id: 169303
date: 9/11/2008 5:36
refid: 08DUSHANBE1136
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
destination:
header:
VZCZCXRO0266
RR RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #1136/01 2550536
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 110536Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0979
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0218
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0253
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0171
RUCPDOC/DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC 0042
—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 001136
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON, ETRD, PGOV, EAIR, TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN — BOEINGS ALL OVER, COMPLICATION
SOARS
1. (U) This message is sensitive but
unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.
2. (SBU) Summary: Boeing seems set to significantly
expand its
presence in Tajikistan over the next few months. But we expect
turbulence on the route to improved airline services
here, as the
two airlines in question face a lack of infrastructure
to handle the
new planes and financing problems. Political interference is
constant. End
Summary.
ILFC COMES TO TOWN, FINDS TAJIK AIR AN ODD CUSTOMER
3. (SBU) State-owned Tajik Air is hurrying to acquire
more and
larger Boeing aircraft. Representatives of the International Lease
Finance Corporation (ILFC) of Los Angeles arrived in
Dushanbe on
September 9 to discuss and possibly finalize an
agreement with Tajik
Air to lease-to-buy a used Boeing 757. The ILFC representatives
told emboff that their interactions with Tajik Air so
far had led
them to view Tajik Air as very inexperienced in dealing
with leasing
companies and the non-CIS aviation industry in
general, and possibly
unreliable.
They noted mirthfully that Tajik Air had tried to meet
its obligation to deposit $1 million with ILFC for the
757 by using
a letter of credit, and had complained that it did not
know who ILFC
was and that ILFC didn’t use an official stamp on its
documents.
4. (SBU) ILFC had also heard that Tajik Air’s
relationship with VIM
Avia of Russia, from which it was currently wet
leasing two 757s,
had soured over allegations of unpaid bills for
training and
services to VIM Avia [Note: There are also rumors that
Tajik Air
owes several million dollars to various parties for
fuel]. ILFC
representatives speculated that Tajik Air was in a
hurry to conclude
its deal with ILFC before Tajik Air is broken up and
privatized in
three separate companies — air transport, ground
services, and
navigation services, due to take effect January 1,
2009. They
expressed unease that Tajik Air officials believed the
agreement to
lease the 757 could be wrapped up during ILFC’s two
day visit to
Dushanbe, especially considering that Tajik Air had
not yet bothered
to translate the associated 20-page contract into
Russian or Tajik.
Emboff noted that Tajik Air’s breakup has been scheduled
and
rescheduled for several years, and is not sure to
happen this time
around.
Questions of which division of the company would assume
which debts had so far blocked the breakup.
5. (SBU) ILFC said their main concern was that Tajik
Air might, due
to its complicated financial situation and sense of
invulnerability
in Tajikistan’s very weak rule-of-law environment,
someday stop
making payments to ILFC for the 757, at which point ILFC
was unsure
it would be able to repossess the aircraft. They wanted to enlist
the Embassy’s support up front for what they expected
to be a
difficult relationship. They could not say when the 757 might
actually enter service in Tajik Air.
MORE PRESIDENTIAL PRESTIGE SPENDING
6. (SBU) ILFC representatives had heard from Boeing
that Tajik Air
was in discussions with Boeing about the purchase of a
new Boeing
Business Jet 737 to serve as an executive transport
for President
Rahmon.
SOMON AIR PUSHED TOO FAST
7. (SBU) Emboff also met recently with the Director
General Rustam
Khalikov of Somon Air, «Tajikistan’s First
Private Airline.»
Khalikov said Somon was moving forward with plans to
buy two new
737-800s, and to lease two more 737-800s. The only problem was that
Q737-800s, and to lease two more 737-800s. The only problem was that
Somon was moving too fast for his comfort, planning to
acquire two
of the airplanes before the end of 2008, and the other
two in early
2009. He said
that Somon’s shareholders were forcing the rapid pace
of acquisition for reasons not based on business
needs, and that he
lacked ground support, trained crews, and even
ticketing
arrangements for the new airplanes. The new 737s also did not come
with comprehensive maintenance training packages, a
step taken to
lower their price, which he thought was foolish and
ultimately would
be more expensive.
Because of this complex of problems, at the same
time that new airplanes would arrive, he was being
forced to go to
Pegasus Airlines of Turkey to renew Somon’s wet lease
of a 737, at a
price he considered extortionate. He would not say who Somon Air’s
shareholders were.
MINISTER OF TRANSPORT — STATE DIRECTED AIR ROUTES,
PLEASE
8. (SBU) In late August Emboffs met with Minister of
Transport Ashur
to discuss the prospects for improved regional
aviation services.
He stressed the importance of developing aviation
links with
Uzbekistan, cut off for several years from Tajikistan
because of bad
blood between the two countries’ presidents. He also complained
DUSHANBE 00001136
002 OF 002
about «imbalances» in airline service in the
region, saying that
airlines wrongly served only their own commercial
interests, when
they should be flying unprofitable routes too to
provide air service
to smaller communities. He said that the important decisions in
regional airline service were political in nature, and
«we should
not leave everything to the airlines to decide.»
9. (SBU) Comment: The acquisition of new Boeings is
good news, but
the ability of the airlines to operate them reliably
is still in
doubt. The
comments by the Minister of Transport are illustrative
of the inclination of senior government officials to interfere
in
business decisions.
Somon Air’s problems are likely also of
official origin; the airline’s unnamed shareholders
probably include
the President’s family, and the high-level impulse to
simply decree
the existence of a private airline is resulting in new
planes
without trained crews or support infrastructure. End Comment.
