Переведено с использщованием AI
id: 47613
date: 12/14/2005 13:16
refid: 05DUSHANBE2038
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
destination:
header:
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of
the original cable is not available.
—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS DUSHANBE 002038
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR EUR/CACEN, SA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, ELAB, SMIG, TI
SUBJECT: TAJIK GOVT INSISTS PASSPORT DECISION REVERSAL PRACTICAL NOT
POLITICS
1. (SBU) SUMMARY:
Tajikistan orders Tajiks to use
international passports when traveling to Russia despite an
Eurasian Economic Community (EEC) agreement permitting citizens
to travel using internal passports.
This affects up to one
million labor migrants who do not have the expensive
international passport.
Tajikistan believes the use of an
international passport will help to curb harassment from foreign
border and law enforcement officials.
Press reports claim they
are also responding to pressure from Russian parliamentarians
looking to reduce the number of Tajiks in Russia. Regardless of
the type of identification, migrant workers face harassment,
discrimination and hardship working in Russia. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) PolOff met with Amirsho, a Tajik labor
migrant
traveling to Russia for 10 years who has worked on construction
sites in Moscow and Novosibirsk.
His employers pay him $500 a
month for backbreaking work, digging wells and constructing
walls. In the past, he and other
migrants have lived on the
open construction sites where they worked with no heating or
running water. Now he shares a
small flat with other migrants.
Amirsho now faces a much more difficult time traveling between
Russia and Tajikistan.
3. (SBU) The mandatory use of international passports
for
Tajik citizens to travel to Russia is a practical decision made
in the best interest of Tajik citizens, not a political one,
insists Igor Sattarov, Head of the Information Department of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a meeting with PolOff. Members
of the EEC: Russia, Tajikistan, Kyrgystan, Kazakhstan, and
Belarus agreed to allow citizens to travel through each country
with only their internal domestic passports, effective November
1. Although not legally required,
Tajikistan is now «strongly
encouraging» its citizens to travel with international
passports. News sources report
state-owned Tajikistan Airlines
refused passengers entry onto flights without international
passports.
4. (SBU) Tajik international passports cost
approximately $30.
For most Tajiks, $30 is their
average monthly salary and an
international passport is prohibitively expensive. In
addition, illegal migrants who are already out of Tajikistan
cannot apply for a passport in their host country. This new
government directive affects the estimated one million Tajiks
who travel to Russia for work.
Remittances from labor migrants
contribute to 15% of the Tajik economy.
Restrictive conditions
not permitting labor migrants to work could have a notable
impact on the economy.
KEEPING TAJIK CITIZENS INTERESTS IN MIND
5. (SBU) A long negotiation over a list of acceptable
travel
documents began in February 2004.
In January 2005, Russia
insisted that Tajiks needed international passports to enter
Russia. However, they relented
when Tajikistan reciprocated and
refused Russian citizens entry without international passports.
A renegotiation began and in October the EEC agreed that
internal passports could be used for international travel.
Despite protests from Russia’s Duma, the Russian government
upholds the policy.
6. (SBU) Contrary to news reports, Sattorov insists
the Duma’s
criticism is not the main factor in Tajikistan’s decision.
Sattorov explained the government recommends foreign travel with
international passports because it is concerned Tajiks,
particularly labor migrants would face problems while traveling
through Kyrgystan and Kazakhstan where some have been refused
entry in the past without international passports. Although
permissible, uninformed border officials may use the lack of an
international passport to bribe or harass travelers. Sattorov
also noted that Tajikistan worries Russia will change its mind
once again and decide to officially require international
passports.
HARD WORK IN RUSSIA IS BETTER THAN IN TAJIKISTAN
7. (SBU) Most Tajik migrant workers are laborers on
construction sites, in factories or on farms. About 25% are
professionals engaged in trade, education or law enforcement. A
slim group, about 3%, according to Embassy estimates, is
involved with criminal gangs.
8. (SBU) Most migrants live and work in Russia
illegally.
Regulations stipulate registered migrant workers must pay 33% of
their salary to the government.
Employers also have to pay
taxes, therefore it is not beneficial for either to register.
Because of their illegal status, migrants cannot report crimes
committed against them to the police and must pay out of pocket
for medical services.
9. (SBU) Traveling to Russia is difficult. Without an
international passport, militia and train inspectors are able to
extract bribes easily. After
arriving in Russia, life does not
get any better. The Russia
militia consistently beat and bribe
Tajik migrant workers. Russian
police have even stolen money
from Amirsho and his fellow Tajik migrant colleagues. Sometimes
the police raid the living quarters of migrant workers, accuse
them of an arbitrary crime and fine them or threaten them with
imprisonment. Amirsho’s family is
concerned for his safety and
does not want him to return to Russia.
Recent rumors of
«skinheads» attacking migrants raise fears in the community.
10. (SBU) When asked if all the hard work, harassment,
and
physical and mental distress were worth it, Amirsho replied with
a resolute, «Yes.»
Although traveling to and working in Russia
is difficult, the financial rewards and benefits of supporting a
family outweigh the individual costs.
11. (SBU) COMMENT:
Tajik migrant workers, whether registered
or illegal, are subject to discrimination in Russia. The Duma’s
objection to the use of internal passports may inflame
mistreatment of migrant workers.
However, migrant workers will
still flock to Russia and other CIS countries for the financial
opportunities, regardless of passport requirements.
12. (SBU) Russia’s and Tajikistan’s migrant labor and
illegal
immigration woes are much like the challenges faced by the
United States and Mexico. While a
difficult political issue for
all four countries, a dialogue on the issue could be beneficial
to all sides, especially if Parliamentarians and U.S.
Congressional representatives are involved.
END COMMENT.
ARMBRUSTER
NNNN
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 47722
date: 12/15/2005 8:27
refid: 05DUSHANBE2039
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: UNCLASSIFIED
destination:
header:
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of
the original cable is not available.
—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS DUSHANBE 002039
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/CACEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KPAO, TI, MIlitary assistance
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN: BOMB SUITS
TO SPECIAL OPERATIONS UNIT
1. They weigh over 70 pounds, but
the Kevlar inside may someday
save the life of a Tajik bomb squad first responder. On 14
December, the Charge’ turned over 2 bomb suits to the «OMON»
Special Operations Unit in Dushanbe.
Each suit costs just over
$24,000. This effort was as a
result of an Embassy bomb scare
in June 2005. OMON responded
immediately, but with no
protective gear whatsoever. The
ceremony culminated a six month
effort on the part of Diplomatic Security and the Regional
Security Officer to fix the problem.
The Charge’ also thanked
the unit for their support of the Embassy with regular bomb-dog
sweeps.
2. The bomb suits are very
cumbersome as well as being very
high-tech. According to the DS
Anti-Terrorism Assistance
Program trainers, the Tajik team was one of the best they’ve
trained to date, learning to don the equipment faster and
executing the drills faster than their counterparts in the
region. They also have excellent
stamina, as evidenced by the
demonstrator that stood wearing the suit for over an hour before
walking 100 yards to take the suit off.
3. These suits will ensure that
next time, and we hope there is
not a «next time,» the OMON team will be ready and properly
equipped.
ARMBRUSTER
NNNN
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 48020
date: 12/19/2005 4:50
refid: 05DUSHANBE2050
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: CONFIDENTIAL
destination:
header:
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of
the original cable is not available.
—————— header ends —————-
C O N F I D E N T I A L DUSHANBE
002050
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/CACEN, SA
NSC FOR MERKEL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2015
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, TI, Internal Politics
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN’S PROPOSED LAW RESTRICTS NGOS’ RIGHTS AND
ACTIVITIES
CLASSIFIED BY: Richard Hoagland, Ambassador, Dushanbe,
Tajikistan, Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d)
1. (C) The Tajik government is debating a law aimed
to control
NGO activities that could threaten the legal status of
international NGOs. The Embassy
received a draft copy of the
Law On Public Organizations (Associations) leaked to the Soros
Foundation. The Foundation also
provided the Embassy with a
legal analysis of the draft law.
The law, drafted by the
Ministry of Justice and submitted to the lower Chamber of
Parliament on November 30, would replace an existing Law on
Public Associations enacted May 23, 1998. The government,
hopeful the law can be quietly passed without dissent, has
deliberately kept information about the Law from the public.
2. (C) The Soros Foundation believes the government
is
convinced that international NGOs instigated CIS color
revolutions, and fears NGOs in Tajikistan will ignite a
revolution here.
3. (C) The Foundation opines the new law would «seriously
damage the democratization process of the country and formation
of civil society». The
following are important changes to the
law with adverse effects on NGOs’ abilities to function in
Tajikistan.
-Local NGOs will not be able to participate in elections. The
original law permitted NGOs to participate in election
campaigns, however, the new draft law eliminates this provision.
NGOs would be unable to nominate
or support candidates.
-NGOs would be prohibited from using the word «political» or
any
form of the word in their title.
-The Ministry of Justice would continue to have registration
authority over NGOs. The draft
law, expected to be enacted in
January 2007, requires all NGOs previously registered to be
re-registered by March 2007. NGOs
must submit annual and
quarterly reports to the MOJ.
Many NGOs already have technical
problems with the Ministry of Justice and cite examples of
bribery and corruption.
-The government would tighten its financial control. NGOs would
have to report to the State Committee on Taxes and other tax and
financial agencies. The
Foundation points out excess demand for
information, including financial activities, from the government
violates the constitutional principle of self-governance and
financial independence of public associations.
-NGO leaders and members would be liable for NGO activities. If
prosecuted they would be treated as leaders of criminal
organizations. Soros believes
this addition is designed to
instill fear and obedience in leaders and members.
-The draft law does not address the legal status of
international NGOs. Technically,
international NGOs only set up
branches and representational affiliations in country and their
main judicial office is outside of Tajikistan. The current law
allows judicial entities to set up NGOs in Tajikistan. However
the new law stipulates that only physical entities (persons) may
legally establish a public organization.
Since judicial
entities and foreign citizens cannot set up NGOs, that leaves
little room to legalize international NGOs.
-Although it does not address the legal status of international
NGOs, it stipulates their branches and affiliates must be
accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
4. (C) COMMENT:
This new draft law coincides with a similar
law initiated by Nazarbaev in Kazakhstan as well as the
restrictive NGO law introduced in Russia. Such timeliness shows
the Russian government is instructing regional governments to
control NGO activities, thereby limiting Western influence.
5. (C) No official copy of the
draft law has been publicized
and there are rumors the law is still changing. As it stands
now, the law jeopardizes NGOs, their personnel and members’
security. Broad stipulations
allow the government to easily
convict opposition NGO personnel.
This law would scare some
NGOs away from Tajikistan or technically preclude NGOs from
operating. The draft law
prohibits NGOs from carrying out their
mission and assisting in the social and economic development of
Tajikistan, particularly democracy and human rights focused
NGOs.
END COMMENT.
ARMBRUSTER
NNNN
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 48055
date: 12/19/2005 12:16
refid: 05DUSHANBE2052
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: UNCLASSIFIED
destination: 05BUDAPEST12
header:
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of
the original cable is not available.
—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS DUSHANBE 002052
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR ISN/ECC — PVANSON, ACHURCH, ACUMMINGS
DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, EUR/ACE
CBP/INA FOR PWARKER, BPICKETT
USDOE/NNSN FOR TPERRY
DOC FOR PETERSEN — BEARD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC, KNNP, KSTC, MNUC, PARM, TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN WMD EXECUTIVE SEMINAR IN BUDAPEST
1. SUMMARY: The Tajikistan Weapons of Mass Destruction
executive seminar held in Budapest 12-17 December ended Friday
with mixed reviews. Although the
seminar was an opportunity to
assess Tajikistan’s ability to combat the proliferation of WMD
and exchange information, some Tajiks complained directly to the
Foreign Minister about the accommodations and the organization
of the seminar. The seminar allowed Tajik officials from a
number of ministries, the President’s office and Parliament to
examine the situation realistically and highlight areas needing
assistance. The meeting
concluded with a useful «roadmap,» but
left open key questions such as funding for aviation support.
PRESENTATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES
2. Presentations focused on U.S.,
European, and NATO
perspectives on combating proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction. Most briefings were
very well-received and
captured the threat and measures taken to prevent proliferation.
The briefings on crisis
management, legal foundation,
international organizations involved in combating WMD, and
in-country programs were rated as «very insightful and
useful.»
Unfortunately, the briefing by the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) focused on areas outside the scope of Tajikistan
and the briefer was unable to satisfactorily answer any of the
Tajik-specific questions presented to him. Embassy officers
received several complaints after this briefing. The
presentation was ill-suited for the both the high-level policy
makers and the working level officials.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE LASTING IMPRESSIONS
3. After traveling for 20 hours
(with a seven hour, thirty
minute layover in the Munich Airport) the delegates were met by
the ICP organizers and put on a bus to the International Law
Enforcement Academy (ILEA). Once
at the academy, they were
assigned dormitory rooms, some two to a room, which lacked some
hotel basics, such as televisions.
Although these rooms were
standard for law enforcement students, they were not what deputy
ministers, parliamentarians, presidential advisors, and deputy
commanders expected from an «executive seminar,» particularly
after Department of Defense’s Dr. Harlan Strauss and the DTRA
team talked up the seminar during their September visit to
Dushanbe. Strauss had insisted on
only senior level decision
makers attending. (COMMENT: It should also be noted that
several embassy officers worked their personal contacts to
ensure senior attendance. END
COMMENT)
4. The Parliamentarians were
particularly vocal in expressing
their displeasure in the seminar and its organization. The
party returned to Dushanbe on Saturday evening and at 0930
Monday morning, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the
Embassy, advising that some Parliamentarians had already called
the Foreign Minister to express their dissatisfaction. While
some of the comments were unfounded, there were several
legitimate complaints.
EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING
5. The last day of the seminar
produced a «roadmap» for
assistance for Tajikistan. The
discussion was intense at some
points but the group prioritized a list of possible assistance
that could be offered by the ICP program. The roadmap follows a
critical path approach to strengthening Tajikistan’s ability to
combat proliferation of WMD through training and equipping.
(COMMENT: One of the points
introduced on the roadmap was
aviation units for the Border Guards and Ministry of Emergency
Situations. We have discussed
this point in the past, and
concluded that aviation is not presently sustainable in
Tajikistan, however the ICP organizers told Embassy officers
that this would be an OSD decision and left it on the roadmap.
Embassy Dushanbe looks forward to OSD’s response. END COMMENT).
ARMBRUSTER
NNNN
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 48173
date: 12/20/2005 12:11
refid: 05DUSHANBE2062
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: UNCLASSIFIED
destination: 05STATE225860
header:
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of
the original cable is not available.
—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS DUSHANBE 002062
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/CACEN, SA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KDEM, KPAO, TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN: `SEEKING PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR IRAQ ELECTION
TALKING POINTS DELIVERED
REF: STATE 225860
1. (U) PolOff delivered talking points per State
225860,
‘Seeking Public Support for December 15 Iraq Election’ to
Ismatullo Nasredinov, Head of the Department of European and
American Countries at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs December
20. Nasredinov promised to pass
the information along to the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Talbak Nazarov. Nasredinov will
also recommend that the Tajik Parliament issue a statement of
political support and congratulations to the Iraqi people on a
successful election.
2. (U) The Tajik State media reported the Iraqi
elections and
continues to include events in Iraq on the evening international
news. Tajik media does not have
correspondents in Iraq,
however, they source footage and news from BBC and Russian
channels. Post continues to seek
opportunities to share U.S.
views on events in Iraq with host governments and the media.
ARMBRUSTER
NNNN
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 48174
date: 12/20/2005 12:24
refid: 05DUSHANBE2063
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: UNCLASSIFIED
destination:
header:
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of
the original cable is not available.
—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS DUSHANBE 002063
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/CACEN, SA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV, TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN: TOWN AND GOWN CLASH OR YOUTH FRUSTRATION WITH
FUTURE PROSPECTS?
1. (U) Police arrested five people December 16 after
two days
of physical clashes between urban and rural youth in the
northern city of Khujand. Local
youth started a fight with
Khujand State University students from the rural Mastchoh
district in a public billiards hall on December 13. The
Mastchoh students attempted to retaliate by calling in
compatriots from the Mastchoh district.
The two groups
scheduled a confrontation for the next day at a local market.
Police brought in additional militia to prevent a violent
outburst. Some 50 young people
threw stones at the police cars
and quickly dispersed.
2. (U) Mastchoh, 55 kilometers north of Khujand,
relies on
cotton as the primary income.
Unemployment in Mastchoh is
higher than the national average and many men migrate to Russia
for work. Khujandis have
traditionally been the region’s
economic and political leaders and enjoy greater economic
prosperity than Mastchoh.
3. (U) COMMENT:
Given the history of the region, Embassy
sources speculate young men are frustrated by increased
unemployment. Provocations from
Khujandis may have fueled anger
based on regional prejudices and stereotypes. Although
authorities managed to avert a violent clash this time,
unemployment creates a growing atmosphere of frustration and
lack of hope in Tajikistan’s future among the young. With 52
percent of all Tajiks under the age of 19, this is a sector of
the population that the government must attend to closely. END
COMMENT.
ARMBRUSTER
NNNN
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 48180
date: 12/20/2005 12:48
refid: 05DUSHANBE2064
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: UNCLASSIFIED
destination: 05DUSHANBE1001
header:
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of
the original cable is not available.
—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS DUSHANBE 002064
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/CACEN, SA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, KDEM, TI, Human Rights
SUBJECT: TAJIK JOURNALIST RELEASED FROM PRISON
REF: A) DUSHANBE 927, B) DUSHANBE 1001
1. (U) Prison authorities in Istaravshan released
Jumaboy
Tolibov December 16 after several months of legal wrangling.
Sabit Azamov, the Ayni district’s General Prosecutor, ordered
Tolibov’s arrest on April 24. As
the chairman of the Ayni
district’s legal department, Tolibov published commentaries in
local newspapers alleging the local prosecutor Sabit Azamov
assaulted him and criticized the prosecutor’s office for
refusing to investigate the incident.
On July 28 he was
sentenced to two years in prison for charges of hooliganism,
trespassing and abusing his office as a local government
administrator.
2. (U) The trial was allegedly unfairly conducted
with
contradictory witness statements.
After the defense appealed,
the Supreme Court released Tolibov on October 11. However, the
Prosecutor General’s Office blocked the release by filing an
appeal. (NOTE: In Tajikistan, the
Prosecutors enjoy enormous
powers, including the ability to overturn judgments. END NOTE)
The Supreme Court rejected the appeal and once again ordered
Tolibov’s release November 28.
Although the Supreme Court had
issued the order, prison authorities refused to free Tolibov
until the formal letter arrived at the detention center via the
notoriously slow Tajik postal system.
3. (U) The U.S.-funded NGO Internews obtained the
official
document signed December 9 and sent it to Tolibov’s brother who
presented it to regional authorities.
The morning of Tolibov’s
release, Alain Couanon, Head of the Organization for Security
and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) visited Tolibov in prison and
met with the director of the detention center and
representatives of the Ministry of Justice. Couanon expressed
concern that Tolibov was still imprisoned despite a Supreme
Court order for his release.
Tolibov was free several hours
later.
4. (U) COMMENT:
Since Tolibov’s arrest, many journalists,
NGOs, and diplomatic missions have made public and private
statements condemning his arrest and the violation of freedom of
speech rights. The Supreme
Court’s decision to reject the
General Prosecutor’s Office’s appeal and order the release of
Tolibov is a promising sign that the government does have some
checks and balances and adheres to the legal process. However,
his arrest and delay in release shows the General Prosecutor’s
Office power and the Prosecutor’s tendency to use the law for
political and personal goals. END
COMMENT.
ARMBRUSTER
NNNN
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 48383
date: 12/22/2005 6:13
refid: 05DUSHANBE2083
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: CONFIDENTIAL
destination: 05DUSHANBE1732
header:
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of
the original cable is not available.
—————— header ends —————-
C O N F I D E N T I A L DUSHANBE 002083
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/CACEN, SA
NSC FOR MERKEL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2015
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, KDEM, TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN MIN OF SECURITY CLOSELY WATCHES INDEPENDENT
MEDIA
REF: DUSHANBE 1732
CLASSIFIED BY: Thomas Armbruster, Charge d’ Affaires, Dushanbe,
Tajikistan, Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d)
1. (C) The Tajik government may be ratcheting up its
already
successful efforts to limit freedom of speech. National
Association of Independent Mass Media in Tajikistan (NANSMIT)
chairman, Nuriddin Karshiboev confided to Poloff December 16
that his contacts at the Ministry of Security— his former
employer-said ministry employees complained about NANSMIT during
a staff meeting. In response to
NANSMIT’s criticism of the
government crackdown on mass media and free speech, the Minister
himself ordered his staff to investigate the organization. He
has also threatened to ban NANSMIT for their statements.
