) UNAMI now plans to present phase one of its disputed boundaries recommendations to the GOI Executive Council on June 4. UNAMI SRSG Staffan de Mistura told Senior Advisor May 19 that he now plans to wait until after the May 29 International Compact for Iraq (ICI) conference in Stockholm to [...] | 2008-05-20 07:38:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ |
08BAGHDAD1558 | IT'S TRIBAL TIES THAT BIND IN NORTHERN BAGHDAD [...] (U) This is a PRT Baghdad and e-PRT 5 reporting cable. 2. (SBU) Introduction: Reconciliation in Baghdad takes many shapes: it can mean dialogue between sects and tribes, acceptance of the Government of Iraq (GOI),and/or cooperation with Coalition Forces. The role of tribal leaders in al [...] | 2008-05-20 09:43:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER IR IZ |
08BAGHDAD156 | FM ZEBARI DISCUSSES NEIGHBORLY RELATIONS WITH [...] (C) Summary: On January 20, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and the Deputy Chief of Mission met with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari to discuss Iraq's relationship with its neighbors, the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) and current Iraqi legislation. Zebari updated Menendez on the u [...] | 2008-01-22 10:12:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ |
08BAGHDAD1564 | RRT ERBIL: INFLUENTIAL KRG MINISTER EYES [...] (C) Summary: In a meeting May 6 with the Ambassador,s Senior Advisor and RRTOffs, KRG Minister of Finance Sarkis Aghajan (Sarkis) provided maps outlining the proposed zone, and said a decision must be made &now8 to save Iraq,s Christians. Since 2003, up to 40,000 Iraqi Christians have fled [...] | 2008-05-20 15:35:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER KIRF VT IZ |
08BAGHDAD157 | VP HASHIMI ON POWER-SHARING, RECONCILIATION, AND [...] (C) Summary: Vice President Hashimi told Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and the Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) on January 20 that PM Maliki recently expressed his willingness to be a partner on the 3 plus 1 Executive Council and is optimistic about this new "team spirit" in the leadership. Hashimi [...] | 2008-01-22 10:16:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV IZ |
08BAGHDAD1571 | EMBASSY MINORITIES WORKING GROUP AIMS TO ADDRESS [...] (C) Summary. Challenges and obstacles facing the ethnic and religious minority populations in Iraq include political intimidation, discrimination in employment (especially in the public sector),inferior provision of public services, and neglect of cultural heritage (e.g. lack of protection [...] | 2008-05-21 12:33:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ |
08BAGHDAD1575 | MALIKI VOICES SUPPORT FOR RELIGIOUS MINORITIES [...] (SBU) Prime Minister Maliki received a delegation of mostly Christian representatives and spoke out in support of Iraq's religious minorities during his May 16 visit to Mosul to inspect the ongoing Umm-al-Rabe'ayn operation to root out al-Qaida elements. His unprecedented statements were hig [...] | 2008-05-21 14:47:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | IZ KIRF PGOV PHUM PREL |
08BAGHDAD1577 | FM ZEBARI ON REGIONAL ISSUES; AMBASSADORIAL [...] (C) SUMMARY. In a May 21 meeting with PolCouns and Senior Advisor for Northern Iraq, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari was skeptical about the prospects for a June Arab League ministerial in Baghdad, but more upbeat about an Expanded Neighbors FM-level meeting here. Zebari described bilatera [...] | 2008-05-22 11:51:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV IZ |
08BAGHDAD1578 | COR FINANCE CHAIR ON SUPPLEMENTAL CONFUSION [...] (C) During an introductory meeting with Econoffs May 21, Dr. Ayad Samarraie, Council of Representatives (CoR) Finance Committee Chair, noted that multiple plans for the Government of Iraq's (GOI) proposed supplemental budget have engendered confusion. He cited DPM Barham Salih's proposal to all [...] | 2008-05-23 07:33:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN EAID PGOV IZ |
08BAGHDAD1582 | PM MALIKI TELLS CODEL PELOSI: IRAQ WANTS [...] (C) Summary. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told CODEL Pelosi and the Ambassador on May 17 that Iraq is making great political and security strides this year. When asked about Iraq's relationship with its Arab neighbors, PM Maliki responded that Iraq receives little support and added Iraq sho [...] | 2008-05-23 11:25:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV IZ |
08BAGHDAD1586 | PRT WASIT: GOVERNOR'S AIDE HINTS AT LARGER U.S. [...] (U) This is a PRT Wasit reporting cable. 2. (C) Summary. On May 22, PRT met with the director of the Governor's Management Office, Hajji Kareem Yusif Shenein, to discuss provincial elections. Kareem suggested the possibility that the marja'iyya might guide voters if they "see that the p [...] | 2008-05-23 14:24:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV IR |
