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| Identifier | Subject | Date | Office | Classification | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT1654 |
TURKMENISTAN: COUNTERNARCOTICS OFFICIALS CONDUCT PUBLIC [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: On December 20, the State Counter Narcotics Service hosted a drug burning ceremony near Ashgabat. It was the third such event this year. The consignment of narcotics had been seized by Turkmenistan's law-enforce [...] |
2008-12-30 12:08:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KCRM SOCI TX |
| 08ASHGABAT1656 |
UN INTERVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS CASE PROMPTS POSITIVE [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Ayjemal Berdiyeva, a Niyazov era torture victim, recently informed post that she received a letter from a UN agency in Geneva, presumably the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR), that obliges the Govern [...] |
2008-12-31 07:51:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV KDEM 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT17 |
TURKMENISTAN: EXCHANGE BOOTHS OPEN IN BANKS; [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: True to the president's word, all unofficial currency exchange outlets shut down on January 2. While the Central Bank Chairman promised a sufficient supply of dollars to the public, according to anecdotal evidence [...] |
2008-01-04 12:12:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ECON EFIN 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT171 |
TURKMENISTAN: SELF-FINANCING TURKMEN ABLE TO [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Post attempted to verify a December 2007 Forum18 news article (reported in ref by Turkmen opposition website "Gundogar") about the restrictions the government allegedly imposed on those wishing to go on the Hajj [...] |
2008-02-04 12:14:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL KIRF KISL SA TX |
| 08ASHGABAT173 |
TURKMENISTAN: UKRAINE STUMBLES AS IT SEEKS TO [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Ukraine's representation in Turkmenistan is continuing to have a difficult time reviving its bilateral diplomatic and business relationship. Ukrainian diplomats are showing deep interest in the frequent arriva [...] |
2008-02-05 07:06:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EPET UP CH IR TX |
| 08ASHGABAT174 |
TURKMENISTAN: "ALUMNI OPPORTUNITIES" NETWORKING EVENT [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (U) Nearly 60 alumni from throughout Turkmenistan and representing nearly all U.S.-sponsored educational and professional exchange programs, including Future Leaders Exchange program (FLEX), UGRAD, Muskie, AUCA, and others, gathere [...] |
2008-02-05 08:58:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL EAID KPAO KDEM SOCI TX |
| 08ASHGABAT177 |
TURKMENISTAN: "ALUMNI OPPORTUNITIES" NETWORKING EVENT [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (U) Nearly 60 alumni from throughout Turkmenistan and representing nearly all U.S.-sponsored educational and professional exchange programs, including Future Leaders Exchange program (FLEX), UGRAD, Muskie, AUCA, and others, gathere [...] |
2008-02-05 10:03:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL EAID KPAO KDEM SOCI TX |
| 08ASHGABAT178 |
FRAUD SUMMARY: ASHGABAT, Q4 2007 [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (U) Embassy Ashgabat submits this quarterly consular fraud report for the period October through December 2007 as requested in reftel A. COUNTRY CONDITIONS 3. (SBU) Turkmenistan is experiencing important social, political [...] |
2008-02-05 10:42:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ASEC CVIS CPAS CMGT KFRD TX |
| 08ASHGABAT179 |
TURKMENISTAN: WORLD BANK OUTLINES RE-ENGAGMENT [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: During the last week in January, a World Bank visiting delegation met with government officials and resident donor nation representatives to discuss re-engagement with Turkmenistan. The Government of Turkmenistan's [...] |
2008-02-05 10:48:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL ECON EFIN EAID TX |
| 08ASHGABAT180 |
TURKMENISTAN: CENTRAL BANK ANNOUNCES EXCHANGE [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (U) Following several days of continuing rumors that Turkmenistan's commercial exchange rate of 19,800 manat to the dollar was going to appreciate, Turkmenistan's state-run Watan TV news quoted the head of the Central Bank's Fore [...] |
2008-02-05 11:02:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ECON EFIN 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT190 |
TURKMENISTAN: UPDATE ON ADB'S PLANS FOR A [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) Ayna Kekilova, the Asian Development Bank's (ADB's) liaison officer in Turkmenistan, told EmbOff February 6 that the ADB partners in the proposed Trans-Afghan pipeline (TAPI) project are proceeding with the work for the proj [...] |
2008-02-06 12:52:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL ECON EPET EINV TX |
| 08ASHGABAT192 |
TURKMENISTAN: 500 SATELLITE TV CHANNELS FOR [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Work continues in Ashgabat to provide standardize satellite-television access for all citizens. The government recently provided further detail on the process of replacing the private satellite dishes on almost [...] |
2008-02-07 08:23:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM KDEM 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT199 |
TURKMENISTAN EMERGING AS PRAGMATIC REGIONAL PLAYER [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The delivery of a significant amount of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and enhanced provision of electricity to Tajikistan, combined with intensified economic cooperation and diplomatic activity in the region, [...] |
2008-02-08 09:39:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL ECON ENRG IR AF UZ TI 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT200 |
TURKMENISTAN: "NEW REVIVAL" COVERAGE REPLACES [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (U) Throughout former President Niyazov's tenure, Turkmenistan television's Altyn Asyr channel nighly broadcast a reading of Niyazov's "Ruhnama" before the 9:00 pm news. Two or three presenters would read from the "Ruhnama" (and, [...] |
2008-02-08 09:59:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV SCUL SOCI KIRF TX |
| 08ASHGABAT201 |
TURKMENISTAN: PRESIDENT REITERATES IMPORTANCE OF RURAL [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: At his February 2 Cabinet of Ministers meeting, President Berdimuhamedov reiterated his determination to improve life in Turkmenistan's remote rural regions, requiring relevant cabinet members to report on progres [...] |
2008-02-08 10:33:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV EAGR ECON SOCI TX |
| 08ASHGABAT203 |
TURKMENISTAN: BERDIMUHAMEDOV'S NEW SPEECH WRITER [...] (C) During a February 6 meeting, Ministry of Culture International Relations Department Head Gulmurad Myradov (strictly protect) revealed to EmbOff he has been writing some of President's Berdimuhamedov recent speeches, including the "Cultural Revival" and "New Ideology" policy addresses. In [...] |
2008-02-08 11:45:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PGOV PINR KPAO 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT206 |
TURKMENISTAN: INSTITUTE FOR DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: On February 7, USAID Country Representative met with the Director of the Institute for Democracy and Human Rights to discuss areas of potential cooperation outlined in the letter received from the Ministry of Forei [...] |
2008-02-11 03:11:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PHUM EAID KDEM TX |
| 08ASHGABAT209 |
TURKMENISTAN: INPUT FOR NEW REQUIRED REPORTS TO [...] (U) The following is Embassy Ashgabat's response to reftel, which requests input for two new reports to Congress on energy. Paragraph 2 offers a brief overview of the energy situation in Turkmenistan, paragraph 3 lists energy-related U.S. objectives, paragraph 4 offers a short description of [...] |
2008-02-11 08:44:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG SENV APER ABUD 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT212 |
PRIORITY LOBBYING FOR KOSOVO'S INDEPENDENCE [...] No summary [...] |
2008-02-11 13:47:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL UN UNMIK TX |
| 08ASHGABAT213 |
TURKMENISTAN: GAS PRICE HIKE TAKES CITIZENS BY [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Following reports on state media of an introduction of market prices for automobile gasoline the evening of February 8, drivers descended upon gas stations in Ashgabat for one last go at unlimited subsidized petro [...] |
2008-02-12 04:30:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV EPET EFIN TX |
| 08ASHGABAT214 |
TURKMENISTAN: RUSSIAN EMBASSY "SOFT POWER" FALLS [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) The Russian Embassy opened an exhibit at the National Art Museum on February 11 -- photographs of Turkmenistan taken by Russian Embassy diplomats. In his opening speech, Russian Ambassador Igor Blatov noted the exhibit co [...] |
2008-02-12 05:02:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL SCUL KPAO RS 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT224 |
TURKMENISTAN-TO-HUNGARY NATURAL GAS: ALMOST A [...] (S) On February 12, Charge met with Polish Ambassador Maciej Lang and, separately, EU-TACIS Adviser Michael Wilson (strictly protect both throughout). Wilson was the initial source of the documentary evidence that negotiations are far advanced for Hungarian company Millander International Ltd [...] |
2008-02-12 13:14:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | SECRET | PGOV PREL EPET HU RS 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT226 |
TURKMEN FEEL IMPACT OF RISING MARKET-BASKET COSTS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: As Turkmenistan's unusually chilly weather continues, food prices have continued to rise. A recent price survey showed that the average increase for basic food staples since early January was three percent. Turkmenistan's residents worry that Turkmenistan's unusually cold win [...] |
2008-02-12 13:40:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV EAGR ECON SOCI TX |
| 08ASHGABAT227 |
U.S. CONCERNS ON OSLO PROCESS TO BAN CLUSTER MUNITIONS [...] No summary [...] |
2008-02-12 13:42:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL TX |
| 08ASHGABAT228 |
