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Turkmenistan:  Export Control System
This is an archived page. Please visit the new Turkmenistan country profile
Turkmenistan: Export Control System

 

Parts of this report were originally prepared by the Center for Nonproliferation Studies of the Monterey Institute of International Studies in January 1998 under a grant from the United States Department of Energy's Office of Nonproliferation and Arms Control.  The views expressed in this report are those of the authors alone, and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Energy or the United States Government. 

Introduction
Export Control Legislation
Licensing Process

INTRODUCTION

Turkmenistan appears to have one of the most underdeveloped export control systems in the entire NIS, though the almost complete lack of information available makes it difficult to make this statement with absolute certainty.  However, Turkmenistan does not have the industry or industrial capability for the production of nuclear, dual-use nuclear, or other WMD commodities.  According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Turkmenistan is one of only three countries in the NIS with no known nuclear or uranium mining activities.

In his statement on Turkmenistan's neutral foreign policy, President Saparmurat Niyazov noted, "Turkmenistan will not produce or disseminate nuclear, chemical, bacteriological or other weapons of mass destruction.  It will not promote the design of new forms of technologies for their production.  Turkmenistan will join in collective efforts to guarantee the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction."[1]  In addition, Turkmenistan's military doctrine calls for a position of permanent neutrality, states that Turkmenistan will not deploy military bases of foreign states on its territory, and pledges that the country will not possess, produce, or proliferate nuclear arms.[2]  Thus, at the very least, Turkmenistan has a stated high-level political commitment to nonproliferation.  Given the iron hand with which President Niyazov rules the country, this is not insignificant.

As is the case with many countries in the Southern Tier of the NIS, by the nature of its geographic location and extensive borders, Turkmenistan is at particular risk for becoming a transit country for illegal exports. Turkmenistan has a 744-km border with Afghanistan and a 992-km border with Iran.[3]

EXPORT CONTROL LEGISLATION

According to news reports from 1992, a government resolution signed on 18 July 1992 banned certain goods from being imported or exported altogether.  These goods include “weapons and ammunition, military hardware and materials and parts for their manufacture, explosives, nuclear materials, ionizing sources, machinery and equipment for producing armaments, precious metals, alloys or articles made from them.”  At a September 1996 conference in Washington, DC, Turkmenistani officials claimed not to know of such a list, and said that it was unlikely that such a list ever existed.[4] Given that Turkmenistan has armed forces, it is difficult to imagine a regulation banning the import of weapons and ammunition.  Even if such a list does exist, it is likely that it refers to a ban on import and export of such items by non-state entities.

Presidential Decree, November 1994
This decree reportedly outlines all goods that require a license for export. However, sensitive goods and technologies are not included.

Presidential Decree, 18 July 1997
This decree approved five lists of goods for which the import and export by individuals is restricted. Although this is an export control decree, it is not a nonproliferation export control decree. The primary aim of this decree is to protect Turkmenistan's domestic market by controlling the flow of items into and out of Turkmenistan. The lists of restricted exports and imports are different for enterprises. Individuals are forbidden from exporting or importing a number of items, including the following:

  • Military arms, ammunition, military equipment and spare parts and materials used for military purposes;
  • Nuclear devices, including heat emission devices;
  • Ionizing radiation devices;
  • Technology and special equipment that could be used for military production;
  • Poisons.
In addition, individuals are forbidden to export or import narcotics, pornography, and publications and audiovisual materials that could "harm Turkmen political and economic interests, national security, and the population's health and morality."

The types of items that require permission for export are widely divergent and include firearms, antique carpets, and Turkmen sheep dogs. Each type of item requires permission from a different Ministry. The export of firearms requires permission from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, for example, but the export of carpets requires permission from the State Turkmenkhaly Company.[5]

Criminal Code
A new criminal code was scheduled to have been considered in 1997. It is not clear whether or not it includes penalties for violations of export control regulations.[6]

LICENSING PROCESS

Export and import licenses are issued by the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations. Licenses are only granted to enterprises involving foreign investments and branches and missions of foreign firms.[4]
Sources:
[1] Embassy of Turkmenistan Web Site, http://mh102.infi.net/~embassy/.
[2] "Turkmenistan Parliament Amends the Essentials of Turkmenistan's Military Doctrine," Former Soviet Union Fifteen Nations: Policy & Security, October 1996.
[3] CIA World Fact Book 1996, online edition, http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications.
[4] Liam Anderson, “The Central Asian States,” Restraining the Spread of the Soviet Arsenal: NIS Nonproliferation Export Controls, Status Report, 1996.
[5] "Turkmenistan: New Regulations on Importing/Exporting Goods by Individuals," US Embassy Cable, 31 July 1997, Embassy of Turkmenistan Web Site, http://mh102.infi.net/~embassy/dbit.html.
[6] Turkmenistan Monthly – September, BISNIS Web Site, http://iepnt1.itaiep.doc.gov/ns-search/bisnis/cables. {Updated 4/2/2001 KB}

 

Last updated January 1998

Comments or questions? Contact Kenley Butler at MIIS CNS: Kenley.Butler@miis.edu

CNSThis material is produced independently for NTI by the Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2002 by MIIS.

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