TAJIKISTAN: AMBASSADOR PRESENTS CREDENTIALS TO PRESIDENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 001655

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SCA FOR FEIGENBAUM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 9/6/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON ENRG EAID SNAR KDEM PHUM TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN: AMBASSADOR PRESENTS CREDENTIALS TO PRESIDENT
RAHMONOV


CLASSIFIED BY: Tracey Jacobson, Ambassador, State, STATE.
REASON: 1.4 (d)

Classified by Ambassador Jacobson. Reason 1.4(d).


1. (U) SUMMARY. On September 4, just one business day after
arriving at post, Ambassador Jacobson presented her credentials
to Tajik President Emomoli Rahmonov. Rahmonov thanked the
United States for its support of counter terrorism and counter
narcotics efforts and said he looked forward to greater
assistance in economic development. He cited the U.S.-funded
bridge at Nizhniy Pyanj as an example of bilateral cooperation
that would benefit the region. The government was eager to
accept the Ambassador's credentials so she could participate
officially in the September 9 Independence Day celebration and
the 2700th anniversary of President Rahmonov's home region,
Kulyab. END SUMMARY.

GREAT TIMING


2. (U) The Ambassador thanked the president for the
opportunity to present her credentials immediately after
arrival. Rahmonov and some of his senior staff just returned
from meetings in Kazakhstan and were pressed for time, but were
intent to keep the appointment with the Ambassador. While some
ambassadors are made to wait for several months before
presenting their credentials, the president remarked, it was
important that she be "one of the active members" among the
diplomatic corps at the upcoming Independence Day celebrations.
Rahmonov said the celebrations will show off the famous Tajik
hospitality, and good naturedly predicted the Ambassador would
much prefer Tajikistan to her former assignment in Turkmenistan.
Note: For the 15th anniversary of independence, the government
will invite the diplomatic corps to a military parade, an
evening gala, and a trip to Kulyab on the president's airplane
to commemorate 2700 years of Tajik-Persian culture.

MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT


3. (U) After the formal presentation of credentials, President
Rahmonov opened the conversation with the Ambassador by stating
that for Tajikistan, the relationship with the United States
"has always been and always will be" of paramount importance.
He said Tajikistan would never engage in any anti-Americanism.
The Ambassador said her core mission would be to further
strengthen America's relationship with the Tajik government and
the Tajik people. She outlined a full range of common
interests, which she had discussed earlier with the foreign
minister in more detail, including regional integration, border
security, counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics, and economic
opportunities including hydropower. She noted that a more
transparent economic environment was essential to attracting
investment. Washington is keenly interested in the November 6
presidential elections, she said - how these elections are
conducted will be important not only for Tajikistan's image but
also for the development of the bilateral relationship.


4. (C) Rahmonov was most engaging when he broke from his
prepared text and reflected on the accomplishments of Tajikistan
since the early 1990s. Dushanbe was dead; bread was rationed;
fathers and sons killed each other; Islamic flags flew over the
current parliament building. He recounted some of the
atrocities he witnessed first hand as a "simple deputy,"
apologizing to the Ambassador for the indelicate descriptions.
Such memories, he said, ensure the Tajik people understand the
value of peace and stability, and ensure that Tajikistan will be
a staunch partner in counter-terrorism and counter-narcotics.
He recalled the late 1990s and the first anti-terrorism
operations in Afghanistan when the flow of drugs across the
border nearly tripled. At that time he appealed for
international support citing the impact not only on Central
Asia, but on the wider global community, but his pleas were met
with skepticism and ignored. Similarly, he lamented that his
offer directly to General Franks immediately after September 11,
2001 to provide a base at Kulyab for the anti-Taliban,
anti-terrorist operations in Afghanistan was rebuffed.
Positively, he recognized that the United States was first among
countries in providing humanitarian assistance to Tajikistan
throughout Tajikistan's 15 years of independence.


5. (SBU) To illustrate Tajikistan's role in the broader
Central Asian area, Rahmonov shared a Tajik proverb: "If your
neighbor is prospering, it will be fortuitous for you too." He
spoke at length about the challenge of integrating Afghanistan
into the regional economy and referred to the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineer's bridge project as a major step toward Afghanistan's

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post-war development and Tajikistan's integration with the rest
of the world. Noting that it is only 1,600 kilometers to
Karachi, the bridge will help eliminate the long overland routes
to European seaports and transportation hubs. To reach its
goals, he said, Tajikistan must cooperate with all "sincere
friends of Tajikistan" who have a role here, including those in
the Islamic world, India, Pakistan, China, Russia and European
countries. In reference to Uzbekistan, the President mentioned
the deaths on the border as a result of landmines, but stopped
short of lambasting Karimov, expressing optimism that Tajikistan
and Uzbekistan could resolve their differences amicably.


6. (U) Rahmonov responded to the Ambassador's desire to see
the Tajik presidential elections approach international
standards, by noting his "firm position" that the November 6
presidential election should be open and transparent. He
reported that during a recent address to parliament he
instructed all government structures to follow local laws and
international obligations.


7. (U) He noted that former Ambassador Hoagland left a new
embassy and he hoped that she would leave her own mark on
U.S.-Tajik relations. As evidence of his sincere desire to work
closely with the United States, Rahmonov referred to his
attendance at the new embassy dedication during Ambassador
Hoagland's absence due to his Senate confirmation hearing. He
pointed out that "no other Central Asian president would have
attended a dedication ceremony without the host Ambassador."

MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER NAZAROV


8. (SBU) Prior to the credentials ceremony, the Ambassador met
with Foreign Minister Nazarov to preview her conversation with
the president, and to initiate a dialogue with the Foreign
Minister on the entire range of bilateral issues. She
highlighted Washington's appreciation for Tajikistan's record in
anti-terrorism and anti-narcotics efforts, Secretary Rice's
strong interest in supporting the integration of Central and
South Asia, and the enormous opportunities for Tajikistan in the
energy sphere. Tajikistan's ability to attract private
investors and business partners, she argued, will depend on
transparent practices and enforcement of the sanctity of
contracts. Similarly, transparent conduct toward NGOs is
critical for continued U.S. assistance and the healthy
development of democracy. The Ambassador raised the ongoing
case of Gerald Metals and recent government pressure on the
Portland-based NGO Mercy Corps International as issues she would
like to discuss at greater length with the Minister.


9. (SBU) Nazarov spent considerable time detailing the various
hydropower projects underway in Tajikistan. He said that no
agreements were finalized at the recent Sochi EurAsEC summit and
was clear that Tajikistan would hold out for completing the
giant Rogun hydropower project according to its original
Soviet-era plans. If Russian aluminum giant RusAl cannot find
financing for the full-scale version of the project, Tajikistan
will look elsewhere for partners. Nazarov remains optimistic
that the situation will be resolved and stated that 95 percent
of Afghanistan's energy needs could be met by Tajikistan in the
future.


10. (U) The Ambassador characterized the upcoming presidential
election as an excellent opportunity to signal a commitment to a
transparent democratic process meeting international standards.
A free and fair election, with open access to the media for the
political parties, would contribute to the prestige and
long-term stability of Tajikistan. He agreed to meet with the
Ambassador soon, and regularly, in order to continue to discuss
these and other important issues.


11. (SBU) COMMENT: While neither meeting offered anything
new, the Foreign Minister and President had both clearly crafted
their talking points to fit their perception of what we wanted
to hear. The early credentials meeting was a positive sign, but
we will continue to emphasize that it is concrete action - on
the elections, business and civil society environments, and
security cooperation - that will keep Tajikistan in the
"Corridor of Reform.
JACOBSON