QUAST
=======================CABLE
ENDS============================
id: 169760
date: 9/15/2008 3:39
refid: 08DUSHANBE1151
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: CONFIDENTIAL
destination: 08STATE95334
header:
VZCZCXYZ0002
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHDBU #1151 2590339
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 150339Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0984
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0012
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 0005
—————— header ends —————-
C O N F I D E N T I A L DUSHANBE 001151
SIPDIS
STATE DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN, IO/RHS, AND DRL/MLGA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2018
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, UN
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN — UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIRD
COMMITTEE
2008 HUMAN RIGHTS PRIORITIES
REF: STATE 95334
Classified By: Charge d’Affaires Necia Quast, Reason
1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to Shermahmad
Radjabovich Niyasov, Second Secretary at the State
Protocol
Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Niyasov
handles issues regarding the United Nations General
Assembly
and will be present in New York for the UNGA this
September.
Contents of reftel were forwarded separately to the
MFA on
September 9, 2008 to both Niyasov and Chief of the
Department
of International Organizations, Muzafar Husseinov.
2. (C) On an Iran resolution, Niyasov said
Tajikistan’s
position was that the best way forward with Iran was
through
diplomatic channels.
Tajikistan sought a peaceful resolution
to the tensions between Iran and the west. Niyasov could not
say whether Tajikistan would support or oppose any
human
rights resolution regarding Iran. Poloff used this opening
to stress to Niyasov the importance of voting against
any
&no-action8 request because it directly impeded
the
diplomatic process Niyasov said Tajikistan supported.
3. (C) Regarding the additional reftel points, Niyasov
promised to provide poloff a non-paper within the next
week
summarizing Tajikistan’s position on the issues. Details of
any such non-paper will be forwarded separately upon
receipt.
4. (C) Comment: Tajikistan seeks economic support from
Iran,
and gives it diplomatic support in return. It is very
unlikely it would support an Iran resolution. Tajikistan
also receives large amounts of economic assistance
from
China, in the form of low-interest loans for
infrastructure
projects, and is equally unlikely to contradict
Chinese
interests in the UN.
QUAST
=======================CABLE
ENDS============================
id: 169938
date: 9/16/2008 5:01
refid: 08DUSHANBE1154
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
destination:
header:
VZCZCXRO3478
RR RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #1154/01 2600501
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 160501Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0987
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0220
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0255
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0173
—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 001154
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON, PGOV, TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN — NORTHERN REGION’S ISOLATION WILL
END, SOMEDAY
1. (U) This message is sensitive but
unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.
2. (SBU) Summary: The isolation of Tajikistan’s second
city and
historic leading economic center will continue to
retard the
country’s economic development. Khujand suffers from chronic
electricity shortages and is often inaccessible by
road from other
parts of Tajikistan.
Efforts to connect Khujand to southern
Tajikistan are progressing, but will not make much
difference for at
least the next year.
End Summary.
GETTING TO KHUJAND
3. (SBU) In late July Emboff drove to Khujand for
economic
consultations.
The trip north showed the difficulties in
communication between Dushanbe and Khujand, Tajikistan’s
second
largest city and center of the historically most
economically
advanced part of the country. Khujand is effectively cut off from
the rest of Tajikistan by high mountains and poor
roads, and because
of bad relations between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan; it
is difficult
for Tajiks to obtain Uzbek visas, so driving through
Uzbekistan to
Khujand is not a practical option for most. Khujand is also cut off
from the south’s electricity grid; it depends on Uzbek
power
stations, and the power is cut off for most of the day
in winter
because of Tajikistan’s unpaid debts to Uzbekistan.
4. (SBU) The drive from Dushanbe to Khujand took 18
hours, much of
it spent waiting at roadblocks while Chinese road
construction crews
worked on the road.
When the Chinese finish the road improvement
project, due to happen in summer 2009, the trip may
take only five
or six hours [there is also a Chinese-financed power
transmission
project to connect Khujand with the southern grid, due
to complete
in 2009]. Long
term maintenance of the road will be a problem; it
passes over steep and crumbling mountainsides, and
emboff
encountered numerous small rock falls onto the new
pavement. The
road has a serious weak link — the Iran-funded tunnel
under Anzob
pass. The five-
kilometer tunnel is unfinished, dark, choked with
exhaust fumes and blocked by piles of construction
materials. So
much water leaks into it that a small river runs out
the downhill
end, and pools form at several places deep enough to
stop smaller
cars. Going
through the Anzob tunnel is one of Tajikistan’s more
memorable experiences.
5. (SBU) Until the road work is finished, thousands of
Tajik
travelers must endure hours of delay. Hundreds of vehicles line up
on the road north from Dushanbe in the evening,
waiting for the road
to open at nightfall.
The Government allowed the Chinese road
construction company to close the road during daylight
hours, and
the contract apparently has no public relations
clause. There are
no interpreters at the Chinese road blocks, and the
road workers
ignore Tajik police and citizens who wish to pass,
regardless of the
reason. Emboff
watched at one roadblock as a family tried to take
an ill woman to hospital on the far side of the
construction zone.
The Chinese foreman brusquely waived them away, until
the waiting
crowd of Tajiks resolved the problem by gathering
around him in a
menacing manner; he got the hint (and broke into a
profuse sweat),
and let the ill woman’s car pass.
IN KHUJAND SOME IDEAS, DEVELOPMENTS, AND LIMITATIONS
6. (SBU) Emboff met with Anvar Yakubov, head of the
State
Investments and State Property Department of Sughd
Oblast. Yakubov
showed off the north’s reputation for a modern outlook
and new
ideas, emphasizing the private sector and specifically
small
Qideas, emphasizing the private sector and
specifically small
businesses as central to regional economic
growth. He talked up the
oblast’s efforts to improve the agricultural sector,
including new
agricultural financing schemes, and claimed that the
oblast was
trying to reduce the share of land devoted to cotton.
Of 275,000
hectares of irrigated land in Sughd Oblast, only
63,000 hectares was
used for cotton growth, and the oblast was rapidly
increasing its
production and exports of fruits and vegetables. He described
fruits and vegetables as the engine of agricultural
growth in Sughd
Oblast.
7. (SBU) He also talked up the mining sector, noting
northern
Tajikistan’s huge mineral resources, and the
increasing involvement
of Chinese companies in the sector. The most interesting mineral
resource for him was coal; Yakubov suggested the coal
deposits at
Fon Yagnob [soon to be the object of a USTDA-funded
feasibility
study] could become a key fuel source to power other
industries in
Sughd. Lack of
electrical power continued to be the great obstacle
to Sughd’s development.
CHINA TRADE
8. (SBU) A later meeting with Zebonisso Solieva,
Development
Director of Vavilon Transportation Company,
highlighted imbalances
DUSHANBE 00001154
002 OF 002
in Tajikistan’s foreign trade. Vavilon is the dominant rail
transport company in the oblast, bringing in cargoes
from around
Asia and Europe.
Solieva said China was the main trading partner
for the oblast, but it was almost all imports —
virtually nothing
was exported to China.
This was in contrast to the large exports of
aluminum and cotton from southern Tajikistan. She said several
years ago individual Tajiks would book single freight
containers,
but this had evolved, and now it was individuals
arranging shipments
of five containers per month full of «Chinese
rubbish» — mainly
building materials, consumer goods of all kinds,
cement, and barley
for beer production.
9. (SBU) Solieva said exports were becoming more
difficult to
arrange because of delays in transit imposed by Uzbek
authorities,
and this especially impacted shipments of fruits and
vegetables.
She noted that there was a busy illegal trade in
Chinese goods
brought to Tajikistan and then smuggled into
Uzbekistan.
MICRO-FINANCE NO LONGER MICRO
10. (SBU) Emboff visited a successful microfinance
bank, which was
graduating to larger loans and becoming a for-profit
bank. Gulbahor
Mahkamova, deputy director of Imon International
Microfinance Fund
(originally funded by U.S. NGO Mercy Corps), said 35%
of Imon’s
loans were to agriculture, farming and livestock
entrepreneurs.
Imon International was not working with cotton
production at all,
not out of principle but because of the complicated
debt situation
for cotton farmers.
65% of Imon loans were to clients engaged in
trade, usually small shops. Imon had grown from $1 million in
capital when it was founded in 2000 to $25 million in
its active
loan portfolio, 26,000 clients, and average loan size
of $1000.
Imon started by loaning exclusively to women, but by
2008 women had
become a minority of its clients, 48%. She described Imon clients
in trade as increasingly hard pressed by import
shipment problems
and the efficiency of larger retailers.
NAKED ENTHUSIASM
11. (SBU) In Kanibadam and Isfara Emboff met with
small scale
entrepreneurs.
Their mixed experiences were reflective of the
difficulties of small businesses which Imon
described. One small
fruit processor was being run out of business by
electricity
shortages and poor fruit harvests in the past two
years. He said
his business survived on «naked
enthusiasm.» Another entrepreneur,
producing bottled water, also referred to the
difficulty of
maintaining his business when electricity frequently
failed. He
cited lack of access to finance as another obstacle to
expanding his
successful business, and said it was impossible for
him to stay in
business and still pay his legal tax bill. He estimated that 70% of
the labor force from Kanibadam had gone to Russia to
work, and noted
increasing numbers of women and entire families
leaving for Russia.
The Deputy Chairman of the Kanibadam Hukumat noted all
of these
problems, but also noted that Tajiks who had done well
in Russia
sometimes returned and invested in Tajikistan; one
local returned
and built a $1.5 million brick factory in Kanibadam.
COMMENT: STILL AN ECONOMIC ISLAND
12. (SBU) Khujand is not the economic power house it
once was.
Closed borders, lack of electricity, and bad roads
have taken their
toll. The road
and power infrastructure projects funded by China
will eventually help correct these problems, but for
the next few
years it will continue to be a region critically short
of
electricity, with a hinterland lacking sufficient agricultural
Qelectricity, with a hinterland lacking sufficient
agricultural
financing, and a rural population eager to leave for
work abroad.
End Comment.
=======================CABLE
ENDS============================
id: 171042
date: 9/23/2008 4:21
refid: 08DUSHANBE1190
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: CONFIDENTIAL
destination: 08STATE99746
header:
VZCZCXRO8976
RR RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHDBU #1190 2670421
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 230421Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1004
INFO RUCNCLS/SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0160
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0055
—————— header ends —————-
C O N F I D E N T I A L DUSHANBE 001190
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN, ISN/RA NEPHEW AND DANIEL, IO/T VON
BEHREN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2018
TAGS: IAEA, PARM, MNUC, TI
SUBJECT: IAEA DEMARCHE DELIVERED
REF: STATE 099746
Classified By: Ambassador Tracey A. Jacobson for
reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (C) Per reftel, DCM delivered a demarche on the
IAEA Board
of Governors to Muzaffar Khuseinov, the Head of the
Department of International Organizations at the Tajik
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Khuseinov said that Tajikistan
has not received a formal request to support
Kazakhstan’s
candidacy.
However, he said informally that Tajikistan would
in fact support Kazakhstan. He did not know his government’s
position on Afghanistan’s potential candidacy, but he
would
discuss the matter with his superiors.
2. (C) Khuseinov did not comment on his government’s
position
toward Syria or Iran.
Dushanbe point of contact for
follow-up information is Greg Naarden,
[email protected].
JACOBSON
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 171120
date: 9/23/2008 12:13
refid: 08ASHGABAT1257
origin: Embassy Ashgabat
classification: CONFIDENTIAL
destination:
header:
VZCZCXRO9353
PP RUEHAG RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV
DE RUEHAH #1257/01 2671213
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 231213Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1599
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4329
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2141
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2006
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 2577
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1600
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2918
—————— header ends —————-
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT
001257
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/23/2018
TAGS: PREL, EIND, ENRG, EPET, ETRD, KG, UZ, TI, TX
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ ENERGY MINISTER DISCUSSES PURCHASING
ELECTRICITY, GAS FROM TURKMENISTAN
Classified By: Charge d’Affaires a.i. Sylvia Reed
Curran for reasons 1.
4 (B) and (D).
1. (C)
SUMMARY: President Berdimuhamedov and
Kyrgyz
Minister of Industry, Energy, and Fuel Resources
Saparbek
Balkibekov discussed in meetings in Ashgabat on
September 17
Kyrgyzstan’s need to purchase electricity for the
upcoming
winter and interest in purchasing petrochemical
products in
the future.
Turkmenistan agreed to export 1.2 billion
kilowatts of electiricty to Kyrgyzstan. Turkmenistan is also
interested in purchasing industrial glass and cement
from
Kyrgyzstan. The
parties did not come to any agreement on gas
sales, because, according to the Kyrgyz Embassy,
Kyrgyzstan
first must conclude transit agreements with Uzbekistan
and
Tajikistan, which may prove to be difficult. END SUMMARY.
2. (U)
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov met with Kyrgyz
Minister of Industry, Energy, and Fuel Resources
Saparbek
Balkibekov in Ashgabat on September 17. The official
Russian-language government newspaper «Neytralniy
Turkmenistan» reported on September 18 that the
two officials
discussed cooperation in the energy sector, and that
Berdimuhamedov aid Turkmenistan’s energy policy is
based on
diversification.
The article also said that Kyrgyzstan was
especially interested in importing natural and
liquefied gas,
petroleum products, and electric power from
Turkmenistan.
MAIN FOCUS OF THE VISIT: ELECTRICITY
3. (C) Kyrgyz Embassy
Counselor Melis Sydykov (strictly
protect) said in a meeting on September 22 with
econoff that,
in addition to President Berdimuhamedov, Minister
Balkibekov
met with Deputy Chairman for Oil and Gas Tachberdi
Tagyev,
Minister of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations
Nokerguly
Ataguliyev, and Acting Minister of Oil and Gas
Industry and
Mineral Resources Bayramgeldi Nedirov. Sydykov said that
Kyrgyzstan is concerned about its ability to produce
enough
hydroelectric power for the upcoming winter, as this
is the
seventh year in a seven-year cycle during which its
dam
waters reach low levels. While the Toktogul dam usually
holds 15 billion cubic meters of water — and as much
as 18
billion cubic meters — the dam currently holds only
12
billion cubic meters.
Turkmenistan agreed to export 1.2
billion kilowatts to Kyrgyzstan, and Sydykov said that
this
is acceptable to Kyrgyzstan. Sydykov said that Iran and
Turkey buy about a billion kilowatts every year from
Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan buys a small
amount. Sydykov
added that Kyrgyzstan’s small power plants do not
produce
much electricity, reinforcing Kyrgyzstan’s dependence
on
hydroelectric power.
PETROCHEMICALS ALSO ON THE TABLE FOR DISCUSSION
4. (C) Sydykov
said that Kyrgyzstan wants to buy 1 billion
cubic meters of gas from Turkmenistan per year. Currently
Kyrgyzstan purchases 850 million cubic meters of gas
per year
from Uzbekistan.
Turkmenistan agreed in principle to sell
gas to Kyrgyzstan.
However, Sydykov said, the Turkmen
repeated the usual offer to sell gas at Turkmenistan’s
borders.
However, as Sydykov pointed out, Kyrgyzstan must
now negotiate with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan for
transit
agreements through these countries. According to Sydykov,
Kyrgyz and Turkmen officials did not discuss price
because
Kyrgyzstan must first determine how to transport the
product.
Since it might
be possible to purchase liquefied natural
gas, transportation options include train and motor
vehicle.
INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS
5. (C) Sydykov
added that Turkmenistan is interested in
importing high-quality glass made in a
German-constructed
factory, as well as cement for industrial construction
purposes.
According to Sydykov, Turkmenistan does not have
any comparable glass factories. The Kyrgyz-made cement, used
ASHGABAT 00001257
002 OF 002
for pouring foundations of large buildings, is also
desirable.
KYRGYZSTAN SATISFIED WITH MEETINGS
6. (C) Sydykov
was pleased with the outcome of the meetings,
stating that Kyrgyzstan is looking at purchasing
petrochemical products from Turkmenistan as an option
for the
future, adding that price will be a deciding factor.
Kyrgyzstan is resigned to paying «European
prices» because it
doesn’t have a choice and because fuel is a necessity.
7. (SBU)
COMMENT: Turkmenistan’s agreement to export 1.2
billion kilowatts of electricity to Kyrgyzstan for the
coming
winter is positive.
Turkmenistan is committed to friendly,
positive relations, including commercial relations,
with the
other Central Asian states. END COMMENT.
CURRAN
=======================CABLE
ENDS============================
id: 171750
date: 9/27/2008 12:23
refid: 08KABUL2631
origin: Embassy Kabul
classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
destination: 08KABUL1602|08KABUL757
header:
VZCZCXRO3126
RR RUEHPW
DE RUEHBUL #2631 2711223
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 271223Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY KABUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5646
INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS KABUL 002631
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, EUR/RPM
STATE PASS TO AID FOR ASIA/SCAA
NSC FOR WOOD
OSD FOR WILKES
CENTCOM FOR CG CSTC-A, CG CJTF-101 POLAD
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, ETRD, EFIN, AF, TI
SUBJECT: Engagement on Afghan-Tajik Bridge Could
Enhance Impact
REF: A) Kabul 1602 B) Kabul 757
1. (SBU) The Afghan-Tajik bridge continues to drive
trade and
improve relations between Afghanistan and
Tajikistan. The border
crossing has the potential to become one of
Afghanistan’s most
convenient, but dithering on both sides of the border
about staffing
the facility and on the Afghan side about development
options have
muted the bridge’s impact. Coordinated efforts on both sides of the
bridge could improve trade and economic development
resulting from
this multi-million dollar project.
New Bridge Could Become Pivotal
——————————-
2. (U) Trade stimulated by the Afghan-Tajik bridge at
Sher Khan
Bandar is already driving economic activity in
Northeast Afghanistan
(Ref A). Cross
border traffic has increased from 30 to 200 trucks
per day; Afghan customs revenues have increased from
zero to almost
USD one million since its opening in August 2007. The world-class
customs facilities for the USD 49 million bridge could
accommodate
even more traffic, and the road from the Sher Khan
Bandar customs
terminal to Kabul is entirely paved and traversable in
seven hours.
Main Obstacles to Exploiting the Bridge . . .
———————————————
3. (SBU) Neither the Afghans nor Tajiks have moved
into their
respective customs facilities. On the Afghan side, Afghan customs
and border police are locked in an argument over use
of the included
dormitory and after-hours compound access. Unable to reach a
solution in the province, the two sides have forwarded
their dispute
to Kabul for a decision. On the Tajik side, the government has only
recently designated the customs service to run the
facility. The
Afghan and Tajik sides cannot agree whether or not to
allow
pedestrians on the bridge, and ferry traffic from the
Tajik side
continues to siphon off revenue. The Tajiks are preparing to occupy
the facilities provided once three items are
completed: a parking
area for waiting trucks, electrical power and the
delivery of the
furniture for the facilities.
4. (SBU) BMTF and ECON section staff from Kabul
visited the bridge
with PRTOFF and noted not only trash, but also cracks
in the surface
of the bridge.
According to the Afghan officials accompanying the
group, there was no coordination with the Tajik side
on bridge
maintenance.
The group did not see the bridge surface on the Tajik
side, but the fear is that without adequate
maintenance, the
bridge’s ability to handle traffic could be greatly
reduced.
. . . And What to Do About It
——————————
5. (SBU) Embassies Kabul and Dushanbe agree we need a
coordinated
effort with players on both sides of the border. First steps should
be getting Afghans and Tajiks into the facilities,
followed by a
bridge maintenance agreement. The Ministry of Transportation on the
Tajik side is responsible for the maintenance of the
bridge and has
been given the task of working with the Afghan
government to
coordinate maintenance. We can then begin addressing the thornier
issues of pedestrian traffic and closing the
ferry. From a
pedestrian traffic position on the Tajik side, the
pedestrian
facilities are not yet ready; they should be ready
shortly after the
Customs Service begins full occupation and use. Kunduz shows signs
of thriving economically. Our concerted efforts on both sides of
the border can reward the private sector initiatives
that are
evident in Kunduz.
6. (U) This cable has been cleared with Embassy
Dushanbe.
DELL
=======================CABLE
ENDS============================
id: 172077
date: 9/30/2008 21:35
refid: 08STATE104519
origin: Secretary of State
classification: CONFIDENTIAL
destination:
header:
VZCZCXYZ0004
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHC #4519 2742140
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 302135Z SEP 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE PRIORITY 0000
INFO RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT PRIORITY 0000
RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA PRIORITY 0000
RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK PRIORITY 0000
RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT PRIORITY 0000
RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI PRIORITY 0000
RUEHYE/AMEMBASSY YEREVAN PRIORITY 0000
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY 0000
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 0000
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0000
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
—————— header ends —————-
C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 104519
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/26/2018
TAGS: PREL, ASEC, PHUM, KDEM, PMAR, PK, AF, TI
SUBJECT: UNDER SECRETARY BURNS’ MEETING WITH
TAJIKISTAN
PRESIDENT RAHMON
Classified By: Under Secretary William Burns
for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
1. (C) In a forty minute meeting on September 25,
Tajikistan
President Emomali Rahmon and Under Secretary William
Burns
discussed the U.S.-Tajik relationship and Rahmon’s
views on
issues facing South and Central Asia. Rahmon expressed
concern
over the situation in Afghanistan stressing that, in
the end,
Afghan stability depends on Pakistan. On the Russia/Georgia
conflict, Rahmon noted Russian pressure, but assured
Under
Secretary Burns Tajikistan would stand firm on
territorial
integrity.
Stability was a theme that underlay his
discussion
not only about Afghanistan, but also narcotics
trafficking,
civil society organizations and reform in
general. He claimed
Tajikistan is building its democratic, secular society
based
on its own customs and traditions — and at its own
pace.
2. (SBU) Meeting Participants:
Emomali Rahmon, President of Tajikistan
Presidential Adviser Erkin Rahmatulloev
Ambassador to the United States Abdujabbor Shirinov
Tajik Permanent Representative to the United Nations
Sirojiddin Aslov
Under Secretary William Burns
SCA Deputy Assistant Secretary George Krol
SCA/CEN Brian Roraff (notetaker)
3. (C) President Rahmon began the meeting by
thanking
the United States for our security assistance to
Tajikistan,
as well as our efforts to bring stability to
Afghanistan.
He characterized the U.S.-Tajik relationship as
strong. He
then asked about the status of Tajikistan’s USD 20
million
request for wheat seed, noting that the United States
has
not decided the final form the assistance will take.
4. (C) Rahmon then delved into issues facing
Tajikistan,
starting with Afghanistan, which he described as a
complicated
situation. He
said that stability in Afghanistan was
important to Tajikistan because it lies between
Tajikistan
and Pakistan, and therefore the sea and world markets.
Tajikistan is supporting Afghan stability: it has
agreed to
sell electricity to Afghanistan, five bridges link the
two
countries, and Tajikistan is helping connect the
region,
building a road network that connects the region from
Kazakhstan through Afghanistan to Pakistan. However,
the problem of narcotics and narcotics trafficking is
a
serious problem facing the region.
5. (C) Rahmon addressed the coming winter, which he
said
would be worse than last year’s. Water shortages have
caused a drop of 30 per cent in Tajikistan’s
hydroelectric
capacity this year, which has resulted in only sixteen
hours
of electricity a day to the capital Dushanbe. He noted that
60 percent of water flowing through Central Asia
originates
in Tajikistan, but Tajikistan only uses 5-7 percent.
Uzbekistan, on the other hand, uses over 50 percent of
the
water in the region.
6. (C) He ended his introduction by telling Under
Secretary
Burns that Tajikistan is ready to cooperate on the
wide range
of issues that make up the U.S.-Tajik relationship,
concluding
with a pitch for more U.S. trade and investment.
7. (C) Under Secretary Burns told Rahmon the United
States
has a strong interest in stability in Afghanistan, and
therefore we value our security relationship with
Tajikistan,
including on counternarcotics. He followed up on the theme
of U.S. investment in Tajikistan, telling Rahmon that
we want
to be helpful, but that Tajikistan could help itself
attract
investment by cooperating with the International
Monetary
Fund and repaying its loans. Rahmon responded by pledging
to continue cooperation with the Fund.
8. (C) Under Secretary Burns then asked Rahmon how
he saw
the situation in Afghanistan developing. Rahmon replied
simply that stability in Afghanistan depended on
stabilizing
Pakistan. The
homeland of the Taliban, he said, is Pakistan
not Afghanistan, and the Taliban must be eliminated
there.
He said that the United States should strengthen its
presence
in Afghanistan while at the same time helping
stabilize
Pakistan. The
United States should not separate stability
in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
9. (C) Under Secretary Burns asked Rahmon for his
impression
of Pakistani President Asif Zardari. Rahmon responded that
Zardari was a good businessman, but that in politics
he
simply
traded on the reputation of his late wife, Benazir
Bhutto.
Unlike Bhutto, Zardari will not be able to keep Nawaz
Sharif
in check, which is worrisome because Sharif has
extremist
roclivities.
Nevertheless, countries must deal with Zardari,
and at least he is not a military general, dependent
on the
military and security services like Musharraf.
10. (C) Moving to Georgia, Under Secretary Burns
noted that
Tajikistan did not recognize Abkhazia and South
Ossetia and
asked Rahmon for his view on the situation. Rahmon started
by characterizing the recent summit of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization as «tough» due to
Russian pressure.
He said that President Saakashvili did not think
before
invading South Ossetia, and could not understand why
Saakashvili would have fallen for Russian
provocations.
Saakashvili was simply impatient and unprepared. Rahmon
said that poor relations between the United States and
Russia put Tajikistan in a difficult position and that
no
one will benefit from a conflict between Moscow and
Washington. He
called for «cooler heads,» calmer rhetoric
and objective analysis of the situation in order to
avoid a
«world catastrophe.»
11. (C) Under Secretary Burns turned to civil society
and
urged Rahmon to recognize the role nongovernmental
organizations and the role they can play in improving
Tajik
society. U.S.
and EU nongovernmental organizations can help
Tajikistan, especially a nongovernmental organization
like
Mercy Corps, which helped Tajikistan through the rough
winter last year.
12. (C) Rahmon responded by noting Tajik progress in
civil
society since 2002:
where there used to be 800 civil
society organizations, there are now 3,000; the number
of
television channels has increased from one to
ten; there
are now 1,000 newspapers in Tajikistan. Rahmon pointed to
security as a main concern of his government, arguing
that
the government must deal not only with Western
nongovernmental
organizations, but also Islamic ones. While he appreciated
the work of nongovernmental organizations connected to
the
European Union and the United States, nonetheless, he
was
concerned about «Muslim funds» that operate
in Tajikistan,
commenting that they could present security concerns
to
Tajikistan.
Again, he noted the tragic civil war Tajikistan
endured as an experience that influences Tajikistan’s
attitude
toward nongovernmental organizations.
13. (C) In conclusion, Rahmon assured Under Secretary
Burns
that Tajikistan is building its society to be neither
Islamic
nor Communist, but rather a democratic, law abiding
secular
society based on Tajik customs and traditions. He noted he
had sent his experts to the United States and to
Europe to
learn from other societies. He proclaimed «I myself am a
democrat,» but said Tajikistan cannot move
hastily on reform.
When the Soviet Union collapsed, he said, the Tajik
people
were not prepared and the country fell into five years
of
civil war causing over one million refugees. Tajikistan,
he stressed, will move «step by step» to
change the living
standards and mentality of the people. Above all, Rahmon
stressed Tajikistan needs time: «Do not force change on us
— we need time.»
RICE
=======================CABLE
ENDS============================
id: 172275
date: 10/2/2008 9:46
refid: 08DUSHANBE1246
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: CONFIDENTIAL
destination: 08DUSHANBE1067
header:
R 020946Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1020
INFO CIS COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY KABUL
—————— header ends —————-
C O N F I D E N T I A L DUSHANBE 001246
FOR SCA AND PA/PR/FPCW
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2011
TAGS: PHUM, KPAO, KDEM, TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN:
RFE/RL WINS SOME, LOSES MORE
REF: DUSHANBE 1067 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Ambassador Tracey Jacobson, Reasons 1.4
(B) and (D)
1. (SBU) Summary.
As if according to deadline, pending
decisions regarding RFE/RL’s re-accreditation, a
series of
lawsuits, and a tax audit were rendered by the end of
August.
On the positive side, the prosecutor threw out a legal
complaint about the station’s negative reporting and
the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs renewed the accreditation
for the
station and bureau chief. On the negative side, a judge
ordered the station to re-hire a freelance reporter
fired in
2007 and pay him three months salary and vacation
pay. A tax
inspector ordered the station to pay $110,000 in back
taxes.
The regional director of the Tajik service plans to
appeal
the legal rulings and tax fine. Another former employee
launched a lawsuit last week and is asking for
$145,000 for
being underpaid during his 12 years of employment at
the
station. End
summary.
