id: 94173
date: 1/26/2007 13:48
refid: 07DUSHANBE135
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
destination: 07DUSHANBE100
header:
VZCZCXRO9617
PP RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #0135/01 0261348
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 261348Z JAN 07
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RHMFIUU/DIA FT BELVOIR
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 1071
—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 000135
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ABLD, ECPS, OIIP, PGOV, PREL, KPAO, TI
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING BUREAU LAYS GROUNDWORK FOR
AGREEMENT WITH TAJIK GOVERNMENT
REF: DUSHANBE 100
DUSHANBE 00000135 001.2 OF 002
1. (U) SUMMARY. The International Broadcasting Bureau’s Jim
Lambert briefed Minister of Transportation and Communications
Abdurahim Ashurov January 23 on the history of its broadcasts
and transmissions from Tajikistan and proposed that the United
States and Tajikistan negotiate and sign a bilateral
governmental agreement. To date,
the International Broadcasting
Bureau has conducted its programs on a commercial basis; the
current five-year commercial agreement is set to expire in
December 2007. Lambert promised
to send a draft agreement and
invited Ashurov to send a team to Munich to see the facilities
and meet with other International Broadcasting Bureau staff.
Ashurov promised to consider the agreement, stating that
cooperation with the United States on all fronts was a priority;
but noting also that the International Broadcasting Bureau’s
work in Tajikistan can no longer be considered as simply
technical or commercial, but rather an issue of broader foreign
policy. END SUMMARY
2. (SBU) The Ambassador set the
stage by explaining the
on-going commercial agreement between the International
Broadcasting Bureau and Tajik Radio Telecom which allows the
International Broadcasting Bureau to broadcast into Pakistan.
The International Broadcasting Bureau wants to broaden the scope
of its broadcasts to include China, but a commercial agreement
does not adequately ensure Tajik government support for
transmissions from its territory, so a bilateral governmental
agreement is needed. Lambert then
fully explained the ongoing
broadcasting program, including the recent installation of an
800-kilowatt amplitude modulated transmitter and antenna. The
International Broadcasting Bureau plans to install generators to
ensure a consistent power supply, and shortwave antenna and
transmitter that can reach most of China, in addition to the
current Urdu broadcasts into Pakistan.
Lambert emphasized the
close cooperation with Tajik Radio Telecom, as well as the
technology and training already transferred to Tajikistan.
3. (U) Because the original
equipment leased by Radio Free Asia
in 1995 and again by the successor agency International
Broadcasting Bureau in 2002 cannot carry the required
transmission loads, the International Broadcasting Bureau began
installing new technology for Tajik Radio Telecom, and plans
further upgrades. This will
benefit Tajikistan in the long run,
because its technicians are getting the training now, and the
equipment will revert to them in ten years. The International
Broadcasting Bureau has also provided building renovations at
the broadcasting site. The
current program also benefits Tajik
Radio Telecom because it is able to sub-lease 12 hours each day
on the current transmitters to other broadcasters. (Note: We
have just learned that Tajik Radio Telecom’s main sub-lessee is
Radio Russia. It is ironic that
U.S. provided equipment is used
to broadcast programs that often portray America in a negative
light. End note.)
4. (U) The current commercial
program expires in December 2007,
and there is no current government to government agreement. For
this reason, Lambert recommended that the International
Broadcasting Bureau send a draft proposal and an invitation for
the Tajiks to meet with the International Broadcasting Bureau in
Munich in February.
5. (U) Minister Ashurov thanked
Jim Lambert for the
information, and stated that he agreed in principle with the
idea of the meeting to discuss a new agreement. He said ongoing
as well as new broadcasts would have to be discussed at the
policy level within his government to determine if the
transmission agreement complied with Tajik law. This is not
simply a commercial or technical issue, he said, but one of
broader foreign policy.
Tajikistan wants to have positive,
law-based relationships with all of its neighbors. Ashurov
emphasized his interest in cooperation with the United States
across all areas within the purview of his ministry.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: The meeting
represented a first effort to
fully brief the Tajik government on the International
Broadcasting Bureau’s activities, but it will take numerous
briefings and meetings to fully explain the scope of the
broadcasts and get the Tajiks to agree to an intergovernmental
agreement, in addition to extending the commercial agreement
with Tajik Radio Telecom which expire in December. Given the
growing ties between Tajikistan and China, the Tajik government
may not agree to allow us to use its territory for broadcasting
to China. We will need to use all
our diplomatic efforts in
DUSHANBE 00000135 002.2 OF 002
Tajikistan and Washington to explain that the transmissions do
not pose a threat to regional stability or relations. END
COMMENT
7. (U) By briefing the government
of Tajikistan and initiating
discussions about an inter-governmental agreement, the
International Broadcasting Bureau has complied with Embassy
Dushanbe’s request (Reftel), and the Embassy will once again
entertain country clearance requests for its technical advisors
for maintenance and repair of existing capacity as well as site
surveys for planned expansion.
However, the Bureau should not
plan on installing new capacity or start new broadcasts without
first obtaining agreement from the host government.
JACOBSON
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 94703
date: 1/31/2007 14:12
refid: 07DUSHANBE161
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: UNCLASSIFIED
destination: 07STATE202341
header:
VZCZCXRO3658
RR RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #0161 0311412
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 311412Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9517
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 1104
—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000161
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN; S/WE FOR SASHA MEHRA AND GERDA LANE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PHUM, KWMN, TI
SUBJECT: INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN TAJIKISTAN
REF: STATE 00202341
1. In response to reftel, Post
submits the following five names
of the most influential women in Tajikistan.
— Khairinisso MAVLONOVA
Title: Depuity Prime Minister
Organization: Government of the Republic of Tajikistan
In a country with one female minister and where most women are
relegated to deputy minister positions, Mavlonova sits in the
highest government position attained by a woman. She holds two
graduate degrees and studied at the Russian Academy of Civil
Service. A close advisor to the
president, she is often praised
for her ability to speak and connect with the public.
— Zebunisso RUSTAMOVA
Title: Director
Organization: Center of Support for Women and Children
An Olympic medalist in archery, Rustamova is well-known and
respected throughout Tajikistan. She heads one of the most
active and well-regarded NGOs in the Sughd Region of northern
Tajikistan, advocating for women and children’s rights and has a
strong network with civil society and business leaders.
— Matluba ULJABAEVA
Title: Deputy Director
Organization: Indigo Telecommunications Company
Uljabaeva is deputy director of one of the leading
telecommunications companies in Tajikistan and is also the
Executive Director of the Board of Heads of Small and Medium
Entrepreneurs Association (SMEA).
She was instrumental in
organizing several conferences for the business community and
provided significant input into Tajikistan’s Law on Small and
Medium enterprises.
— Gulchehra SHARIPOVA
Title: First Deputy Minister
Organization: Ministry of Justice
Sharipova headed President’s Administration’s Department on
Constitutional Guarantees of the Rights of the Citizens,
responsible for human rights issues.
Well-known among the
international community, she also enjoys a good reputation among
Tajiks as a knowledgeable and experienced lawyer.
— Viloyat MIRZOEVA
Title: Director
Organization: Gender and
Development
After working for the UNICEF and UNIFEM offices in Dushanbe,
Mirzoeva set out to start her own local NGO, «Gender and
Development.» Mirzoeva was
highly praised by President Rahmonov
and received a state award for her NGO’s work.
2. Due to an undeveloped
telephone infrastructure and
constantly changing exchanges and prefixes, Post would be happy
to facilitate contact for Department offices with any of these
women. Post’s officer responsible
for following women’s issue
is Uyen Tang, Political/Economic Officer. Ms. Tang can be
contacted at HYPERLINK «mailto:[email protected]»
[email protected] or +992-37-229-2505.
JACOBSON
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 94726
date: 1/31/2007 15:28
refid: 07DUSHANBE162
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: UNCLASSIFIED
destination: 06DUSHANBE827|07DUSHANBE139
header:
VZCZCXRO3749
RR RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #0162/01 0311528
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 311528Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9518
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1917
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 1849
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS 1173
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
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RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1984
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1592
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1611
—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 DUSHANBE 000162
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON, EAID, EAGR, ELAB, ENRG, PGOV, PHUM, TI
SUBJECT: BEWARE OF GARM! WINTER IN CENTRAL TAJIKISTAN
REF: A) DUSHANBE 0139 B) 06
DUSHANBE 827
DUSHANBE 00000162 001.2 OF 003
1. (U) Introduction: Jan 22-24
EmbOffs visited the Rasht Valley
in central Tajikistan to get a taste of rural life in the
winter. A series of cables
surveys border conditions (Ref A),
the economic and social situation, health needs and assistance
programs in central Tajikistan.
End Introduction.
The Icy Road East
————————————
2. (U) Local Tajiks told EmbOffs
to wait until summer to travel
to Rasht Valley, citing warnings about perilous road conditions
in the mountains. The town of
Garm, six hours northeast from
Dushanbe on a principal road leading through the country and to
Kyrgyzstan, is best visited in May.
Undaunted, on Jan 22
EmbOffs packed into their vehicles loaded with ready-to-eat
meals, sleeping bags and bottled water, and headed to Garm.
3. (U) EmbOffs enjoyed blazing
snow-covered scenery as Embassy
drivers slowly maneuvered through icy mountain roads at 25-30
kilometers per hour. Occasionally,
men from villages dressed in
furry hats and beards came up to shovel dirt on the mountain
paths to provide traction for passers-by. Vehicles small and
large maneuvered between rockslides on the icy roads, carrying
people and goods, such as new Chinese minivans, into the
country. With snow piled high all
around, traffic and life move
on in central Tajikistan.
4. (U) Rasht Valley comprises
seven districts with an overall
population of over 350,000.
(Note: EmbOffs did not actually
notice a «valley.»
Valley implies a large flat area, while the
Rasht Valley consists of a road between the mountains. End
Note.) The small rehabilitated
airport in Garm operates only in
summer, while camels are still used as transport in Jirgitol
District further up the valley.
Garm sits in the center of
Rasht district, a capital of 14,000 people. The dead economy
has forced much of the population to seek work abroad, while the
remaining population relies on foreign assistance, remittances,
and small-scale agricultural production.
No Electricity and No Connection
——————————————— —
5. (U) Rasht Valley receives two
to four hours of electricity
per day from mid-October through mid-April. People in the
valley use coal from Nazarailok, 120 km from Rasht, for heat.
Each family uses up to four tons of coal each winter, at $150
per ton. The Chairman of Rasht
District Mahmadsharif Tolibov
believes that energy supplies will improve after the launch of
the Sangtuda-1 hydropower station.
In addition, Russian
construction of a hydropower station at Rogun, or Chinese
construction of a Shurab hydropower station at the merging point
of the Hingob and Surhob rivers would also provide energy
resources and new jobs for the region.
6. (U) Rasht District lacks a
single radio station, and boasts
one bi-weekly newspaper, Navidi Rasht.
Newspapers from Dushanbe
often arrive weeks late.
Approximately 50 families (of 14,000
people) in Garm have satellite dishes, although without
electricity, even the satellite owners cannot watch television.
There is little public Internet access in the district — a
U.S.-funded site is an exception — and few books available in
Russian or English languages.
7. (U) At School Number 1 in
Garm, shivering pupils bundled in
coats dutifully wrote in their notebooks. Low salaries
averaging 20 USD per month have led to a nationwide shortage of
teachers, and class sizes ranged from 35-45 students. The Asian
Development Bank and the Japanese Development Agency both
provided assistance to the school, with basic improvements in
the building evident. The active
parents’ association paid for
electrical upgrades and for heating coal. The school’s
director, Sharipov Davlat, asked EmbOffs for assistance in
purchasing new classroom furniture and textbooks. A local NGO
leader warned EmbOffs that local youth face a crisis without
development opportunities.
DUSHANBE 00000162 002.2 OF 003
How do you like them (Garm) apples?
——————————————— ———
8. (U) Tajiks love the flavorful
Garm apples, and Rasht
District produces up to ten thousand tons of apples each year.
However, with no food processing manufacturers and poor storage
facilities, farmers lose up to 50% of their harvest, often
giving it to cattle. In this
non-cotton-growing agricultural
region, farmers grow potatoes and other vegetables, raise
cattle, and keep bees. The region
lacks agricultural equipment,
however, and Rasht District Chairman Tolibov suggested to
EmbOffs that donors provide tractors to farmers instead of
training.
9. (U) Rasht Valley lacks capital
to spur economic growth, and
the persistent electricity shortages make the region
unattractive to outside investors.
Despite sitting on a major
trade route, only small business trading occurs in the valley.
Several entrepreneurs told EmbOffs they want to produce
high-quality cashmere wool, but they lack investment capital.
Irrigation systems lie in disrepair with no funds or electricity
to rehabilitate them. Labor
remittances account for more than
50% of local income, and in the Tajikobod district for example,
4,000 of the 33,000 population work in Russia, bringing in $10
million per year, according to the Mountain Societies
Development Support Program, an Aga Khan Development Network
agency active in the region.
Local Governance Programs in Rasht Valley
—————————————
10. (U) Two major donors in the
Rasht Valley are the United
Nations Development Program and the Mountain Societies
Development Support Program. Each
has spent roughly $10 million
in Rasht Valley since 1996. These
two donors have created a web
of local governance support programs in Rasht Valley that bring
civil society and local government together. The Mountain
Societies Development Support Program created 474 organizations
at the village level, involving 58,000 people, to coordinate
community issues. (Comment: The
head of the Mountain Societies
Development Support Program, Muhammadi Sharipov, is considered
the second most important person in Rasht Valley, after the
regional governor. End
Comment). The United Nations
Development Program works one level higher with its new 36
Jamoat (District) Support Centers, providing each with $30,000
per year for micro-lending, civil support and infrastructure
projects. In addition, Jamoat
officials receive training and
technical assistance. These two
programs will provide an
excellent basis for the new USAID Local Governance program.
Economic Development Programs
—————————————
11. (U) Donor projects offer the
most basic economic training
and infrastructure development. A
German Development Service
(German version of the Peace Corps) advisor runs a business
incubator in Garm and provides business development services to
entrepreneurs who struggle with basic market concepts. For
example, the handicrafts dealer offered his goods as gifts to
visiting EmbOffs several times while the advisor repeatedly
admonished him and insisted he accept payment for his products.
12. (U) Donor activities
complement each other, as the
FirstMicroFinance Bank (also a part of the Aga Khan Development
Network) provides credits to farmers, and Mountain Societies
Development Support Program activities include irrigation
projects and cattle breeding. The
new USAID AgLinks project
will stimulate linkages between market-driven producers and
processors and retailers of agricultural products, and also
build local capacity, providing needed assistance to this
struggling region.
13. (U) Comment: Geography and
poverty conspire against this
region, which was a hotbed of the opposition during the civil
war. The Governor seemed
uninterested in hearing about new
USG-funded economic development, agricultural and governance
programs, perhaps feeling like he’s heard it all before. He
DUSHANBE 00000162 003.2 OF 003
adamantly maintained, however, that the President would solve
the region’s energy problems in the next year or two. EmbOffs
did not ask the question what would happen if the energy
shortages continue. End Comment.
