Переведено с использщованием AI
id: 78571
date: 9/15/2006 11:46
refid: 06DUSHANBE1717
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
destination: 06DUSHANBE1717|06STATE128229
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—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 DUSHANBE 001717
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, OES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, EAID, SENV, TBIO, TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN — AN OCEAN OF IRONY: ABUNDANT WATER IN A
DESERT-LIKE, MOUNTAINOUS, LANDLOCKED COUNTRY
REF: STATE 128229
DUSHANBE 00001717 001.2 OF 004
1. (U) SUMMARY:
Water gushes down the mountains of
Tajikistan, the most water-rich country in Central Asia. Yet
people lack clean drinking water, utilities are poorly managed,
and poor irrigation hinders agricultural development. There
exists tremendous potential for hydropower development for
energy export, but the government has not yet been able to
harness this resource to its benefit.
Tajikistan remains
plagued by crumbling Soviet irrigation, water supply and
sanitation systems. Transboundary
water sharing issues are a
constant threat to political peace with neighboring Uzbekistan,
while Afghanistan could become a strategic water partner. The
government recognizes the challenges it faces and political will
from the top rains down, but Tajikistan needs assistance from
international partners in order to soak up its potential and
develop its water infrastructure.
United States assistance can
make a big impact locally to reduce suffering from water-borne
diseases and region-wide by facilitating resolutions to tough
transboundary water issues. END
SUMMARY.
GOVERNMENT ENTHUSIASM SPRINGS WHILE BUDGET TRICKLES
2. (SBU) Water is Tajikistan’s greatest resource and
the Tajik
government recognizes the power of harnessing its potential. In
2003, at the initiative of Tajikistan’s President Rahmonov, the
UN General Assembly declared 2005-2015 the Decade of Water for
Life. Political will from the top
is genuine and the government
is committed to supplying the population with potable water,
reforming its water utilities management system and investing in
improved infrastructure. To
accomplish these goals, however,
the Ministry of Water needs $800-900 million. With an
internally-funded fiscal budget of USD 500 million, Tajikistan
currently provides 8.5 million Tajik Somoni (TJS) or the
equivalent of 2.4 million USD each year for water activities,
60% of which goes towards the salaries of the ministry’s 17,000
employees. Tajikistan relies
mainly on foreign donors such as
the World Bank and Asian Development Bank to provide financing
for water projects.
3. (SBU) The president has proposed a plan to supply
water to
the majority of the country by 2020.
The plan has been sent to
all ministries for clearance and the president hopes it will be
approved by October 2006. The
government plans to allot $5-6
million of its own funds towards the project. U.S. assistance
in coordination with other donors could provide needed resources
to supplement the government’s funds. The MoW is also proposing
several amendments and new legislation to parliament that would
improve water sanitation and management, including legislation
that would bolster USAID’s Water Users Association program.
PRIORITY NO. 1 — I CAN’T DRINK THE WATER!
4. (U) The first priority for the Tajik government
is to
provide the population with clean drinking water. Tajikistan’s
Soviet-built 1960s water supply and sewage system is in dire
need of repair. In urban areas,
93 percent of the population
has running water, but only 43 percent in rural areas. In major
cities, 80 percent of the population is connected to sewer
facilities, but only five percent in rural areas. Residents
routinely report water outages when the old equipment breaks
down or electricity is cut off and pumping stations cannot
operate. Tajikistan’s landscape
is 93 percent mountainous and
many homes rely on pumping stations to supply water. Some rural
residents rely on open above ground canals for their water.
Children often play in the same water canal they drink from and
DUSHANBE 00001717 002.2 OF 004
bathe in.
5. (U) As anyone who has turned on a tap in Dushanbe
knows,
water from the faucet often resembles tea, and sometimes in
certain neighborhoods, a stew, complete with rocks and leaves.
No large-scale filtration system exists, leaving the public
vulnerable to a high occurrence of water-borne diseases.
Currently, water purification is minimal; water reservoirs are
chlorinated, but this does not save water from contamination in
the corroded pipelines.
6. (SBU) The World Bank is attempting to help bring
potable
water to Dushanbe through a $20 million project. The project is
in jeopardy, however, because the Islamic Development Bank has
dragged its feet on its part of the project’s implementation.
IDB has not managed to clean Dushanbe’s water basin, which
causes the dirty water to destroy the World Bank’s newly
installed equipment that is supposed to clean the water supply.
The World Bank has temporarily suspended installing new
equipment. If IDB follows through
with its commitment, this
project would provide 70 percent of Dushanbe’s population with
clean drinking water.
PRIORITY NO. 2 — REFORM UTILITIES MANAGEMENT TO PRECIPITATE
ECONOMIC GROWTH
7. (SBU) Two-thirds of the population works in
agriculture,
but delays in timely water delivery to farms result in huge
economic losses for farmers, who in turn are not able to pay
their bills and become more indebted.
Without the USD 180
million annual subsidy the Soviet Union used to pour into
maintenance of irrigation systems, farmers cannot maximize
production. The government
currently spends USD three million
annually for maintenance, which is funded through budget
supplementals.
8. (SBU) Getting farmers to pay for water affects not
only the
water industry but the electricity sector. The revenue-poor MoW
is plagued by residents, farmers, and businesses refusing to pay
for their water usage. Farmers
owe the MoW 55 million Tajik
Somoni (TJS), the equivalent of $16 million. Of this amount,
the MoW owes 22 million TJS to the Ministry of Energy and Barqi
Tojik (the state electric utility) for energy consumption. The
MoW’s facilities consume 18 percent of Tajikistan’s electric
power production. In the mid and
late autumn, the lack of
reliable electricity means that pumping stations cannot function
and farmers cannot sow winter crops.
The government faces a
dilemma as the MoW cannot simply cut off water to people who do
not pay their bills; it would be a political disaster. The MoW
has tried to bring private companies to court in an attempt to
force them to pay.
9. (U) USAID’s Water Users Association program has
been a
tremendous success training farmers how to properly maintain and
manage water resources and develop sound financial management.
WUAs have addressed payment issues by introducing water meters
to communities. Water meters are
a transparent tool that allows
both the government and user to accurately measure the amount of
water used so that the user can pay the proper amount. Through
this program, farmers now are beginning to pay the MoW and water
payments have increased by 40 percent.
If this program can be
replicated throughout the country, it would dramatically
increase financial resources for the MoW to carry out necessary
projects and infrastructure rehabilitation.
PRIORITY NO. 3- RIVER BANK REINFORCEMENT SAVES LIVES AND MONEY
DUSHANBE 00001717 003.2 OF 004
10. (U) Each year the Tajik government spends over
one million
USD reinforcing river banks and cleaning up after flood damage.
This year, the Asian Development Bank has provided $8.3 million
in credit for bank reinforcement projects along the Pyanj River,
which borders Afghanistan. Next
year, ADB will provide $22
million in credit to complete bank reinforcement projects. Bank
reinforcement will save lives, property and economic
livelihoods.
AN OVERARCHING PRIORITY- GOOD NEIGHBORS AND TRANSBOUNDARY
COOPERATION
11. (U) Living in a closely knit and politically
sensitive
neighborhood, like it or not, the Central Asian countries need
to work together to resolve transboundary water issues.
Tajikistan needs to address watersharing issues before moving
forward with larger hydropower projects.
Embassy Dushanbe and
the Afghan Reconstruction Group facilitated preliminary
bilateral water discussions between the Tajik and Afghan
governments in Tajikistan, which resulted in the drafting of a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to address transboundary water
issues and cooperation between the two countries. This MoU will
help to lay the groundwork for future frequent and closer
bilateral discussions, increased cooperation on monitoring river
flows, and cooperation on infrastructure projects such as
hydropower dams. Establishing a
solid cooperative relationship
between the two countries now is crucial to ensuring that future
projects are not hindered due to squabbling over water rights.
12. (SBU) Tajikistan’s relationship with Uzbekistan has
been
less cooperative. During the
Soviet period, water-supplying
republics (Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan) traded with energy
supplying republics (Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan) as part of a
centrally planned and enforced regional economy. That balance
has broken down in post-Soviet Central Asia. The Tajik
Minister of Water says that he spends at least one hour each day
trying to resolve water issues with Uzbek authorities. The
media reports Uzbekistan threatening to cut off Tajikistan’s
electricity supply if it does not pay its energy bill or supply
Uzbekistan with more water. As
the country with the most water
resources in Central Asia, downstream countries such as
Uzbekistan rely on Tajikistan to supply water to its farms.
Uzbekistan has also opposed Tajikistan’s plans to build
additional hydropower stations that may reduce the flow of water
to Uzbekistan, and also make Tajikistan less reliant on Uzbek
electricity. Many Tajiks believe
Uzbekistan may become more
aggressive toward Tajikistan if Tashkent feels threatened by
Tajikistan’s increased cooperation with other countries in the
region.
13. (U) Another key transboundary issue is reviving
the Aral
Sea’s ever-diminishing water level.
The Aral Sea is the biggest
environmental disaster in Central Asia due to years of Soviet
agricultural practices demanding river diversions that deplete
the sea. Despite international
conferences and partnerships to
address the problem, no resolution is on the horizon.
U.S. ENGAGEMENT — A FAUCET IN A PARCHED DESERT
14. (U) Measures the U.S. can use to assist
Tajikistan in
solving it water problems include:
— Increase the number of exchanges for government officials as
well as technical experts to the United States to learn about
the spectrum of water issues from sanitation to irrigation to
DUSHANBE 00001717 004.4 OF 004
transboundary water management;
— Promote new efficient technology such as pumping stations
that would rely on half the electricity, modern irrigation
technology such as drip irrigation, machinery to dig wells in
rural areas, and filters
— Provide technical assistance so that Tajik politicians and
decision-makers can better understand reforms needed.
— Expand support for USAID’s Water User’s Associations programs
which train farmers how to manage and properly maintain water
resources;
— Co-finance IFI projects; and
— Continue to support and facilitate dialogue between Central
Asian nations to address transboundary water issues,
particularly between Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
15. (U) COMMENT:
Tajikistan’s water needs are basic and the
United States can make a big impact with financial or technical
support. By providing assistance
in the realm of water we will
address one of the government’s top priorities as well as allow
the people of Tajikistan in urban and rural areas to benefit
from tangible and direct U.S. assistance. Post would welcome
technical assistance from U.S. government agencies either by
hosting experts or collaborating with domestic offices to
provide training for Tajiks. In
line with the Central Asian
Infrastructure Integration Initiative, post will remain involved
in hydropower and energy issues and identify opportunities for
U.S. business involvement. END
COMMENT.JACOBSON
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 78583
date: 9/15/2006 13:09
refid: 06DUSHANBE1718
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: UNCLASSIFIED
destination: 06DUSHANBE1718
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RR RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
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FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
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RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0008
—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 001718
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV, ECIN, ECON, EFIN, ENRG, PREL, EAID, TBIO, TI
SUBJECT: CHINESE PRIME MINISTER BRINGS GOOD FORTUNE TO SCO TALKSIN
DUSHANBE
DUSHANBE 00001718 001.2 OF 002
1. (U) SUMMARY: The fifth session of the Shanghai
Cooperation
Organization heads of government began September 15 in Dushanbe
to a flourish of publicity.
High-level representatives from
China, Russia, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan,
observers from India, Iran, Pakistan, and Mongolia, as well as
Afghanistan as a non-status observer, will focus on regional
economic and security cooperation.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s
visit to Tajikistan, the first of its kind in 14 years, along
with the first joint military cooperation between China and
Tajikistan, serves to greatly boost the relationship between the
two countries. END SUMMARY.
2. (U) Members of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO)
meeting September 15-16 will seek to further the implementation
of resolutions passed by the June SCO summit in Shanghai, as
well as pass the organization’s 2007 budget. According to press
reports, the main issues of discussion include cooperation in
the fields of economy, telecommunications, transportation,
energy, environmental protection, and education. Leading the
delegations are: Tajik Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov, Chairman of
the Chinese State Council Wen Jiabao, Russian Prime Minister
Mikhail Fradkov, Kazakh Prime Minister Daniyal Akhmetov, Kyrgyz
Prime Minister Felix Kulov, and Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister
Rustam Azimov. From SCO observing
countries: Indian Minister of
State in the Prime Minister’s Office Prithviraj Chavan, Iranian
Vice-President for Executive Affairs Ali Saidlu, Pakistan’s
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, and Mongolian Vice Prime Minister
Mendsayhany Enhsayhan. First Vice
President of Afghanistan
Ahmad Zia Masud is attending as a guest.
This SCO Prime
Minister’s meeting will provide the basis for the next SCO
President’s meeting.
3. (U) Zhang Deguang, Executive Secretary of the
SCO, met with
President Rahmonov to discuss the agenda of the summit.
According to press, Zhang publicly praised the social and
political situation in Tajikistan, particularly for its
«stability, peace and national unity. . . . This as well as the
economic development of the country is very important for
security in the Central Asian region.» Zhang and Rahmonov
discussed issues of post-war reconstruction of Afghanistan’s
economy. «We are interested
in reestablishment of stability in
this country, because stability and security of the SCO states
depend on security and stability in Afghanistan.» The SCO and
Afghanistan set up a contact group to consider measures to
reconstruct Afghanistan’s economy and deal jointly with
international terrorism and drug trafficking.
4. (U) According to the Ministry of Economic
Development of
Russia, SCO representatives will approve two new highway
projects during the SCO meeting.
The two highways will be built
through: Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
Despite Tajikistan’s stated belief that energy projects are best
discussed on a bilateral basis, rather than through the SCO,
Russia and others will ensure that regional energy cooperation
remains high on the agenda.
According to government sources,
SCO Observers Iran, India and Pakistan are actively seeking
membership in the SCO, whereas Mongolia lacks such interest.
5. (SBU) According to news reports, during
Chinese-Tajik
discussions the sides will discuss the implementation of
previously signed agreements on economic, military and technical
cooperation, and discuss possibilities for new Chinese
investments in Tajikistan, particularly in the hydropower
sector. The two sides are also
expected to discuss regional
security, and strengthening cooperation in the fight against
terrorism, extremism and separatism.
Jiabao and Rahmonov are
expected to take part in an official ceremony launching the
construction of the electric transmission line (LEP)
«North-South» in the Varzob Gorge. In addition, Chen Yuan,
Chairman of China’s Development Bank arrived in Dushanbe to sign
an agreement with the Tajik National Bank under which the
Chinese side will provide a USD 10 million loan to enhance the
agriculture sector in Tajikistan.
According to the Tajik State
Statistical Committee, China exported nearly USD 70 million in
goods to Tajikistan in the first six months of this year, up 40%
from the same period last year.
Tajik exports to China over the
same period amount to USD 5.5 million.
6. (SBU) In a new development, Chinese special forces
and
Tajik troops are preparing for the first ever joint
anti-terrorist exercises according to the Tajik defense
ministry. The joint military
exercises, are planned for
DUSHANBE 00001718 002.2 OF 002
September 21-23 on the Tajik training ground Mumirak, 200
kilometers (124 miles) southeast of Dushanbe, the ministry’s
spokesman said. A total of about
500 soldiers will take part,
including a company of Chinese special forces, the defense
ministry said. The Tajiks will
supply artillery, air power and
paratroopers. The drill will be
held as part of the Shanghai
convention on the fight against terrorism, separatism and
extremism, in line with this year’s plan of military and
military-technical cooperation of the two states’ defense
agencies.
7. (U) Centrasia.ru published a testy article
describing U.S.
intentions in Central Asia, entitled «To Decrease the Influence
of the SCO and the Organization of Agreement for Collective
Security — this is the priority task for U.S. State Department
in Central Asia.» The author
attempts to discredit U.S.
engagement, particularly Richard Boucher’s statements and
Ambassador Hoagland’s statements in Central Asia as ineffective
and «adding no value to Central Asia.» The article urges the
SCO to confront U.S. interests in the region rather than seek
avenues of cooperation.
8. (SBU) COMMENT:
Many observers here quietly feel the SCO
serves Chinese interests in the region and nothing more.
However, as China continues to lavish attention and money on the
region, a small and poor country like Tajikistan has much to
gain as well. Russia does not
appear worried about the SCO
eroding Moscow’s position vis-a-vis China in Central Asia, and
like China, appears to be championing the use of the SCO for
economic purposes. END COMMENT.
JACOBSON
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 78724
date: 9/18/2006 7:05
refid: 06DUSHANBE1720
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: CONFIDENTIAL
destination: 06DUSHANBE1621
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—————— header ends —————-
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 001720
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 9/18/2016
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, KIRF, TI
SUBJECT: TAJIK SYNAGOGUE AND ORTHODOX CHURCH SUFFERS ANOTHER MOLOTOV
COCKTAIL ATTACK
REF: DUSHANBE 1621
CLASSIFIED BY: Tracey Jacobson, Ambassador, U.S. Embassy
Dushanbe, STATE.
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d)
1. (U) Assailants threw Molotov cocktails onto the
premises of
the Jewish synagogue and Russian Orthodox Church September 14.
The assailants and their motives are unknown but synagogue
members verified that two young Tajik men ages 17-20 threw three
Molotov cocktails into the synagogue.
Two Molotov cocktails
landed in the courtyard in the interior of the building and one
outside the perimeter wall.
Synagogue members quickly
extinguished small fires from two of the bottles. A third
bottle did not break. No one was
injured. Synagogue members
and the security guard hired after the Molotov cocktail attack
two weeks ago (reftel) chased after the assailants, through the
central park and past the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but could
not catch them.
2. (SBU) Neighbors alerted police immediately and
investigators arrived on the scene within five minutes. EmbOff
witnessed mishandling of evidence as people were allowed to
touch the glass bottles and contaminate the scene. When Poloff
visited the synagogue September 15 for a meeting at an
unannounced time, MOI officials were sitting in the center of
the synagogue. They were not
actively investigating the scene
or talking to witnesses. Within
five minutes after PolOff’s
arrival, an additional two MOI employees arrived. The MOI
lingered by the door during PolOff’s meeting with synagogue
officials and within a few minutes of the conversation proceeded
to sit in on the meeting.
3. (SBU) MOI officials claimed they are investigating
the
incident, but have no strong leads.
In an effort to identify
the attackers, they will ask synagogue members and neighborhood
residents to point them out in a photo line-up. One MOI
official did not even know about the previous synagogue attack
(reftel) and officials said the MOI is investigating the two
incidents separately with two different teams. PolOff pointed
out that there is a strong likelihood the incidents are related
and perhaps the teams should work together, but received no
reply from the MOI officials at the scene. One of the broken
bottles still lay by the outer wall and the MOI had not yet
collected it.
4. (C) An MOI major said the government is treating
this as a
very politically sensitive case.
He believes the attackers were
acting on behalf of «foreign enemies» aiming to destabilize
Tajikistan. Another MOI official
said the attackers are
probably allies of an ostracized Jewish community member out for
revenge. The official stance at
present is that simple
hooligans were behind the attack.
The head of the Russian
Orthodox Church commented that he too believes the attackers are
hooligans out to cause some trouble.
No concrete evidence
clearly indicates who the attackers are or their objective.
5. (C) COMMENT:
Theories on the attackers’ motives abound,
from foreign agents angry over recent events in the Middle East
to local Muslim youth carrying out anti-Semitic acts. One
looming conflict is the government’s long-term clash with the
synagogue over the land dispute.
Some say the government could
be behind the attacks in an attempt to force the synagogue out
or that someone within the government could be using the attacks
to justify a greater clamp-down on terrorist or extremist
activity. If the government truly
deems the synagogue incidents
politically important it will elevate the cases to the Ministry
of Security level. It is even
more unclear why the Russian
Orthodox Church was a target. The
Church does not have a
DUSHANBE 00001720 002 OF 002
history of dispute with the government or local population. It
is supported by wealthy Russians and is currently undergoing
building renovations. The near
simultaneous nature of these
attacks indicates they were coordinated.
6. (C) The
Molotov cocktail attacks cause concern for the
safety of the religious institutions in Dushanbe and their
members. The MOI’s mishandling of
evidence and apparent lack of
enthusiasm to pursue the cases either due to incompetence or
deliberate planning, is troublesome.
It clearly shows that the
MOI needs professional training in crime-scene investigation.
END COMMENT.
JACOBSON
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 78909
date: 9/19/2006 8:05
refid: 06DUSHANBE1723
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: UNCLASSIFIED
destination: 06DUSHANBE1723
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—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 001723
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KDEM, TI
SUBJECT: EIGHT WEEKS OUT: CCER ISSUING DECREES LEFT AND RIGHT
DUSHANBE 00001723 001.2 OF 002
1. Tajikistan’s Central Committee
on Elections and Referenda
(CCER) signed a new decree September 15 addressing candidates’
usage of mass media during the presidential campaign,
establishing polling stations and forming a working group to
deal with international observers.
The decrees are a small step
forward, but media time is still limited and the CCER did not
fully engage political parties in the process. CCER members
signed the decree in the presence of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Parliament members, Ministry of Justice, presidential
advisors, media and the international community. Although the
meeting is supposedly open to all, political parties were not
invited to the table.
2. The decree signed on September
15 grants each candidate a
total of 30 minutes of TV and radio airtime and 10 minutes for
each candidate’s proxies. A
candidate may have up to 15
proxies. Candidates are allowed
to submit articles for
publication in state and independent press. When submitting
articles to newspapers, the candidate’s article should not
exceed ten double-spaced typed pages.
If a candidate wishes to
obtain more airtime or press space, he must fund it himself.
During the meeting, a state television representative piped up
and protested that the amount of free airtime is too much.
Boltoyev, Chairman of the CCER, assuaged him by saying that the
amount of time is not excessive and pointed out that in other
countries, candidates are on the air 24/7. Campaign posters for
all candidates will be in A3 format, the text will be in size 16
font and the candidate’s photo should be no bigger than 9 x 14.
3. The decree named an 11-person
committee to work with and
organize international observers for the election. It also
listed 26 voting stations to be set up abroad. Several polling
station sites will be established in Russia to accommodate the
numerous labor migrants. Other
countries include Afghanistan,
former Soviet Union countries and South Asian neighbors. Two
stations will be set up in Washington, DC and New York. In a
meeting with PolOff, Deputy Head of the CCER, Muhibulloh
Dodojonov agreed to allow observers in the polling stations
abroad as well. The election
protocols will be posted at
polling stations and distributed to international observers,
political parties and other such groups.
DECREES 42 and 43
4. The CCER issued decrees number
42 and 43 signed September 4,
but the international community did not receive a copy until the
week of September 11 and the majority of political parties did
not receive the decree at all.
EmbOffs distributed copies of
the signed decrees to political parties.
Decree 42 sets out the
rights and responsibilities of international and domestic
observers. Decree 43 stipulates
guidelines for political
parties to register representatives to the district and
provincial election committees.
Each party must submit the name
of its one representative to each local election committee for
CCER approval 45 days prior to the election.
5. When international missions
received Decree 42 and 43,
UNTOP, OSCE, IFES and PolOff lobbied the CCER to implement
changes. For example, in the
original draft of Decree 42,
international observers were not allowed to be present in voting
booths while voters marked their ballots. This rule was not
restricted to the political party representatives, which meant
that if a party representative tried to influence a voter in the
booth, he would, technically, be allowed. Also Decree 43 did
not explicitly allow parties that did not nominate candidates to
the election to field observers.
6. In PolOff’s meeting with
Dodojonov September 12 he agreed to
modify the Decrees based on the concerns the international
DUSHANBE 00001723 002.2 OF 002
community raised. The CCER then
edited the Decrees and
re-signed them incorporating concerns raised including bringing
into congruence rules for international and local political
observers and permitting all political parties to field
observers. Dodojonov acknowledged
that Tajikistan still has a
long way to go in order to fully meet international standards.
Dodojonov made a plea for international financial assistance to
fund publications of election manuals so that international
observers and local commission members know all the rules. He
also commented that the CCER is cash-strapped. Because the CCER
does not have money for salaried employees, local governments
handpick district and provincial elections commission members.
According to Dodojonov, because of this, the commissions are
often biased. If the CCER could
employ and train its own
employees, the commissions would be more independent. He
welcomes short-term OSCE observers and international assistance
in reforming elections procedures in Tajikistan.
MORE CHANGES TO COME
7. An IFES international
consultant will be working with the
CCER on developing an elections manual, which will delineate
precise voting regulations and instructions. This manual will
clarify remaining ambiguities.
The CCER has agreed to turn the
manual into an official decree, giving its contents the status
of law.
8. The OSCE is expected to send a
full-scale observation
mission with 100 short-term observers.
However, this decision
can be rescinded if the OSCE deems that no legitimate opposition
candidates run in the election or if candidates do not have fair
and adequate access to the media.
COMMENT:
9. The amount of free media time
and space stipulated in the
latest decree for candidates is limited.
By virtue of being
president, Rahmonov has practically unlimited exposure in the
media. He is the wealthiest of any prospective candidate and can
buy all the press time he wants.
10. Another point of concern is
the lack of engagement with all
political parties. Although the
CCER has been open and
cooperative with the international community, they have not made
a strong effort to reach out to political parties, evident by
the fact that political parties were not informed about the
decrees and did not participate in the last CCER meeting.
11. The changes that Dodojonov
and the CCER were willing to
make to the decrees show they are genuinely concerned about how
Tajikistan is perceived by the international community. But the
shortcomings in the original draft of Decrees 42 and 43 show
that the CCER still needs a lot of hand-holding. Working with
IFES’s consultant Ian Smith to edit necessary changes into the
election manual so it can be issued as a decree is critical to
laying the legal foundation for the election process. This also
paves the way for future elections and opens the door for
further reform.
END COMMENT.
JACOBSON
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 79098
date: 9/20/2006 12:16
refid: 06DUSHANBE1726
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: UNCLASSIFIED
destination: 06DUSHANBE1718|06DUSHANBE1726
header:
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PP RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #1726/01 2631216
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INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 1827
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RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
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RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA PRIORITY 0096
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1813
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1527
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1545
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1339
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY 0093
—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 001726
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, ECIN, ECON, EFIN, ENRG, EAID, TBIO, TI
SUBJECT: DUSHANBE SCO CONFERENCE — MOVING BEYOND SECURITY INTO
REGIONAL ENERGY AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION
REF: DUSHANBE 1718
DUSHANBE 00001726 001.2 OF 002
1. SUMMARY: The Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO) focused
on economic and energy cooperation in its Dushanbe meetings
September 15-16. The six member
countries issued a joint
communique affirming their intention to further cooperate in
economic, trade, scientific, technological, social, cultural,
and other fields. Pakistan and Tajikistan
each concluded
bilateral agreements with China.
While Tajikistan and China
will engage in joint military exercises next week in the Tajik
mountains, regional security played a minor role in the SCO
meetings. END SUMMARY.
2. As relayed in reftel, the
prime ministers of China, Russia,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan and the Uzbek deputy
prime minister met in Dushanbe for the fifth prime minister’s
meeting of the SCO. In addition,
representatives from Iran,
Pakistan, India, Mongolia, and Afghanistan participated as
observers. The communique signed
by the SCO members stated that
the SCO’s priorities in the near future will be energy,
transportation, and telecommunications.
The SCO prime ministers
want to improve the road network connecting each country and
develop new energy export routes that would serve the six
states. The countries will seek
to establish an «SCO Energy
Club,» which Kazakh Prime Minister Danial Akhmetov told press
sources could be the solution to the energy problems of the all
the SCO members. According to the
communique, the energy club
will coordinate regional energy policy and promote cooperation
in the energy sector among SCO members.
Developing relations on
energy issues and energy security will remain a priority in
future meetings of the group, which will meet again some time
next year in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent.
3. On September 15, China and
Tajikistan affirmed the
countries’ cooperation on a wide range of issues. Tajik
President Emomali Rahmonov met with Chinese Prime Minister Wen
Jiabao on the sidelines of the summit and reviewed plans for
expanding bilateral trade and investment, as well as discussing
details of the upcoming joint military exercises. The countries
promised to boost high-level exchanges, and to «deepen mutual
political trust.» The two
countries signed four agreements on
cooperation in the fields of technology, anti-drug trafficking,
health and medicine, and radio, film and television. According
to Embassy contacts, the Kyrgyz representative complained that
Tajikistan has gained disproportionately from the $900 million
concessional loan offer from China to all Central Asian
countries, (from which Tajikistan borrowed $637 million).
Officials in southern Tajikistan broke ground on September 19 on
the Chinese-funded north-south energy transmission lines.
4. According to various media
sources, Pakistan’s Prime
Minister Shaukat Aziz held talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao
on the sidelines in which they agreed to broaden and deepen the
bilateral relationship. Pakistan
and China vowed to strengthen
their strategic relationship, expanding it in areas including
defense, security, energy and science and technology. The two
leaders also reviewed the agreements scheduled to be inked
during the November visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to
Pakistan, which Prime Minister Aziz said would be another
«milestone» in bilateral relations. Both sides also agreed in
principle to conclude an early signing of a Free Trade
Agreement, with the Chinese premier adding that Beijing had also
agreed in principle to establish a joint investment company, the
details of which were currently being worked out.
5. COMMENT: As China’s avenue of entry into Central Asia,
the
SCO appears to be gaining strength as a substantive regional
forum for economic as well as security issues. How agreements
on divisive energy issues actually derive from «strategic
cooperation» remains to be seen.
The SCO took no public action,
DUSHANBE 00001726 002.2 OF 002
for example, to resolve trade and transport issues or broker
water and energy tensions between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Presidential Advisor Rahmatulloev told Ambassador September 20
that no one is sure what form the «energy club» would take:
«It’s only at the discussion stage.» Privately, local Tajik
sources told EmbOffs they see the SCO as a conduit to serve
China’s geopolitical interests, but Tajikistan will benefit from
the creation of alternative routes avoiding Uzbekistan. Russia,
Kazakhstan, and Pakistan seem to have bought in to the
organization, which one local NGO representative called the
«Commonwealth of Authoritarian States.» With China bankrolling
infrastructure development in the region, Russia and others
recognize their governments’ need to back up their private
investments in order to play the game in the region. END
COMMENT.
JACOBSON
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 79190
date: 9/21/2006 8:29
refid: 06DUSHANBE1738
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: UNCLASSIFIED
destination: 06STATE152063
header:
VZCZCXRO5530
PP RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #1738 2640829
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 210829Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8626
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY 0095
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0044
—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS DUSHANBE 001738
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR COMMERCE/TCC/4110 MICHAEL ROLLIN
STATE/EB/TPP/MTA EKOCH
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON, ETRD, TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN RESPONSE TO TRADE AGREEMENT COMPLIANCE AND
MONITORING REQUEST
REF: STATE 00152063
1. (U) In response to reftel, Embassy Dushanbe
submits the
following information regarding Tajikistan’s compliance with
U.S. and international trade agreements.
2. (U) Tajikistan has not entered into trade
agreements with
the United States directly, and is not a member of the World
Trade Organization. Post follows
trade issues, but is not
monitoring compliance with trade agreements.
3. (U) Post contact for economic issues is David
Froman,
Economics Officer, [email protected], [992-37] 229-2506.
JACOBSON
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 79199
date: 9/21/2006 9:22
refid: 06BEIJING20105
origin: Embassy Beijing
classification: CONFIDENTIAL
destination:
header:
VZCZCXRO5603
OO RUEHCN RUEHDBU RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #0105/01 2640922
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 210922Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7658
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
—————— header ends —————-
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 020105
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2031
TAGS: PREL, PTER, TI, CH
SUBJECT: PRC-TAJIKISTAN: PREMIER WEN DISCUSSES BORDER,
ECONOMY AND COUNTERTERRORISM IN STATE VISIT
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Daniel Shields.
Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
1. (C) Summary: Premier Wen Jiabao’s September
14-16 state
visit to Tajikistan focused on discussion of economic
development, the disputed China-Tajikistan border and
counterterrorism issues. A joint
communiqu issued after the
visit emphasized the parties’ desire to resolve territorial
disputes along their mountainous border and China’s
willingness to support Tajikistan’s economic development.
The countries agreed to continue to fight the spread of drugs
and terrorism. China is watching
the upcoming Tajikistan
election closely, an academic specializing in the region told
us. End Summary.
2. (SBU) On September 14-16, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao made
his first state visit to Tajikistan, holding bilateral talks
with President Emomali Rahmonov and attending the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO) Prime Ministers’ Meeting. Wen
expressed China’s interest in concluding a friendship and
cooperation treaty with Tajikistan, while Rahmonov stated
Tajikistan’s commitment to a one China policy and opposition
to Taiwan independence in any form.
Border Issues Remain To Be Resolved
————————————
3. (C) In a joint communiqu issued after the visit, China
and Tajikistan said comprehensively settling their border
dispute is a key to strengthening bilateral relations. The
Tajikistan border is the last among China’s Central Asian
neighbors where a significant dispute exists, so the
communiqu’s pledge that both sides will «do a good job in
border survey work and actively work to build the border …
into one of peace, friendship and good neighborliness» is
significant, according to Xu Tao of the Russian and Central
Asian Department of the China Institute of Contemporary
International Relations.
4. (C) Xu said a 20,000 square kilometer mountainous area of
the border remains disputed.
Prior to dissolution of the
USSR, the USSR had agreed for this territory to be given to
China in exchange for disputed territory along China’s
northeastern border with Siberia being transferred to the
USSR, Xu said. But the disputed
area is a significant part
of Tajikistan’s territory so the issue has been difficult to
resolve ever since the Soviet Union’s dissolution, Xu said.
Should the communiqu form a basis for agreement in principle
on border issues, the China-Tajikistan border dispute would
become one of survey, delimitation and marking, similar to
the type of border issues China has with its other Central
Asian neighbors, he said.
Prospects for Economic Development Need To Warm Up
——————————————— ——
5. (C) During the visit, China pledged its willingness to
support Tajikistan economic development, according to Zhang
Kunsheng (protect), the Executive Secretary for Foreign
Minister Li Zhaoxing, who was on the trip. China will
support basic infrastructure work in Tajikistan, Zhang said,
including on the Dushanbe-Chanak highway, on a major highway
tunnel project, on two high-tension power lines that would
strengthen the Tajik electrical grid and on the country’s
telecommunications network. Zhang
said the need for economic
development was especially obvious to the Chinese delegation,
including FM Li, who had no heat in their chilly hotel rooms.
Counterterrorism and Anti-Drug Efforts
—————————————
6. (C) In the joint communiqu, China and Tajikistan pledged
continued cooperation to combat the «three evils» of
terrorism, separatism and Islamic extremism.
Counterterrorism cooperation takes place bilaterally and
through the SCO, Zhang said. Wen
and Rahmonov pledged to
strengthen drug interdiction efforts.
Tajikistan leads the
SCO’s anti-drug operation and is the largest producer and
transit point for drugs in Central Asia, with most of the
drugs transiting Tajikistan from Afghanistan, Xu said.
Economic development of Tajikistan will help, Xu said, but is
not likely to have an impact on the low incomes or other
conditions that breed terrorism and drug smuggling in
Tajikistan.
Upcoming Election
——————
7. (C) China is watching the fall Presidential election in
Tajikistan closely, Xu said.
Rahmonov is popular and China
has no doubt he will be reelected.
The most important thing
BEIJING 00020105 002 OF 002
is that the election process not produce instability in the
country, Xu said.
RANDT
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 79233
date: 9/21/2006 12:06
refid: 06NEWDELHI6582
origin: Embassy New Delhi
classification: CONFIDENTIAL
destination:
header:
VZCZCXRO5804
OO RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHNE #6582/01 2641206
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 211206Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8899
INFO RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE
RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ALMATY 0592
RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 0392
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3829
RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 0395
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 7211
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 7275
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0185
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 3403
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 7933
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT 0575
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA 6493
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 6547
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 5731
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
—————— header ends —————-
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 006582
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2026
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PTER, KISL, MARR, AF, UZ, TI, TX, KZ, KG,
IN
SUBJECT: INDIA KEEPING AN EYE OPEN FOR OPPORTUNITIES IN
CENTRAL ASIA
NEW DELHI 00006582 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: PolCouns Ted Osius for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)
1. (C) SUMMARY: MEA Joint Secretary for Eurasia Jaimini
Bhagwati argued that India’s role as an observer in the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a useful
opportunity to help the organization set reasonable
priorities. Bhagwati expressed
interest in cooperating with
the U.S. on technical issues and determining the feasibility
of energy projects. On the issue
of energy for the region,
Bhagwati said that Central Asia needs to diversify its
relationships. He outlined some
projects the GOI has
undertaken in the region, including a joint military and air
base project in Tajikistan. He
also said that, while leaders
in Central Asia are concerned by the encroachment of the
Taliban and the potential for Islamic extremism, the area is
not likely to shift suddenly to fundamentalist Islam. END
SUMMARY.
——————————————— ——
India Sees Its Role in the SCO as Non-controversial
——————————————— ——
2. (C) PolCouns met with Joint
Secretary for Eurasia
Bhagwati on Sep. 20. Turning
immediately to the SCO,
Bhagwati said that the organization hasn’t thought through
the role that observer nations should have. India became an
observer in the organization last year, and is enthusiastic,
he said, about the potential for economic exchanges,
investment, and energy and transportation projects. When the
SCO works on non-controversial issues such as
narco-trafficking and counter-terrorism, India is «happy to
be a part of it,» said Bhagwati.
He stressed that India’s
relationship with Central Asia is bilateral. «It is easy for
India to ‘piggy-back’ off of what is already happening in the
SCO.» Future projects with
the organization depend upon how
the six member countries see the group evolving, he said.
The security of transmission lines through a
still-to-be-determined electrical corridor is of critical
importance to India, according to Bhagwati.
——————————————— —
Energy and Military Projects with Central Asia
——————————————— —
3. (C) Bhagwati said that Central
Asia needs to diversify
its commercial relationships in order to meet its energy
needs and supply the needs of others in the region. He
indicated that India invests somewhat in Kazakhstan and
Tajikistan, and has cultural centers in Uzbekistan. The only
capital he hasn’t yet visited in the region is Ashgebat, he
said, and he plans to visit in October.
4. (C) At the request of
Tajikistan, the GOI is helping to
re-build a runway at Gissar Airport in Ayni, as well as
training army and air force personnel.
The airport had been
«in a shambles,» but the new runway is almost complete.
Bhagwati said that the military training program includes a
language lab in the heart of Dushanbe and IT training. He
indicated that the GOI may look at other requests for
assistance from the GOT. He said
the GOT had also asked for
helicopters, but after providing two, the GOI «doesn’t have
any more to spare.»
—————————
Coordination with the U.S.
—————————
5. (C) The GOI would like to see
more coordination with the
U.S. on technical issues, Bhagwati said, and is interested in
seeing engineer’s assessments and feasibility studies. An
economist trained at MIT, Bhagwati said that he had seen a
NEW DELHI 00006582 002.2 OF 002
lot of reports from the U.S., but would lik