TURKMENISTAN: WHY ASHGABAT SHOULD HOST THE 2008 [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) In response to Ref A. request asking embassies in Central Asia to poll host governments about where to hold the 2008 Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council meeting, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan both expresse [...] |
2008-02-13 09:11:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL ECON ETRD TX |
| 08ASHGABAT23 |
TURKMENISTAN: SATELLITE DISHES START TO COME DOWN [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) The Turkmen love their satellite television. The four local (state-controlled) Turkmen stations are deadly dull and provide a fare that consists primarily of President Berdimuhamedov's meetings, President Berdimuhamedov's [...] |
2008-01-07 11:31:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM ECON SOCI TX |
| 08ASHGABAT230 |
TURKMENISTAN: ECONOMIC REFORM TAKES CENTER STAGE [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: In an extended Cabinet of Ministers meeting on February 8, President Berdimuhamedov said Turkmenistan's industrial sector should operate according to the principles of transparency, privatization, market diversit [...] |
2008-02-13 09:40:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR ECON EFIN TX |
| 08ASHGABAT232 |
TURKMENISTAN: U.S. HAGUE ADOPTION CONVENTION RATIFICATION [...] No summary [...] |
2008-02-13 12:31:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL KOCI CASC TX |
| 08ASHGABAT237 |
TURKMENISTAN: UNDP HELPING PREPARE REPORT FOR UN [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: UNDP is working with Turkmenistan's Human Rights Commission to formulate a plan to complete two key UN reports Turkmenistan agreed to submit by the end of 2008. The more significant report, which Turkmenistan [...] |
2008-02-14 09:23:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM TX |
| 08ASHGABAT238 |
TURKMENISTAN: MORE THAN 1200 PARDONED FOR FLAG DAY [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) The government published the list of prisoners to be freed under a pardon that President Berdimuhamedov announced on February 13. He said that 1,269 prisoners would be released in honor of Flag Day, which is February 19. [...] |
2008-02-14 11:10:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PHUM 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT242 |
TURKMENISTAN: ONE YEAR WITHOUT PERSONALITY CULT [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (U) President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov celebrated the one-year anniversary of his February 14, 2007, inauguration in private. The only public event to our knowledge -- although there may have been low-key private receptions an [...] |
2008-02-15 10:53:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM SCUL DRL |
| 08ASHGABAT243 |
TURKMENISTAN: VALENTINE'S DAY STILL A POPULAR [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) Turkmen exile opposition website chrono-tm.org reported on February 14 that Ashgabat City officials warned restaurant and bar owners not to hold Valentine's Day events at their venues, because they would clash with the " [...] |
2008-02-15 11:07:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM SOCI TX |
| 08ASHGABAT244 |
TURKMENISTAN: RUHNAMA - GOING, GOING... [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. LESS EMPHASIS ON READING RUHNAMA AND MORE ON WRITING AND ARITHMETIC 2. (SBU) Since Berdimuhamedov became president in February 2007, former President Niyazov's "Book of the Soul," has become increasingly irrelevant. While still [...] |
2008-02-15 11:48:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM SOCI KIRF TX |
| 08ASHGABAT247 |
TURKMENISTAN: UNIFIED EXCHANGE RATE PRACTICES GAINING [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: During January and the first week of February, the government has maintained the commercial exchange rate of 20,000 manat per dollar and eliminated almost all black-market foreign exchange transactions by barring [...] |
2008-02-15 13:00:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV EFIN TX |
| 08ASHGABAT248 |
TURKMENISTAN: VISIT LAYS GROUNDWORK FOR UPCOMING USAID [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: On January 30-31, Almaty-based USAID/CAR Senior Economist Michael Boyd met with several new economic institutions in Turkmenistan to discuss potential cooperation with USAID's upcoming Enhancing Reforms for Econom [...] |
2008-02-15 13:03:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL ECON EAID TX |
| 08ASHGABAT249 |
TURKMENISTAN: MINISTRY OF EDUCATION CRITICIZES FLEX [...] (SBU) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Ministry of Education (MOE) alleged, via diplomatic note and in a meeting with PAO, that the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program for high school students was not being properly supervised by ACCELS. MOE [...] |
2008-02-20 03:38:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL SCUL KPAO TX |
| 08ASHGABAT250 |
TURKMENISTAN COOPERATING WITH IAEA EFFORTS TO [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: An IAEA delegation met with government officials in Ashgabat in mid-February to assist Turkmenistan's efforts to achieve compliance with nuclear-related international conventions to which it is a signatory. Tu [...] |
2008-02-20 08:45:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV IAEA TX |
| 08ASHGABAT251 |
TURKMENISTAN: MINISTRY OF EDUCATION CRITICIZES FLEX [...] (SBU) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Ministry of Education (MOE) alleged, via diplomatic note and in a meeting with PAO, that the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program for high school students was not being properly supervised by ACCELS. MOE [...] |
2008-02-20 09:16:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL SCUL KPAO TX |
| 08ASHGABAT254 |
TURKMENISTAN: WHY BURIED HILL FOR SERDAR? WHY [...] (C) SUMMARY: Canadian petroleum company Buried Hill signed a contract in December 2007 to work Caspian Block III -- a key area disputed by Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan -- but the deal was not announced until after a February 12 meeting between the company's CEO, Roger Haines, board member form [...] |
2008-02-20 10:56:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | SECRET | PREL PGOV EPET AJ 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT259 |
TURKMENISTAN PROVIDES MORE HUMANITARIAN AID, THIS [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Following on its decision to send aid to Afghanistan (reftel), Turkmenistan donated fuel as humanitarian assistanceto Tajikistan on February 13, publicly demonstrating the strong bilateral ties it shares with it [...] |
2008-02-21 08:51:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EAID SOCI TI TX |
| 08ASHGABAT26 |
TURKMENISTAN: U.S. CHICKEN ALLOWED IN - FOR THE HOLIDAYS [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: U.S.-origin chicken leg-thigh quarters, which in the early 1990s acquired the moniker of "Bush Legs" throughout the former Soviet Union, made an appearance at Ashgabat's markets over the New Year's weekend. Accor [...] |
2008-01-07 12:01:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV EAGR ECON ETRD TX |
| 08ASHGABAT261 |
TURKMENISTAN: EFFECTS OF DEEP FREEZE LINGER IN [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) A February 20 visit by EmbOff to Turkmemabat, Turkmenistan's second largest city, revealed that the area is still suffering the after-effects of the freezing-cold winter that gripped the country in January and early February. [...] |
2008-02-21 12:08:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV SOCI TX |
| 08ASHGABAT264 |
TURKMENISTAN'S PARLIAMENT RATIFIES MONTREAL [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Turkmenistan's Mejlis (Parliament) on January 22 adopted a resolution on Turkmenistan's accession to the Montreal Protocol, apparently so that the Ministry of Nature Protection will be eligible for additional dono [...] |
2008-02-22 05:43:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL SENV TSPL KTIA TX |
| 08ASHGABAT266 |
TURKMENISTAN: AGREEMENT REACHED ON PROCEDURES [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) MFA and Embassy officials agreed February 21 on a procedure for expeditiously approving landing clearances for civilian emergency medical flights contracted by the Embassy. This new procedure, which entails faxing the reque [...] |
2008-02-22 07:07:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL EAIR MARR AMED TX |
| 08ASHGABAT268 |
TURKMENISTAN: INTERNATIONAL NOTIFICATION OF U.S. [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (U) This is an action request: see para four. 3. (SBU) Embassy's Defense Attache delivered reftel notification to Turkmenistan's First Deputy Defense Minister, Colonel Atabayev, on February 22, 2008. Atabayev said he had s [...] |
2008-02-22 10:57:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PARM PNAT TSPA TX |
| 08ASHGABAT269 |
TURKMENISTAN: OSCE CONSIDERING GREATER [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: A delegation from OSCE's Conflict Prevention Center headed by Senior Board Advisor Henry Bolton told the Embassy on February 13 that, as a result of the Russian Federation's concern over the volume of opiate impo [...] |
2008-02-22 11:40:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL EAID SNAR SMIG OSCE TX |
| 08ASHGABAT27 |
TURKMENISTAN: NGO FORUM "EARLY HOLIDAY PRESENT" FOR CIVIL [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (U) SUMMARY: On December 24, USAID implementing partner International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) organized a roundtable on NGOs' Participation in the National Reforms that attracted over 50 representatives from governme [...] |
2008-01-07 12:01:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PHUM EAID SOCI KDEM TX |
| 08ASHGABAT270 |
TURKMENISTAN: NEWSPAPER FEATURES ARTICLE ON [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) On February 23, "Zaman," a Turkmen-language newspaper, featured a half-page, above-the-fold article with color photos, entitled "Kosovo - New Independent State." "Zaman" borrows some of its content from its "Zaman" parent co [...] |
2008-02-25 08:19:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL SOCI KPAO TX |
| 08ASHGABAT271 |
TURKMENISTAN: NATO CIVIL EMERGENCY PLANNING [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) Two officials from NATO's Civil Emergency Planning Operations Division, Division Head Carsten Fausboll and Staff Officer Evert Somer, briefed representatives from NATO embassies on February 18 on their meeting with Deputy D [...] |
2008-02-25 08:28:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EAID MARR NATO 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT279 |
TURKMENISTAN: COCKROACH OR NOT - OPPOSITION DISCREDITS [...] (SBU) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: "Kronika Turkmenistana," an opposition website based in Bulgaria, recently carried an unlikely story that Turkmenistan TV's "Watan" newscast showed a cockroach walking across the news desk, which led to the firi [...] |
2008-02-27 12:36:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PROP PHUM SCUL KPAO TX |
| 08ASHGABAT280 |
TURKMENISTAN: BERDIMUHAMEDOV PRIORITIZES [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: President Berdimuhamedov was in Moscow February 22 for the CIS Informal Summit, where Putin said goodbye, the Turkmen president defined neutrality, and they both watered and nourished the Russian-Turkmen economi [...] |
2008-02-27 12:44:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EPET ETRD RS TX |
| 08ASHGABAT284 |
TURKMENISTAN: 2008 SPECIAL 301 REVIEW [...] (U) The 2008 Special 301 review process was announced to the Government of Turkmenistan via diplomatic note on January 30. Post recommends keeping Turkmenistan on the 2008 Special 301 Watch List and suggests including the following paragraph on Turkmenistan in the 2008 Special 301 report: [...] |
2008-02-28 13:27:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV ECON ETRD KIPR TX |
| 08ASHGABAT285 |
TURKMENISTAN: CITIZENS FEELING IMPACT OF INCREASED [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Almost immediately following the eightfold increase in gasoline costs on February 11, meat and dairy product prices -- already increasing because of livestock losses due to the cold weather -- spiked by 20-50%. For now, the government is trying to stabilize meat prices by enfo [...] |
2008-02-28 14:09:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EAGR ECON ETRD SOCI TX |
| 08ASHGABAT286 |
TURKMENISTAN: MINISTER OF OIL AND GAS [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: During a meeting with U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) Regional Director Dan Stein, Minister of Oil and Gas Baymurad Hojamuhamedov enthusiastically welcomed possible USTDA assistance. He expressed parti [...] |
2008-02-29 05:37:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL EAID EPET TX |
| 08ASHGABAT289 |
TURKMENISTAN: CENTRAL ASIAN CATHOLIC LEADERS [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Catholic Church leaders from all over Central Asia were in Ashgabat for a week, sharing and comparing their experiences, successes and challenges in legalizing and expanding their activities in this Muslim-domi [...] |
2008-03-01 07:49:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM KIRF TX |
| 08ASHGABAT29 |
TALKING POINTS REGARDING RESOLUTION OF KOSOVO'S STATUS [...] No summary [...] |
2008-01-08 07:49:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL UN PGOV YI TX |
| 08ASHGABAT290 |
TURKMENISTAN: EVIDENCE OF DISCONTENT IN [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: During an EmbOff's trip to Turkmenbashy February 17-19, an ethnic Dagestani Turkmen citizen driver effusively disclosed -- with little prodding -- his thoughts on the gas price hike, Avaza, and Turkmenistan's econ [...] |
2008-03-01 07:56:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL ECON EIND ELAB SCUL SOCI TX |
| 08ASHGABAT291 |
TURKMENISTAN: PETRONAS PLANNING FOR EXPANDED [...] No summary [...] |
2008-03-01 08:05:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EPET AJ TX |
| 08ASHGABAT292 |
TURKMENISTAN: NGO FINDS WORK-AROUND TO [...] (U) SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR PUBLIC INTERNET. 2. (SBU) DURING A ROUTINE VISIT TO A LOCAL NGO ON FEBRUARY 16, ECONOFF SAW THAT THE ORGANIZATION'S OFFICE WAS CLOSED FOR "INSPECTION" BY THE MINISTRY OF TRADE. ON FEBRUARY 20, ECONOFF RAN INTO ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES IN THE OFFICE BUI [...] |
2008-03-03 03:37:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM EFIN SOCI TX |
| 08ASHGABAT295 |
TURKMENISTAN'S BERDIMUHAMEDOV LAYS DOWN MARKERS TO [...] (S) SUMMARY: During a February 28 meeting in Ashgabat, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov told Coordinator for Eurasian Energy Diplomacy Ambassador Steven Mann: -- He rejects the concept of Gazprom as monopolist; it's Turkmenistan's key economic partner; -- He is strongly irked at Azerb [...] |
2008-03-03 06:31:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | SECRET | PGOV PREL ECON EPET UP TU RS AJ TX |
| 08ASHGABAT3 |
ICITAP EXPOSES TURKMENISTAN'S LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS TO [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (U) SUMMARY: For the first time, law-enforcement officers from all five of Turkmenistan's provinces plus Ashgabat gathered for a Department of Justice International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) tra [...] |
2008-01-02 11:02:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EAID KJUS KCRM TX |
| 08ASHGABAT300 |
TURKMENISTAN: UKRAINIAN INDUSTRIALIST MENDS [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: With a series of diplomatic and commercial forays in January and February, the Ukrainian government appeared to be aggressively working to resolve contractual issues that have stalled its relations with Turkmen [...] |
2008-03-04 11:38:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL ECON EINV UP TX |
| 08ASHGABAT301 |
TURKMENISTAN: PRESIDENT FIRES PROSECUTOR [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: During a series of three meetings -- a meeting of the National Security Council, an expanded meeting of the National Security Council and a Cabinet of Ministers meeting -- on March 3, Turkmenistan's President Be [...] |
2008-03-04 12:25:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV EAGR EPET MARR TX |
| 08ASHGABAT303 |
TURKMENISTAN: USTDA EXPLORES OPPORTUNITIES [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: In an effort to explore the potential for using U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) programs to promote U.S. equipment manufacturer sales to Turkmenistan, a USTDA delegation met with Turkmen Motor Roads Stat [...] |
2008-03-05 11:39:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PINR EAGR ECON EIND ELTN IR TX |
| 08ASHGABAT304 |
TURKMENISTAN: UNSC ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 1803 ON IRAN [...] No summary [...] |
2008-03-05 12:40:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PARM KNNP MNUC IR TX |
| 08ASHGABAT306 |
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE OIC DELIVERED [...] No summary [...] |
2008-03-06 05:08:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT308 |
TURKMENISTAN: 2008 FISCAL TRANSPARENCY REPORT [...] 1) Information on country whose central government receives foreign assistance from the United States: Turkmenistan. The death of former President-for-Life Saparmyrat Niyazov on December 21, 2006, offered a new opportunity to engage the Government of Turkmenistan on a number of issue [...] |
2008-03-06 06:45:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV EAID ECON PREL TX |
| 08ASHGABAT309 |
TURKMENISTAN: PROGRESS TOWARD CURRENCY RATE [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) It appears that Turkmen government officials have decided to slow down progress toward the planned 2009 unification of the country's dual exchange rate. Resident Deutsche Bank Head told UK Charge that he had been informed [...] |
2008-03-06 10:29:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL ECON EFIN TX |
| 08ASHGABAT311 |
DESIGNATION OF FOUR ABU GHADIYAH NETWORK MEMBERS DELIVERED [...] No summary [...] |
2008-03-06 11:25:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN KTFN PTER PREL TX |
| 08ASHGABAT312 |
TURKMENISTAN: ACTIVIST'S LETTER TO [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Civil society activist Natalya Shabunts published via Internet a long letter she sent to Turkmenistan's President Berdimuhamedov, criticizing the government for its failure to protect and care for Turkmenistan' [...] |
2008-03-06 12:32:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM SOCI KDEM TX |
| 08ASHGABAT316 |
TURKMENISTAN: RESIDENTS OF DEMOLISHED HOMES [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) Formerly, when Turkmenistan government officials wanted to tear down housing blocks to replace them with more modern white marble buildings, they simply ordered residents to leave -- often with only three days' notice -- an [...] |
2008-03-07 10:14:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM ECON TX |
| 08ASHGABAT317 |
TURKMENISTAN CONSIDERS NATIONAL ANTI-MONEY [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: At a World Bank-sponsored anti-money laundering workshop, international and regional experts focused on the need for innovation, information technology, annual reviews, and international contact networks in discu [...] |
2008-03-07 10:29:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EFIN EAID SNAR RS TX |
| 08ASHGABAT318 |
TURKMENISTAN: PRESIDENT REWARDS MOTHERS TO PROMOTE [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: On March 3, President Berdimuhamedov established a new award giving women who have at least eight children about $250 and some free services. While the award seems to be focused on helping to reverse Turkmenistan' [...] |
2008-03-07 10:31:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ECON SOCI TX |
| 08ASHGABAT319 |
TURKMENISTAN: REVIEWING G/TIP PROJECT PROPOSAL [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) The Ashgabat office of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) submitted a project proposal on Combating Trafficking in Persons in Turkmenistan: Prevention, Protection and Capacity Building in response to a requ [...] |
2008-03-07 13:37:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM SOCI KCRM KWMN 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT323 |
TURKMENISTAN: ANOTHER NEW IDEOLOGY? WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME? [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: In January, President Berdimuhamedov announced his new "Great Revival Epoch" ideology, based on the principle of "government for the people." The new ideology claims to guide developmental reforms that Berdimuha [...] |
2008-03-10 10:24:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV SOCI KDEM TX |
| 08ASHGABAT324 |
TURKMENISTAN: WEEKEND INSPECTIONS LEAD TO SHOP [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) Over the weekend of March 1-2, Embassy officers noticed that some private shops at some of the larger markets were closed or sealed for inspection, especially shops selling imported alcohol, tobacco, and other luxury goods. [...] |
2008-03-10 11:29:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ECON SOCI TX |
| 08ASHGABAT325 |
TURKMENISTAN: PSI FIFTH ANNIVERSARY: OFFICIAL INVITATION [...] No summary [...] |
2008-03-10 11:37:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM PREL KNNP KSTC TX |
| 08ASHGABAT326 |
TURKMENISTAN: FIRST PHASE OF USTDA TRAINING A [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (U) Two officials from Turkmenistan's State Agency for Management and Use of Hydrocarbon Resources, including the deputy and another high-ranking official, were extremely enthusiastic about the just-completed first phase of USTDA [...] |
2008-03-10 11:41:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV EPET EAID TX |
| 08ASHGABAT327 |
TURKMENISTAN: PRESIDENT VISITS SOUTH YOLOTEN AND OSMAN [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: On March 4 President Berdimuhamedov visited the South Yoloten and Osman onshore oil and gas fields. According to Turkmenistan media reports, the field has a potential of 3 trillion cubic meters of gas. The timin [...] |
2008-03-10 13:06:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL EPET PGOV TX |
| 08ASHGABAT328 |
TURKMENISTAN: LACKING DIPLOMATIC STATUS, EUROPA HOUSE NOT [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: On April 9, the European Union is scheduled to officially open a "Europa House" to support its programs and projects in Turkmenistan. Due to European Commission member states' concerns about Turkmenistan's human r [...] |
2008-03-12 03:13:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EAID EU TX |
| 08ASHGABAT329 |
TURKMENISTAN: LEGAL DATABASE PROJECT STOKES COMPETITION [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Internal competition to compile a legal database seems to have broken out among several government entities, spurred probably by a desire to get credit for fulfilling a high government priority and at least in par [...] |
2008-03-12 03:13:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM PREL EAID KDEM 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT330 |
TURKMENISTAN: POSITIVE START TO THE U.S.-TURKISH [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: USAID Country Representative met on March 11 with Turkish International Development Agency (TIKA) Coordinator in Turkmenistan and the Turkish Embassy in Ashgabat's Deputy Chief of Mission to explore and identify p [...] |
2008-03-12 03:14:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PHUM EAID KDEM TU TX |
| 08ASHGABAT331 |
TURKMENISTAN: COOPERATION WITH INSTITUTE FOR DEMOCRACY [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (U) SUMMARY: Over the past two weeks, USAID Country Representative has met with the Director of the Institute for Democracy and Human Rights to finalize areas of cooperation that were discussed in previous meetings. USAID noted [...] |
2008-03-12 05:54:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PHUM EAID KDEM TX |
| 08ASHGABAT332 |
TURKMENISTAN: POTENTIAL OF THE PETROCHEMICALS INDUSTRY [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Turkmenistan has decided to enter the petrochemical sector by building a new refinery and oil and gas cracker at a Soviet-era, white-elephant refinery in eastern Turkmenistan that never did reach its full producti [...] |
2008-03-12 06:15:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EPET EINV 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT334 |
TURKMENISTAN: BERDIMUHAMEDOV BONDS WITH KARIMOV [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: According to official press reports, President Berdimuhamedov's official visit to Uzbekistan was a foreign policy success, during which he established a positive working relationship with President Karimov. The [...] |
2008-03-12 12:01:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL ETRD TX UZ |
| 08ASHGABAT336 |
TURKMENISTAN: FALSE STORY ON IRC FURTHER REDUCES OPPO [...] (SBU) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Russian-language opposition website that originated the now infamous cockroach-results-in-mass-firings story (reftel), "Kronika Turkmenistana," has now featured the Embassy's Information Resource Center (IRC [...] |
2008-03-12 12:51:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM PREL PROP KPAO 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT34 |
TURKMENISTAN: FOREIGN MINISTER WANTS DETAILED [...] (S) SUMMARY: Charge met for an hour January 8 with Foreign Minister Rashit Meredov (other issues reported septel). Meredov dismissed his notetaker and said he wanted to have a totally frank conversation. He intimated relations with Azerbaijan -- including the issue of bilateral Caspian del [...] |
2008-01-08 12:22:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | SECRET | PGOV PREL EPET AZ TX |
| 08ASHGABAT343 |
TURKMENISTAN: MINISTER OF OIL AND GAS DISCUSSES [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Minister of Oil and Gas Baymurat Hojamuhamedov told a U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) consultant on March 11 that his Ministry is eager to establish a petrochemical industry to receive higher value for [...] |
2008-03-14 12:14:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV EPET EAID 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT347 |
TURKMENISTAN'S NEW STATE COUNTERNARCOTICS SERVICE [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: While wearing his colonel uniform -- and a new patch from the newly-formed State Counternarcotics Service, which he heads -- Murad Islamov said in a meeting with Embassy representatives on March 11 that the United [...] |
2008-03-17 11:58:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PINR EAID SNAR TX |
| 08ASHGABAT348 |
TURKMENISTAN: LIMITED BANDWIDTH AND PRICE HINDER PROGRESS [...] Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Over a year into reforms under President Berdimuhamedov, Internet access for ordinary citizens is still limited. Despite the President's early steps towards providing Internet cafes and his statements that all citize [...] |
2008-03-17 12:27:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM ECON SOCI KPAO 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT351 |
EXERCISE PLANNING GROUP (EPG) OF THE GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO [...] No summary [...] |
2008-03-18 06:07:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PARM TX |
| 08ASHGABAT352 |
TURKMENISTAN RESPONDS TO QUERY ON HAGUE CODE OF [...] Turkmenistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 17 under cover of a diplomatic note forwarded a letter from Minister of Defense Agageldi Mammetgeldiyev responding to Ref A request urging the Government of Turkmenistan to submit its Hague Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferati [...] |
2008-03-18 09:00:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PARM MNUC ETTC TX |
| 08ASHGABAT354 |
TURKMENISTAN: NEIGHBORS APPEAR TO COOPERATE AT [...] Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (U) SUMMARY: At an OSCE conference on maritime security and environmental cooperation, participants attended presentations on ecological, transit, and trafficking/smuggling issues. The EU said that its "Special Strategy for Centra [...] |
2008-03-18 11:42:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PBTS EWWT SENV TX |
| 08ASHGABAT355 |
TURKMENISTAN: POSITIVE TRENDS IN STATE MEDIA ENVIRONMENT [...] Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU). SUMMARY: State Media's coverage of Embassy events and visitors has become almost routine with levels of propaganda or pro-regime "spin" dropping slowly over the last year. Recent coverage is evidence of this continuing trend [...] |
2008-03-18 12:37:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL SCUL KPAO 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT359 |
TURKMENISTAN: MEAT MATTERS - GOVERNMENT LOSES THE PRICE [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The government's efforts to use price caps to keep meat prices from rising following the introduction in mid-February of higher gasoline prices have failed. Several weeks of shenanigans between meat vendors and t [...] |
2008-03-20 03:53:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ECON SOCI TX |
| 08ASHGABAT361 |
TURKMENISTAN: COUNTERNARCOTICS COORDINATION [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) Executive Secretary of the State Counternarcotics Coordinating Commission Babaniyaz Chariyev told the embassy's INLOff and INL Assistant on the fringes of the World Bank Anti-Money Laundering workshop (reftel) that he would [...] |
2008-03-20 11:51:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EAID SNAR 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT367 |
TURKMENISTAN: ITALIAN ENVOY ADMITS ENI IN HOT [...] (U) Senistive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) Italian MFA Coordinator and Special Envoy for Central Asia Paolo Serpi met March 20 with the Charge to discuss Serpi's most recent visit. He said he had come to Ashgabat to sign an agreement on cooperation between the two [...] |
2008-03-24 12:42:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL ECON EPET TX |
| 08ASHGABAT369 |
TURKMENISTAN: PRESIDENT SIGNS NEW LAW ON FOREIGN [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on March 17 unveiled a new government program to promote domestic entrepreneural development and foreign investment, including substantial changes to Turkmenistan [...] |
2008-03-24 13:06:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV EINV BTIO KIRF TX |
| 08ASHGABAT370 |
TURKMENISTAN: TAKING STEPS TOWARD A MARKET ECONOMY [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (U) SUMMARY: On March 17 President Berdimuhamedov delivered a policy statement on the Government of Turkmenistan's support of advancing entrepreneurship and foreign investment. To solidify his statements on improving the busine [...] |
2008-03-25 04:44:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ECON EINV TX |
| 08ASHGABAT371 |
NON-PAPER ON IMPLEMENTING THE DUAL-USE ITEM PROVISION OF UN [...] No summary [...] |
2008-03-25 08:08:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED | KNNP PARM MNUC PREL 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT375 |
TURKMENISTAN: ANOTHER VIEW INTO THE KALEIDOSCOPE [...] (S) SUMMARY: According to a nearly two-decade Western observer and insider, -- Foreign Minister Meredov's role has become more complicated because he has made some powerful enemies in the past year, and because Berdimuhamedov allegedly relies on him now less for advice because he feels mor [...] |
2008-03-25 12:19:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | SECRET | PGOV PREL PINR RS EU TX |
| 08ASHGABAT377 |
TURKMENISTAN: NEW TAX CODE FOSTERS FOREIGN ASSISTANCE [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (U) SUMMARY: On March 17 President Berdimuhamedov passed a law amending the Tax Code of Turkmenistan for the sixth time since he is in office. The March 17 amendments are the most numerous and significant so far. The majority o [...] |
2008-03-26 10:20:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV EAID ECON EFIN EPET 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT38 |
TURKMENISTAN: UPDATE ON OIL AND GASS DEVELOPMENTS SINCE [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. CASPIAN LITTORAL PIPELINE: FINANCIAL DETAILS STILL UNCLEAR 2. (SBU) On December 20, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Russia signed an agreement to build a natural gas pipeline along the Caspian coast line. However, none of the three [...] |
2008-01-08 17:46:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EPET TX |
| 08ASHGABAT380 |
TURKMENISTAN: COMMERCIAL SEX WORKERS SHOW SIGNIFICANT [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: An unpublished report on "Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Survey on HIV/AIDS and Drug Use Among Sex Workers in Turkmenistan" prepared in 2007 by the UN Development Program (UNDP) with the support of the Ministry [...] |
2008-03-26 12:12:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV EAID SOCI KHIV TX |
| 08ASHGABAT382 |
TURKMENISTAN: NO VIRUSES (OR COCKROACHES) - POST CORRECTS [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Public Affairs Section has begun a productive dialog with the Turkmen opposition website that carried inaccurate information (Ref A) about post's Information Resource Center (IRC). This website also originated [...] |
2008-03-27 09:24:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PINR PHUM SCUL KPAO TX |
| 08ASHGABAT383 |
TURKMENISTAN: WESTERN CULTURE RETURNS [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: To enforce his vision of "positive neutrality" in Turkmenistan and the uniqueness of Turkmen culture, former President Niyazov severely limited public expression of international culture, including the Russian (Sov [...] |
2008-03-27 09:55:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PHUM SCUL KPAO TX |
| 08ASHGABAT384 |
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE SPECIAL ENVOY FOR MANPADS THREAT [...] No summary [...] |
2008-03-27 11:48:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PARM TX |
| 08ASHGABAT385 |
TURKMENISTAN: WORLD BANK DISCUSSES COOPERATION [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: During a recent conversation with the local World Bank representative in Ashgabat, he said the World Bank's Payment Systems Unit wants to coordinate better with other donors on some technical assistance projects i [...] |
2008-03-27 11:59:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV EAID ECON EFIN TX |
| 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT388 |
TURKMENISTAN/TURKEY: ENERGY WAS THE KEY ISSUE [...] (S) SUMMARY: Turkish Ambassador Hakki Akil told the Charge on March 28, -- the key issue discussed during President Berdimuhamedov's March 24-25 visit to Turkey was energy, both with President Gul and Prime Minister Erdogan; -- Berdimuhamedov is prepared to sell to Turkey up to 20 bcm/y [...] |
2008-03-28 10:44:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | SECRET | PGOV PREL EPET RS AJ TU TX |
| 08ASHGABAT389 |
TURKMENISTAN: CARICC OFFICIALS URGE DEA PRESENCE [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: March 26 meetings with Turkmenistani counter-narcotics officials went very well, the Acting Director of the newly established (counter-narcotics) Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Center (CARICC) [...] |
2008-03-28 11:25:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL SNAR UNAUS RS KZ TX |
| 08ASHGABAT39 |
TURKMENISTAN: USAID MISSION DIRECTOR VISITS DASHOGUZ [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (U) SUMMARY: During his December 17 meeting with USAID Regional Mission Director Bill Frej, a warm and cordial Dashoguz First Deputy Governor Atajykov thanked Frej for USAID's support for private enterprise in Dashoguz province a [...] |
2008-01-09 11:37:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL TX |
| 08ASHGABAT390 |
TURKMENISTAN'S RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOCUSES ON [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (U) SUMMARY: The long-awaited National Program on Rural Development finally became public in March 2008. The Government of Turkmenistan plans to spend $3.661 billion on development in the provinces between 2008-2020. Each prov [...] |
2008-03-28 12:28:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ECON TX |
| 08ASHGABAT396 |
TURKMENISTAN: GOOD TONE IN MEETING WITH EDUCATION [...] (SBU) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Charge's March 25 meeting with Minster of Education Muhammetgeldi Annaamanov, although cordial and cooperative in tone, did not result in any breakthroughs for education cooperation. Although there was ampl [...] |
2008-03-28 13:48:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL SCUL KPAO TX |
| 08ASHGABAT398 |
SENIOR ROUNDTABLE FOR WOMEN'S JUSTICE DEMARCHE [...] No summary [...] |
2008-03-31 08:32:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL KWIM KPAO TX |
| 08ASHGABAT40 |
TURKMENISTAN: USAID MISSION DIRECTOR VISITS MARY [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (U) SUMMARY: On December 15, USAID/CAR Regional Mission Director Bill Frej met with recently appointed Mary Provincial Governor Kakageldi Gurbanov and visited a local farmers' organization that has partnered with several USAID pr [...] |
2008-01-09 11:38:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL TX |
| 08ASHGABAT401 |
TURKMENISTAN: MFA PROTESTS IRANIAN ACCUSATION OF [...] (U) According to press reports, the Iranian press attache in Dushanbe announced on March 26 the arrival of 28 tanker trucks of fuel oil and diesel fuel as part of a larger tranche of humanitarian aid Iran was delivering to Tajikistan, which had been sent during the winter to help the Tajiks [...] |
2008-03-31 10:43:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL IR TI TX |
| 08ASHGABAT402 |
TURKMENISTAN: CIVIL SOCIETY ACTIVIST SAYS HER [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) PolOff recently met with civil society activist Natalya Anurova-Shabunts, the co-director of a center that assists the disabled in Ashgabat. She was the author of a lengthy but well-thought-out letter sent to President Be [...] |
2008-03-31 10:43:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT407 |
TURKMENISTAN: MSG DETACHMENT: REQUEST FOR [...] (SBU) This is an action request. See para six below. 2. (S) On March 20, Embassy Ashgabat received a diplomatic note of the same date concerning defensive weapons possessed by the Marine Security Guard detachment. The diplomatic note makes the following key points (see para eight below f [...] |
2008-04-01 10:49:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | SECRET | PGOV PREL ASEC 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT409 |
TURKEMNISTAN: ILKINJILER FARMERS ASSOCIATION [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The Ilkinjiler Farmer's Association is an organization for farmers engaged in private farming. Ilkinjiler managers -- all three alumni of the Cochran Farmer-to-Farmer Program -- told EmbOff March 27 that they are seeing some improvement in their relationship with the governmen [...] |
2008-04-02 05:47:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PREL PHUM ECON EAGR 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT412 |
TURKMENISTAN'S GAS CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION FAILS TO [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Acting on President Berdimuhamedov's instruction to have more exhibitions, Turkmenistani state petroleum agencies decided to hold three separate events in 2008 -- on gas, on oil, and one comprehensive exhibition an [...] |
2008-04-02 09:32:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EPET TX |
| 08ASHGABAT413 |
TURKMENISTAN: LEBAP PROVINCE DEVELOPING, BUT [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Government officials in Lebap Province, bordering Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, are sagging under an array of tasks they have been given to facilitate rural and economic development. Hampered by limited implementa [...] |
2008-04-02 12:22:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ECON EAGR TX |
| 08ASHGABAT414 |
INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT CONFERENCE ON AFGANISTAN: PARIS, [...] No summary [...] |
2008-04-02 13:03:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID ECON EFIN KDEM PGOV PREL 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT417 |
TURKMENISTAN ENERGY: EU TROIKA, LONDON CONFERENCE [...] (S) SUMMARY: As evidenced by the cancelled energy session during the upcoming EU Troika Central Asian Ministerial in Ashgabat (ref A), Turkmenistan is increasingly skittish, even secretive, about discussing Caspian energy issues where it cannot strictly control the agenda and content of the [...] |
2008-04-03 11:39:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | SECRET | PGOV PREL EPET EU RS IR AJ 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT421 |
TURKMENISTAN: TURKMENABAT CHRISTIAN CHURCH FACES [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Registration in 2007 appears to have given a small minority Christian church in Turkmenabat some taste of normalcy, but it appears that members of this church will still face an uphill battle with cultural biase [...] |
2008-04-03 12:41:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM KIRF TX |
| 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT423 |
IRAN: IMPLEMENTING THE TRAVEL BAN AND TRAVEL VIGILANCE [...] No summary [...] |
2008-04-03 13:07:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL KNNP MNUC UNSC IR TX |
| 08ASHGABAT426 |
TURKMENISTAN: NOT INTENDING TO SEND [...] No summary [...] |
2008-04-04 12:40:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PTER PARM MCAP TX |
| 08ASHGABAT427 |
TURKMENISTAN: DEVELOPMENT VISIBLE IN LEBAP [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: PolOff toured Turkmenabat city and environs extensively on March 31, as well as visited the banks of the Amu Darya and the Farap border crossing point with Uzbekistan. Turkmenabat's infrastructure is clearly be [...] |
2008-04-04 12:56:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ECON SOCI TX |
| 08ASHGABAT429 |
TURKMENISTAN: THE FEMALE "STREET NINJAS" OF ASHGABAT [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Every day, an army of Turkmen women, in bright orange traffic vests and with their heads and faces wrapped in scarves, descend on the capital's streets and public sites to carefully sweep away Ashgabat's omnipresen [...] |
2008-04-07 08:08:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ECON ELAB SOCI SNAR KWMN TX |
| 08ASHGABAT430 |
TURKMENISTAN: NEW TRANSPARENCY IN DISCUSSING [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: On April 2, the state-owned, Russian-language daily, "Neytralniy Turkmenistan," prominently featured on page 2 an article written by the Deputy Head of Macroeconomic Analysis and Forecast at Turkmenistan's newly [...] |
2008-04-07 08:31:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ECON TX |
| 08ASHGABAT431 |
TOWN MEETING TURKMEN-STYLE [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The administration of a building where foreigners and well-off Turkmen reside recently decided to hold a town meeting to inform residents of a switch from private satellite dishes to communal cable TV. Since thi [...] |
2008-04-07 08:47:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ECON SOCI 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT435 |
TURKMENISTAN'S PRESIDENT BERDIMUHAMEDOV MAKES THE [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: President Berdimuhamedov's trip to Bucharest April 2-3 for the NATO summit appears to have been a success, both in terms of promoting Turkmenistan's image as an engaged player on the world stage, and in confirmi [...] |
2008-04-07 12:30:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL ECON MARR NATO 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT438 |
TURKMENISTAN: STATE MEDIA HIGHLIGHT BUSH-BERDIMUHAMEDOV [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (U) SUMMARY: State media prominently highlighted the April 3 meeting between President Bush and Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov at the NATO Summit in Bucharest to demonstrate Turkmenistan's growing internation [...] |
2008-04-08 12:52:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV SCUL KPAO TX |
| 08ASHGABAT439 |
TURKMENISTAN: INDIA SEEKING TO REINVIGORATE ITS [...] (SBU) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: India and Turkmenistan took yet another step toward reenergizing their bilateral relationship with the April 4-6 visit of India's Vice President Hamid Ansari to Turkmenistan. During the visit, Turkmenistan's P [...] |
2008-04-09 06:28:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL ECON EPET IN 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT440 |
TURKMENISTAN: STATE MEDIA COVER U.S. EXCHANGE PROGRAMS, [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (U) SUMMARY: Recent state media coverage of Embassy-sponsored events or programs continues to improve with relatively better coverage of U.S. Government programs and activities in Turkmenistan with slightly better success than b [...] |
2008-04-09 09:05:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV SCUL KPAO TX |
| 08ASHGABAT45 |
TURKMENISTAN: BITTER COLD SNAP KNOCKS ASHGABAT FOR [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Severe cold weather hit Ashgabat and the rest of Central Asia on January 6, and has been challenging the government's ability to keep the city up and operating. The weather has been causing damage to the city's in [...] |
2008-01-10 06:24:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV SOCI TX |
| 08ASHGABAT452 |
TURKMENISTAN: MEETING DIRECTLY WITH MINISTER OF EDUCATION [...] (SBU) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: In a follow-up to Charge's recent meeting with the Minister of Education (Ref. A), PAO gave a tailored presentation on U.S. Government-funded programs that send Turkmen students to two American-style universitie [...] |
2008-04-11 06:45:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL SCUL KPAO 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT455 |
TURKMENISTAN: SCENESETTER FOR U/S REUBEN [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Embassy Ashgabat warmly welcomes your visit to Turkmenistan as an important opportunity to advance our bilateral dialogue on energy and economic reform issues. President Bush met briefly with President Gurbanguly [...] |
2008-04-11 12:07:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL ECON EPET 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT457 |
TURKMENISTAN: THE FIELD OF POTENTIAL FOREIGN OIL [...] (C) SUMMARY: With two exceptions, Turkmenistan's record of dealing with foreign petroleum companies remains sharply bifurcated between the second-tier companies present in Turkmenistan since former President Niyazov's time and the others that are standing in line to complete new agreements n [...] |
2008-04-11 13:14:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | SECRET | PREL PGOV EINV EPET 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT468 |
TURKMENISTAN: AMCIT GROUP FREELANCES ASSISTANCE [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) Members of the AmCit group, Friends of the Turkmen, were recently in Turkmenistan to meet with Turkmen officials and offer assistance (Ref. A). The group met with officials at the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Health, E [...] |
2008-04-14 12:16:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EAID SOCI TX |
| 08ASHGABAT469 |
TURKMEN-AFGHAN ENERGY DIALOGUE - PROTOCOL A BREAKTHOUGH ON [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public internet. 2. (U) SUMMARY: Following intensive meetings on April 8-9, officials from Turkmenistan's Ministry of Energy and Industry (MOEI) and Afghanistan's Ministry of Energy and Water (MEW) signed a landmark agreement to supply additional 3 [...] |
2008-04-15 10:02:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EAID ENRG AF TX |
| 08ASHGABAT47 |
PREPARING FOR THE 2008 CENTRAL ASIA TIFA [...] No summary [...] |
2008-01-10 10:35:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON BTIO PREL 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT473 |
BAHRAIN ENDORSES GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO COMBAT NUCLEAR [...] No summary [...] |
2008-04-15 12:05:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM PREL PTER DTRA KGIC KNNP BA TX |
| 08ASHGABAT474 |
TURKMENISTAN: PRESIDENT TRIES TO KICK-START [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on April 14 held a marathon cabinet meeting at which he announced a number of new initiatives in the economic/financial, media, and construction sectors directed toward accelerating reform. Most significantly, he ordered a one-year process [...] |
2008-04-15 12:32:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EAID ECON EFIN SCUL TX |
| 08ASHGABAT477 |
DATE AND MEETING DETAILS FOR A GLOBAL INITIATIVE [...] No summary [...] |
2008-04-15 14:05:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER KGIC PARM PREL TX |
| 08ASHGABAT478 |
TURKMENISTAN: MFA RESPONDS AFFIRMATIVELY TO PSI [...] No summary [...] |
2008-04-16 08:35:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL KNNP KSTC PARM TX |
| 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT48 |
TURKMENISTAN: BAN ON IMPORTED CHICKEN [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Charge conveyed to Turkmenistan's Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations on January 9 the reftel demarche requesting Turkmenistan lift its ban on importating U.S. poultry products. The officials did not [...] |
2008-01-10 12:24:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV EAGR ECON ETRD TX |
| 08ASHGABAT481 |
TURKMENISTAN: OSCE NATIONAL MINORITIES EXPERT [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: An OSCE expert on national minorities was in Ashgabat April 16 to try to initiate a dialogue with Turkmen officials on minority education. The government appears to have given the OSCE the cold shoulder on this [...] |
2008-04-17 05:35:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PHUM SCUL OSCE TX |
| 08ASHGABAT482 |
TURKMENISTAN/EU TROIKA-CENTRAL ASIA: BEHIND THE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Briefing on the April 9-10 EU Troika-Central Asia Ministerial in Ashgabat, French Ambassador Christian Lechervy (strictly protect throughout) -- lamented the region's lack of cohesion and common interests, as well as Kazakhstan's "arrogance"; -- criticized EU Commissioner fo [...] |
2008-04-17 08:33:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | SECRET | PREL PHUM PINR EPET RS FR IR ZK TX |
| 08ASHGABAT483 |
TURKMENISTAN: U.S. COMPANY TO ERECT WORLD'S [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. PRESIDENT 2. (SBU) Turkmenistan is home to the world's biggest carpet -- a fact certified by the Guinness Book of World Records and not particularly surprising given the world renown of Turkmen carpets. Soon, [...] |
2008-04-17 09:32:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL ECON ETRD SCUL TU AJ TX |
| 08ASHGABAT485 |
TURKMENISTAN'S CURRENCY RE-DENOMINATION; EXCHANGE RATE [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (U) SUMMARY: On April 14 President Berdimuhamedov signed a decree that spells out more details about the forthcoming re-denomination of Turkmenistan's currency -- the manat - first announced on September 11, 2007. The re-denomin [...] |
2008-04-17 11:42:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN PGOV TX |
| 08ASHGABAT488 |
TECHNOCRATS AND GENERALISTS IN TURKMENISTAN'S PETROLEUM [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: As Turkmenistan reforms its oil and gas industry, two principally different development strategies exist among the country's hydrocarbon leadership. One school of thought -- the technocrats -- places primary empha [...] |
2008-04-17 12:17:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR PREL EPET SOCI 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT492 |
TURKMENISTAN: AHAL PROVINCE PASTOR OPTIMISTIC AS CHURCH [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) During a visit to cities in Ahal province to the west of Ashgabat, PAO met with the pastor of the Light of Life Christian Church's branch in Abadan city. The Abadan branch of the church applied for registration as a religi [...] |
2008-04-18 12:07:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM KIRF SOCI TX |
| 08ASHGABAT495 |
TURKMENISTAN: AHAL PROVINCE FARMERS EKE OUT A PROFIT [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Private farmers in Ahal province are chafing under state controls and regulations that mandate they dedicate much of their acreage to certain crops rather than to crops of their own choosing. They consistently tel [...] |
2008-04-22 03:33:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV EAGR EAID ECON TX |
| 08ASHGABAT496 |
TURKMENISTAN: MUSLIM TOUR GUIDE AT GYPJAK MOSQUE [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: A visit to the Gypjak Mosque revealed that at least one of the Muslim religious students charged by the government to show visitors around such official government mosques may be showing signs of a more fervent [...] |
2008-04-22 05:06:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM SOCI KIRF TX |
| 08ASHGABAT497 |
TURKMENISTAN: NEXT STEPS IN U.S.-TURKISH DIALOGUE [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Following working-level meetings with counterparts at the Turkish International Development Agency (TIKA), USAID requested meetings on April 16-17 with two Deputy Ministers of Health and Medical Industry to identif [...] |
2008-04-22 07:49:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PHUM EAID KDEM TX |
| 08ASHGABAT498 |
TURKMENISTAN: INSTITUTE FOR DEMOCRACY HOLDS CONFERENCE ON [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (U) SUMMARY: On April 3-4, USAID partner International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) co-organized a seminar on international legislation governing public organizations with Turkmenistan's Institute for Democracy and Human [...] |
2008-04-22 07:49:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PHUM EAID KDEM TX |
| 08ASHGABAT499 |
TURKMENISTAN: INSTITUTE FOR DEMOCRACY SEES ICNL AND USAID [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Following an April 4 conference on NGO legislation jointly hosted by the International Center for Not-for-profit-Law (ICNL) and Turkmenistan's Institute for Democracy and Human Rights (IDHR), the Institute's direc [...] |
2008-04-22 07:49:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PHUM EAID KDEM KIRF TX |
| 08ASHGABAT5 |
TURKMENISTAN: ARRANGED MARRIAGES MAKE A COMEBACK, BUT [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: In Turkmenistan, a traditional country where most women still marry rather than face the social stigma from remaining single, women's rights are closely linked to marriage customs. Although the pre-Soviet custom of [...] |
2008-01-02 12:46:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM ECON SOCI TX |
| 08ASHGABAT501 |
TURKMENISTAN: RFE/RL REPORTER'S FAMILY [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: RFE/RL reporter Gulychdurdiyev's son was finally married on April 21, but not before the family engaged in some creative maneuvering to outsmart authorities bent on ruining the wedding. Despite officials' meddl [...] |
2008-04-22 11:09:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM KPAO 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT503 |
DISCOURAGING RUSSIA FROM UPGRADING RELATIONS WITH ABKHAZIA [...] No summary [...] |
2008-04-22 12:10:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL GG RS TX |
| 08ASHGABAT506 |
URGING TURKMENISTAN TO SUPPORT U.S. PROPOSAL FOR A REVIEW [...] No summary [...] |
2008-04-23 11:49:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL GG RS 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT508 |
TURKMENISTAN'S SUPREME AUDIT CHAMBER: CHARGED [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Turkmenistan's GAO-like Supreme Auditing Chamber was created in August 2007 to oversee use of the country's resources. A meeting on April 14 revealed that Chamber employees are interested in how their counterparts [...] |
2008-04-23 13:08:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL ECON EFIN TX |
| 08ASHGABAT509 |
IRANIAN DIPLOMAT PUBLICLY HARANGUES TURKMENISTAN FOR POOR [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: During an April 22 Trade Facilitation workshop held in Ashgabat for Central Asian agencies involved in border control and trade, an Iranian diplomat made a 5-minute harangue criticizing the Government of Turkmenis [...] |
2008-04-24 03:58:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL ETRD SNAR IR 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT514 |
TURKMENISTAN: GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO BUILD ELITE [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (U) SUMMARY: At the April 14 Cabinet of Ministers session, President Berdimuhamedov approved $575 million in construction projects, including 1,764 elite apartments that must be completed by February 2010. Although the presiden [...] |
2008-04-25 07:31:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ECON EINV BEXP TX |
| 08ASHGABAT519 |
NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY (NPT) PREPARATORY [...] No summary [...] |
2008-04-25 08:05:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL NPT TX |
| 08ASHGABAT520 |
TURKMENISTAN: UPDATED SCHEDULE OF FLIGHT OF [...] No summary [...] |
2008-04-25 10:34:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | SECRET | PARM PREL KNNP KN SY |
| 08ASHGABAT521 |
TURKMENISTAN: CHRISTIAN PASTOR DETAINED FOR [...] No summary [...] |
2008-04-25 10:38:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM KIRF TX |
| 08ASHGABAT522 |
TURKMENISTAN: SPECIAL 301 - 2008 [...] No summary [...] |
2008-04-25 13:20:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD KIPR 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT525 |
TURKMENISTAN: INTERBUDMONTAZH [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: On April 22, 2008 Turkmenistan announced its intention to take Ukrainian construction company Interbudmontazh to court for failing to fulfill the terms of a major tunnel construction contract. President Berdimuha [...] |
2008-04-28 06:05:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV BEXP PGOV TX |
| 08ASHGABAT526 |
TURKMENISTAN: MEDIA COVERAGE OF UNDER SECRETARY REUBEN [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (U) SUMMARY: International and domestic state media accurately covered Under Secretary of State Reuben Jeffery's April 21-22 visit to Turkmenistan. The accurate state media coverage reflects the Turkmen government's continued c [...] |
2008-04-28 06:44:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL SCUL KPAO TX |
| 08ASHGABAT527 |
TURKMENISTAN'S PRESIDENT TO VISIT BAKU, SEEK [...] (S) SUMMARY: President Berdimuhamedov has asked the United States to play a watchful and helpful role as he negotiates with Azerbaijan's President Aliyev to establish a bilateral Caspian Sea commercial venture that would allow Turkmenistan's natural gas to flow Westward to Europe, bypassing [...] |
2008-04-28 08:02:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | SECRET | PGOV PREL EPET RS AJ TX |
| 08ASHGABAT529 |
AFTER THREATS TO CANCEL, TURKMENISTAN HOSTS REGIONAL TRADE [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Turkmenistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) neglected to follow up appropriately during the process of organizing the EU-UNDP Border Management and Drug Actions Programs in Central Asia (BOMCA/CADAP) workshop [...] |
2008-04-28 11:35:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL ETRD SNAR IR TX |
| 08ASHGABAT530 |
TURKMENISTAN: ENGINEER AT CATERPILLAR [...] (S) A Russian citizen engineer, who worked for Zeppelin, the company that represents Caterpillar in Turkmenistan, was convicted of child pornography and deported on April 23, according to German Ambassador Hans Mondorf and EU-TACIS Advisor Michael Wilson. When the engineer was first arrested [...] |
2008-04-28 12:19:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | SECRET | PREL ECON ETRD SOCI KCRM TX |
| 08ASHGABAT531 |
TURKMENISTAN: PARLIAMENT REQUESTS INPUT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Representatives from USAID's local governance implementing partners met with the Parliament and the Institute of Democracy and Human Rights on April 23-24 to discuss potential areas for cooperation. In a signific [...] |
2008-04-28 12:25:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM PREL EAID KDEM 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT533 |
USAID ECONOMIC GROWTH PROGRAMS WARMLY RECEIVED [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: April 16-22, a delegation led by USAID/CAR Economic Growth Office Director met with major Turkmen counterparts to discuss the status of USAID's Economic Growth programs in Turkmenistan. The Ministry of Energy and [...] |
2008-04-29 03:26:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EAID ECON ENRG TX |
| 08ASHGABAT534 |
TURKMENISTAN SIGNALS DESIRE TO MATCH OTHER CENTRAL ASIAN [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (U) SUMMARY: In response to a presentation by USAID on April 22, the Deputy Chairwoman of the Supreme Council on Science and Technology (SCST) voiced support for offical approval for the USAID-developed accounting training and pr [...] |
2008-04-29 05:01:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EAID TX |
| 08ASHGABAT536 |
TURKMENISTAN'S ETREK DISTRICT: WAITING FOR [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Burdened by an isolated location, poor roads and years of neglect from the center, Turkmenistan's Etrek District, located in western Turkmenistan on the border with Iran, has experienced little economic developmen [...] |
2008-04-29 09:11:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ECON EAGR SNAR PBTS PREL 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT538 |
TURKMENISTAN: BERDIMUHAMEDOV VISIT TO KABUL A [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Turkmenistan's president arrived April 28 for a one-day visit in Kabul. Although the two presidents see opportunities in an expanded relationship, the projects they are most interested in will require further c [...] |
2008-04-29 11:23:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PINR PREL ECON ENRG EPET AF TX |
| 08ASHGABAT546 |
RESPONSE: IMPACT OF RISING FOOD/COMMODITY PRICES - [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Turkmenistan relies heavily on imports of many basic foodstuffs. As a result of economic reforms in the country (including an 800% increase in gasoline prices), low domestic food production due to years of bad ag [...] |
2008-04-30 11:50:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAGR ECON ETRD PGOV TX |
| 08ASHGABAT55 |
TURKMENISTANL: AHAL TEKE TRIBE DOMINATES GOVERNMENT [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Examination of background information that is available on government leadership reinforces the widely-held notion that President Berdimuhamedov's Ahal Teke tribe dominates the senior levels of government. Members o [...] |
2008-01-14 07:57:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR ECON SOCI TX |
| 08ASHGABAT550 |
TURKMENISTAN: DISCONTENT IN DASHOGUZ PROVINCE [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Misery is on the rise in Dashoguz, a mid-sized city and important cotton producing center near the Uzbek border. Central government policies to raise gas prices and devalue the dollar have led to inflation and made l [...] |
2008-05-01 11:57:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV SCUL SOCI KPAO 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT554 |
U.S. DEMARCHE ON NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY (NPT) [...] No summary [...] |
2008-05-02 07:28:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG KNNP MNUC PARM PREL NPT IAEA TX |
| 08ASHGABAT558 |
TURKMENISTAN: SOCIAL ILLS WORSEN IN DASHOGUZ PROVINCE [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Life in Dashoguz, a mid-sized city with 100,000 residents close to the Uzbek border, has always been hard. The city and central governments favor Turkmen and offer limited opportunities for educational advancement [...] |
2008-05-02 12:43:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV SCUL SOCI KPAO TX |
| 08ASHGABAT559 |
TURKMENISTAN: REGISTRATION WOES FOR BAPTIST CHURCH IN [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) Turkmen Baptist Church of Dashoguz pastor Begjan Shirmedov says it is no easier trying to register his church under President Berdimuhamedov than former President Niyazov. More than two years ago, Shirmedov submitted paper [...] |
2008-05-02 12:54:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV SCUL SOCI KIRF TX |
| 08ASHGABAT560 |
TURKMENISTAN: REGISTRATION WOES FOR BAPTIST CHURCH IN [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) Turkmen Baptist Church of Dashoguz pastor Begjan Shirmedov says it is no easier trying to register his church under President Berdimuhamedov than former President Niyazov. More than two years ago, Shirmedov submitted paper [...] |
2008-05-02 12:54:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV SCUL SOCI KIRF TX |
| 08ASHGABAT561 |
TURKMENISTAN: REMOVING SATELLITE DISHES -- BAD [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) Since President Berdimuhamedov's late 2007 decision that privately-owned satellite dishes should be removed from the outside of apartment buildings in an effort to beautify the city, nervous residents have wondered what thi [...] |
2008-05-02 14:29:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV ECON SOCI TX |
| 08ASHGABAT562 |
TURKMENISTAN: PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE - COST OF [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) Just a day after Turkmenistan unified its dual currency exchange rate at 14,250 manats to the dollar (Ref A) -- a rate which many experts here thinks inflates the manat's real value against the dollar -- authorities seem pr [...] |
2008-05-02 14:52:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ECON EPET SOCI TX |
| 08ASHGABAT563 |
TURKMENISTAN: DOCTOR REPORTS ON HOSPITAL CORRUPTION IN [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: A doctor recently discovered an extensive pharmaceutical theft scheme in a Mary hospital, and the discovery lead to her being fired from her job and beaten. While corrupt officials benefit from malfeasance, it [...] |
2008-05-05 10:40:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV AMED SOCI TX |
| 08ASHGABAT564 |
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL REPORTING STANDARDS' CONFERENCE [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: On April 29, USAID organized a conference on the Introduction of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in Turkmenistan as part of its cooperative agreement with the United Nations Development Program ( [...] |
2008-05-05 11:25:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EAID TX |
| 08ASHGABAT565 |
TURKMENISTAN: RESPONSE ON OUTREACH TO ACTIVISTS AND [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) Turkmenistan is a tightly-controlled dictatorship where citizens are not permitted to engage in direct human rights advocacy work. There are no international human rights organizations present, including from United Natio [...] |
2008-05-05 12:19:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM KIRF 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT571 |
TURKMENISTAN: POOR GO THROUGH DUMPSTERS LOOKING [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) Many post personnel live in so-called marble-covered "elite" apartment buildings on prestigious Archabil Avenue. The Berzengi neighborhood, located in the south of Ashgabat with a postcard-view of the Kopetdag Mountains, [...] |
2008-05-05 13:35:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN SOCI 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT574 |
TURKMENISTAN DEVALUES THE EURO [...] (C) Europa House Coordinator Emilio Valli told EmbOffs May 4 that Turkmenistan has recently devalued the euro 30% in relation to the Turkmenistan manat. He explained this was done in order to prevent people from further profiting on a difference between the European and Turkmenistan euro/dolla [...] |
2008-05-06 11:15:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PREL ECON EFIN SOCI TX |
| 08ASHGABAT577 |
FROM ASHGABAT TO MASHHAD: WESTERN DIPLOMATS GET A [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Two female Western diplomats made a visit recently to Mashhad, Iran, and got a feel for the city and its residents. Although the city was historically and culturally interesting, the visitors increasingly felt [...] |
2008-05-06 12:02:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SOCI SCUL TX IR |
| 08ASHGABAT58 |
TURKMENISTAN: SENATOR LUGAR RAISES RFE/RL [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) On January 11, just before the arrival of SFRC Minority Chairman Senator Richard Lugar, Post received e-mail documentation of harassment by Turkmen authorities of three Turkmenistan citizens who report for RFE/RL. Post pre [...] |
2008-01-14 10:42:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM TX |
| 08ASHGABAT586 |
TURKMENISTAN: MAY 6 PRISONER PARDON DECREE [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (U) The May 6 edition of Neytralniy Turkmenistan published the presidential order pardoning another group of prisoners in honor of the Victory Day holiday on May 9. Post reviewed the list of those released, and of the 908 names [...] |
2008-05-07 06:15:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM TX |
| 08ASHGABAT587 |
TURKMENISTAN: CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM GETS [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Observers and citizens alike were caught off-guard when Turkmen television reported April 18 that the government had kicked off an effort to revise the national constitution. Although authorities want to presen [...] |
2008-05-07 07:21:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM EAID KDEM 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT590 |
CHEVRON READY TO INVEST IN SOCIAL PROJECTS (INCLUDING AT [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (U) SUMMARY: On May 1, Chevron Nebitgaz (Turkmenistan) President told USAID Representative that Chevron is willing to invest in social development projects prior to signing a contract in Turkmenistan in order to demonstrate its l [...] |
2008-05-07 11:38:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EAID ECON ENRG EPET 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT6 |
TURKMENISTAN 2008 INVESTMENT CLIMATE REPORT [...] (U) Text of Embassy Ashgabat's Investment Climate Statement for 2008 is as follows: BEGIN TEXT: OPENNESS TO FOREIGN INVESTMENT Turkmenistan is a relatively large but sparsely inhabited country (about five million) with abundant hydrocarbon resources. The government regularly proclaims [...] |
2008-01-02 12:46:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN OPIC KTDB USTR TX |
| 08ASHGABAT60 |
TURKMENISTAN: MOVING TOWARDS A UNIFIED EXCHANGE RATE [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Government continues to prohibit almost all currency exchange operations outside of banks. Although the "commercial" rate remains stable for cash operations, the Central Bank of Turkmenistan has not yet issued [...] |
2008-01-14 12:11:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ECON EFIN 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT604 |
TURKMENISTAN: RUSSIAN-SPONSORED VICTORY DAY [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Russian embassy hosted the annual dinner/reception for the dwindling Red Army veteran community. While the event celebrated the end of the Great Patriotic War and the end of the Fascist threat, it was unde [...] |
2008-05-12 09:20:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV SOCI RS 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT606 |
TURKMENISTAN: GOVERNMENT EXHIBITION SHOWCASES CHANGING [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (U) SUMMARY: Turkmenistan's first ever International Exhibition and Conference of Education, Science, Sports and Tourism in the Epoch of Great Revival took place in Ashgabat May 1-3. The exhibition provided additional hope that [...] |
2008-05-13 03:04:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV SCUL KPAO 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 |
| 08ASHGABAT614 |
TALKING POINTS AND U.S. 60-DAY REPORT TO UN [...] No summary [...] |
2008-05-14 05:21:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV EFIN ETRD TRGY KNNP AORC UNSC IR TX |
| 08ASHGABAT615 |
TURKMENISTAN: IMF ACCEPTS "NEW DAWN" IN RELATIONSHIP WITH [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (U) SUMMARY: On May 8, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Deputy Division Chief (Middle East and Central Asia) Peter Winglee briefed representatives of international organizations on the delegation's recently concluded mission. [...] |
2008-05-14 09:46:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EAID ECON EFIN TX |
| 08ASHGABAT617 |
TURKMENISTAN: MOSQUE-HOPPING IN ASHGABAT FINDS NO TRACE [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: PolOff's visit to various Ashgabat mosques revealed the conspicuous absence of the Ruhnama, former President Niyazov's required "spiritual guide," underscoring the book's decline in influence in post-Niyazov Turkmeni [...] |
2008-05-14 09:48:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM SOCI KIRF KISL TX |
| 08ASHGABAT618 |
TURKMENISTAN: FOOD PRICES LEVEL OFF [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. 2. (SBU) While the unification of the currency exchange rate at 14,250 manat to the dollar in late April resulted in stress and uncertainty among Turkmenistan's residents, prices for most major market basket items showed little or n [...] |
2008-05-14 12:50:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ECON SOCI 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 |