JACOBSON
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 94856
date: 2/1/2007 12:12
refid: 07DUSHANBE167
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: CONFIDENTIAL
destination:
header:
VZCZCXRO4786
PP RUEHDBU
DE RUEHDBU #0167 0321212
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P R 011212Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9526
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 1967
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 1114
—————— header ends —————-
C O N F I D E N T I A L DUSHANBE 000167
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/1/2017
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KDEM, PHUM, EAID, TI
SUBJECT: NGO STANDOFF WITH THE TAJIK MFA OVER REQUEST FOR PERSONNEL
INFORMATION
CLASSIFIED BY: Tracey Ann Jacobson, Ambassador, U.S. Embassy,
Dushanbe, State.
REASON: 1.4 (d)
1. (SBU) Tajikistan’s international nongovernmental
organization community is wrestling with how to respond to a
recent Ministry of Foreign Affairs request to provide
information about their local employees and tax status. The
Ministry sent a letter in early January — received by only
three of the Dushanbe NGO Forum’s 44 members — requesting that
diplomatic missions, international organizations and
international nongovernmental organization submit a series of
documents, including the charter, contracts with local
employees, tax numbers of local employees. (Note: The Ministry
quickly clarified that diplomatic missions were actually exempt
and had no action. End note.)
Much of the requested information
is already on record with other government agencies, including
the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Labor, Tax Committee and
Fund for Social Protection.
2. (SBU) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs appears
ill-prepared
to implement the initiative. In a
January 29 meeting with
PolOff and Mercy Corps and Internews country directors, Sherali
Jononov, head of the Legal Department, shifted uncomfortably in
his chair when asked about the legal justification for the
request. He acknowledged that
organizations also had to
register with the Justice Ministry, but said it was not possible
for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to obtain the documents from
other government agencies.
«This information will help the
Ministry to issue visas and register cars for international
organizations.» Given that
staff changed on a regular basis,
how often would organizations need to submit such information?
Jononov did not know, but suggested a one-time submittal would
suffice. What was the penalty for
non-compliance? No answer.
3. (SBU) He added the initiative was in part to
«protect the
local workers of Tajikistan» from bad personnel practices, but
could not refute the counterargument that worker protection was
the responsibility of the Labor Ministry, not Foreign Affairs.
In response to concerns that submitting copies of labor
contracts violated privacy rights, Jononov suggested
organizations did not really need to submit the contracts — a
list of employees, and the dates of the contract would suffice.
He directed the NGO Forum to meet
with a more junior Ministry
employee to clarify the specifics documents requested.
4. (SBU) According to Tajik
lawyers at the International Center
for Non-Profit Law, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has no legal
basis to collect the information.
Legal specialists explained
to PolOff and more NGO directors January 31 that the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs has the right to accredit diplomats and foreign
media only. All other
organizations must register with the
Ministry of Justice. The
Ministry’s «accreditation cards» given
to foreign employees of international organizations were not
required under Tajik law.
5. (C) COMMENT: Not only is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
on
very thin legal ice with their request for information, the
actual requirements are unclear and seem open to negotiation.
The fact that the letter erroneously included diplomatic
missions and that Jononov dismissed the written request for
contracts suggests the request letter was hastily conceived and
badly conceived and executed attempt to try to get more
oversight of non-governmental organizations’ activities.
Foreign Affairs and Justice have a long-standing rivalry over
the control of international non-governmental organizations, and
this request could be the latest intra-governmental power play.
6. (C) The NGO community is split on how to
respond. One camp
feels inclined to submit only the information required by Tajik
law, and force the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to produce legal
justification. The other takes a
more conciliatory approach to
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, recognizing that a little
compliance could result in better support and communication with
the Ministry, if not the Tajik government. The Ministry has the
power to issue or deny visas, and could effectively hamstring
the work of many international non-governmental organizations by
denying visas to foreign employees or consultants. END COMMENT.
JACOBSON
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 95053
date: 2/2/2007 10:40
refid: 07DUSHANBE171
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
destination: 07DUSHANBE34|07DUSHANBE44
header:
VZCZCXRO6171
PP RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #0171/01 0331040
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 021040Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9529
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1920
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0013
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 1118
—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 000171
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, EAID, KPAO, TI
SUBJECT: TAJIK FOREIGN MINISTER ZARIPOV’S BILATERAL WISH LIST FOR
2007
REF: (A) DUSHANBE 44, (B) DUSHANBE 34
DUSHANBE 00000171 001.2 OF 002
1. (SBU) Summary:
Foreign Minister Zaripov invited Ambassador
February 1 to meet newly-appointed Ambassador to the United
States Abdujabbor Shirinov, and to discuss his ideas for
additional cooperation in 2007, including the opening of the
U.S.-funded bridge at Nizhnii Pyanzh and the Millennium
Challenge Corporation. Ambassador
raised the upcoming
International Visitors program for senior bankers and expressed
hope for positive results from a related meeting between Gerald
Metals, Orienbank owner and «First Brother-in-Law» Sadulloyev,
and the Deputy Director of the TadAZ aluminum smelter in
February in Washington. She also
asked for the Minister’s help
in registering the National Democratic Institute and Freedom
House, both of which would contribute to Tajikistan’s Millennium
Challenge aspirations. Zaripov
provided some information on
President Rahmonov’s international travels, and asked for U.S.
assistance in closing down a U.S. based website he claimed was
run as an «active measure» by Russian security services aimed
at
disrupting U.S. relations with the countries of Central Asia.
End Summary.
New Ambassador
————————
2. (SBU) «Increase U.S. investment in Tajikistan
and
opportunities for Tajik students to study in the United States.»
Shirinov plans to arrive in
Washington mid-February and hopes
to participate in the White House credentials ceremony February
27. (Note: We conveyed to the Ministry today that
Shirinov
needs to be in Washington no later than February 13 to be
included in the ceremony.)
Zaripov’s Wish List
————————-
3. (SBU) Zaripov again raised
Tajikistan’s interest in making
the list of Millennium Challenge countries, and said this would
be a top priority for Shirinov.
Ambassador said success was not
an issue of lobbying, but rather taking concrete steps to
improve Tajikistan’s indicators.
Registration of the National
Democratic Institute and Freedom House would be positive
developments in the «governing justly» section of the
indicators, especially as Freedom House has some responsibility
for the rankings. Zaripov said he
was working with both the
Ministry of Justice and State Committee on Security to move
forward on the National Democratic Institute, but asked
Ambassador to raise the issue at her meetings with the Minister
of Justice and Director of Security.
Ambassador noted that the
new Minister of Justice had thus far declined to meet. (Note:
This is as clear a statement as we have heard that the State
Committee on National Security, long thought to be the main
obstacle to the National Democratic Institute’s work, is in fact
the real problem).
4. (SBU) Zaripov again raised his interest in a
splashy
ceremony for the bridge opening in August, including senior U.S.
representation. He is also
hoping to generate increased U.S.
investment, noting the recent visit to Tajikistan of U.S.-listed
energy company Canargo, which has received a concession to
explore the possibility of extracting natural gas in
Kurgan-Tube, and to generate more educational exchanges. «Maybe
in the future, we will have budgetary funds to send more
students to the United States, as they do in Kazakhstan. But
for now we still need your help.»
Travelling Man
——————-
5. (SBU)
Zaripov characterized Rahmonov’s recent trip to
China as extremely positive, not only for the various commercial
and educational agreements signed, but for the overall
«umbrella» agreement on friendship and cooperation that will
stimulate rapid development in the relationship. (Note:
Zaripov didn’t share any figures on the new concessional loan
agreements reached with China, but International Monetary Fund
representatives told us this week that they are on the order of
hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars, potentially raising
Tajikistan’s Debt to Gross Domestic Product ratio to as high as
60 percent. End Note.) Rahmonov will travel to Egypt February
4 and Syria three days later for meetings with his counterparts.
According to Zaripov, Rahmonov
wants not only to build
bilateral relations with countries in the Arab world, but also
to share his experience in «peacefully resolving civil conflicts
and working cooperatively with difficult neighbors.»
DUSHANBE 00000171 002.2 OF 002
Shut Down that Pesky Website
——————————————
6. (SBU) Zaripov raised the Arianastorm.com website,
which he
claims is based in Newcastle, Delaware.
According to Zaripov,
Ibrahim Ismoyilov, who was the deputy state security committee
chief for Tajikistan during Soviet times, runs the site with
four students he had recruited from Isfara, «a hotbed of Islamic
extremists.» Ismoyilov
receives his instructions from
opposition journalist Atabuloyev in Moscow, a known Russian
Federal Security Service agent of influence, whom Moscow uses to
destabilize relations between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, and
also to curb the growth of U.S. influence in Central Asia in
general. Zaripov was particularly
incensed about stories that
he personally is an «agent of the Central Intelligence
Agency.»
Ambassador noted that the U.S. government does not control
information published on the internet, to which Zaripov
responded that «the U.S. Justice Department has the right to
close down any website under the Patriot Act.» Ambassador said
this is only true for websites promoting violence and terrorism.
(Note: We feel Zaripov’s pain; our embassy has also
been the
subject of some nasty attacks from this website.)
7. (SBU) Comment: We appreciate Department’s assistance in
getting Shirinov included in the upcoming White House
credentials ceremony. We expect
that Zaripov will still play
the lead role for the Tajik side in driving the bilateral
relationship. Our challenge is to
turn his enthusiasm and ideas
into concrete steps forward. End
Comment.
JACOBSON
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 95290
date: 2/5/2007 14:13
refid: 07DUSHANBE180
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
destination: 07DUSHANBE139|07DUSHANBE162
header:
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INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
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RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 2010
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1987
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 1139
—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000180
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
PREL, PGOV, PINR, SNAR, TI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: FOR, SCA/CEN
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN’S RASHT VALLEY CALM— FOR THE TIME BEING?
REF: A. A. Dushanbe 0139
B. B. Dushanbe 0162
1. (SBU) Summary: Despite serving as the headquarters of the
Islamist opposition during the Tajik Civil War, PolOffs
encountered a quiet Rasht Valley during their January 22-24
visit. Local government leaders
argued Islamic extremism did
not exist in Rasht, due to the «increased religiosity» of its
people and its distance from the Uzbek border. However, the
potential for extremism exists if the region does not achieve
economic development and receive international assistance,
particularly for health care. End
Summary.
EXTREME FAITH WITHOUT EXTREMISM
2. (SBU) Muhammadsharif Tolibov,
Chairman of the Rasht
District, told PolOff the Rasht Valley did not have any problems
with Islamic extremism. By
contrast, he posited, the Sughd
Region was fighting extremism due to its close proximity to the
Uzbek border, which facilitates the movement of people and funds
to and from Uzbekistan. Further,
the Rasht people are observant
Muslims who would not take to such excessive expression of their
religion.
3. (SBU) Hoji Qurbon Barotov,
imam of the Garm Friday praying
mosque, the largest in Rasht Valley, claimed he enjoyed good
relations with the government and occasionally traveled with
local government representatives to surrounding villages to
explain government policies and discuss the dangers of
extremism. Many local religious
leaders receive their religious
education outside of Tajikistan, particularly in Saudi Arabia
and Pakistan. He admitted that
exposure to different sects of
Islam sometimes created friction with local leaders after their
return home. (Note: Baratov
serves as the regional coordinator
for the imams of all mosques in Jirgatol, Tajikobod, Nurobod,
Tavildara and Rasht districts.
Approximately 20-25 people
worship daily at his mosque, and close to 1,000 every Friday.
In an unusual display of entrepreneurship, he built a small
power station at his mosque, which includes a generator, and
sells energy to his neighbors to generate proceeds for his
mosque. End Note.)
4. (SBU) Junaydullo Niyozov, the Prosecutor of Rasht
District,
confirmed that extremism posed no threat to Rasht’s stability.
He stated that his region was very calm overall, and that 96
percent of local crimes had been solved in 2006. The only two
«serious» crimes had been a woman who killed her illegitimate
child, and a man who killed his sister for having a child out of
wedlock.
CALM BUT DESPERATE
5. (SBU) Tolibov requested U.S.
health care assistance. A
sufficient number of specialists worked in the region, but they
lacked modern equipment to care for patients. Garm’s hospital
was responsible for treating people from 152 different villages,
but lacked a way to transport people to and from the hospital.
He specifically queried potential U.S. assistance in providing a
new ambulance which could serve patients located in rural areas.
Tolibov then claimed Rasht does
not have a high-level of drug
use or HIV cases, since people were more religious than other
parts of the country, and abstained from illegal activities as a
result.
6. (SBU) Comment: The request for health care assistance
echoes comments heard during trips to Khujand and Isfara. Post
plans to provide the contact information for two health-care
assistance implementing partners, NGO’s Project Hope and
Counterpart. While the U.S.
government will likely be unable to
meet their medical needs, sending even a small amount of
supplies would be a positive first step.
7. (SBU) The Embassy’s humanitarian
assistance partners
occasionally deliver medicines and medical supplies to the
region. Post will endeavor to
better publicize such deliveries.
This kind of assistance, with an
American face on it, will make
it more difficult for an unemployed, poor youth to believe
anti-U.S. extremist propaganda that the U.S. government is
waging a war against Islam. While
none of the above individuals
would admit that a problem with extremism existed, all
recognized the potential for radicalism, should the government
prove unable to improve the economic situation for their
citizens. End Comment.
JACOBSON
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 95437
date: 2/6/2007 11:56
refid: 07DUSHANBE199
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
destination: 05DUSHANBE1553|06DUSHANBE1594
header:
VZCZCXRO9192
OO RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #0199 0371156
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 061156Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9571
INFO RUEHC/USAID WASHDC
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 1969
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1988
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 2011
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 1161
—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000199
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
USAID FOR EGAT/I&E/E
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, ECON, EAID, ENRG, TI
SUBJECT: FLOOD SHUTS DOWN TAJIKISTAN’S PAMIR I POWER STATION
REF: A) 06 DUSHANBE 1594 B) 05
DUSHANBE 1553
1. (SBU) Pamir Energy, the Aga
Khan-supported energy company
that serves Tajikistan’s remote Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous
Region, suffered a major disruption February 5 when the
powerhouse at Pamir I hydro power station flooded, causing local
employees to shut down the 28 MW station (and run for their
lives). Munir Merali, Resident
Representative for the Aga Khan
Development Network in Tajikistan, told PolOff a team of experts
was already en route to the regional capital Khorog February 6
to conduct an initial assessment, but the power station was
expected to remain offline for a few months, leaving Pamir
Energy with only 9 MW of electricity from its Khorog hydropower
station to distribute to customers.
2. (SBU) Merali reported that the
turbines appeared to be
undamaged, but they would need to replace most of the wiring
before the station could go online. Although the cause of the
flooding remains unclear, Pamir I engineers on site proposed
several hypotheses, ranging from a problem in one of the two
penstocks that direct water from the holding reservoirs to the
power station, to a broken protective structure above the power
house. Pamir Energy’s Swiss insurance company is also sending
specialists to assess the damage.
3. (SBU) Merali met with Deputy
Prime Minister Asadullo
Ghulomov (whose portfolio includes both energy policy and
emergency response) February 6 to ensure timely government
assistance. Pamir Energy
officials in Khorog are working with
the Gorno-Badakhshan governor Qodir Qosimov to establish a
rationing schedule for electricity in the region. (Note:
Just
one week earlier, the Tajik media quoted Qosimov calling the top
leadership of Pamir Energy «incompetent» at a press conference
and criticizing the high salaries of the expatriate directors.
End note.) Merali expressed
confidence that Pamir Energy would
be able to find the best interim solution in the remaining weeks
of winter.
4. (SBU) Pamir Energy is
Tajikistan’s first public-private
energy joint venture, financed by a consortium of Aga Khan Fund
for Economic Development (AKFED), the World Bank’s International
Finance Corporation, World Bank, and the Swiss government (ref
A). Pamir Energy generates
electricity in a remote region
containing only five percent of Tajikistan’s population and cut
off from Tajikistan’s main electrical grid. Pamir Energy
significantly increased the electricity supply in
Gorno-Badakhshan by doubling the power at Pamir I in October
2005 and rehabilitating the Khorog station, but has encountered
numerous problems collecting fees from customers and has
received little support from the local government for its cost
recovery efforts.
5. (SBU) Comment: Thanks to Pamir
Energy, until February 5,
Gorno-Badakhshan was the only region in Tajikistan outside
Dushanbe with 24/7 electricity in the winter. Before the
revamped Pamir I came online two years ago, the lights in Khorog
worked only a few hours in the morning or the evening (ref B).
The government may declare a state of emergency to deal with the
immediate effects of the power shortage, but the conditions in
Gorno-Badakhshan now mirror those in large areas of Tajikistan,
where many people have not had any electricity for months. As a
private company trying to function in a tough environment, Pamir
Energy likely has some difficult days ahead. End Comment.
JACOBSON
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 95583
date: 2/7/2007 9:36
refid: 07DUSHANBE206
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
destination:
header:
VZCZCXRO0312
RR RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #0206 0380936
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
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FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9578
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1904
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 1171
—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000206
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL, EAID, TI, OSCE
SUBJECT: TAJIK PITCHES INITIATIVES FOR THE OSCE
1. (U) Tajik Ministry of Foreign
Affairs Director for
International Organizations, Nuriddin Shamsov, called in the
deputy chief of mission February 5 to discuss Tajik issues at
the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The
resident Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
mission confirmed that Shamsov has been sounding out
representatives from all member countries with embassies in
Dushanbe to discuss the same two initiatives: reclassifying the
resident mission as a Project Office, and moving the Economic
Forum from Prague to Dushanbe.
Tajik representatives have also
pitched these proposals to missions in Vienna.
From Center to Project Office
————————————
2. (SBU) Shamsov explained the proposal to reclassify the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s field
presence in Tajikistan as a «Project Office.» According to
Shamsov, the change is justified in recognition that Tajikistan
has «achieved a certain level of stability and development»
since the end of the civil war.
As evidence he pointed to the
«successful presidential election» last November. The deputy
chief of mission reminded Shamsov that the Organization for
Security and Cooperation’s own observer mission determined that
the election did not meet international standards and was not a
true test of democratic principles.
Nevertheless, Shamsov said
Tajikistan believes the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe should focus in Tajikistan on the economic
basket, rather than politico-military or human dimension.
Tajikistan currently hosts the largest Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe center in Central Asia, but its
projects are ineffective, Shamsov argued. Reorganizing the
in-country center as a project office would improve the delivery
of assistance. The deputy chief
of mission asked about project
assistance outside the economic basket, such as small arms/light
weapons, demining, and a new border project initiated at the
Tajik government’s request.
Shamsov said of course those
projects should continue. He
refused to be pinned down on what
activities would cease under the proposed reorganization.
From Prague to Dushanbe
———————————
3. (SBU) Tajikistan has also made an appeal in Vienna and now
among member states with embassies in country to move the
Economic Forum from Prague to Dushanbe.
Shamsov argued that the
«new post-Soviet reality» in the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe argues for more focus on Asia. Shamsov
asserted that no country better demonstrates the connection
between economic issues and security and stability than
Tajikistan. The deputy chief of
mission pointed out that
limited air connections to Dushanbe and a shortage of quality
hotel space make hosting any international event difficult and
expensive. Shamsov admitted the
Ministry had not calculated a
budget for hosting the Forum or given much thought yet to the
practicalities. Asked whether the
initiative had the support of
Tajikistan’s neighbors or other former Soviet republics, Shamsov
said «no commitments yet.»
Comment
————-
4. (SBU) Tajikistan believes strongly in these two initiatives
as evidenced by its concerted push among member states here and
in Vienna. So far the Foreign
Minister has not raised these
issues in his bilateral meetings with the Ambassador, but the
issues would undoubtedly come up during a visit by U.S.
ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe, Julie Finley, in March.
The Foreign Ministry views
these moves as fully justified in recognition of Tajikistan’s
significant progress since the end of its civil war and
emergence of Tajikistan, according to Shamsov, as «the most
stable country in Central Asia.»
