AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL CALL ON TAJIK FM TALBAK NAZAROV

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 DUSHANBE 001423

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, INL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/25/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON MARR KDEM IR RS TI
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL CALL ON TAJIK FM TALBAK NAZAROV


CLASSIFIED BY: Richard Hoagland, Ambassador, U.S. Embassy,
Dushanbe, State.
REASON: 1.4 (a),(c)



CLASSIFIED BY: Richard Hoagland, Ambassador, U.S. Embassy,
Dushanbe, State.
REASON: 1.4 (a),(c)


1. (C) SUMMARY: In his July 17 official farewell call on
Tajik Foreign Minister Talbak Nazarov, the Ambassador summed up
the progress in the U.S.-Tajik relationship over the past three
years, including increased border assistance, a new U.S.
Embassy and U.S. involvement in hydropower and infrastructure
projects. The Ambassador noted the business climate still
needed further and consistent reform to attract foreign
investors, and several high-level cases involving U.S. firms
must be resolved before more American investors would come. The
Ambassador recommended that the Tajik authorities begin
registering and licensing independent television and radio
stations before the November presidential elections to
demonstrate a commitment to a freer media. He suggested
increased military cooperation was still possible without
specifically establishing a U.S. base, through logistics
support, refueling and search and rescue operations. Nazarov
indicated this was possible, "with the proper mechanism," which
would likely involve direct U.S.-Russian agreement. Nazarov
agreed that the bilateral relationship was very strong.
Tajikistan was constantly balancing its foreign policy with
bigger countries and its neighbors, and partnership with the
United States played an important role in Tajikistan's
"open-door" foreign policy. END SUMMARY.

IRAN


2. (C) Minus the usual MFA notetaker, Nazarov sat down and
chatted for almost 45 minutes about the state of the bilateral
relationship and regional issues. Addressing first the
Ambassador's final question about Iranian President
Ahmadinejad's July 25-27 visit, Nazarov noted the meetings would
not be political. "We don't plan or desire that!" he stressed.
Under agreements signed with former President Khatami, Iran took
the lead on several infrastructure projects in Tajikistan,
including the strategic Anzob Tunnel and Sangtuda-II hydropower
station. Ahmadinejad is coming specifically for the official
opening of the tunnel. Unfortunately, almost no progress has
been made on Sangtuda-II." It's unclear whose fault that is,"
said Nazarov. "Maybe ours? Maybe the Russians?" referring to the
neighboring RAO UES project Sangtuda-I. "We had hoped these
projects would be finished before Khatami left office," remarked
Nazarov.


3. (C) According to Nazarov, the Tajiks have "no special love"
for the current Iranian administration. Many Tajiks,
particularly in the government, remember Iranian support for the
opposition forces and their role in starting the Tajik Civil War
in the early 1990s, and the resulting "catastrophic effects."
"Perhaps that (infrastructure support) is compensation for the
enormous damage," he mused. He added, however, that Tajikistan
has to pay close attention to domestic public opinion, and a
good number of the Tajik intelligentsia have a warm and benign
view of Iran based on common cultural and linguistic links.
Nazarov characterized Iran's ideology-driven foreign policy as
"near sighted," but noted that Tajikistan must be careful "not
to quarrel" with Tehran. (NOTE: MFA Americas department Head
Ismatulloh Nasreddinov pulled PolOff aside at a reception June
26 to emphasize that the Iranian visit was bilateral only, and
no international issue would be raised. "Tajikistan is on record
as opposing nuclear weapons," he said," but we cannot and will
not bring this up during the visit. That was a condition to

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having the visit." Presumably, he meant an Iranian condition.
END NOTE.)


4. (C) Nazarov confirmed that Afghan President Hamid Karzai
will visit Dushanbe July 26, in part because he cancelled his
participation in the January Afghan-Tajik-Iranian trilateral
meeting in Tehran. However, Nazarov noted that while Karzai's
visit was "compensation" for missing the January meeting, there
were no plans to sign any trilateral agreements, and no joint
statements would be made. Nazarov also noted that Tajikistan
owes Afghanistan an official bilateral visit to Dushanbe but
this currently pending visit is not official.

THE DOOR MUST STAY OPEN


5. (C) President Rahmonov's "open door" foreign policy has
proven successful, Nazarov concurred, as Tajikistan has tried to
establish partnerships with the "leading countries" and its
neighbors. "We don't want to feel the embrace of just one
country," he said. "We must continue to balance our interests."
He agreed with the Ambassador's assessment that only Tajikistan
and Kazakhstan have successfully forged fairly balanced working
relationships with the major powers, like Russia, the United
States and China, as well as with neighbors. In response to a
question, Nazarov suggested Rahmonov would likely change key
cabinet members after the November presidential election.

U.S.-TAJIK RELATIONS: MATURE AND PRINCIPLED


6. (C) The United States and Tajikistan both want normal
cooperation and a strong partnership, suggested Nazarov, and
thus they resolve issues based on this principle. He agreed
that the bilateral relationship was mature and they must find a
mechanism to maintain the balance.


7. (C) Regarding Secretary Rumsfeld's recent request, Nazarov
said, "Our arms were short. We have commitments to the regional
organizations (especially the Shanghai Cooperation Organization,
Commonwealth Strategic Treaty Organization, and the Eurasian
Economic Community). Could we allow ourselves to by ostracized
in those regional fora?" He reminded the Ambassador that in
2001, Tajikistan was very interested in coalition troops
establishing a military presence at Kulyob airfield, but the
United States did not take up the offer.

RUSSIA


8. (C) He agreed that it was essential to find a way for the
Russians to be helpful to resolve problems in Afghanistan. Thus
far, Russia has not been participating, but "looking at the
situation while on the black list." If Russia felt like it had
more responsibility for regional security in Afghanistan,
Nazarov suggested, it might cooperate more. However, for
further U.S. and coalition military use of Tajik facilities, a
"mechanism" must be found, primarily between the United States
and Russia. Nazarov said he'd heard nothing of rumors that the
Russians and Indians were negotiating an agreement over the use
of the Ayni Airbase.

THANKS


9. (C) In parting, the Foreign Minister complimented the
Ambassador on being a "working ambassador" who had done much to
solidify and strengthen the bilateral relationship by focusing
on the "big issues" and not getting caught up with minor
problems. He said, "We respect you could tell us hard things,
but always with balance and objectivity and a focus on what's
truly important."


10. (C) COMMENT: Nazarov, who has been foreign minister for
over 10 years, has several times asked to retire, but President

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Rahmonov has refused to let him. After the November election,
he may press his case one more time. If he is replaced, we hope
it is someone with his balance and vision. Under his
leadership, the foreign ministry has emerged as perhaps the most
liberal, and balances, when it can, the old-guard impulses of
the ministry of security.


11. (C) COMMENT CONTINUED: We are intrigued by Nazarov's
musing that an enhanced U.S. and coalition military presence in
Tajikistan is not impossible if the right "mechanism" is found.
In our search for a positive partnership with Russia, this might
be worth exploring. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND