Переведено с использщованием AI
id: 210880
date: 6/9/2009 4:22
refid: 09DUSHANBE723
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: UNCLASSIFIED
destination:
header:
VZCZCXRO3768
RR RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHSK RUEHVK
RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #0723/01 1600422
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 090422Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0411
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
INFO RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0913
—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 000723
(CORRECTED COPY)
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN (PRESCOTT)
INL/AAE (BUHLER)
JUSTICE (DUCOT AND NEWCOMBE)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR, KJUS, KCRM, PGOV, TI
SUBJECT: JUSTICE SECTOR REFORM GRANT RECIPIENTS
DUSHANBE 00000723 001.2 OF 002
1. Summary: Via recently launched Justice Sector Reform program,
INL Dushanbe Issued eight grants totaling $300,000 to Tajik
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to carry out programs in
court monitoring, legal aid to indigents, legal education, legal
representation of minors, and third party arbitration. The
Deputy Chief of Mission launched implementation of the grants by
hosting a reception for the recipients of 2009 Justice Sector
Reform Grants. End summary.
2. On May 7 DCM Necia Quast kicked off the grant season by
inviting representatives of the local NGO’s awarded grants under
INL’s Justice Sector Reform Program To reception. She
personally wished grantees success in implementing projects that
aim to promote Rule of Law and Human Rights, both guaranteed by
the Constitution of Tajikistan.
The grantees will carry out the
following projects.
3. Child Rights Center (CRC) lawyers will provide children with
legal representation starting at pretrial stage and temporary
detention through sentencing. CRC
will ensure that correct
legal processes are followed and work to develop institutional
capacities to treat children in trouble with the law
appropriately.
4. The Human Rights Center and Bureau of Human Rights will
assist the Government of Tajikistan in fulfilling its national
and international obligations to provide fair trials by
monitoring criminal proceedings in different regions. The Court
Monitoring projects will promote improvement of the judicial
system and build court monitoring capacities of public
organizations through reporting their observations and provide
recommendations during round table discussions with participants
of the justice sector.
5. The Association of the Young Lawyers and NGO «Amparo» will
increase the knowledge and skills of teachers of law which will
improve the quality of teaching of law and human rights in
secondary schools. The training
material developed in this
project will be included into the secondary school curriculum.
6. The NGO «Zumrad» will implement a project to train young
people living in different rural areas of Tajikistan. (Note: 50
percent of the Tajik population is 18 or younger. End note.)
The young people will be involved in interactive activities and
discussions to learn about their constitutional rights and the
key points of the Convention on Child Rights. This includes the
right to education, healthcare, a healthy environment,
protection against all forms of physical or psychological
violence, and protection against economic exploitation. The
trained youth will pass messages to others via puppet theater
performances in schools of smaller settlements and villages.
7. NGO «Agrofund» will popularize and widen the network of
independent third party arbitrations in resolving economic
disputes to ensure better access for more entrepreneurs to the
justice sector.
7. The Association of Women Scientists of Tajikistan and the NGO
«Samar» will create free legal aid centers to provide free
legal
consultation and represent low income population in the courts
in different regions of Tajikistan.
5. Comments: In this first-ever INL sponsored grants
program,
we expect to reach beyond government ministries to teach
different segments of the population about their rights and
legal opportunities.
DUSHANBE 00000723 002.2 OF 002
End comment.
JACOBSON
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 210963
date: 6/9/2009 11:27
refid: 09DUSHANBE724
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
destination: 09DUSHANBE688
header:
VZCZCXRO4147
RR RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHSK RUEHVK
RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #0724/01 1601127
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 091127Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0413
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0915
—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 DUSHANBE 000724
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR, SCA AND INR/R/MR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL, KPAO, KISL, KDEM, PHUM, TI
SUBJECT: TAJIK AUDIENCE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC AND RECEPTIVE TO OBAMA
SPEECH
REF: DUSHANBE 688
DUSHANBE 00000724 001.2 OF 003
1. (U) Summary: In Tajikistan, an extremely poor country where
97% of the population is Muslim, few people watched the speech,
either because it was broadcast in English or because it was
available only via satellite and few had receivers. An audience
of 40 came to watch the speech at the embassy and shared their
views with guest reporters. A
local TV station re-broadcast the
speech on the primetime news, and a local wire service posted
the Russian version of the speech on June 5. In the initial
wave of reaction, public opinion was guarded. While commending
Obama’s «unprecedented» overture to the Muslim world, most
objected to perceived favoritism for Israel in the Middle East
conflict. Academics and civil
society leaders asked for copies
of the speech to teach in discussions and college courses. End
summary.
Embassy Event Kicks Off Debate
——————————
2. (U) By invitation, an audience of 40 religious leaders, USG
program alumni, advanced placement high school students,
political analysts, and media watched the speech at the embassy
and then offered assessments and pull aside interviews with
media. Almost everyone commented
on the President’s remarks
concerning relations among Israelis, Palestinians, and the Arab
world.
«Israel is Not the Victim»
—————————
3. (U) Vohidkhon Qosiddinov, deputy chairman of Tajikistan’s
Islamic Renaissance Party, said the conflict between the United
States and Muslim world would be resolved only when the U.S.
seeks improved relations with all Muslim countries, including
Iran, and not just Arab countries.
He said that «America is
legalizing terror by Israel» and that «since 1948 all UN
resolutions were ignored by Israel, so let’s not portray them as
victims.» He «liked the
point on women’s rights» and noted:
«The hijab itself does not violate the rights of women; denying
access to education violates their rights.» Qosiddinov
considered Obama’s speech an «unprecedented» gesture by the
United States to the Muslim world and he hoped the speech would
turn a new page in history of relations between the United
States and Muslim countries.
4. (U) Nurali Shoev, editor of an English language newspaper,
attended the embassy viewing and said he only started practicing
his faith while living in the United States for 10 years. «I
lived in the U.S. for 10 years and I saw how attitudes toward
Muslims changed after 9/11. It is
unfortunate that this event
impacted relations with Muslims in such a negative way. This
speech was overall very good and if things said are implemented
in practice, there will be results.» Shoev said he expected
more about how to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,
since «people around the world judge U.S. attitudes towards
Islam based on the situation in the Middle East.»
5. (U) Muhibullo Dodojanov, deputy chairman of the Central
Election Commission, said «Obama tried to unite Muslims and
Christians together through the message that there is only one
God above all of us. This is a
very good approach. We will
also try to go back and promote this message from our side.»
6. (U) Rashid Ghani Abdullo, a nationally known political
scientist (and disgruntled former embassy employee), said the
United States continues to divide the countries of the Middle
East by favoring countries «near Americans’ hearts» at the
expense those who are not. He said
the speech provided no proof
that the unequal approach had changed.
He believed Obama’s
desire to change the situation was not voluntary, but derived
from a pragmatic understanding that the defeat in Afghanistan
and Iraq was bringing «more harm than good to the U.S.»
DUSHANBE 00000724 002.2 OF 003
Speech Repeats «Empty Promise» about Middle East Peace
——————————————— ———
7. (SBU) Hoji Akbar Turajonzoda, a former Majilis deputy who
resigned his seat in protest over Tajikistan’s controversial Law
on Religion, did not attend the embassy event, but watched the
speech in Arabic on Al Jazeera.
He told Emboff he was expecting
more specific proposals regarding peace in the Middle East,
instead of a repeat of a promise that had already been made -but
not fulfilled — by President Bush.
Turajonzoda said that peace
was not possible in the Islamic world while the Middle East
remained unstable. He said the speech
mentioned Jewish victims,
but not the Muslims who had been killed and tortured in various
parts of the world. He thought
Obama had some success in
burnishing America’s image, in part by highlighting the
religious freedom of Muslims in America.
Speech «Important Event in Global Policy»
——————————————
8. (U) In an interview with Asia Plus June 5, political analyst
Rustam Haidarov said he believes that Obama’s address to Muslims
is «one of the most important events in global policy» and he
believes that it will «without a doubt be positively evaluated
in many Muslim countries and possibly lead to a diminishing of
the allies of extremism.»
Regarding the Afghan conflict closer
to home, he expressed hope that «having recognized that the
Afghan problem cannot be solved by military means, the U.S. will
start to cooperate with border countries, including Tajikistan,
which could make a positive investment in establishing peace.»
9. (U) In a June 6 Asia Plus interview, political scientist
Abdullo Hakim Rahnamo said, «In his historic speech Obama
recognized that imposing values on another country is simply not
possible. One could sense in
Obama’s words his shame of U.S.
policy regarding relations with the Muslim world for the past
decade. At the same time, Obama
somehow avoided mentioning the
actions of the United States and called on all to forget the
past. It would have been more
effective if the president had
summoned the courage to admit all the mistakes committed for the
past eight years by the American leadership, including in
relations with the Muslim world.»
Rahnamo expressed hope that
Obama’s speech would have a positive impact on the Middle East
peace process.
10. (U) RFE/RL’s Tajik bureau published the Ambassador’s comment
that the speech in Cairo as «the beginning of a new U.S.
strategy towards the Muslim world.»
She pointed to the increase
of exchange programs for students and professionals as one of
the most immediate outcomes of the new strategy.
Results and Reverberations
—————————
11. (U) All media at the embassy event reported excerpts and
commentary, including a national state channel Jahonnamo
(audience share of about 600,000), the independently owned radio
stations Imruz and Asia Plus (combined audience share of
700,000), the independently owned wire service Asia Plus (1
million), and RFE/RL. An
independent TV station SMT (50,000
viewers) broadcast the speech in its entirety during prime time
and included comment by the embassy audience. SMT also plans a
debate on the speech the week of June 8 for an analytical
program.
12. (U) The embassy-sponsored viewing brought together
DUSHANBE 00000724 003.2 OF 003
influential opinion makers and media to initiate a debate about
this important foreign policy issue.
Several NGO leaders and
academics asked for copies to use in public discussions about
Muslim relations and in university courses. After the embassy
posted the Russian and Persian versions of the speech on the
mission Web site June 6, local wire services linked to the
speech and posted more interviews and comment about it. The
speech was delivered on a Thursday, after the weekly papers had
been issued, but interest is surging.
To meet the demand, the
embassy is disseminating DVDs of the speech and print copies in
Russian and Tajik.
JACOBSON
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 211201
date: 6/10/2009 12:14
refid: 09DUSHANBE725
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
destination: 08DUSHANBE1409|09DUSHANBE704
header:
VZCZCXRO5223
RR RUEHLN RUEHSK RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #0725/01 1611214
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 101214Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0416
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0149
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0918
—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 000725
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, KIRF, KISL, TI
SUBJECT: UNIVERSITY HIJAB BAN: STUDENTS SPEAK OUT, OFFER VIEWS ON
U.S. FOREIGN POLICY
REF: A. 08 DUSHANBE 1409
B. DUSHANBE 704
DUSHANBE 00000725 001.2 OF 002
1. (SBU) Summary: Administrators at the National University of
Tajikistan in Dushanbe recently expelled several students for
failing to comply with a ban on wearing the hijab in class. On
May 28, EmbOffs spoke to four students — two men and two
women — who criticized the government’s heavy-handed tactics.
Their comments corroborate past reporting (ref A) that the ban
is having the opposite of its intended effect: instead of
controlling religious expression, the government is merely
creating resentment. The students
also offered their insights
into U.S. foreign policy in the Islamic world. End summary.
«SEE WHAT YOUR GOD CAN DO ABOUT IT»
2. (SBU) Two years ago the Ministry of Education ordered all
public educational institutions to forbid students from wearing
the hijab in class. Emboffs
recently spoke with four National
University students who described how administrators are
implementing the hijab ban. Under
University policy, women may
wear the scarf on school grounds only if they tuck it behind
their ears upon entering the campus.
Despite this order, four
of the 13 women in the University’s Oriental Studies Department
continued to wear their hijabs over their ears. In recent
weeks, three of the four have been expelled for their refusal to
comply with the administration’s order.
The fourth — one of
the two women EmbOffs interviewed — said she has not been
expelled yet because the University’s rector has not caught her
in her hijab. One of the students
expelled in recent weeks had
only one exam remaining until her graduation. She offered to
remove the hijab for the remainder of her studies, but the
rector refused to reinstate her, saying «I will kick out [all
women wearing a hijab] and see what your God can do» about it.
3. (SBU) The two women we met both wear their hijabs in class in
violation of the university’s policy.
Their teachers do not
support their decisions to cover their heads. However, because
the University rector has not caught the girls wearing their
hijabs, they have not yet faced disciplinary proceedings.
Though they fear they will eventually be kicked out, the women
vowed not to remove their hijabs in deference to what they
called an «unfair and undemocratic policy.»
4. (SBU) The women also recalled their fathers’ initial
opposition to their decision to wear the hijab. The women
argued that the hijab was an item of personal identity, and that
wearing one made them feel more «pure.» Over time, the fathers
accepted their daughters’ decisions to wear hijabs. In the
words of one of the women, «my father told me it was better that
I wear a hijab than a miniskirt.»
THE HIJAB AS EXPRESSION OF DEFIANCE
5. (SBU) The female students said they wear the hijab out of
personal preferences, not as a response to pressure or a desire
to conform to the strictures of any particular group or sect.
As one stated, «no one forced me [to wear the hijab]. I do it
for myself, and no one should be able to take it away from me.»
The male students enthusiastically agreed, adding that they
liked it when women wore their hijabs in school because it
provided «less of a distraction» and allowed them to
concentrate
more on their studies.
6. (SBU) All four students criticized the Tajik Government’s
claim that the hijab ban helped protect the country from Islamic
extremism. They expressed a
belief that the ban was instead
another means by which the government sought to control the
religious activities and behavior of its citizens (ref B). The
students went on to claim that the government’s ban on the hijab
contradicts its claim to be democratic.
One of the women asked
if Muslim women in America were allowed to wear a hijab to
class. When told that they could,
she responded, «If that is
true, then America is indeed a great democracy.»
DUSHANBE 00000725 002.2 OF 002
7. (SBU) Students felt they lacked the power to do anything
about their government’s policies, and looked to the
international community to help them.
They said their
government would liberalize its stance on religious expression
only if the international community pressured it to do so. They
explained that no group on their campus could successfully
challenge the administration’s policy because those students who
confronted the university administration or the Ministry of
Education would immediately be kicked out of school.
AMERICA AND THE WORLD IN THE EYES OF THE STUDENTS
8. (SBU) Students expressed a range of views on other topics as
well. When asked which global
conflicts they most identified
with, the students indicated a particular concern for the
Palestinians. One of the women
described the Palestinians as
«the most suffering people on Earth.» Additionally, students
expressed a degree of concern for the citizens of Iraq,
Afghanistan, and Lebanon, but did not openly criticize past or
present U.S. policy related to any of these countries or their
people.
9. (SBU) All four students acknowledged from the outset their
personal resentment of the foreign policy of the past U.S.
administration. While one of the
women said it is too early to
know whether Muslims will prefer President Obama to his
predecessor, the other three students were more positive. One
of the men expressed great hope for the new administration,
citing the President’s March 19 Navruz (Persian New Year)
message and his «use of the words of the Prophet» as an
indication that Muslims’ image of the U.S. will likely improve.
10. (SBU) Comment: While we must be careful in extrapolating
from the views of such a small number of people, the students’
comments corroborate Post’s observations that the hijab ban and
other restrictive measures on religious expression may be
prompting more young people to turn against the undemocratic
practices of their government.
The question remains, however,
what students can do with their disaffection. The four we
interviewed voiced the same pessimism we regularly encounter
about their ability to effect real change.
End comment.
JACOBSON
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 211366
date: 6/11/2009 4:43
refid: 09DUSHANBE727
origin: Embassy Dushanbe
classification: UNCLASSIFIED
destination:
header:
VZCZCXRO5945
RR RUEHLN RUEHSK RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #0727/01 1620443
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 110443Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0419
INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0006
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHFT/AMCONSUL FRANKFURT 0043
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0151
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDHP/DIA DHP-1 WASHINGTON DC
RUCNEXC/EXPORT CONTROL AND RELATED BORDER SECURITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHMFIUU/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC
RULSJGA/USCG HQ WASHDC
RHMFISS/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0921
—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 DUSHANBE 000727
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR ISN/ECC YWONG, ACHURCH, JHARTSHORN
DEPT FOR ISN/ECC-AMT LSPRINGER
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN ALONG, SCA/RA JMCCLELLAN
CBP/INA FOR SBAKER, GRISING
DHS/ICE FOR AMEFFERD
DOE/NNSA FOR JNOBLE, BPENTOLA
DOC FOR DCREED
USCG SHABTEMICHAEL
FRANKFURT PLEASE PASS TO ICE ATTACHE
BERLIN PLEASE PASS TO CBP ATTACHE
MOSCOW PLEASE PASS TO ICE ATTACHE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC, MNUC, PARM, PREL, KSTC, KNNP, SNAR, TI
SUBJECT: EXBS: TAJIKISTAN ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORT — MAY 2009
DUSHANBE 00000727 001.2 OF 003
I. BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS
NONE
II. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD
A. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS DURING REPORTING PERIOD
1. Site Assessments
a) On May 15, 2009, the EXBS Advisor and EXBS Program Assistants
visited Nizniy-Pyanj border crossing to examine the recently
installed luggage x-ray equipment at the pedestrian passenger
terminal. An end-use review of
EXBS donated equipment was also
conducted and it was determined that the Customs Detection
(CT-30) Kits and radiation pagers were not being used due to
lack of training and shortage of batteries. Arrangements were
made to conduct CT-30 and radiation pager training the following
week.
2. Meetings
a) On May 9, 2009, the EXBS Advisor and EXBS Program Assistant
had a telephonic conference with representatives from CENTCOM
and Rapiscan to coordinate the import/export licensing
requirements and the delivery of a Rapiscan Eagle Gantry Cargo
Inspection System. The Rapiscan
equipment will be delivered and
installed at the Nizniy-Pyanj border crossing in June.
b) On May 29, 2009, the EXBS Advisor and EXBS Program Management
Assistant attended a luncheon hosted by the Commander of the
Tajik Border Guards to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the
Border Guards.
c) On May 22, 2009, subsequent to a training event, the EXBS
Advisor and EXBS Program Management Assistant met with the
Customs Port Director at the Nizniy-Pyanj border crossing to
discuss logistical arrangements for the upcoming International
Border Interdiction Training to be held at Nizniy-Pyanj in
August. Arrangements were made
for lodging of instructors at
the Customs’ barracks and provision of meals by cooks employed
by Tajik Customs.
B. TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING
REPORTING PERIOD
1) On May 15, 2009, the EXBS Advisor and EXBS Program Assistants
visited Nizniy-Pyanj border crossing with representatives of
Rapiscan to conduct training relating to use of the recently
DUSHANBE 00000727 002.2 OF 003
installed Rapiscan luggage x-ray equipment at the pedestrian
passenger terminal. Tajik Customs
Officers working at the
pedestrian terminal were trained on the use of the x-ray
equipment and proper maintenance of the equipment.
2) On May 22, 2009, the EXBS Office conducted training on the
use of CT-30 kits and radiation pagers at the Nizniy-Pyanj
border crossing. The training was
conducted by the EXBS Program
Assistants and was attended by Tajik Customs Officers
specializing in vehicle inspections.
C. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING
REPORTING PERIOD
NONE
D. IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT
STATUS UPDATE
1. Training
a) Preparations are underway for
the Customs and Border
Protection International Border Interdiction Training (IBIT) at
McAllen, Texas in July. Names of
9 Tajik Customs Officers and
9 Border Guards have been obtained and airline reservations have
been made.
b) Logistical arrangements are
being made for the Customs and
Border Protection IBIT to be conducted in Tajikistan in August.
2. Equipment
None
E. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN
EXPORT CONTROLS,
NONPROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY
None
III. RED FLAG ISSUES
None
DUSHANBE 00000727 003.2 OF 003
POC for this report is Robert Granico, EXBS Advisor,
[email protected], phone 992 37 229-2804; EXBS Program
Assistant Dilorom Ganieva, [email protected], phone 992 37
229-2805.
JACOBSON
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 211500
date: 6/11/2009 14:36
refid: 09MOSCOW1540
origin: Embassy Moscow
classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
destination:
header:
VZCZCXRO6505
PP RUEHDBU RUEHLN RUEHPOD RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHMO #1540/01 1621436
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 111436Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3763
INFO RUEHYG/AMCONSUL YEKATERINBURG 3625
RUEHVK/AMCONSUL VLADIVOSTOK 3271
RUEHLN/AMCONSUL ST PETERSBURG 5389
RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 2708
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0049
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0636
RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MOSCOW 001540
AIDAC STATE FOR USAID/E&E A/AA YAMASHITA, BREWER, ROBINSON
AIDAC STATE FOR USAID/DCHA
STATE FOR EUR/ACE, EUR/RUS, EUR/PGI, S/CRS, PRM/ECA
DHS for FEMA External Affairs
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AEMR, AORC, EAID, PREL, PGOV, PHUM, SOCI, RS, KG, TI
SUBJECT: Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations Seeks to Expand
International Humanitarian Aid Operations, Cooperation with U.S.
MOSCOW 00001540 001.2 OF 003
Sensitive But Unclassified. Not for Internet Distribution.
——-
SUMMARY
——-
1.(SBU) Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM) seeks to
expand cooperation with the United States in international disaster
response, emergency management, and other areas such as food aid.
At a May 20th conference on Humanitarian Aid and at the Annual
Meeting of the U.S.-Russia Joint Committee on Cooperation in
Emergency Management and Disaster Response in March, EMERCOM’s
Director for International Activities, Yuri Brazhnikov, stated his
interest in engaging with the United States on best practices, joint
training, and on improving coordination in third countries on
disaster response and humanitarian activities. The Joint Committee
Work Plan for 2009-2010 offers several opportunities in these areas
and opens the door to work with EMERCOM to set priorities in the
provision of humanitarian aid.
EMERCOM may also serve as a bridge
to address other bilateral issues given, for example, its
significant role in humanitarian aid operations in the North
Caucasus and interest in cooperation with the Iowa National Guard.
Post seeks Department and USAID support in identifying appropriate
opportunities for cooperation with EMERCOM.
2.(U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 9. End
Summary.
——————————————-
EMERCOM’S EXPANDING HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS
——————————————-
3.(SBU) The Director of EMERCOM’s Department of International
Activities, Yuri Brazhnikov, invited USAID to present at a May 20th
Conference in Moscow on the topic of USG humanitarian aid operations
and U.S.-Russia cooperation under the U.S.-Russia Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) on Cooperation in Emergency Management and
Disaster Response. A USAID
representative outlined USAID’s core
capabilities and role in providing USG disaster relief and
humanitarian aid, and also described the areas outlined in the joint
Work Plan where the U.S. and Russia could expand cooperation.
Brazhnikov noted that EMERCOM’s international operations (combined
humanitarian aid operations and disaster response) exceeded $100
million in 2008. EMERCOM had
operations in Tajikistan, Armenia,
Ethiopia, Kenya, Bangladesh, Somalia, Afghanistan, and other
countries in 2008, as well as participating in the international
response to the China earthquake.
He also drew special attention to
Russia’s cooperation with the U.S. and efforts to exchange best
practices. Over 350 participants
attended the conference from
EMERCOM, other Russian ministries, the UN High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR), the World Food Program (WFP), and the
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
UNHCR noted that EMERCOM currently has an MOU with UNHCR for
providing airlift and other transportation services, one of only
approximately 15 countries to have such an agreement. The WFP
stated that food aid from Russia is on the rise through an
arrangement whereby Russia provides funding to WFP and in exchange
WFP agrees to procure food commodities and transportation services
from EMERCOM.
4.(SBU) EMERCOM also invited USAID to observe a May 22 large-scale
field exercise involving 2500 EMERCOM staff at EMERCOM’s 179 Rescue
Center in Noginsk. The Ministry
of Internal Affairs and EMERCOM
conducted joint operations to address a devastating earthquake and
hostage rescue, evacuating victims from the disaster using small
aircraft. During the exercise,
EMERCOM also simulated responses to
a burning oil tank scenario and a fire in a road tunnel. The
exercise was carried out by approximately 20 aircraft, including
several Ilyushin-76, Be-200, MI-26 and other aircraft of EMERCOM
Russia. The exercise showcased a
hypothetical joint response with
members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and included search
and rescue and chemical management teams from China and Kazakhstan.
While EMERCOM staff told USAID that the event was preceded by
extensive preparations and practical joint exercises, May 22 had a
strong public relations appearance, with over 100 media
representatives present, along with EMERCOM Minister Sergey Shoigu,
Presidential Administration Head Sergei Naryshkin, and Federal
MOSCOW 00001540 002.2 OF 003
Security Service Director Alexander Bortnikov.
5.(SBU) EMERCOM’s growing role in international operations dates to
Decree 1010 of the Government of the Russian Federation of October
13, 1995, which established a National Structure for Emergency
Humanitarian Response to coordinate the provision of bilateral
emergency humanitarian assistance in foreign countries, and through
the United Nations. This response
structure includes an Operational
Group appointed by EMERCOM’s Minister and under the control of
EMERCOM, EMERCOM’s Aviation Division and Air-mobile Rescue Squad
(TsentroSpas), and the Agency to Promote and Coordinate Russian
Participation in International Humanitarian Operations (EMERCOM
Agency) under the Ministry.
EMERCOM also has several specialist
divisions such as mine and unexploded ordnance detection. In
November 2008, EMERCOM announced plans to seek certification from
the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) of the
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(OCHA) to bring its Air-Mobile Rescue Squad into compliance with
international practices, enabling it to participate in field-level
coordination among INSARAG certified teams. The qualification
exercise is planned for 2011, and Russia actively sought U.S.
assistance to prepare for the exercise during the March 2009 meeting
of the U.S.-Russia Joint Committee (the U.S. is one of only a select
number of countries to have Heavy INSARAG certified teams).
————————————
U.S.-RUSSIA WORK PLAN FOR 2009-2010
————————————
6.(SBU) Members of the U.S.-Russia Joint Committee on Cooperation in
Emergency Management and Disaster Response met in New York March
24-25 to develop their Work Plan for 2009-2010. Annual meetings to
set priorities and develop work plans are held in accordance with
the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in 1996 and extended
for an additional 10 years in 2007.
Organized by FEMA, the meeting
was also attended by EMERCOM, USAID/Russia, Iowa National Guard, and
the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Opportunities for
cooperation, joint training, exchanges, and improved coordination
were discussed in the areas of disaster response (focusing on
international deployments to third countries), emergency management,
food and humanitarian aid operations, information exchange, and
other exchanges between the U.S. and Russia.
7.(SBU) In a meeting with the USAID/Russia Mission Director on May 8
with EMERCOM International Activities department head Brazhnikov,
USAID elaborated on specific elements (see next paragraph) of the
2009-2010 Work Plan. Brazhnikov
expressed strong support for USAID
proposals, especially the need to identify sites for potential third
country joint observational exercises or projects. He also spoke at
length about successful examples of U.S.-Russia coordination in
responding to international disasters, such as the Pakistan
earthquake and Southeast Asia tsunami, and the need for
strengthening those linkages to facilitate cooperation during future
disaster response efforts.
8.(SBU) USAID/Russia, in cooperation with DHS/FEMA and other members
of the Joint-Committee, intends to undertake the following
activities under the joint work plan:
(A) In the area of Improved International Disaster Response
Coordination, USAID/Russia will work with FEMA and other agencies to
facilitate the exchange of technical experts between the U.S. and
Russia to: (1) observe and discuss international disaster response
policy and implementation mechanisms; (2) see best
practices/mitigation efforts in practice (e.g. INSARAG certified
teams); (3) view systems for coordinating global response; and (4)
establish professional ties between international disaster response
specialists from U.S. and Russian agencies. In addition, FEMA is
working closely with EMERCOM and USAID to plan and execute a
table-top exercise (TTX) focused on an international disaster
response scenario in the summer of 2010.
The TTX will compare and
contrast U.S. and Russian experiences and approaches to handling
large scale international disasters.
These actions will help
prepare Russia for its INSARAG qualification exercise, a critical
step in Russia’s efforts to improve its capacity to coordinate with
other INSARAG certified teams and the United States when disasters
occur.
MOSCOW 00001540 003.2 OF 003
(B) In the area of Enhanced Capabilities and Field-level
Coordination of International Food Aid Program Administration and
Management, EMERCOM has suggested a joint seminar on food security
and humanitarian aid to: (1) examine the underlying causes of food
insecurity (Access, Availability, Utilization); (2) explore various
delivery mechanisms, working with non-governmental organizations;
and (3) discuss supplydQOEoQ*z}Qjects.
EMERCOM is already making sizable humanitarian aid
contributions to Afghanistan.
Increased cooperation with the USG
will help to improve the effectiveness of that assistance while
introducing valuable development practices to the GOR, such as the
use of non-governmental organizations to distribute humanitarian
assistance.
(C) In the area of Improved Information Exchange to Forecast
Disasters and Coordinate Response, USAID/Russia suggested the
establishment of informal protocols to facilitate information
exchange on disaster forecasting systems, such as the Famine Early
Warning System, and on disaster response efforts, generally.
———
COMMENT:
———
9.(SBU) EMERCOM’s increasing participation in international
humanitarian missions, its civilian-military structure and
functions, and the political longevity of its Minister make it a
unique Russian government agency.
EMERCOM’s enthusiastic outreach
to USG counterparts and its depoliticized, business-like approach to
cooperation make it a potentially good partner for the U.S. in
addressing shared challenges effectively in the region. Post
requests S/CRS, EUR, and USAID Bureau for Democracy Conflict and
Humanitarian Assistance support in identifying specific options for
collaborating with the Government of Russia in the areas outlined
above and welcomes other recommendations.
BEYRLE
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
id: 211719
date: 6/12/2009 1:39
refid: 09STATE60639
origin: Secretary of State
classification: UNCLASSIFIED
destination: 09STATE5577|09STATE59732
header:
VZCZCXRO7135
PP RUEHDBU
DE RUEHC #0639/01 1630203
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 120139Z JUN 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE PRIORITY 0757
—————— header ends —————-
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 STATE 060639
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB, KCRM, KWMN, PGOV, PHUM, PREL, SMIG, KPAO, KTIP, TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN—2009 TIP REPORT: PRESS GUIDANCE AND
DEMARCHE
REF: A. 2009 STATE 59732
B. 2009 STATE 5577
1. This is an action cable; see paras 5 through 7 and 10.
2. On June 16, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. EDT, the Secretary will
release the 2009 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report at a
press conference in the Department’s press briefing room.
This release will receive substantial coverage in domestic
and foreign news outlets. Until
the time of the Secretary’s
June 16 press conference, any public release of the Report or
country narratives contained therein is prohibited.
3. The Department is hereby providing Post with advance press
guidance to be used on June 16 or thereafter. Also provided
is demarche language to be used in informing the Government
of Tajikistan of its tier ranking and the TIP Report’s
imminent release. The text of the
TIP Report country
narrative is provided, both for use in informing the
Government of Tajikistan and in any local media release by
Post’s public affairs section on June 16 or thereafter.
Drawing on information provided below in paras 8 and 9, Post
may provide the host government with the text of the TIP
Report narrative no earlier than 1200 noon local time Monday
June 15 for WHA, AF, EUR, and NEA countries and OOB local
time Tuesday June 16 for SCA and EAP posts. Please note,
however, that any public release of the Report’s information
should not/not precede the Secretary’s release at 10:00 am
EDT on June 16.
4. The entire TIP Report will be available on-line at
www.state.gov/g/tip shortly after the Secretary’s June 16
release. Hard copies of the
Report will be pouched to posts
in all countries appearing on the Report. The Secretary’s
statement at the June 16 press event, and the statement of
and fielding of media questions by G/TIP’s Director and
Senior Advisor to the Secretary, Ambassador-at-Large Luis
CdeBaca, will be available on the Department’s website
shortly after the June 16 event.
Ambassador de Baca will
also hold a general briefing for officials of foreign
embassies in Washington DC on June 17 at 3:30 pm EDT.
5. Action Request: No earlier than 12 noon local time on
Monday June 15 for WHA, AF, EUR, and NEA posts and OOB local
time on Tuesday June 16 for SCA and EAP posts, please inform
the appropriate official in the Government of Tajikistan of
the June 16 release of the 2009 TIP Report, drawing on the
points in para 9 (at Post’s discretion) and including the
text of the country narrative provided in para 8. For
countries where the State Department has lowered the tier
ranking, it is particularly important to advise governments
prior to the Report being released in Washington on June 16.
6. Action Request continued:
Please note that, for those
countries which will not receive an «action plan» with
specific recommendations for improvement, posts should draw
host governments’ attention to the areas for improvement
identified in the 2009 Report, especially highlighted in the
«Recommendations» section of the second paragraph of the
narrative text. This engagement
is important to establishing
the framework in which the government’s performance will be
judged for the 2010 Report. If
posts have questions about
which governments will receive an action plan, or how they
may follow up on the recommendations in the 2009 Report,
please contact G/TIP and the appropriate regional bureau.
7. Action Request continued: On June 16, please be prepared
to answer media inquiries on the Report’s release using the
press guidance provided in para 11.
If Post wishes, a local
press statement may be released on or after 10:30 am EDT June
16, drawing on the press guidance and the text of the TIP
Report’s country narrative provided in para 8.
8. Begin Final Text of Tajikistan’s country narrative in the
2009 TIP Report:
———————————
Tajikistan (TIER 2 Watch List)
———————————
Tajikistan is a source country for women trafficked to the
UAE often through Kyrgyzstan and Russia, for the purpose of
commercial sexual exploitation.
Some women are trafficked
from Tajikistan to Russia, Turkey, Iran, and India for the
purpose of commercial sexual exploitation. Men are
trafficked to Russia and, to a lesser extent, Kazakhstan for
the purpose of forced labor, primarily in the construction
and agricultural sectors.
Children, men, and women are
STATE 00060639 002 OF 005
coerced by some local government authorities to harvest
cotton. In 2008, a small number
of Tajik men were trafficked
to Poland for the purpose of forced labor. Boys and girls
are trafficked internally for various purposes, including
forced labor, forced begging, and commercial sexual
exploitation.
The Government of Tajikistan does not fully comply with the
minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking;
however, it is making significant efforts to do so. Despite
these efforts, the government did not demonstrate progress in
prosecuting and convicting officials complicit in trafficking
and ensuring that victims have access to protection;
therefore, Tajikistan is placed on Tier 2 Watch List. The
government reported limited improvements in law enforcement
efforts, although these efforts were overshadowed by the
government’s failures to address serious and systemic
problems. The most significant of
these problems were the
government’s failure to address trafficking corruption; poor
coordination between law enforcement and security
institutions with overlapping responsibilities; failure to
adequately investigate allegations of security officials’
abuse of victims; and excessive reliance on the international
community to conduct trafficking awareness campaigns and to
ensure victims have access to assistance and protection.
The government also failed to prevent local officials from
compelling men, women and children ) particularly in Khatlon
and Sughd regions ) to pick cotton during the annual cotton
harvest. For the first time in
2008, local prosecutors
initiated investigations into allegations that local
officials and teachers forced children to pick cotton —
although there were no convictions of officials for compelled
labor during the reporting period.
Forced labor in the
cotton sector remained problematic because the Government of
Tajikistan continued to set a fixed price for a small cadre
of investors to purchase cotton from farmers. This fixed
price is well below market value, making it difficult for
farmers to pay workers to pick cotton.
This undervaluing of
labor, and consequent lack of voluntary laborers, leads local
officials to compel people to participate in the cotton
campaign.
Recommendations for Tajikistan:
Vigorously investigate and
prosecute trafficking offenses, especially those involving
labor trafficking, and convict and punish trafficking
offenders with imprisonment; ensure better coordination
between law enforcement and security institutions,
particularly the State Committee on National Security;
prosecute and convict government officials who participate in
or facilitate trafficking in persons and ensure they serve
time in prison; ensure indentified victims are not assaulted
or re-victimized by government officials and ensure such
allegations of assault are fully investigated and culpable
offenders are prosecuted and criminally punished; provide
financial or in-kind assistance to existing trafficking
shelters; be directly involved in trafficking awareness
campaigns, and ensure anti-trafficking information appears in
government media outlets; prohibit the forced or coerced
labor of children and adults in the annual cotton harvest by
monitoring school and university attendance, inspecting
cotton fields during the harvest, and enforcing existing laws
prohibiting the use of forced labor; make efforts to improve
trafficking data collection and analysis; and develop a
victim identification and referral mechanism.
Prosecution
—————-
The Government of Tajikistan reported increased but limited
anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts during the reporting
period. Article 130.1 of the
criminal code prohibits both
sexual exploitation and forced labor, and prescribes
penalties of 5 to 15 years’ imprisonment, which are
sufficiently stringent but are lower than penalties
prescribed for other grave crimes, such as rape. Although it
was added to the criminal code in 2003, officials have not
successfully used the statute to prosecute trafficking
offenders. However, officials
have used other criminal
provisions to address trafficking related crimes, and for the
first time, authorities investigated suspected labor
trafficking cases. In 2008,
authorities reported
investigating 23 individuals suspected of trafficking, an
increase from 12 trafficking investigations in 2007. The
government reported 23 prosecutions in 2008, compared to 19
reported in 2007. Courts
convicted 17 traffickers in 2008,
up from 11 convictions reported in 2007.
The government
reported that no convicted traffickers received suspended
sentences or were granted amnesty in 2008; sentences for
those serving time in prison ranged from six months to eight
years’ imprisonment. The
government worked with Russian
authorities to investigate two trafficking cases in 2008.
STATE 00060639 003 OF 005
The government did not demonstrate significant efforts to
address government complicity in trafficking during the
reporting period. The State
Committee on National Security
did not vigorously investigate reports that three identified
trafficking victims were sexually assaulted by its officers
after they were repatriated to Tajikistan. There were
unconfirmed reports that some government officials used their
authority to stop trafficking investigations because of
illicit ties to traffickers.
Local officials in Sughd and
Khatlon regions were directly involved in organizing and
coercing students to participate in the annual cotton harvest
and, despite widespread public reports of this forced labor,
the Ministry of Labor did not deploy inspection teams to
investigate them and Ministry of Education officials
generally did not discipline teachers or local administrators
who facilitated or directed such practices. However, after
the conclusion of the harvest, government prosecutors in
Khatlon investigated 12 local government officials and
teachers for forcing school age and university students to
pick cotton; some of the education officials were reprimanded
for their actions, however no officials were convicted of
criminal offenses during the reporting period.
Protection
—————-
The government demonstrated no efforts to assist trafficking
victims during the reporting period.
Virtually all victim
assistance and protection including shelter, medical
assistance, rehabilitative counseling, legal assistance, and
vocational training was provided by foreign-funded shelters
and NGOs; the government did not provide financial or in-kind
assistance to any NGO or organization that provided victim
assistance. In 2008, thirty-eight
victims were provided with
shelter and assistance by foreign-funded NGOs, compared to 46
victims in 2007. The government
again made no efforts to
develop and implement systematic victim identification
procedures or a domestic mechanism to refer victims to care
providers. Victims were
encouraged to participate in
trafficking investigations and prosecutions; however, many
authorities remained untrained and unskilled on interviewing
and caring for victims of trafficking.
Although victims were
generally not detained or punished, three female victims of
sex trafficking alleged that border service officials
sexually assaulted them upon their repatriation to
Tajikistan.
Prevention
—————-
Tajikistan again demonstrated limited prevention efforts
during the reporting period. In
October 2008, the government
produced and broadcast television programs informing
potential labor migrants of their rights and practical
considerations for the migration process. In 2008, officials
instituted monitoring and licensing requirements for travel
firms to help detect or investigate firms suspected of labor
trafficking complicity.
———————————
9. Post may wish to deliver the following points, which offer
technical and legal background on the TIP Report process, to
the host government as a non-paper with the above TIP Report
country narrative:
(begin non-paper)
— The U.S. Congress, through its passage of the 2000
Trafficking Victims Protection Act, as amended (TVPA),
requires the Secretary of State to submit an annual Report to
Congress. The goal of this Report
is to stimulate action and
create partnerships around the world in the fight against
modern-day slavery. The USG
approach to combating human
trafficking follows the TVPA and the standards set forth in
the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in
Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the
United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized
Crime (commonly known as the «Palermo Protocol»). The TVPA
and the Palermo Protocol recognize that this is a crime in
which the victims’ labor or services (including in the «sex
industry») are obtained or maintained through force, fraud,
or coercion, whether overt or through psychological
manipulation. While much
attention has focused on
international flows, both the TVPA and the Palermo Protocol
focus on the exploitation of the victim, and do not require a
showing that the victim was moved.
— Recent amendments to the TVPA removed the requirement that
only countries with a «significant number» of trafficking
victims be included in the Report. Beginning with the 2009
TIP Report, countries determined to be a country of origin,
transit, or destination for victims of severe forms of
STATE 00060639 004 OF 005
trafficking are included in the Report and assigned to one of
three tie