Shamsov was aware that
Tajikistan’s proposal to downgrade the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe’s presence appeared similar to moves
by Uzbekistan, Russia and other countries in the neighborhood to
weaken the multilateral institution’s mandate. He seemed
genuine in his insistence that these initiatives are not part of
a coordinated effort to undermine the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe. Tajikistan appears to have given no
thought to the practical steps necessary to make these
initiatives a reality. Shamsov
could not respond to questions
about how the Organization for Security and Cooperation ‘s
activities would change in Tajikistan under a reorganization or
how much it would cost to host the Economic Forum in Dushanbe.
JACOBSON
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 95969
date: 2/9/2007 12:36
refid: 07DUSHANBE224
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: UNCLASSIFIED
destination:
header:
VZCZCXRO3101
RR RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #0224/01 0401236
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
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FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9597
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 1972
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 2014
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1991
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 1196
—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 000224
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, EAID, ECON, EAGR, TI
SUBJECT: PANJ DISTRICT IN THE RUNNING FOR TAJIKISTAN’S MOST
OVERLOOKED
DUSHANBE 00000224 001.2 OF 002
1. Summary: In a country with widespread poverty, Panj
district ranks at the bottom even by Tajik standards. No
internet access exists anywhere in the district. The district’s
only newspaper comes out every ten days because of the time
needed to create type-set for four pages on an old printing
press. Some district schools have
mud floors and no electrical
wiring. A secondary school
English teacher did not understand
the question, «May I talk with your students?» Most farmers
remain stuck in a cycle of debt to Tajikistan’s cotton
«futures»
companies. Few international
non-governmental organizations
operate in Panj, yet the active local NGO community has
conducted a number of civil society and human rights programs
and continues to seek new funding to make a difference in its
community. A little funding goes
a long way in such remote
areas, and the Embassy will work to identify more partners to
help develop Panj from sinking further into poverty. End
Summary.
2. Located three hours south of
Dushanbe on the Tajik-Afghan
border, the 90,000-residents of Panj district rely on cotton and
other agriculture. During a
February 8 visit, EmbOffs
encountered many problems that plague all rural communities in
Tajikistan — limited electricity, unemployment, labor
migration, under-funded schools (septel). But Tajikistan’s
complicated cotton sector places an extraordinary burden on the
Panj community, and the low salaries — less than $10 per month
for laborers — and constant debt for farmers mean that the
cotton fields provide only a subsistence living. Panj residents
have no contact with the Afghans across the river. There is no
bridge or ferry in the district, and the river is too fast and
deep to cross. A local official
seemed unsure of the effect of
the U.S.-funded bridge in the neighboring district Nizhniy
Pyanj, scheduled to open in August, but noted Nizhniy Pyanj was
a long drive and Panj itself had little trade or commerce with
Afghanistan
3. Compared to other Tajik
districts, fewer men seek work in
Russia, because the cottons fields offer some employment,
however minimal. A local official
estimated that one of every
three families had someone working abroad (as opposed to every
family in some other regions).
Panj’s only vegetable processing
plant employs 12 workers, mainly women, from May to October.
Its owner noted he would like to run a second shift, but the
vegetable supply was not adequate to expand beyond the 100,000
jars he produced last year.
A CRY FOR HELP . . . AND NEWS
4. «We’re the last region of
Tajikistan!» lamented a local
journalist. Without Internet, he
had no access to «fresh news.»
Displaying the 1976 printing
press and typeset machine, he
noted it took him and his two staff members ten days to produce
the four-page Tajik and Uzbek language «Hayoti Nav» paper of
poor print quality. He gestured
to a more modern version of the
paper from 2006. «I could do
that in a day on a computer at a
printing house in Qurgon-Teppa,» which he did until the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe did not
extend his grant because the paper is a local government paper
and not independent. (Note: Hayoti Nav is Panj’s only local
paper. End Note.)
LOCAL NGOS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
5. Only a handful of
international organizations currently work
in Panj — two French organizations, United Nations High
Commission for Refugees, the International Organization on
Migration, and a faith-based Dushanbe group — but a vibrant
local non-governmental community has used small grants to
conduct projects on women’s rights and domestic violence, labor
trafficking, handicrafts and small businesses, and micro-credit.
The U.S. organization
International Research and Exchanges
Board (IREX) helped support a civil society project in 2006 that
raised awareness of women’s rights and helped start a women’s
center.
6. At a roundtable discussion
with EmbOffs, four NGO heads
called their relationship with the local government
«excellent»
and noted that all four of the previous district chairmen had
supported their projects. They
experienced no problems with tax
inspectors or other authorities that sometimes vex
Dushanbe-based organizations.
The main problem was a lack of
funds and they asked for help accessing small grants to fund a
resource center, kick-start three women’s employment projects
and open a computer training center.
DUSHANBE 00000224 002.2 OF 002
7. Comment: Panj is like many
districts in Tajikistan, only
worse off. Yet local officials
and civil society leaders seemed
more motivated and effective than in districts that enjoy more
international attention. Post
will work with U.S. and
international NGOs to get the word out that Panj could be a
fruitful place for a small investment in time or resources. End
comment.
JACOBSON
HOAGLAND
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 95981
date: 2/9/2007 12:57
refid: 07DUSHANBE225
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
destination: 06DUSHANBE705
header:
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DE RUEHDBU #0225/01 0401257
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
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FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9599
INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECU
