DEMARCHE ON BELARUS ANTI-U.S. RESOLUTION DELIVERED, USUN

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUSHANBE 002084 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2016 TAGS: PHUM PREL BO TI SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON BELARUS ANTI-U.S. RESOLUTION DELIVERED, USUN MISSION FOLLOW UP RECOMMENDED REF: STATE 00187018 CLASSIFIED BY: TJACOBSON, AMBASSADOR, STATE, STATE. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) PolOff discussed talking points per reftel on the demarche on Belarus' anti-U.S. United Nations resolution with Ismatullo Nasredinov, Head of the Department of European and American Countries at Tajikistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs November 15. ¶2. (C) Nasredinov acknowledged Belarus' counter-resolution and noted that Belarus has not yet solicited Tajikistan's support for the resolution. He noted that for Tajikistan, this will be a tough decision, given its ties with Belarus. He added that Tajikistan will likely abstain. ¶3. (C) Post recommends the U.S. mission to the United Nations approach Tajikistan's mission to the United Nations directly to deliver talking points per reftel. All senior and cabinet level Tajik government officials are occupied with November 18 inauguration plans for newly re-elected President Rahmonov. With rumors swirling of a cabinet reshuffle, no one will be able to make a decision on this counter-resolution quickly and it will be extremely difficult for Post to obtain meetings prior to the inauguration. Given the lack of instruction from Dushanbe, additionally delivering the message to the Tajik UN Mission may prove effective. JACOBSON