FORMER SECURITY OFFICIAL TAKES ON DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUSHANBE 002037

SIPDIS


EUR/CACEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL TI
SUBJECT: FORMER SECURITY OFFICIAL TAKES ON DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER
ROLE


CLASSIFIED BY: Richard Hoagland, Ambassador, EXEC, State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)


1. (C) Newly installed Deputy Foreign Minister Saimumil Yatimov
met with Charge today for their first substantive meeting.
Yatimov is well known as a former Ministry of Security official
who dealt with international affairs, but his appointment to a
high post in the Foreign Ministry was interpreted as a possible
signal that the Government intended to take a harder line with
respect to U.S.-Tajik relations and the activity of American
NGOs. Today's meeting did not confirm that speculation. On the
contrary, Yatimov was open and encouraged deeper U.S.-Tajik ties
in all spheres: economic, social, political, and security.
Yatimov agreed with Charge's observation that Tajikistan is
carefully balancing its relations with the big powers, but he
said Tajikistan must keep its compass pointed West as its
general orientation.


2. (C) Charge asked for the meeting to press for movement on
long-stalled NGO issues involving visas and registration.
However, Yatimov opened the meeting by praising Ambassador
Hoagland's well reported speech in Budapest on security matters
and he thanked the Ambassador for his evaluation of Tajikistan's
role in global security. The Ambassador especially praised
Tajikistan for its commitment to counternarcotics and
counterterrorism on the border with Afghanistan. Yatimov
thanked the United States for construction of the Tajik-Afghan
bridge.


3. (C) Yatimov also sees a key role for the United States in
the possible upcoming hydropower projects. He said U.S.
participation is especially important for geopolitical reasons.
Charge expected Yatimov would explain that an American business
would help counter a possible overwhelming Russian presence in
Tajik power, but instead he said the American presence would
help improve Tajikistan's position vis-a-vis Uzbekistan. The
Uzbeks would be less likely to meddle in Tajikistan's plans if
the U.S. is involved.


4. (C) Charge delivered a non-paper outlining NGO problems and
appealed to Yatimov to work closely with the United States if
problems arise. Yatimov said he could foresee "no problems" if
NGOs abide by the law. The non-paper made the following points:

-- On December 2, the U.S. Embassy organized an NGO Roundtable.
We were pleased Deputy Minister of Justice Mengliev attended,
along with representatives from the MFA, Customs, and
President's Aid Coordination Unit.

-- NGOs raised several problems that blocked them from
administering social and economic aid to Tajikistan including
the Tajik media publishing anti-Western NGO articles, visa and
registration difficulties, and requests for bribes to allow
assistance to continue.

-- NGOs improve civil society and their robust presence is an
indicator of a stable society that helps attracts investors.

-- We hope the Working Group consisting of the NGO Forum and
the government will meet soon and review these issues.


5. (C) The non-paper went into more detail on specific cases
involving CARE, the American Bar Association, Internews, Habitat
for Humanity, NDI, and Freedom House. Charge said these are all
respected organizations run by good people who are looking to
improve life for the average Tajik. Yatimov agreed to look at


the paper in detail and meet again.


6. (C) COMMENT: Yatimov is hard to read but talks a very good
game about the importance of improving and accelerating the
bilateral relationship. We will see how serious he is about
that in the coming weeks. His response on some of the hard
questions involving NGOs should also be indicative of his
willingness to really move the relationship forward. Yatimov's
deputies say he is ambitious, hard-working and aggressive. If
he is an ally, he will be a key player for the United States.
He has the President's ear and has the contacts in the other
Ministries to clear up longstanding obstacles. Rather than
being a step backwards, his appointment could signal a fresh
start on some very old issues like visas and registration for
NGOs.
ARMBRUSTER


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