Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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06DUSHANBE2149 | 2006-11-29 05:53:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Dushanbe |
VZCZCXRO0906 PP RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHDBU #2149/01 3330553 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P R 290553Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9144 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 1886 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1922 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1913 RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0642 |
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 002149 |
1. (U) SUMMARY: Whether building bridges, running an internet access center, or publishing youth newspapers, international and local NGOs operate effectively and with few bureaucratic barriers in the city and district of Faisobod. District Chairman Ismatullo Zaidov was quick to praise NGO contributions, and noted the "excellent" working relationship his administration maintains with local and Dushanbe-based organizations. Zaidov and others called for help investing in small-scale food processing operations to provide employment, increase trade and avoid wasting Faisobod's fruit and vegetable bounty. The agriculture-based district's single industrial enterprise is a small Soviet-built cannery, which operated for only two months this summer due to a nationwide shortage of glass jars and sits idle now because of a lack of electricity. Zaidov made a special push for increased exchanges and English language instruction, noting the disadvantage Tajiks face by not knowing English. Faisobod's residents and government seemed positive about the future, despite a lack of economic development and a crumbling infrastructure. END SUMMARY 2. (SBU) During a November 24 visit, Zaidov told EmbOffs the district had a strong record of cooperation between his "hukumat" (local government) and the local NGO community. Local NGOs set up small knitting and sewing workshops and formed local youth groups. International NGOs such as the U.S.-based IREX, Aga Khan Foundation, CESVI (an Italian organization), Open Society Institute, Relief International, and Counterpart conducted a range of civil society, education, health and construction projects. Zaidov had no complaints about any of their projects, and seemed unaware of issues of registration and reporting in Dushanbe. 3. (U) As in most of Tajikistan, conditions are basic. Electricity is severely rationed from November to March, with three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening. Homes, schools, and offices rely on outdoor latrines, which at 40 degrees in windy conditions, made for a very cold bathroom break during the visit. Most families have at least one male member working in Russia, sometimes more, leaving women to raise and sometimes support the family. Faisobod lies at the southwestern end of the Rasht valley, on the road to Kyrgyzstan, but sees little transit traffic and practically no trade with its northern neighbor due to poor road conditions and lack of established markets. 4. (U) Faisobod produces tons of organic apples, pears, tomatoes and potatoes, but has extremely limited processing facilities to maximize profits and package the produce for markets further than Dushanbe and Khujand. Some residents estimated that 25 percent of the harvest goes to waste. The single canning factory used to have the capacity to produce up to 3.5 million jars of preserves, but last summer turned out only 80,000, when Tajikistan's only glass factory in the northern city of Khujand was unable to provide it with containers. A poultry farm down the road offered only limited employment opportunities. 5. (SBU) However, Zaidov noted the great improvements in the standard of living in Faisobod and offered some pointed suggestions for development projects. "We now have imported candies!" he gestured to a dish. As long as economic assistance continued, the standard would continue to rise, but they needed food processing facilities for employment. "We could use small wind-power stations," he said, noting Faisobod's well-deserved reputation for being one of the windiest spots in Tajikistan. (COMMENT: Based on conditions during the visit, we concur. END COMMENT.) "We need better English teachers, too." Zaidov praised the benefits of international exchanges, noting how it allowed participants access to information and experiences they could not get in Tajikistan. 6. (SBU) Local NGO heads echoed Zaidov's point about their strong working relationship with the district administration. The Hukumat staff member sitting in on one meeting may have subtly reminded them about the importance of that dynamic, but even in one-on-one conversations, the NGOs felt the Hukumat supported their work. NGO Shohin displayed several colorful editions of its children's newspaper "Parvin," with a circulation of over 2600 copies every two weeks, might rank as one of Tajikistan's most widely read papers. NGO Jasorat established a legal advocacy center for women to help the growing number of female heads of households. Civil society and health projects from the U.S.-funded IREX and Strav-plus supported the local NGO Faizbaiksh to help set up knitting DUSHANBE 00002149 002.2 OF 002 workshops and conduct seminars on human rights, and improve drinking water quality. NGO Binokor worked closely with IREX and CEVSI to improve drinking water and build small bridges on mountain roads. 7. (SBU) EmbOffs stopped by the Relief International-run Schools On-Line center, housed in School 35. Due to a poor connection, the center had not had Internet for two days. "It's always slow connection," said the new director, on the job only two weeks. The Hukumat representative noted the center was the only place in Faisobod with open internet access, and the schedule was always full with students and residents. Despite being hooked into the "clean" government power line, the school did not have electricity when we visited. A generator sat in the corner. 8. (SBU) COMMENT: Far from the bureaucratic and political struggles facing some international organizations in Dushanbe, NGOs in Faisobod seem to operate freely and effectively, limited only by the finite amount of donor money. Due to a lack of electricity and a lack of markets and transport networks, it's unlikely any food processing facilities will be built until an investor feels the infrastructure can truly support a small enterprise. The productive operating environment for NGOs and the strong push by local authorities for English language instruction reinforce Post's convictions that a Peace Corps program would be highly effective in Tajikistan. END COMMENT. JACOBSON |