TAJIK PRESIDENT HELPS DEDICATE NEW EMBASSY

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUSHANBE 001223

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 6/30/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ENRG RS CH TI
SUBJECT: TAJIK PRESIDENT HELPS DEDICATE NEW EMBASSY


CLASSIFIED BY: Thomas H. Armbruster, Charge d'Affairs, US
Embassy Dushanbe, State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)




1. (C) SUMMARY: After giving remarks at the June 29
dedication ceremony for Dushanbe's new Embassy, Tajik President
Emomali Rahmonov spent twenty minutes in a private meeting with
CdA and OBO Director Williams discussing Tajikistan's future and
the influx of new investment and infrastructure projects.
Relaxed and pleased with the previous day's official events
marking the National Day of Reconciliation, Rahmonov noted that
Tajikistan had truly overcome its civil war and was a united
country looking forward. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) In a gesture of support for the United States, Rahmonov
attended the dedication ceremony at the new Embassy building in
Dushanbe and made a short speech describing Tajikistan's "open
door policy." (NOTE: His attendance, unusual at an Embassy-
sponsored event, came down to the wire, when Rahmonov's staff
called at 10:40 am to ask if the dedication could be postponed
until July 4. CdA informed them that it could not, and the
President arrived as scheduled. END NOTE.)


3. (C) After the ceremony, to the chagrin of his security
detail, Rahmonov plunged through the center aisle and walked up
the main staircase to the Ambassador's suite, where he sat with
CdA and Director Williams for a private meeting. PolOff, OBO
Chief of Staff and Presidential Advisor Erkin Rahmatulloyev were
also present. Rahmonov showed great interest in the cost and
construction of the Embassy, particularly the grounds and trees.
Rahmonov shared that he brought home saplings and plants from
every trip abroad.


4. (C) Turning to the June 28 National Day of Reconciliation
official in Garm, CdA remarked on the touching toast given by
former opposition leader Abdullo Nuri, who highlighted
Rahmonov's concern for all Tajik citizens. Rahmonov noted that
during the Civil War, many of the towns in Rasht Valley,
including Garm, had been opposition centers and displayed
Islamic banners. "Nine officers were killed removing the Islamic
banner in Garm," he said. Now, reconciliation was complete and
the country was truly united.


5. (C) Rahmonov expressed strong support for new foreign
investments, including American energy firm AES' construction of
transmission lines, and a $630 million package from China to
build a road and tunnel and high voltage transmission lines from
Dushanbe north to Khujand. The Chinese project would employ up
to 2500 Tajik workers and be completed in two years. He noted
that China also planned to develop up to seven hydropower
stations, three in Zarafshan valley, and four on the upper Vaksh
river. He mentioned RAO UES investment and "partnership" in
response to the Chief of Staff's suggestion that the U.S. could
provide technical assistance in managing the electricity grid.


6. (C) "We must continue counter narcotics cooperation with
Afghanistan," he emphasized. He also commented that at the June
15 Shanghai cooperation meeting, Uzbek President Karimov had
"started the problems," possibly alluding to the protectionist
rhetoric that came out of the meeting.


7. (C) COMMENT: The meeting broke no new ground, but underscored
Rahmonov's ease with the United States as a strategic and
economic partner, even as other countries, in particular Russia
and China, are trying to gain the upper hand in Tajikistan. His
presence at the dedication ceremony, particularly after a long
day of official holiday events, sent a strong signal to the
Tajik press and diplomatic corps that the United States has his
attention. END COMMENT.

ARMBRUSTER