08BAGHDAD1588 | ANTI-CORRUPTION UPDATE [...] (SBU) Beginning with the GOI,s Anti-Corruption Conference in January there have been a number of newsworthy events on the anti-corruption front so far in 2008. The January Conference was followed by a UN Office of Drugs and Crime meeting in mid-March timed to coincide with the signing and rat [...] | 2008-05-24 06:58:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | KCOR PGOV ECON EAID IZ |
08BAGHDAD1598 | MAY 23 I-ESC MEETING FOCUSES ON SADR CITY [...] (C) Prime Minister Maliki chaired the May 23 meeting of the Iraq Executive Steering Committee (I-ESC) in support of Fardh Al Qanoon (FaQ),the Baghdad Security Plan. Maliki declared that Iraqi Security Forces in Sadr City "will never leave," and said a quick plan is now needed to demonstrate [...] | 2008-05-24 18:09:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER IR IZ |
08BAGHDAD1603 | GOI KURDS ON SFA/SOFA, TIES WITH THE NEIGHBORS, [...] (C) The Ambassador and Special Assistant to the President Brett McGurk met on May 20 with Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Barham Salih, May 21 with Salih and President Talabani, and May 22 with Salih and Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari. On the Strategic Framework and Status of Forces Agreements ( [...] | 2008-05-26 05:36:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINS PINR IZ |
08BAGHDAD1604 | FORMER IRAQI CHARGE REND RAHIM VOICES CONCERNS [...] (C) Summary: In a May 21 meeting with the Ambassador, former Iraqi Charge d'Affaires to the U.S. Rend Rahim shared her concerns regarding the provincial elections planned for later this year. In particular, Rahim underlined fears that independent candidates and those not currently aligned wit [...] | 2008-05-26 05:39:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ |
08BAGHDAD1605 | SHEIKH OMAR AL JABOURI WANTS TO BE THE NEXT SUNNI [...] (C) Summary: On May 20, PolOff, EPRT-2 Team Leader and CF met with Sunni leader Sheikh Omar al Jabouri (SOAJ) in order to discuss the founding of the Independent National Tribal Gathering (INTG),upcoming provincial elections and his break from the Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP). SOAJ explained [...] | 2008-05-26 11:59:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER IR IZ |
08BAGHDAD1609 | AMBASSADOR'S MAY 24 VISIT TO KARBALA AND NAJAF [...] (C) Summary: Ambassador Crocker's May 24 visit to Karbala and Najaf focused on opportunities for future cooperation in light of the opening of new PRTs in both cities. Importantly, the visit showcased the vast improvement in the provinces' security situation and the lead role Iraqi forces hav [...] | 2008-05-26 15:50:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EAID KPAO IZ |
08BAGHDAD1610 | PRESIDENT TALABANI ON TAWAFUQ RETURN, SFA/SOFA, [...] (C) Summary: In a May 25 meeting, President Jalal Talabani told the Ambassador that he has been mediating between Prime Minister al-Maliki and Vice President al-Hashemi to secure the return of Tawafuq officials to the GOI cabinet, and he expressed optimism that a final deal could be reached bef [...] | 2008-05-26 16:10:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ IR |
08BAGHDAD1612 | ABDEL AZIZ AL-HAKIM ON SOFA/SFA AND TAWAFUQ RETURN [...] (C) Summary: In a May 25 meeting, ISCI Chairman Abdel Aziz al-Hakim told the Ambassador that Grand Ayatollah Sistani and the Najaf-based Marja'iyyah will support a bilateral security agreement with the USG as long it upholds Iraq's sovereignty, is transparent, and draws the support of all Ira [...] | 2008-05-27 03:13:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ IR |
08BAGHDAD1615 | IRFFI DONORS FIELD TRIP FAILS TO DELIVER [...] (SBU) The International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI) held a donors field trip conference, hosted by the Italian-led REO Hillah Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT),at the Dhi Qar Mittica Training Center on the Talil Airbase in An Nasiriyah Province May 18-19. Attending the c [...] | 2008-05-27 07:55:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EFIN EAID PREL IZ |
08BAGHDAD1616 | PM MALIKI ON SISTANI MEETING, ELECTIONS, SFA, AND [...] (C) Summary: In a May 23 meeting, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told the Ambassador that Grand Ayatollah Sistani is generally supportive of a long-term security agreement with the USG and is keenly interested in upcoming provincial elections. Sistani told the PM he will issue a public stateme [...] | 2008-05-27 08:56:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ IR |
08BAGHDAD1617 | PRT SALAH AD DIN: PROVINCIAL ENGAGEMENT WITH [...] (U) This is a PRT Tikrit, Salah ad Din reporting cable. Summary ------- 2. (C) Salah ad Din (SaD) provincial officials over the past six months have engaged in a series of PRT-BCT facilitated trips to various districts (Qadas) to listen to local government concerns. While the trips ar [...] | 2008-05-27 09:20:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PINS KDEM EAID IZ |
08BAGHDAD1620 | VP HASHEMI ON TAWAFUQ RETURN, SFA/SOFA, AND MOSUL [...] (C) Summary: In a May 25 meeting, Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi told the Ambassador that his May 24 meeting with Prime Minister al-Maliki had not achieved the return of Tawafuq officials to the GOI cabinet and that Maliki had unexpectedly raised a new issue that could obstruct the return pro [...] | 2008-05-27 10:33:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ IR |
08BAGHDAD1621 | GOI-DONOR CO-FINANCING MECHANISM EVOLVING, BUDGET [...] (C) Summary: According to Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation (MoPDC) Senior Advisor Faik Ali Abdalrasool on May 21, the GOI co-financing mechanism that it will headline at the upcoming International Compact with Iraq Ministerial on May 29, is designed to allow international donor [...] | 2008-05-27 14:13:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV EFIN EAID PREL IZ |
08BAGHDAD1629 | CANADIAN NIKO SIGNS OIL CONTRACT IN KURDISTAN [...] (U) Canadian oil company Niko Resources, Ltd., announced May 20 that it has entered into its first production-sharing contract (PSC) with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) as a consortium operator. The PSC will cover the exploration, development, and production of petroleum in the Qar [...] | 2008-05-28 07:23:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON EINV PREL IZ |
08BAGHDAD1634 | PRESIDENT TALABANI ON TAWAFUQ, SOFA/SFA, LEBANON, [...] (C) In a May 27 meeting, President Talabani said VP Hashimi and PM Maliki had agreed on the names of seven Tawafuq ministers who would join the Cabinet, and were working on a compromise to replace Minister of Planning Ali Baban in two months. He said the May 26 Political Council for National [...] | 2008-05-28 14:51:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ |
08BAGHDAD1637 | SHIA REACTION TO SADR CALL FOR ANTI-SOFA PROTEST [...] (C) On May 27, Muqtada al-Sadr issued a statement decrying "the security agreement between the forces of darkness, by which I mean the occupation, and the current Iraqi Government." Sadr asked Iraqis to stage demonstrations throughout Iraq, and prodded political blocs to oppose the agreement [...] | 2008-05-28 15:39:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ IR |
08BAGHDAD164 | CONCERNED LOCAL CITIZENS PROGRAM: SECURING [...] (C) Summary: The expansion of the Concerned Local Citizens (CLC) program in 2007 has augmented Multinational Force - Iraq (MNF-I) efforts to bring security to Iraq. CLCs are temporary arrangements that were organized by Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces in order to augment local force prote [...] | 2008-01-22 15:42:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PINS PGOV MOPS PTER IZ |
08BAGHDAD1641 | PRT ANBAR: UNAMI VISITS ANBAR TO DISCUSS [...] (U) This is a PRT Anbar reporting cable. 2. (C) SUMMARY: A small UNAMI delegation visited Ramadi on May 27 with a dual purpose: to hold talks with provincial officials on economic development in advance of the expected establishment of a permanent UNAMI presence in the province and to m [...] | 2008-05-29 13:55:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR KDEM SOCI ECON EAID UN IZ |
08BAGHDAD1650 | KDP - PUK RELATIONS: CABINET NEGOTIATIONS SHOW [...] (C) Through a broad range of discussions with party officials and a drawn out, public airing of party laundry in the press, RRT has learned that mistrust, greed, and political jockeying have greatly delayed decisions on the Kurdistan Region Government,s sixth cabinet. Despite six months of n [...] | 2008-05-30 04:30:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR IZ |
08BAGHDAD1651 | TAWAFUQ WITHDRAWS LIST OF NOMINEES [...] (C) On May 29, Tawafuq Spokesman Salim Jibouri described to PolOffs the rationale behind the Tawafuq bloc's May 27 statement withdrawing its slate of ministerial nominees. Salim highlighted the frustration of Tawafuq members with PM Maliki's pattern of raising new objections to the nominees ea [...] | 2008-05-30 09:03:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV IZ |
08BAGHDAD1668 | ENGAGING IRAQ'S NEIGHBORS ON GOI EFFORTS TO [...] (U) Para 11 contains talking points that addressees may wish to use in updating the engagement approach laid out in Refs A and B. 2. (C) Summary: The government of Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki has undertaken significant steps to confront militias and criminal groups supported by Iran and to [...] | 2008-06-02 02:58:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV IZ |
08BAGHDAD167 | NINEWA: MAKHMOUR REFUGEE CAMP -- STILL NO SOLUTION [...] (SBU) The director of the Makhmour refugee camp Ahmed Dzayee discussed the status and future of the camp with the PRT leader and representatives on January 15. He described the ways that people in the camp make a living, how the camp is supported and the security situation. New families moved [...] | 2008-01-23 03:53:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PTER PHUM TU IZ |
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