2. (U) A «time of troubles» for Radio Free
Europe/Radio
Liberty (RFE/RL) in Tajikistan started in May when the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the accrediting agency
for
foreign media, did not immediately renew the station’s
or
bureau chief’s accreditation upon expiration. In July two
former employees, Sayofi Mizrob and Kholiq Sangin,
held press
conferences denouncing the station’s critical
reporting on
the government and its unfair employment policies.
Both filed
legal actions. Also in July a tax inspector launched
an audit
of the station’s finances. By the end of August, most
pending decisions had been rendered, some in RFE/RL’s
favor,
some not.
3. (U) On the positive side, on August 13 a local
prosecutor
issued a letter dismissing Mizrob’s complaint about
the
station’s reporting and refused to open a criminal
case. The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs renewed the accreditation
for the
station and bureau chief Mirzonabi Kholiqzoda.
4. (SBU) On the negative side, on August 27 a judge
ordered
RFE/RL to re-hire Sangin (who was fired for being
absent
without leave in October 2007) and pay him three
months
salary and vacation pay. In numerous conversations
with
emboff in September, Rod Shahidi, the director of
RFE/RL’s
Tajik service, said that the judge told bureau chief
Kholiqzoda «off the record» that because of
the «sensitive»
nature of the case, he had to decide in Sangin’s
favor, or
face a barrage of media criticism. Shahidi said he
will
appeal, because he believes the judge was under the
mistaken
impression that Sangin had previously been a full time
employee, not a freelance contractor.
5. (SBU) Shahidi told emboff that the judge ordered
the
station to re-hire Sangin under the same contract he
had
before, which Shahidi said is an
«entrepreneur» or
fee-for-services contract. Shahidi said the contact conforms
with Tajikistan’s civil code, but not labor code.
According
to the contract offered, Sangin would earn
$20/article, but
would not have a workspace at the station. On
September 29,
Shahidi said Sangin had not signed the agreement or
submitted
a tax registration number as required by law.
6. (SBU) Sangin told emboff September 30 that he had
not
signed the contract, because he wanted a full time job
with
commensurate benefits. He admitted that he had been
fired
after failing to return from vacation when expected
and
without providing news of his whereabouts. He said he has
not been able to work as a reporter for the last few
months
because he has been focused on dealing with the court case.
7. (U) In another setback, on August 29, a tax
inspector
Q7. (U) In another setback, on August 29, a tax
inspector
delivered a report assessing RFE/RL $110,000 in back
taxes,
which Shahidi said was the accumulation of the 25% tax
that
freelance employees were supposed to have paid but did
not.
Shahidi said the station would appeal the fine because
the
audit document contained irregularities, such as not
including the names of the tax auditors or the
signature of a
tax committee supervisor.
8. (SBU) Regarding Mizrob’s pending lawsuit (see
reftel),
Shahidi said RFE/RL received the court papers the week
of
September 23.
He said Mizrob was asking for $1,100 for
unpaid reports, about $9,800 interest, and $100,000
for being
pressured during his 12 years of employment at RFE/RL
to
write reports critical of the government and the
president.
9. (SBU) Mizrob told emboff a different version about
the
lawsuit in a telephone conversation September 30. He
called
Shahidi an «Iranian dictator,» and said he
filed the suit in
protest against Shahidi’s management practices, not
because
of the station’s editorial policies. He said he was
asking
for about $145,000 for 12 years of being underpaid for
his
work. He expected the hearings to begin after the Eid
holiday
sometime in early October.
10. (U) The lawsuit filed by Masud Sobirov, leader of
the
government-recognized branch of the Democratic Party
of
Tajikistan, is still open. (Note:
Sobirov filed a
defamation suit against RFE/RL in July for reports
that
described the party as «split.» Sobirov claims the
characterization is false, because his branch is the
only one
recognized by the government.) Shahidi said that
Sobirov told
him he would not pursue the case.
11. (C) Comment.
The issue at the heart of RFE/RL’s ongoing
troubles is its practice of freelance employment
contracts,
which provoked the ruling in Sangin’s favor, a tax
assessment
to collect freelancers’ unpaid taxes, and Mizrob’s
lawsuit.
Shahidi insisted to emboff that all employees now have
full
time contracts, but his credibility is questionable,
because
he has misled the embassy in other conversations (see
previous reftels).
12. (C) Comment continued. Sangin won the first round in his
legal case and may win the appeal, if Shahidi
continues to
play a legal game of complying with the civil code,
but not
the labor code.
If Sangin wins, the joke will be on RFE/RL.
By many peer accounts, Sangin was an unreliable
employee, and
RFE/RL was right to fire him. Regarding Mizrob, until
the
embassy sees the actual legal papers, it is impossible
to
know whether Shahidi’s version or Mizrob’s version is
correct. Shahidi’s story is plausible, because Mizrob
denounced the station’s editorial policies at a press
conference in July. However, given the favorable
outcome of
Sangin’s case, Mizrob may have been motivated to
leverage the
same argument to get a lucrative settlement for
himself. End
comment.
JACOBSON
=======================CABLE
ENDS============================
id: 172324
date: 10/2/2008 14:05
refid: 08STATE105291
origin: Secretary of State
classification: SECRET//NOFORN
destination:
08ASHGABAT1075|08ASHGABAT1176|08ASHGABAT1240|08ASHGABAT893|08ASTANA1279|08ASTANA1435|08BISHKEK709|08BISHKEK712|08BISHKEK898|08BISHKEK989|08BISHKEK992|08DUSHANBE1041|08DUSHANBE1083|08DUSHANBE1122|08TASHKENT818|08TASHKENT855|08TASHKENT966|08TASHKENT977
header:
R 021405Z OCT 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
AMEMBASSY ASTANA
AMEMBASSY BISHKEK
AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
AMEMBASSY TASHKENT
—————— header ends —————-
S E C R E T STATE 105291
NOFORN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2033
TAGS: PINR, KG, KZ, TI, TX, UZ
SUBJECT: (U)
KUDOS FOR BIOGRAPHIC REPORTING ON CENTRAL
ASIAN OFFICIALS FOR JULY — SEPTEMBER 2008
REF: A. ASHGABAT 000893
B. ASHGABAT
001075
C. ASHGABAT
001176
D. ASHGABAT
001240
E. ASTANA
001279
F. ASTANA
001435
G. BISHKEK
000709
H. BISHKEK
000712
I. BISHKEK
000898
J. BISHKEK
000989
K. BISHKEK
000992
L. DUSHANBE
001122
M. DUSHANBE
001083
N. DUSHANBE
001041
O. TASHKENT
000818
P. TASHKENT
000855
Q. TASHKENT
000966
R. TASHKENT
000977
Classified By: SUZANNE MCCORMICK, DIR., INR/I. REASON:
1.4(C).
1. (C) In the runup to the 63rd Session of the UN
General
Assembly, INR/B prepared 20 biographic reports on
Central
Asian officials for use by senior-level
policymakers. INR/B
relied heavily on posts’ reporting in pulling together
these
biographic reports.
INR/B also would like to thank posts for
their reporting on Central Asian officials over the past
three months.
Refs A-R represent the type of reporting on
which INR/B relies in meeting the needs of
senior-level
policymakers.
A. (C) Ref A («Turkmenistan: It’s All in the
(Berdimuhamedov’s) Family») was especially
valuable to INR/B
in that it shed light on the President’s family — a
subject
on which INR/B has surprisingly little information.
B. (SBU) INR/B appreciated the biographic information
on
Deputy Premier for Construction Deryageldi Orazov and
Textile
Industry Minister Hojamyrat Metekov that was provided
in Ref
B («Turkmenistan:
Cabinet Meeting Focuses on State Visits,
New Petroleum Law, and Personnel Changes»).
C. (SBU) Ref C («Turkmenistan: DAS Krol Meets with Mejlis
Speaker Nurberdiyeva») not only offered language
on how
Nurberdiyeva came across in the meeting with DAS Krol
—
«cordial and polite» — but also highlighted
the tendency of
Turkmen officials to take on the role of uncritical
cheerleaders for Berdimuhamedov’s policies.
D. (C) Ref D («Turkmenistan: Berdimuhamedov Restates the
Familiar») illustrated how Berdimuhamedov’s
provincial
outlook and his limited understanding of his country’s
energy
sector factor into his comments to foreign officials.
E. (SBU) Ref E («Kazakhstan — Astana Celebrates
10th
Anniversary in Grand Style») captured how
important Astana is
to President Nazarbayev and how Nazarbayev probably
sees the
capital as a key part of his legacy.
F. (SBU) Ref F («Trip Report on Minister of
Emergency
Situations, General-Lieutenant Vladimir Bozhko, visit
to
Arizona and Washington D.C., 28 July — 3 Aug»)
provided
language on Bozhko’s demeanor — «engaged and
enthusiastic» —
during his meetings in the United States. Ref F also
described Bozhko’s positive attitude toward working
with US
emergency preparedness and response organizations.
G. (C) Ref G («Ambassador Raises Democracy,
Ramp in
Farewell Call on Kyrgyz President Bakiyev»)
captured the
atmospherics of the meeting as well as what factors may
be
driving Bakiyev’s attitude toward the United
States. Given
that Bakiyev’s trip to Germany in March ignited a
flurry of
speculation in the media about his health, INR/B
greatly
appreciated Ref G’s language on the President’s
physical
appearance and mobility.
H. (C) Similarly, Ref H («Ambassador Reviews
Ramp and
Energy Issues with Kyrgyz PM») provided useful
characterizations of PM Chudinov — «engaging and
relatively
unguarded in his comments» — and also illustrated
the
occasional breakdowns in communication between the
Cabinet of
Ministers and the Presidential Administration.
I. (C) Ref I («Acting CENTCOM Commander LTG
Dempsey Meets
with Senior Kyrgyz Officials») included language
on Defense
Minister Kalyev and DFM Ibraimov that will help INR/B
better
assess what roles these two officials play in
Bishkek’s
policymaking.
J. (C) Ref J («Ambassador’s Meeting with Kyrgyz
Minister of
Internal Affairs») offered outstanding language
on
Kongantiyev, noting his «disingenuous and
aggressive» manner
and his apparent lack of interest in resolving or
explaining
the Internal Affairs Ministry’s recent actions against
US
interests.
K. (C) Similarly, Ref K («Ambassador’s Meeting
with Kyrgyz
Prosecutor General Satybaldiyev») nicely
contrasted
Satybaldiyev’s claims that he wants to be accessible
to US
officials with his unhelpful comments concerning the
seizure
of weapons and equipment from a U.S. military training
team.
L. (C) Ref L («Tajikistan — Presidential
Adviser on South
Ossetia and Abkhazia») provided excellent
language on
Rahmatulloev, noting that his carefully chosen remarks
ultimately came across as «dubious» and
«ambiguous.»
M. (C) INR/B appreciated the background information
on
prominent politician/political analyst Hoji Akbar
Turajonzoda
and his insights on Tajikistan’s leadership dynamics
in Ref M
(«Tajikistan:
A Bad Moon Rising?»).
N. (C) Ref N («Acting CENCOM Commander LTG
Dempsey Meets
with President Rahmon») did a good job of
capturing Rahmon’s
approach toward relations with the United States,
including
Rahmon’s «usual pleas for US funding of targeted
investment
in infrastructure» and his
«I-told-you-so-from-the-start
attitude» regarding regional security issues.
O. (C) INR/B appreciated Ref O («OSCE Notes on
Karimov
Meeting Offer Insights Into Uzbek Foreign
Policy») and agrees
with post’s assessment that President Karimov’s
comments
about the OSCE reveal how he views the world.
P. (S) Similarly, Ref P («Uzbekistan: President Ka
