INITIAL MEETING WITH NEW TAJIK BORDER GUARDS CHIEF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 002223

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND INL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SNAR MASS TI
SUBJECT: INITIAL MEETING WITH NEW TAJIK BORDER GUARDS CHIEF


DUSHANBE 00002223 001.2 OF 002



1. (U) SUMMARY: The newly appointed head of the Tajik Border
Forces within the State Committee on National Security,
General-Major (US 1-star equivalent) Mirzoev, invited
representatives from the U.S. Embassy and other donor countries
and implementing agencies to an introductory meeting. General
Mirzoev welcomed the attendees, whom Mirzoev identified as the
primary sources of external support to the Border Guard. He
told the gathered representatives he hoped for their continued
cooperation and said he planned to meet soon with each partner
individually. The meeting was short and business-like with
minimum pleasantries and none of the usual vodka toasts. END
SUMMARY


2. (U) General Mirzoev asked the attendees to introduce
themselves and briefly comment on their assistance efforts.
Sergey Bozhko of the UN Office of Drug Control described UNODC's
INL-funded border control projects. Mahmoud Naderi, country
officer for the International Organization for Migration (IOM)
discussed the expansion of the Border Guards training center,
improvements in passport automation and controls at the
international airport, and collection of immigration information
in an analytical center - all projects funded by INL. He also
made a pitch to do another border management project at the
Kulma Pass. Peter Isaacs, Project Manager for UNDP border
management programs in Tajikistan (BOMCA),funded by the
European Union, spoke about coordinating efforts to prevent
duplication by the donors and emphasized Border Guards'
responsibility for management of the Inter-Ministerial Council
on Border Management. General Mirzoev confirmed the Border
Guard would continue to chair the Council. Chinese Defense
Attache Senior Colonel Lee Djyoon said he has enjoyed a good
relationship with Mirzoev at the Ministry of Defense and that he
looks forward to continuing to work together. Embassy Dushanbe
was represented by Defense Attache, ODC, INL, and EXBS who
described to the General and the group the U.S. Embassy's
programs in support of the Border Guard and other Tajik
government entities. The Russian Border Guard advisors, who
typically participate in all donor coordination meetings in
Dushanbe, were not present.


3. (U) General Mirzoev acknowledged the wide-ranging assistance
received from the donors and said the Border Guards' central
purpose was to ensure the security of Tajikistan's borders and
safety of people in Tajikistan and the region. Mirzoev said the
absorption of the Border Guard into the Ministry of Security was
done to "put the management structure in order" and to
strengthen controls on the border, but explained that the
internal structure of the Border Guard Forces would not be
changed. The State Committee on National Security will provide
assistance in resolving certain problems on the border, he said,
but the tasks of the Border Guard Forces remains the same:
combating drug trafficking, terrorism, contraband of all kinds
including illegal weapons and WMD, and illegal immigration.


4. (U) General Mirzoev said that he was on his third day of
inspecting the Border Guard Forces and that he is aware of many
unmet needs at the border where assistance is still required.
The outposts lack computers and other equipment for conducting
border control operations. Life among the soldiers is still
tough, although much has been done to improve the daily living
conditions. Mirzoev described the government's effort to bring
the border guard facilities up to proper standards, and
commented that even developed countries with more established
border services are having trouble managing their borders. He
characterized the Tajik Border Guard as young, referring to the
fact that until 2005 the Russian Federation was responsible for
protecting Tajikistan's borders. He called for continued
assistance and pledged to demonstrate to partners that the
Border Guards can achieve real results.


5. (U) Responding to questions from the group, Mirzoev confirmed
that donors would still be able to communicate directly with the
Border Guards through official letters, diplomatic notes and
named himself as the primary interlocutor. On the question of
corruption, Mirzoev provided the routine response that the
Government of Tajikistan was committed to battling corruption
everywhere and that he would wage war against corruption within
the Border Forces. He broke from his businesslike demeanor to
relate that "his deputy had been tempted to take out an AK-47

DUSHANBE 00002223 002.2 OF 002


and sort out the problems himself." Mirzoev closed by saying he
looked forward to meeting each of the partners individually to
discuss assistance projects.


6. (SBU) COMMENT: Mirzoev presented himself as professional and
disciplined, focusing on business and keeping pleasantries to a
minimum. At least at this introductory meeting, Mirzoev decided
to forego some of signs of Tajik hospitality such as vodka
toasts or even handshakes as he left the meeting. However, he
softened the edges a bit by including Colonel Tojibaev, our
long-standing and trusted contact in the Border Guards
international relations department. His facilitation of the
meeting put the group at ease. Tojibaev said he will be
staying on with the Border Guards in the same capacity, at least
for the time being - a sign Mirzoev understands the need to
cultivate relations with the donors. We and the other resident
donors will certainly continue the dialogue with the newly
reorganized border guards. Our next big test of the
relationship will be our planned JCET training of the Border
Guards special forces planned for January-February.
JACOBSON