Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DUSHANBE1361
2006-07-19 13:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Dushanbe
Cable title:  

TIT-FOR-TAT OP-ED SLAMS AMBASSADOR'S SUPPORTING TAJIK

Tags:  PREL PGOV PINR KDEM KPAO TI 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3811
RR RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #1361/01 2001333
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 191333Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8098
INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 1638
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1683
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1609
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 1670
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 1711
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1605
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1478
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1699
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1426
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1220
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS 0999
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 9405
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 001361 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, DRL, S/P

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR KDEM KPAO TI
SUBJECT: TIT-FOR-TAT OP-ED SLAMS AMBASSADOR'S SUPPORTING TAJIK
SOVEREIGNTY

REF: DUSHANBE 1185

DUSHANBE 00001361 001.2 OF 002


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 001361

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, DRL, S/P

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR KDEM KPAO TI
SUBJECT: TIT-FOR-TAT OP-ED SLAMS AMBASSADOR'S SUPPORTING TAJIK
SOVEREIGNTY

REF: DUSHANBE 1185

DUSHANBE 00001361 001.2 OF 002



1. (U) SUMMARY: The steady stream of (probably)
Russian-influenced black propaganda
against the United States continues in the Tajik press. A
recent article alleges U.S. NGOs
foment "color revolutions," the United States has done nothing
for Tajikistan's economic
development, the purpose of the U.S. - built Pyanzh River Bridge
is to harm Russian interests,
and U.S. foreign policy is founded on global control of energy
resources. Foreign Minister
Nazarov described the article to the Ambassador as disgusting.
END SUMMARY.


2. (U) On July 13, "Biznis i politika" published a front-page
reaction to the Ambassador's
June 22 op-ed, "Sovereign States Make Their Own Decisions,"
entitled "Some Reflections at the
Main Entrance to the New Building of the U.S. Embassy."


3. (U) The article opens sarcastically that the Ambassador
Hoagland "once again declares that the
United States is a noble knight of democracy and progress who
cares about the well being of
others, in this case Central Asian countries, without any
efforts to pursue its own interests."
It then analyzes the goals and methods the United States uses to
gain political influence in
Central Asia and Tajikistan in particular.


4. (U) It notes that "the entire Tajik society," including mass
media, the political elite, the
financial and banking sectors, as well as students and young
people are targets of U.S.
political influence in Tajikistan, through which Washington
promotes its "democratic and political
reforms." The article alleges the U.S. Embassy uses the NGO
sector to foment and support
"color revolutions" in post-Soviet countries.


5. The articles alleges the United States has made no real
contributions to the economic
development of Tajikistan. As an example of meaningless
assistance, it says the U.S. sent
shipping containers left over from its construction to a border
post to be used for totally
inappropriate living quarters for the border guards and customs
officials.


6. (U) The articles raises suspicion over the rushed
construction of the U.S.-funded bridge
across the Pyanzh River to Afghanistan, asking why the bridge is
important given the
continuing instability in Afghanistan and the increase in drug
trafficking across the
Tajik-Afghan border. The author asserts that the reason behind
the bridge is to gradually
decrease Russian influence in the region and establish control
over the uranium resources
of the Tian Shan Mountains, and potential gas and oil supply
routes. The article presumes
that the real reason behind U.S. efforts to export freedom
around the world is to gain control
over the world's energy and oil resources.


7. (U) The article concludes archly that "the United States has
clearly identified its
geo-strategic interests in Central Asia." The author suggests
that Ambassador Hoagland's
assertion the "our goal is to support the independence and
sovereignty of the states of
Central Asia" is disingenuous and is merely a smokescreen hiding

DUSHANBE 00001361 002.2 OF 002


the United States' real
intentions.


8. (U) COMMENT. FM Nazarov first brought this article to our
attention on July 17. When
it appeared, Tajik authorities tried to track down the by-line
author, "but no such journalist
exists." Calling the article disgusting, Nazarov said it's
clearly from "certain sources"
who want to harm the U.S.-Tajikistan relationship. We seldom
respond to the endless
flow of "black propaganda" in the Tajik media. However, we note
as soon as we place an
Ambassador's op-ed or interview, we're sure to see a rejoinder.
As junk articles go, this
one was not especially damaging because it contained almost
nothing new, except the
allegation that the United States intends to monopolize
Tajikistan's uranium deposits.
END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND