Выпуск-62

id: 124121

date: 10/1/2007 5:46

refid: 07ASTANA2727

origin: Embassy Astana

classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

destination: 07State117583

header:

VZCZCXRO2820

RR RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHPW

DE RUEHTA #2727 2740546

ZNR UUUUU ZZH

R 010546Z OCT 07

FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA

TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0842

INFO RUCNCLS/SCA COLLECTIVE

----------------- header ends ----------------

UNCLAS ASTANA 002727

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN - O'MARA

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: ETRD, EFIN, ECON, PREL, AF, KG, KZ, TI, TX, UZ

SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT TIFA

REF: State 117583

1. (U) Econoff delivered reftel points on September 28 to Damigul

Kabiyeva, Head of the WTO accession Department. Kabiyeva stated

that she thought this summer's Trade and Investment Framework

Agreement (TIFA) Council events in Washington were a success and

reiterated Kazakhstan's commitment to developing the TIFA framework

as a means of facilitating regional economic development.

2. (U) Kabiyeva was quite supportive of the idea of holding

expert-level preparatory events before next year's plenary session.

Such an approach, she stated, would help make the political-level

discussions more focused and fruitful. She also suggested the

possibility of launching concrete investment projects at future TIFA

meetings.

3. (U) Kabiyeva reacted favorably to the idea of holding next year's

TIFA events in Central Asia, stating that holding them in the region

may help attract business participation. She noted that Dushanbe

has recently hosted a number of multilateral meetings, adding that

Kazakhstani officials go there "with pleasure." Kabiyeva was

somewhat less enthusiastic about Asghabat as a possible venue, but

said that holding TIFA events there "may help bring Turkmenistan

into the fold a little more." She also suggested the possibility of

determining meeting locations on a rotating basis (an approach, she

noted, used by other regional organizations). This, Kabiyeva said,

would give each country a greater stake in the TIFA framework.

4. (SBU) Still, Kabiyeva emphasized the importance of a continuing

strong role of the U.S. in the TIFA process. Initiatives, she

noted, are received better if they come from the United States.

Other Central Asian countries, she continued, are wary of the notion

of Kazakhstan's "regional leadership."

MILAS

=======================CABLE ENDS============================

id: 124431

date: 10/3/2007 5:50

refid: 07DUSHANBE1412

origin: Embassy Dushanbe

classification: UNCLASSIFIED

destination:

header:

VZCZCXRO4944

RR RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG

DE RUEHDBU #1412 2760550

ZNR UUUUU ZZH

R 030550Z OCT 07

FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE

TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1054

INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE

RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 2950

----------------- header ends ----------------

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 001412

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/PPD AND SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: PREL, KPAO, TI

SUBJECT: SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT FIGHTS FOR CONTROL OF OPEN WORLD

PROGRAM

1. SUMMARY: Deputy Chief of Mission and Cultural Affairs Officer

met with Speaker of Parliament Sadullo Hairuloyev October 2 to

ask him to consent to the participation of four members of the

Tajik Parliament in the Open World program. Hairuloyev initially

provided several reasons why the participants, who were chosen

by an Embassy committee per Open World program criteria, could

not travel and attempted to insert his own choices. However, he

eventually permitted three from our list to travel as scheduled,

or up to four if the exchange could be postponed for a period.

Hairuloyev also indicated he may allow future parliamentary

groups to participate in USG-sponsored exchanges and programs.

END SUMMARY

2. Hairuloyev brought to the meeting his own list of eight

parliamentarians, only two of whom were on the Embassy's list.

He said he is concerned with sensitivities in Parliament about

who travels abroad and wants to avoid a "scandal" in case some

members get to travel more than once before others get their

first chance. We explained to Hairuloyev that Embassy exchange

programs were not designed to be used as fringe benefits for

members of parliament.

3. Pointing to the Embassy's list of applicants, he said various

candidates were either sick, had previously traveled to the

United States, or need to remain in Dushanbe to work on next

year's budget. He then repeatedly attempted to insert

candidates from his own list. We explained that the list of

candidates was selected by a panel of American officers from the

Embassy following Open World guidelines. Hairuloyev

acknowledged this but kept asserting his prerogative to decide

who among the members of Parliament could travel abroad.

4. Hairuloyev did say that he would be open to parliamentary

travel in the future and participation in other embassy

programs, as long as Embassy officials inform him in advance

whom they have chosen. As for the Open World exchange under

question, Hairuloyev finally agreed to three of our candidates,

and suggested that if the exchange were postponed until

November, a fourth parliamentarian from our list could also

attend. Note: The Embassy has bounced these two options off

Open World staff: sending three parliamentarians as scheduled or

postponing the visit in order to fill out the group. Open World

prefers to postpone the visit until November. End note.

5. Hairuloyev was generally aware of and amenable to U.S.

assistance activities in Tajikistan. He noted the recent press

reports about the renovation of a historic madrassa under the

Ambassador's Cultural Preservation Fund and the opening of the

U.S.-build bridge at Nizhniy Pyanj. Alluding to Iranian and

Chinese influence in Tajikistan, he said it was a good thing

that the United States built the bridge, and expressed surprise

when he learned that Tajik border forces hadn't yet allowed the

bridge to open.

6. COMMENT: Hairuloyev seems to view USG-sponsored exchange

programs as rewards, despite our insistence that they are in

fact working exchanges. At one point he mentioned that he has

not been selected to travel himself, implying that he would be a

good candidate. Post will take steps to maintain its decision

making role, but will involve Hairuloyev and other

parliamentarians more in the initial design of future exchanges.

We have already explained to Open World staff that direct

communications with high ranking government officials would be

better coming from the embassy directly rather than from Open

World's local implementing partner, American Councils. We hope

that after this initial bump in the road, the way is set for

expanding our work with the Tajik Parliament in several program

areas. END COMMENT

JACOBSON

=======================CABLE ENDS============================

id: 124494

date: 10/3/2007 12:11

refid: 07MOSCOW4849

origin: Embassy Moscow

classification: CONFIDENTIAL

destination:

header:

VZCZCXRO5287

OO RUEHDBU

DE RUEHMO #4849 2761211

ZNY CCCCC ZZH

O 031211Z OCT 07

FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW

TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4347

INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

----------------- header ends ----------------

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 004849

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2017

TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PINR, TI, RS

SUBJECT: CIS SUMMIT IN DUSHANBE: GOR EXPECTATIONS

Classified By: Political M/C Alice G. Wells. Reasons 1.4 (B/D)

1. (U) On October 2, the Kremlin announced that President

Putin will visit Dushanbe October 4-7 to participate in the

CIS Summit and two regional organizations' meetings --

Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) council

meeting and a EurAsEC Interstate council meeting. GOR

officials expected that this year's CIS Summit would unveil

the roadmap of CIS future development and essential steps for

its realization. The Summit also promises a declaration on

migration principles which will govern the CIS space.

2. (C) Director MFA CIS First Department Vladimir

Kudryavtsev confirmed for us October 3 that all presidents

will be there although he did not exclude the possibility of

last-minute drop-outs. Particular attention will be given to

whether Ukraine's Yushchenko and Georgia's Saakashvili will

participate and will have one-on-one meetings with President

Putin, although Russian experts discount the possibility that

President Yushchenko would leave Kyiv this week.

3. (C) According to Kudryavtsev, October 5 discussions will

be focused on how to strengthen the CIS effectiveness as an

organization. The reform project initiated by Kazakhstan in

2004 has triggered a 30 percent reduction of the

administrative structure and continues to be one of the main

themes of all CIS meetings. With the CSTO meeting following

the next day, anti-narcotics efforts along the Afghan border

will be one of the topics on the agenda as well.

Kudryavtsev noted that the many CIS documents accumulated

over the years, not legally or politically binding, led to

little results and the disproportionally large CIS

bureaucracy, even after the reduction, is another weakness of

the organization.

4. (C) Comment. The CIS Summit continues to serve above all

as an opportunity for regional leaders to meet one-on-one on

the margins to discuss bilateral issues. We have not seen

any indication that Russia is taking this year's gathering

more seriously than previous meetings.

Burns

=======================CABLE ENDS============================

id: 124733

date: 10/4/2007 15:52

refid: 07DUSHANBE1420

origin: Embassy Dushanbe

classification: SECRET

destination:

header:

VZCZCXRO6831

PP RUEHDBU

DE RUEHDBU #1420 2771552

ZNY SSSSS ZZH

P 041552Z OCT 07

FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE

TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1065

INFO RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 2961

RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE

RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 2261

RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 2250

RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 2206

RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC

RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC

RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC

----------------- header ends ----------------

S E C R E T DUSHANBE 001420

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/4/2017

TAGS: PREL, PGOV, SNAR, TI

SUBJECT: TAJIK PRESIDENT FIRES SENIOR ANTI-NARCOTICS OFFICER TO

PROTECT A RELATIVE FROM PROSECUTION

CLASSIFIED BY: Tom Hushek, Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Exec,

Department of State.

REASON: 1.4 (b), (c), (d)

1. (S) Summary: President Rahmon has fired a senior

anti-narcotics officer who pressed for prosecution of a distant

relative and Major from the State Committee for National

Security (i.e. the KGB) who were arrested while transporting

heroin in a government vehicle. The fired General has been a

close partner of the embassy in developing counter narcotics and

counterterrorism programs. Apart from what this incident

suggests about the President, it shows one of the perils

involved in investing too much of our program resources into one

person or agency, as the President can remove senior officials

without notice. End Summary.

2. (S) Post learned from a source in the Ministry of Interior

that on October 3 President Rahmon personally fired Major

General Faizullo Gadoyev, head of counter narcotics and

counterterrorism in the Ministry of Interior. This resulted

from the intercept a week ago, by Gadoyev's police, of a State

Security vehicle in southern Tajikistan carrying about 60

kilograms of heroin. The car was driven by State Security

officers, one of whom was a distant relative of President

Rahmon. This was the third such detection and arrest of State

Security personnel moving narcotics in government vehicles in

the past year. Gadoyev pressed for the prosecution of all of

the officers involved, including the president's relative.

Gadoyev's firing was allegedly the result of this effort. The

Minister of Interior reportedly met the president on October 3

and pleaded for Gadoyev to keep his job, to no avail.

3. (S) This is the only case we know of where the president has

intervened personally to remove a high-level official to protect

his relatives from drugs-related prosecution. However, this is

part of a pattern of high level intervention, sometimes using

the president's Anti-Corruption Commission, to protect organized

crime members involved in drugs, money laundering, and

protection/extortion activities within Tajikistan.

4. (S) Gadoyev led the most effective counter narcotics

organization in Tajikistan. His police division seized several

times as much heroin per year as the Drug Control Agency, and

has been a close partner with us on counterterrorism activities

as well. Gadoyev had been in his position for the past decade,

and had the reputation of a competent, relatively uncorrupt, and

committed law enforcement officer. Over the past two and

one-half years he cooperated with the embassy to establish an

intelligence and analytical center, including a historical

database of crimes and criminals in Tajikistan. The United

States also funded Gadoyev's participation in three

international training programs, including the Drug Enforcement

Administration's annual International Drug Enforcement

Conferences and International Narcotics Executive Management

Seminar. Our relationship with Gadoyev helped to increase

seizures of illegal narcotics, but also helped in fighting

trafficking in persons, dealing with other organized and

individual crimes, and in counterterrorism. Gadoyev has been a

close partner of the embassy and an excellent source of

information and insights on the Tajik government and the

narcotics trade. His removal could slow our efforts to develop

the capabilities of the Tajik National Police in a variety of

areas.

5. (S) Comment: General Gadoyev stepped on two land mines:

repeatedly arresting State Security officers who were working as

drug couriers, and then going after a relative of the president.

Since the Minister of Interior supports him, Gadoyev may

survive in another capacity at the Interior Ministry but any

committed officer who, like him, wishes to pursue drug cases to

a high level or close to the president, faces the same

minefield. This incident emphasizes the vulnerability of senior

officials to summary removal if they displease the president or

touch his family interests. This in turn illustrates the need

for our engagement on narcotics to be both broad and deep, and

not heavily reliant on individuals who might disappear without

warning. End Comment.

HUSHEK

=======================CABLE ENDS============================

id: 124806

date: 10/5/2007 5:12

refid: 07DUSHANBE1421

origin: Embassy Dushanbe

classification: UNCLASSIFIED

destination: 07STATE135255

header:

VZCZCXRO7396

PP RUEHDBU

DE RUEHDBU #1421 2780512

ZNR UUUUU ZZH

P 050512Z OCT 07

FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE

TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1066

INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1508

RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 2962

----------------- header ends ----------------

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 001421

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR IO/RHS LINDA LUM

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: PHUM, AORC, SOCI, KWMN, UNGA, TI

SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN LEANING TOWARD SUPPORTING RESOLUTION CONDEMNING

THE USE OF RAPE AS AN INSTRUMENT OF STATE POLICY

REF: STATE 135255

1. (U) On 26 September 2007, PolOff raised the issue of

supporting the draft resolution condemning the use of rape as an

instrument of state policy (reftel) with Ismatullo Nasreddinov,

Chief of the Department of European and North American Affairs

at the Tajik Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On 3 October 2007,

Nasreddinov indicated that the Government of Tajikistan had not

yet made a final decision regarding support of the resolution,

and that Tajikistan's delegation in New York was anticipating

discussing the matter with members of the United States

delegation. He added that Tajikistan generally supports the

United States in such matters.

2. (U) It is unlikely that we will receive a more specific

answer before the 9 October deadline because the Ministry of

Foreign Affairs has been preparing for upcoming summits in

Dushanbe. We interpret the Tajik response as being generally

supportive.

HUSHEK

=======================CABLE ENDS============================

id: 124823

date: 10/5/2007 6:52

refid: 07DUSHANBE1422

origin: Embassy Dushanbe

classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

destination:

header:

VZCZCXRO7491

RR RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG

DE RUEHDBU #1422/01 2780652

ZNR UUUUU ZZH

R 050652Z OCT 07

FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE

TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1067

INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 2963

RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE

RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 2262

RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 2251

RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 0056

RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2207

RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1983

RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC

----------------- header ends ----------------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 001422

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, KISL, KDEM, TI

SUBJECT: SEVENTH CONGRESS OF THE ISLAMIC RENAISSANCE PARTY OF

TAJIKISTAN

DUSHANBE 00001422 001.2 OF 002

1. (SBU) Summary: During the Islamic Renaissance Party of

Tajikistan's Seventh Congress on 25 September 2007, the party's

delegates elected Chairman Muhiddin Kabiri to another four-year

term. Kabiri outlined his plans to continue modernizing the

party and to attract additional support from young people in

different parts of Tajikistan. He said recent government

crackdowns on religious practice have made the party more

popular in Tajikistan. Taking a cautious line, he expressed the

need to make concessions to the Government in some areas, but

also referred to the Government's recent actions as a form of

"secular extremism." End summary.

2. (SBU) PolOff attended the Islamic Renaissance Party's

Seventh Congress on 25 September 2007. 138 of the party's 178

delegates attended the meeting from various parts of Tajikistan,

including Dushanbe, Kulyob, Khujand, and Zarafshon. This

quadrennial meeting of the party's regular congress covered

three main issues: the Chairman's report on the activities of

the last four years; the Report of the Commission on Inspection;

and the election of the party's Presidium, or governing council.

Party delegates elected 49 members of the Presidium, including

two who are in prison: Mulloh Qosim Rahimov, and Shamsiddin

Shamsiddinov. The Presidium has been expanded to 49 members

from 42, reflecting the growth in membership in the party.

Party delegates also re-elected Kabiri as Chairman for another

four year term. [Note: Kabiri was elected Chairman in 2006 after

the death of the party's founder, and technical reasons

necessitated a vote at this party congress. End note]

3. (SBU) Kabiri divided his report into two periods. In the

first period, from 2003 - 2005, under the leadership of Said

Abdullohi Nuri, the party had to contend generally with

worldwide pressure on Islam and Islamic organizations in the

post-September 11th environment. In the second period, since

2006, the party has had to contend with increasing governmental

restrictions that Kabiri termed "secular extremism." He thanked

local embassy representatives in attendance for sponsoring

various kinds of exchange programs, adding that open

communication with these embassies has helped the party overcome

some of its image problems.

4. (SBU) Kabiri highlighted some party successes, including

participating in the 2005 Parliamentary elections and increasing

party membership. He mentioned that the party could count on

40,000 supporters, of whom 25,000 are actual members (only

12,000 carry membership cards). There are approximately 2,800

members in the Isfara area, and 1,500 in the village of Chorku

alone (both in the Sughd region). At the current time, the

party has representation in all but five districts and

settlements in Tajikistan.

5. (SBU) Kabiri stated that his main goal was to continue

modernizing the party. As membership in the party continues to

rise, he wants to focus more on the quality of its members. He

was proud of the fact that he kept the party united following

Nuri's death, and that the party enjoyed good cooperation with

the local government, embassies and international organizations

in Dushanbe. Kabiri attributed part of this success to his

ability to make concessions to local officials that served the

interests of the party. He did emphasize, however, that he

would make concessions only up to a certain point. He wants to

continue to build trust within the party, as well as within the

Government. He also outlined the party's desire to continue

working with the youth of Tajikistan. He said that he had

recently met with students in different parts of the country,

and he believed that the country's youth could be an important

constituency in the party.

6. (SBU) One of Kabiri's key points was that the Government has

ratcheted up its anti-Islamic campaign in Tajikistan, citing the

ban on wearing the hijab, the closing and demolishing of

DUSHANBE 00001422 002.2 OF 002

unregistered mosques, and the ban on women praying in mosques.

He criticized the portion of the draft law on religion which

bars a political party from having a religious affiliation as

being unconstitutional. He stated that the Government views the

party as a kind of disease, which if treated properly, would go

away. Kabiri termed the Government's increasingly authoritarian

actions as "secular extremism."

7. (SBU) Kabiri said that the threat of religious extremism in

Tajikistan is currently low, for which the Islamic Renaissance

Party can take credit. The party attracts individuals who are

opposed to the Government's restrictions and might otherwise

join extremist organizations. He said that the best way to

prevent religious extremism in Tajikistan was to protect human

and religious rights within the framework of the law. He argued

that if the Government continued to use excessively

authoritarian measures, the people would elect a new party to

power, as in Turkey. (As Kabiri finished this line, the

audience cheered, and many called out "Allahu Akhbar!" Kabiri

quickly took steps to quiet the crowd and tone down the

appearance of religious fervor in the presence of government

observers.)

8. (SBU) Atmospherics: An enormous picture of Nuri hung on the

main stage. Approximately 15 women attended the congress and

sat at the back of the auditorium (they all wore hijabs, and two

had their faces fully covered). The male delegates wore a mix

of business suits and traditional Tajik garb. Also in

attendance were the Iranian and Afghan Ambassadors;

representatives from the Turkish Embassy and the Organization

for Security and Cooperation in Europe; other political parties,

including the Social Democratic Party of Tajikistan; Tajik

government officials, including representatives of the Ministry

of Justice, and local press. Kabiri sat on the stage, along

with Party Deputy Chairman Jalolidin Mansurov and Chief of the

Inspection Committee Muhammadali Faizmuhammad.

9. (SBU) PolOff met separately with Kabiri and senior party

officers in Dushanbe on 28 September 2007. Kabiri reiterated

the figure of 40,000 supporters, but it did not appear as though

the party has a particularly accurate means of assessing its

figures. He expanded on the party's strategy to court

Tajikistan's youth, remarking that he has received a large

number of invitations to speak at universities and other venues

outside of Dushanbe. Party officials also believe they have a

significant amount of support among migrant workers in Russia

and elsewhere, but have had difficulty coordinating party

activities abroad. Senior party members will begin traveling to

Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey and Kyrgyzstan to tap this support.

Kabiri spoke of the challenges the party could face if and when

the new law on religious organizations is passed. The law would

prevent political parties from having religious affiliations,

and the party would have to re-register under a different name.

10. (SBU) Comment: The Islamic Renaissance Party's support base

appears to be growing, and this is likely thanks to increasing

government restrictions on religious practice, and a

deteriorating economic situation on many parts of the country.

The party has been able to capitalize on the growing

disaffection of younger Tajiks. However, Kabiri did not outline

a concrete parliamentary platform, and it is unclear whether the

party can stand in serious opposition to government supporters.

The focus of the party is cultivating new members. Passage of

the law on religious organizations will be an important event

for the party. Government officials may not allow the party to

re-register. If the party can re-register by dropping its overt

religious affiliation, some party supporters may shift

allegiances to organizations that have stronger religious

affiliations, such as Hizb-ut-Tahrir. End comment.

HUSHEK

=======================CABLE ENDS============================

id: 124881

date: 10/5/2007 10:49

refid: 07TASHKENT1740

origin: Embassy Tashkent

classification: CONFIDENTIAL

destination: 07TASHKENT1664

header:

VZCZCXRO7971

PP RUEHDBU

DE RUEHNT #1740 2781049

ZNY CCCCC ZZH

P 051049Z OCT 07

FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT

TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8560

INFO RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 3320

RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 9516

RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 3936

RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 3799

RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 1925

RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 7173

RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC

RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC

RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC

RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS

RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0133

RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0058

RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0811

RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2055

----------------- header ends ----------------

C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 001740

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2017

TAGS: PREF, PHUM, PREL, AF, TI, UZ

SUBJECT: UZBEKS THREATEN TO DEPORT AFGHAN REFUGEES

REF: TASHKENT 1664

Classified By: Poloff Tim Buckley for reasons 1.4 (B,D)

1. (C) Summary. United Nations Development Program (UNDP)

Resident Representative in Uzbekistan Fikret Akcura informed

DCM on the evening of October 4 that the Uzbek mission in

Geneva may make a public statement October 5 at the UNHCR

Executive Committee meeting that it no longer recognizes

UNDP's authority and is invalidating refugee documents. The

GOU says it will deport refugees unless they obtain valid

Uzbek visas. UNDP is increasing the size of a reassessment

team visiting in October in an effort to speed up the

reassessment process. This may be a GOU effort to force UNDP

to find a quick solution to the refugee issue. End summary.

UNDP DOCUMENTS "NO LONGER VALID"

--------------------------------

2. (C) UNDP Resident Representative Fikret Akcura informed

DCM that on the evening of October 4 the Deputy Charge

d'Affaires of Uzbekistan's Geneva mission informed UNHCR

officials that the UNDP-issued documents carried by Afghan

refugees are "null and void". He added that unless they

obtain valid Uzbekistan visas the refugees will be deported.

(Note: Per reftel, the cost of obtaining visas is

prohibitive. End note). The Uzbek diplomat in Geneva also

noted that the GOU no longer considers UNDP an authorized

representative of UNHCR in Uzbekistan. Akcura told DCM that,

since the last meeting (see reftel), there have been four or

five new known cases of deportations of Afghan refugees,

however some of them may have found a way back into

Uzbekistan. Akcura added that noone in the GOU has

double-tracked the Uzbeks' message with him in Tashkent.

PUBLIC STATEMENT FORTHCOMING?

-----------------------------

3. (C) Akcura said that the Uzbeks may make a public

statement on their policy as early as an October 5 Executive

Committee meeting of the UNHCR in Geneva. Given the

increased urgency of the situation, UNDP is assembling a

larger team than originally planned to reassess the status of

the Afghan refugees (see reftel), which will speed up the

reclassification process. The reassessment is still expected

during October, after which time there will be a more

accurate list of the numbers of Afghan refugees and their

possible eligibility for resettlement programs.

COMMENT

-------

4. (C) Despite the increased rhetoric from the GOU, this may

actually be an effort to force the UNDP to find a rapid

solution to the refugee issue. However, the situation is

already difficult for the Afghan refugees and the GOU appears

increasingly serious about removing them from the country as

quickly as possible.

NORLAND

=======================CABLE ENDS============================

id: 125197

date: 10/10/2007 7:15

refid: 07DUSHANBE1432

origin: Embassy Dushanbe

classification: UNCLASSIFIED

destination:

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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 DUSHANBE 001432

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR INL/AAE (CARROLL AND BUHLER)

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: SNAR, ASEC, PREL, KCOR, KCRM, TI

SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN INL DUSHANBE 2007 SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT

1. In the absence of INL regular quarterly reports, the

Narcotics and Law Enforcement Section in Dushanbe herein reports

on activities for the period of January - September 2007:

----------------------------------

Narcotics and Law Enforcement Activities

---------------------------------

January 2007

2. Completed Grant Agreement with INIS Women's Legal Center

located in Khujand city; grant provides funding to run the

facility and provides salaries to defense advocates providing

free services to victims of trafficking, domestic violence and

similar crimes against vulnerable populations.

3. Border Guards assistance: completed purchase and handover of

10,000 winterized uniforms for border guards. In subsequent

inspection of the Border Guard warehouse with Chairman of the

State Committee for National Security, most if not all the

uniforms had not been distributed. Although many uniforms have

since been distributed on the Afghan-Tajik border, as of

September 2007, there are still many outposts where border

guards and officers are without winter gear. The Narcotics and

Law Enforcement Section (and the rest of the Embassy's Border

and Law Enforcement Working Group (BLEWG) team) will endeavor to

assist the Border Guards in distributing all uniforms and other

winter supplies before the end of the year.

March 2007

4. Completed renovation of both wings of the Border Guard

Regional Training Center at Khorog; INL/IOM Project.

5. Conducted two-week Basic Driver Protective Skills Training

Course for Representatives of Tajik Law Enforcement agencies

(Ministry of Interior, Drug Control Agency, State Committee for

National Security).

6. The Resident Legal Adviser (RLA) on board and established.

April 2007

7. INL Officer attended INL Global Narcotics Affairs Officers

(NAS) Conference in Washington.

May 2007

8. Funded Tajik Drug Control Agency head General Nazarov's

participation in the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA)

International Drug Enforcement Conference (IDEC) in Madrid,

Spain.

June 2007

9. INL/United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Joint

project, completed a full reconstruction of border posts Bog and

Bakhorak. Furniture and limited equipment including Russian UAZ

and GAZ Hunter trucks delivered and in place; Ambassador and

Border Guard Deputy Faizulloev attended ribbon-cutting ceremony.

10. Funded Interior Ministry Counternarcotics Unit Chief

General Godoyev for DEA's International Narcotics Executive

Management Seminar (INEMS) in Tampa, Florida.

11. Narcotics and Law Enforcement Section Staff attended

Regional INL Workshop in Istanbul.

12. Embassy Dushanbe (coordinated by Narcotics and Law

Enforcement Section) hosted the monthly Border Assistance

International Group (BIG) multi-donor meeting.

July 2007

13. Joint INL/ICITAP project. Completed INL/Senior Law

Enforcement Advisor project (SLEA) to reconstruct the forensic

laboratory for the Ministry of Interior. New furniture procured

and installed. With direct and full support from the U.S.

Department of Justice International Criminal Investigative

Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) forensic expert, laboratory

equipment identified purchased, delivered and installed.

DUSHANBE 00001432 002 OF 004

14. Completed Ministry of Interior Analytical Center; conducted

building renovation, purchased and installed necessary equipment

and ORACLE based software (TAIS ONTOS level seven). Now the

Analytical Center of the Ministry of Interior has potential to

exchange information with other Tajik law enforcement agencies,

in particular the Drug Control Agency, whose Analytical Center

was also provided with INL assistance and also uses ORACLE-based

software.

15. Completed renovation of the 3rd floor of Ministry of

Interior Police Academy, with computer training lab and language

lab and completed classroom furniture and server systems for

both centers.

August 2007

16. Completed two-week Advanced Driver Protective Skills

Training Course for representatives of Tajik Law Enforcement

agencies (Ministry of Interior, Drug Control Agency, State

Committee for National Security).

17. The INL Project Engineer hired and on board.

18. Completed Scope of Work and bid conference for Border

Guards Training Academy and State Committee for National

Security Training Center projects.

September 2007

19. Completed renovation of Drug Control Agency mobile team

training gym and shooting range, purchased and delivered all

required equipment.

20. Narcotics and Law Enforcement Section met with supervisors

and members of the Drug Control Agency Mobile Teams to conduct a

review of Mobile Team performance and use of resources. Unit

goals, priorities, and requirements were better defined and the

group reviewed use of donated equipment and vehicles. All

equipment and vehicles provided were accounted for.

21. Grant Agreement for Demining Project: $1,730 grant to the

Tajik Mine Action Center. This money covers costs to facilitate

Tajik government passage of the "Ratification of the Convention

on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities" under the Ottawa

Convention. This measure will facilitate equal rights and

protection under local laws for Tajiks who have been injured in

mine-related accidents.

22. In order to improve existing Aviation Security Service, INL

purchased and delivered to the Dushanbe Airport three Dell

computers.

23. Handover of two specialized Honda All Terrain Vehicles for

the Drug Control Agency's Mobile Teams; required training

conducted and All Terrain Vehicle manuals translated.

24. Handover of specialized law enforcement equipment to

representatives of Drug Control Agency and Ministry of Interior

mobile team units with training.

25. Completed development, installation and training for new

SONDA AFIS (fingerprint) center in the Ministry of Interior

forensics lab. All historical data and arrest files with

photos, biographical information and latent prints migrated and

functioning well. Expansion of system will be completed in 2008

with interconnectivity with regional offices.

---------------

INL ENGINEER

---------------

26. Due to the increase in INL-funded (and other Embassy

agencies) construction projects and problems encountered over

the last year dealing with local contractors, Embassy Dushanbe

granted approval for INL to hire a full time Project Engineer.

On September 3, 2007 the INL Project Engineer Mr. John McCann

arrived in country. He has already visited the rural border

post at Khirmanjo several times and fully revised a scope of

work for the border post's renovation and passed it to Border

Guards' engineer for evaluation. He has also visited the

Nizhniy Pyanj Bridge to review construction projects for Customs

facilities to be undertaken by the Office of Defense

Cooperation. The INL Project Engineer also provided his

expertise to procure two required Kamaz trucks for INL projects

DUSHANBE 00001432 003 OF 004

in the region.

-------------------------------

Resident Legal Advisor

-------------------------------

27. Since his arrival in March of 2007, the Resident Legal

Advisor conducted a complete analysis of the Tajik Criminal

Procedure Code and will be part of the Tajik Government's

Working Group responsible for reviewing and revising the Tajik

Criminal Procedure Code -- a major and most critical step in

creating a comprehensive rule of law reform program in

Tajikistan.

--------------------------------------------- -

United Nations Office on Drugs Crime (UNODC)

--------------------------------------------- -

28. In June, UNODC, with U.S. Embassy representatives and the

Tajik Drug Control Agency conducted the semi-annual

International Working Group on administering "Phase Two" of the

Tajikistan Drug Control Agency Project (AD/TAJ/03/HO3), which is

fully funded by the USG. The session included a review of

progress on benchmarks for the first six months of 2007 and a

presentation and discussion of benchmark proposals for the

second half of the year. Protracted discussions ensued

regarding sustainability and what percentage of the Tajik

government's resources have been invested into the Drug Control

Agency. We agreed to meet again in July to discuss Drug Control

Agency sustainability and to conduct a review of the operational

capability of the Mobile Teams in September. Both subsequent

meetings were fruitful in the sense that Embassy staff sent a

clear message that more transparency on operational activities

is required to continue to fund the Mobile Teams and that

meaningful investigations leading to actual prosecutions is the

ultimate measure of the Drug Control Agency's success, not the

rate of seizures. (Note: Seizures by the Drug Control Agency

decreased by nearly half in 2007 from 2006 due to shifts in

local and regional command positions.) Embassy also reiterated

that recurring costs and additional infrastructure to

headquarters facilities would no longer be provided by the U.S.

Government with the exception of salary supplements. The Drug

Control Agency was also informed that they must begin to put

together a plan to begin taking on responsibility for paying

salary supplements by 2009. The group will meet again in

December 2007.

29. During this period (Jan to Sept 2007) UNODC Regional

Director Jim Callahan visited Embassy Dushanbe once to meet

Narcotics and Law Enforcement Section staff. INL has voiced its

concerns over the need for more contact with the regional

headquarters but we have yet to see increased engagement on the

part of UNODC. Meanwhile, E-23 project manager Sergey Bozhko

was moved to his next post in Tehran without provision of a

replacement. Embassy staff was not notified of this development

until a last minute invitation to Bozhko's farewell party in

July. The Narcotics and Law Enforcement Section looks forward

to working with the new E-23 Project Manager when he/she

arrives.

--------------------------------------------- ----

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

--------------------------------------------- ----

30. IOM completed renovations on the second wing of the Khorog

Regional Training Center for the Border Guards. Living

accommodations, classrooms, cafeteria, etc. are provided for

both Tajik and Afghan border guards. However, the Government of

Tajikistan has yet to agree to conduct any joint training

exercises with Afghan Border Guards. As a result of a full-court

press by the major donor Embassies including the United States,

Germany, UK and EU, there have been some signs that limited

training may be allowed. Embassy will pursue this possibility

in the coming months. IOM also continued to fund the Trafficked

Victims Shelter in Dushanbe. Approximately 32 victims have

passed through the facility from January 2007 to September 2007.

31. IOM has also proposed two additional projects, both of

which were turned down by Embassy Dushanbe. The first was a

proposed database to track trafficking in persons victims and

cases. However, it was not integrated with existing database and

intelligence gathering capabilities within law enforcement and

was overpriced at $500,000. The second was a proposal to

renovate/construct the Tajik-China border crossing point at

DUSHANBE 00001432 004 OF 004

Kulma, Murghab in eastern Tajikistan. At present, the Narcotics

and Law Enforcement Sectin does not believe that IOM has the

capability to oversee such a large project and without

significant oversight (which is difficult given the remoteness

of the region); it would not be prudent to allow a third party

implementer to subcontract local vendors.

32. The IOM Country Director is on his way out to his next post

in Almaty. We have heard that the new director will take over

by November 2007. We look forward to working with a new

Director as the previous, Mahmoud Naderi, had seemed to have

lost his enthusiasm for the job and worn out his welcome after 6

years on the ground. One major problem we hope to overcome is

Naderi's tendency to enter into direct negotiations with the

government of Tajikistan on projects for which funding was not

available. Naderi would in essence use the Border Guards to

press the USG to fund projects not yet vetted by any major

donors.

----------------------------------

Women's Legal Initiative (INIS)

----------------------------------

33. INL financially supported a Free Legal Assistance for

Vulnerable Populations Project implemented by the

Non-Governmental Organization "INIS." Report statistics show

that during four months of 2007, from May to August, 38 males

and 261 females applied and received legal support from the NGO.

Several different training courses for prosecutors, defense

advocates and law enforcement were conducted as well. The

Narcotics and Law Enforcement Section is particularly interested

in the joint seminars with law enforcement as we believe that in

the long run, more awareness and better coordination between the

police, advocates and prosecutors will enable investigations

that are more successful and prosecutions of traffickers and

perpetrators of domestic violence. The Narcotics and Law

Enforcement Section will conduct a site visit to Khujand before

the end of 2007.

------------------------------------

POSTPONED AND CANCELED ACTIVITIES

------------------------------------

34. Due to the sudden drop in the level of transparency and

open cooperation between the U.S. Embassy and the Border Guards

now under the State Committee for National Security, INL

cancelled the much-anticipated Border Guards Salary Supplement

Program. Protracted negotiations over control of the bank and

availability of border guard rosters made it clear that this

program would not be feasible under the new management. Funds

will be redirected to refurbish and reconstruct key areas of the

Tajik-Afghan border.

35. Renovation and construction of the Border Guard Academy was

put on hold for nearly six months due to prolonged negotiations

with the State Committee for National Security over specifics on

the project schematics. For some months between January and

April it was unclear whether the Embassy was to work with the

Border Guards directly or the State Committee's leadership. The

Embassy is now engaging the Chief of the Border Guards, General

Mirzoev, and his new staff to implement this project. A

contract will probably be awarded by November 2007 and work will

begin in December, weather permitting.

36. The Border Post at Khirmanjo was scheduled to be completed

in the spring of 2007 but due to various failures on the part of

the local contractor to complete the work at acceptable

standards, the project is not completed and will be

re-advertised with a new statement of work for re-bid. Our plans

to finish the project before winter sets in this year may not be

achieved. Therefore, INL will use recouped expenses from the

first contract to provide for shelters and other emergency

living facilities for the officers and border guards who are

currently living outdoors.

----------------------

CONTACT INFORMATION

----------------------

37. Embassy Dushanbe POC is INL officer Ranjeet Singh, office

telephone: 992-37-229-2000 x2111, email: HYPERLINK

"mailto:SinghRK@state.gov" SinghRK@state.gov

HUSHEK

=======================CABLE ENDS============================

id: 125291

date: 10/10/2007 13:55

refid: 07DUSHANBE1437

origin: Embassy Dushanbe

classification: CONFIDENTIAL

destination: 07DUSHANBE1437|07MOSCOW4849

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----------------- header ends ----------------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 001437

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2017

TAGS: PREL, PGOV, TI

SUBJECT: RAHMON SHOWS OFF DUSHANBE FOR THE CIS SUMMIT; DUSHANBE

ENDURES

REF: MOSCOW 4849

CLASSIFIED BY: Tom Hushek, Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy

Dushanbe, STATE.

REASON: 1.4 (b), (d)

Corrected Copy: SIPDIS Caption added.

1. (U) Summary: The Summits of the Commonwealth of Independent

States, Eurasian Economic Cooperation Organization, and

Collective Security Treaty Organization, held October 5-7,

brought Dushanbe to a standstill, disrupting communications and

commerce, and costing a fortune. The Government of Tajikistan

spared no expense to prepare for the summits, seeming to ignore

President Rahmon's recent edicts to his own citizens to avoid

lavish social celebrations. One concrete accomplishment for

President Rahmon is the reported agreement with Karimov for

Uzbekistan to extend its power grid to facilitate transit of

Turkmen electricity to Tajikistan. End Summary.

Paying for Our Glorious Leader

------------------------------------------

2. (U) Preparations for the summit began months ago. The

Government beautified the main avenues of Dushanbe, repainted

facades, opened new shops, repaved roads, and strung holiday

decorative lighting around buildings, trees, and across main

roads. Signs welcoming the visiting delegations in Russian were

everywhere -- a marked change from the usual Tajik language

slogans and public service banners.

3. (C) This facelift was resourced in the same way the Tajik

Government (and the former Soviet Government) supports the

cotton harvests: people were cajoled and coerced to contribute

their time or their money. Authorities reportedly forced

businesses to bear the costs of mandatory improvements around

their premises. There are also rumors of monetary

"contributions" extorted from banks and other businesses to

support the off-budget summit expenses. Possibly several

hundred jobs were lost when authorities destroyed informal

market areas and forced kiosks off main streets approximately

two weeks before the summit began. The bridge connecting two of

Dushanbe's main streets was closed for reconstruction for two

full months before the start of the summit. And public areas

such as the Botanical Gardens and other parks were closed for

weeks for refurbishments.

4. (C) Total government expenses for the summit are unknown.

The government imported several (10 to 20, according to rumors)

police cars from Germany to sharpen up the motorcades.

Entertainment expenses seem to have been divvied up among

various ministries. Ministries and Government departments were

each assigned national delegations as their responsibility to

house, feed, and entertain (e.g. the Ministry of Power got

Georgia). They reportedly did their utmost to impress their

guests, arranging gifts for every one of hundreds of delegation

members. A contact at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs commented

to us that the expense imposed on taxpayers was disproportionate

to the significance of the summits and made a mockery of the

President's recent edicts to Tajiks to waste less money on

lavish entertainment. Foreign journalists covering the summits

were reportedly surprised by the lavishness of their hosts.

Security Inconveniences

---------------------------------

5. (U) Tajikistan closed its land borders to all car and truck

traffic prior to the summits. We do not know the economic

impact of the border closure, but noticed some goods

disappearing from store shelves (e.g. most eggs are imported

from Iran, and grocery stores ran out of them over the weekend).

Throughout the summits, main roads in Dushanbe were closed to

all vehicular traffic aside from Tajik Government, summit

participants, diplomatic vehicles, limited public transit, and

press covering the summit.

6. (U) The mood on the streets was calm and pragmatic. Most

government offices and international organizations and many

businesses in the downtown area had closed in anticipation of

the street closures and security hassles during the summit.

There were hundreds of people out walking along the main streets

as that was the only way to get to work, go shopping, or visit

family. Overall, the citizens of Dushanbe were more

DUSHANBE 00001437 002 OF 002

understanding and less hostile to the road closures than we

anticipated. Most international and local security

professionals anticipated many more problems, harassment, and

incidents that never materialized. Notably, this is one of the

first times the government released information to the public in

advance of an event regarding road closures and movements of

VIPs.

7. (C) The State Security Committee provided some entertainment

in its zeal to protect the summiteers. On October 3 they

detained a suspicious party of American and Australian tourists

at the Dushanbe train station while they were reading the posted

train schedules. (They released the tourists soon afterward).

The same day State Security agents showed up at the home of the

Director of the National Democratic Institute, to ask him

whether he planned to meet with the Ukrainian delegation during

the summit. The bemused Director replied that he did not, as he

didn't work on Ukrainian issues, and didn't know anyone in the

delegation anyway.

8. (C) The capacity of the Tajik Government to host a large

summit was clearly tested