Embassy News

Interview of Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard A. Boucher with Dimitri Kirsinov of ITAR-TASS

January 5, 2007

QUESTION: So, basically what I wanted to ask you is what do you think about the whole process right now, the way the interim authorities handled the situation, whether you view the transitional period as legitimate in itself, ‘cause none of the opposition figures is taking part in it?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY BOUCHER: I don’t think one can, – in a place that’s as unusual as Turkmenistan, one can say what’s (inaudible) process that doesn’t really have any set parameters. Our interests is first of all, to make clear that we’re ready for a new beginning, a new relationship, if they’re ready to start changing. And, I went to the funeral to convey our condolences to the people of Turkmenistan, but also to make clear that we were ready for a new beginning. This was my first ever visit to Ashgabat.

And so I think we understand the need for a smooth transition, but we also understand that ultimately we (inaudible) a more open and just society, where everyone can participate in social, economic life, and political life of the country.

QUESTION: Are you planning to press interim authorities to one day allow the opposition to take part in the process, or you are satisfied with how it looks like right now, and you will --

ASSISTANT SECRETARY BOUCHER: I think the answer is no. We’re not satisfied with the way it is now. We’re not particularly focused on the election. We’re focused on the overall process of transition. That transition needs to lead to a more open society, where everyone has a role.

We saw some very interesting statements, I’d say some very welcoming statements by the interim president, just the other day – the day before yesterday, about expanding education, about expanding access to information and the Internet, about allowing people to travel, particularly education exchanges. We hope that’s the beginning of – that those things do happen, that it’s the beginning of a transition to a more open society.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, I apologize for getting back to the point, to this point, but help me understand something. Will you recognize the president that will be elected on February 11, or --

ASSISTANT SECRETARY BOUCHER: It’s not a question that comes up in diplomacy. We have said we’re willing to work with the leaders of Turkmenistan, as they undertake this process. We hope that they will begin this process of change, and lead the society in a better direction. That’s what we’re focused on, the overall process of transition to a better society.

QUESTION: But it can take (inaudible) years, maybe (inaudible).

ASSISTANT SECRETARY BOUCHER: (Inaudible) make sure that it’s clear we want to support that transition, work with them through a transition, and we want that to be to a society that respects its people both in terms of human rights and freedoms, (audible) and (inaudible) that they can achieve that by moving swiftly.

QUESTION: But from your point of view, from the U.S. Administration’s point of view, how the transition period should look? What should be the end result of it? You said --

ASSISTANT SECRETARY BOUCHER: I told you what the end result should be: a more open society where everybody can participate. How the transition period should look like, I mean, those decisions are going to be made by leaders in Turkmenistan, and by the people of Turkmenistan. And can’t – There is no ability to lay down some blueprint in Washington, and say this is what you have to do.

QUESTION: No, no, no. Absolutely.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY BOUCHER: They’re going to have to work it out. They’re going to have to do it. What we can make clear is we’re ready to have a new relationship. We’re ready to help with the process. We’re ready to help with education, with scholarships, with Internet access, with information availability, with civil society – everything that belongs in an economic transition, a social transition, and a political transition. We’re willing to help them with that, and we’re willing to help it move as quickly as it should.

QUESTION: You said you’re not satisfied with what you see right now. At the same time you’re saying you see some welcome statements. Opposition leaders who are abroad called upon the Bush Administration to press interim authorities (inaudible) to arrest the (inaudible) of President Niyaozov, of late President Niyazov (inaudible). Are you willing to do any of that? Do you consider such plans as arresting those accounts?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY BOUCHER: Again, those decisions will be made in Turkmenistan. (Inaudible) we are supporting a process of transition (inaudible). But I don’t believe one can lay down a blueprint in Washington and expect them to follow.

QUESTION: But do you consider the plan of arresting late President Niyazov (inaudible) here?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY BOUCHER: You mean seizing his accounts?

QUESTION: Yeah, in U.S. banking system.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY BOUCHER: I don’t know what there is, where things are at (inaudible). That’s a sort of judicial matter.

QUESTION: Yeah, I know it’s a matter of the Treasury Department, but it’s obviously going to be an interagency process.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY BOUCHER: There are international laws and legal ways to do it, if that’s what needs to be done, but at this point I’m not aware of any (inaudible).

QUESTION: Do you have any current – do you have any contacts right now with the (inaudible) opposition that (inaudible)?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY BOUCHER: I haven’t met them myself. That’s all I can say. I don’t know (inaudible).

QUESTION: What about the elections on February 11. Do you know if Turkmenistan leader and government will allow foreign observers to take part?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY BOUCHER: I have not heard anything about it.

QUESTION: Do you plan --

ASSISTANT SECRETARY BOUCHER: Let’s recognize again. One can’t – this is a process set up under the constitution, (inaudible) and maybe they’re using parts of this process to get to a transition. But, I guess I don’t have great expectations of this as an election. It’s not being designed – it hasn’t been designed to be a free and fair, and open election.

We do think there nears to be more freedom, more fairness, more justice, more openness in the society. This transition needs to lead in that direction. But, I’m not – I don’t have great expectations that it’s all going to happen on February 11.

QUESTION: I’m a bit baffled by that. On one hand you realize that it’s a process, and it might be really long, but at the same time you’re saying that you would like to happen rather quickly, almost overnight; and you’re saying that --

ASSISTANT SECRETARY BOUCHER: No, I didn’t say almost overnight.

QUESTION: No, no, yes, those are my words, and I apologize, but, what do you expect. What do you expect?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY BOUCHER: I think we expect these leaders to get engaged in the process. To start to do the things they’re talking about already: a more open economy, opportunities for individuals in the country, more open information, providing access to the Internet, better education, more travel including travel this way. I expect them to do those things. I expect them to start understanding the whole transition process, and looking at the other things they need to do, so that everyone has an opportunity (inaudible).

QUESTION: And, will your government be ready to work with the new elected president of Turkmenistan?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY BOUCHER: We will. I made clear to the president when I was out there, we’re prepared to work with him, and --

QUESTION: No, not with him with later, who will be --

ASSISTANT SECRETARY BOUCHER: With him, and the other leaders, and we will work with whoever the leaders are. And what we will be able to do with them, will depend on how much they’re willing to accept, how much of a transition, how fast they’re willing to go, how much (inaudible). (Inaudible).

QUESTION: Sir, may I ask you a couple of questions on Kyrgyzstan?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY BOUCHER: Sure.

QUESTION: As a result of that tragic accident when one of your soldiers shot dead the guard or driver at Manas, the Kyrgyz government was rather furious as far as I understand about the whole accident and the president demanded that you strip U.S. troops on Manas its diplomatic immunity. What’s the status at this time, are you willing to do that?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY BOUCHER: That’s not something we do anywhere in the world. We do understand the concern about the incident. We understand their concerns about the operational (inaudible). (Inaudible) and we are actually working with them, I think, fairly constructively, to help them with their needs, but also to (inaudible) a very important place for the fight against terrorism, that we’re all supporting. Everybody in the region all the way to Europe and abroad believes it’s very important to maintain the fight against terrorism, and the stabilization of Afghanistan. Everybody understands how important (inaudible).

QUESTION: This accident was preceded by another one, the accident when the KC-135 hit Air Force One of the Kyrgyz Government. They demand compensation from you. Will you pay?

ASSISTANT SECRETARY BOUCHER: We have -- I think we’ve shown in that incident, that when these incidents happen, we are willing to address them open and honestly with the Government of Kyrgyzstan. We’ve done a very careful investigation to determine what went wrong, whose responsibility it was. We’re prepared to sit down with them, and work out how to fix any damages, and reach an appropriate settlement based on the results of our investigation. So, I think it really does show that we are (inaudible) open and honestly with them, and the (inaudible) and (inaudible).

Okay?

QUESTION: That’s it. Thank you so much.