RUSSIA PLEASED WITH BILATERAL RELATIONS WITH TAJIKISTAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUSHANBE 000016

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 1/3/2016
TAGS: PREL ECON ENRG TI RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIA PLEASED WITH BILATERAL RELATIONS WITH TAJIKISTAN

REF: 05 DUSHANBE 2097

CLASSIFIED BY: Thomas Armbruster, Charge d Affaires, US Embassy
Dushanbe, State.
REASON: 1.4 (d)


1. (C) The year 2005 was very fruitful for Russia in
Tajikistan, according to the Russian DCM Viacheslav Svetlichny.
He highlighted the realization of long-standing commitments,
particularly those made by President Putin in October 2004 to
withdraw Russian border forces and increase economic assistance
to Tajikistan. In 75-minute meeting with the Chargi and PolOff,
he elaborated on Russia's diplomatic achievements, its
commercial and cultural interests in Tajikistan and Tajik-Uzbek
friction.


2. (C) Hydropower represents a big future for Russian
investment, particularly the Rogun and Sangtuda power plants.
Svetlichny agreed Sangtuda could domestic fuel aluminum
production while Rogun's power could be exported. He gave no
reason the U.S. firm AES could not play a role in the Rogun
project, particularly the construction of transmission lines.
In addition to hydro projects, the Russians were pleased with
turnout at the Russian Exposition in Dushanbe in December,
noting almost 50 Russian companies had participated.


3. (C) In the past two years, the increased number of
high-level visits, and cultural and educational exchanges has
strengthened Russian-Tajik ties. In addition to Putin's 2004
visit to Dushanbe, Svetlichny gave the examples of Russian Prime
Minister Fratkov's October 2005 visit and President Rahmonov's
visit to Russia for the "Days of Tajik Culture" exhibit in St.
Petersburg as examples of intensified cooperation.


4. (SBU) Chargi outlined U.S. assistance and the shift from
humanitarian aid to an emphasis on business and social
development.


5. (C) Svetlichny characterized the situation in Uzbekistan as
"positive and negative," but argued the new Russian-Uzbek
bilateral defense agreement gave the Russians more influence
over Uzbekistan. Central Asia is one of the few regions in the
world that does not have strong anti-American sentiment, he
noted. "We support your work here," he said. On the border,
Svetlichny agreed the United States and Russia should cooperate
to help secure the Afghan-Tajik border to stem the flow of
narcotics. (NOTE: The Russian press continues to criticize
Tajikistan's ability to control the border and suggests
Tajikistan and Russia would be better off with a return of
Russian border guards. The Tajiks consider the reporting
"slander." END NOTE)


6. (SBU) Svetlichniy invited Chargi and PolOff to the
Russian-sponsored "Diplomats' Day" scheduled for February 10.


7. (C) COMMENT: Svetlichny requested the meeting, his first
lengthy interaction with the Embassy since his arrival in
October 2005. At receptions and conferences, he often engages
U.S. diplomats, and during the meeting, expressed his
appreciation and admiration of Ambassador Headland's regular
ambassadorial get-togethers, suggesting it would be useful to
replicate the diplomatic interaction on a working level.
Russia's pride in the success of its increased cultural
exchanges is further evidence of the Tajik's thirst for contact
outside Central Asia. At a conference on Central Asian Security
December 23, Svetlichny noted that Russia had ignored Central
Asia in the 1990s, but was now intensifying its efforts
(reftel). His comments then and in this meeting highlight the
Russian strategy to pull Tajikistan back into Moscow's orbit.

ARMBRUSTER


NNNN