2. (SBU) Unfazed by MoS threats, Karshiboev noted
NANSMIT
fully complies with all regulations and any attempt to ban
NANSMIT would be illegal.
However, government pressure has had
its consequences; Karshiboev claimed certain international NGOs
refused to fund NANSMIT projects due to government crackdown on
independent media.
3. (U) NANSMIT recently called government policies a
return to
Soviet-era censorship. The
organization particularly criticized
the government’s recent revision of the Law on Publishing
Business, passed by parliament in November. The change mandates
all editorial offices and publishers deliver a copy of new
publications prior to distribution to the Ministry which
registered the organization, (either the Ministry of Justice if
the media organization is its own entity, or the Ministry of
Culture if the publication is affiliated with another
organization).
4. (SBU) COMMENT:
NANSMIT represents Tajikistan’s only true
media watchdog organization, and even it toes a careful line in
its regular electronic publications so as not to incur the
authorities’ wrath. Gearing up
for next fall’s presidential
election, the government has all but suspended registration of
new media organizations, unless they are state-sponsored, and
keeps a keen eye on mass media reporting. While the MoS has yet
to make an open or official investigation of NANSMIT, the rumors
of MoS intimidation fit into the growing pattern of governmental
interference in the media. END
COMMENT.
ARMBRUSTER
NNNN
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 48384
date: 12/22/2005 6:38
refid: 05DUSHANBE2084
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: UNCLASSIFIED
destination:
header:
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of
the original cable is not available.
—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS DUSHANBE 002084
SIPDIS
FOR EUR/CACEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPDC, TI
SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL HOLIDAY GREETING CARDS
Post has received the following holiday greeting cards which are
being sent to the Department for onward transmission:
President Rahmonov to President Bush
Begin text: Happy New Year,
President of the Republic of
Tajikistan, E. Rahmonov. End Text.
Prime Minister Akilov to President Bush
Begin text: Happy New Year, Prime
Minister of the Republic of
Tajikistan, A. Akilov. End text
President Rahmonov to Mr. Andrew Natsios, USAID
Begin text: Happy New Year,
President of the Republic of
Tajikistan, E. Rahmonov. End
text.
ARMBRUSTER
NNNN
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 48535
date: 12/23/2005 10:58
refid: 05DUSHANBE2090
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: CONFIDENTIAL
destination: 05DUSHANBE1919|05DUSHANBE2013
header:
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of
the original cable is not available.
—————— header ends —————-
C O N F I D E N T I A L DUSHANBE 002090
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDING TAGS)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2015
TAGS: PREL, ECON, ENRG, TI, TDA, Hydropower and Energy, Economics and
Trade
SUBJECT: «WITHOUT THE US, ROGUN WILL NOT BE BUILT»: TAJIK
ENERGY MINISTER
REF: A) DUSHANBE 2013 B) DUSHANBE 1919
CLASSIFIED BY: Thomas Armbruster, Charge d’Affaires, US Embassy
Dushanbe, State.
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d)
1. (C) The United States and AES
still have significant roles
to play in Tajikistan’s hydropower sector. Tajik Minister of
Energy Jurabek Nurmamatov told PolOff rumors of RusAl dominating
the Rogun project did not reflect the Ministry’s position or the
Tajik government’s. RusAl had
taken only a preliminary step by
committing to a third of the project.
He dismissed as
unimportant a recent news report regarding a strictly
Russian-Tajik commission to determine Rogun’s cost and
inventory, noting the State Committee for Management of
State-owned property, and not the MoE, was behind the new body.
«As far as we are concerned, without the United States, Rogun
will never be built.» MoE
has more political clout that the
State Committee.
2. (C) Rogun will be an
international project, he emphasized,
involving the World Bank, AES, the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development and other international partners,
to export electricity to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Nurmamatov
regarded the January 12 meeting in Islamabad to draft a
Memorandum of Understanding (reftel A) as the point to clarify
RusAl and AES’s roles in the project.
Furthermore, he saw a
role for AES in Sangtuda, likely in the construction the
high-voltage transmission lines.
3. (C) COMMENT: Nurmamatov’s comments downplay recent rumors
about Oleg Deripaska and RusAl’s involvement in Rogun, and
reinforce President Rahmonov’s recent message to the Ambassador
(reftel B) that the United States will be a key player. Whether
the Tajiks are telling the Russians something different about
Rogun remains an open question.
4. (C) COMMENT CONTINUED:
Speaking cheerfully and frankly,
Nurmamatov was all business and no small talk. He answered
PolOff’s questions directly and completely, but did not engage
in wider discussions of energy or the economy. Embassy staff
who have met with him previously say he is accessible and open,
but always to the point. END
COMMENT.
HOAGLAND
NNNN
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 48542
date: 12/23/2005 11:48
refid: 05DUSHANBE2092
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
destination:
header:
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of
the original cable is not available.
—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS DUSHANBE 002092
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR EUR/CACEN, SA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KDEM, KPAO, TI, Internal Politics
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN POLITICAL PARTIES UNDERGO CHANGES TO PREPARE FOR
2006 ELECTIONS
IRPT HOLDS ROUNDTABLE TO DISCUSS REFORMS
1. (U) In a show of possibly implementing major
party reforms,
on December 20 the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan (IRPT)
held a roundtable to solicit opinions from political scientists,
government officials and other political parties on the role of
the IRPT in society. The
Democratic Party of Tajikistan’s (DPT)
Deputy Chairman voiced common criticisms of the IRPT and accused
the IRPT of being useless in government.
He blamed the party
for not engaging parliament in a multi-party system, but rather
succumbing to the voting wishes of the ruling People’s
Democratic Party of Tajikistan (PDPT).
Many speakers asked the
IRPT to define more clearly their position.
2. (SBU) COMMENT:
The roundtable’s intent appeared
progressive-minded, however during a break, IRPT Deputy Chairman
Vohidkhon Qosiddinov casually remarked to PolOff that the IRPT
did not intend to implement any reform suggestions. As it turns
out, the roundtable was a token gesture of reaching out with no
real intent to reform. END
COMMENT.
3. (U) The close relationship between the IRPT and
PDPT fuel
critics’ arguments that the PDPT uses the IRPT to create the
pretense of multi-party support.
President Rahmonov visited
IRPT Chairman, Said Nuri, several times and provided financial
support while Nuri was being treated for an undisclosed illness
in Germany. After being ill for
several months, Nuri is back in
Tajikistan and has regained daily control over the IRPT from the
moderate First Deputy Chairman Muhiddin Kabiri. Nuri, upon
reevaluation of party officials’ loyalty, dismissed several
people and demoted others with more changes to come.
SDPT SCRAMBLES TO BOLSTER WEAKENING PARTY
4. (U) The SDPT, weak from government attacks and
persecution,
is trying to recoup their support in order to put forth an
opposition candidate for next fall’s presidential election. The
December 17 SDPT congress elected Dilovarsho Jurayev and Dilbar
Samadova deputy heads of the party.
The SDPT persuaded Jurayev,
a popular Rasht Valley politician, to join their party after he
failed to register his own party, the Party of the National
Heritage.
5. (U) The congress participants
supported a decision to field
a single candidate from opposition political parties in
Tajikistan’s November 2006 presidential elections; however, the
IRPT has publicly stated they will not cooperate with the
opposition political parties. The
SDPT remains hopeful the IRPT
will change its decision. To
date, no parties have named a
candidate because they fear government pressure.
6. (SBU) COMMENT:
In an attempt to monopolize the political
space, the government exerts control over political parties in
two ways: luring them into cooperation, like with the IRPT and
Communist Party of Tajikistan or defaming them, like the SDPT
and DPT. The government’s
effective divide and conquer strategy
has weakened the parties. Even if
the parties were willing to
cooperate, they will be unable to garner enough popular support
for any candidate. END COMMENT.
ARMBRUSTER
