Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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06DUSHANBE224 | 2006-02-02 13:05:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Dushanbe |
VZCZCXRO9969 PP RUEHDBU DE RUEHDBU #0224/01 0331305 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P R 021305Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6593 INFO RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 7692 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1149 RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL RUEHNO/USEUCOM FMFO BRUSSELS BE RUEPGDA/USEUCOM JIC VAIHINGEN GE RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 1403 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1438 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0923 RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 1348 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1382 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 1386 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RHEFDHP/DIA DHP-1 WASHINGTON DC RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1318 RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 1259 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1348 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0236 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1292 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1253 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUESLE/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 0008 |
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 000224 |
1. (C) SUMMARY: The Ambassador and Acting Foreign Minister Yatimov paved a way for National Democratic Institute (NDI) local Director Gegham Sargsyan to register and return to Dushanbe. Sargsyan left for Moscow on February 1 after harassment and pressure from Tajik officials. Yatimov knew the case in detail, and had met with Minister of Interior Sharipov for forty minutes earlier in the week to persuade Sharipov that Sargsyan did not pose a security threat to Tajikistan. Yatimov admitted to the Ambassador that Sargsyan and NDI represent a "political problem" and did not hide behind the technical issues of registration for Sargsyan as an individual. He tried to caution the Ambassador about the use of a formal protest for this case, saying we need to keep the relationship as a whole in context, but the Ambassador did not weaken his initial strong protest of Tajikistan's treatment of NDI. Post recommends that Sargsyan return to work at NDI in Dushanbe as soon as possible. END SUMMARY. 2. (C) The Ambassador protested in very strong terms the continued harassment of NDI. He related his urgent meetings on the subject with Foreign Minister Talbak Nazarov and Presidential Adviser Erkin Rahmatulloyev and the Foreign Minister's assurance that the problem would be solved when he returns from London later this week. He also explained the Embassy's intervention when Sargsyan was taken to the police precinct on January 31. He pointedly asked Yatimov if Tajikistan's government knows what it is risking; saying U.S. policy for Tajikistan is supported by cooperation on security, commerce and energy, and political and economic reform. 3. (C) Two of those three pillars of cooperation are in excellent shape: security, and commerce and energy. Tajikistan's shortsighted attacks on NGOs, specifically NDI, endangers the rest of the relationship. The Ambassador explained that NDI is not a subversive, intelligence organization out to overthrow Tajikistan. That is a deliberate distortion of reality calculated to subvert President Rahmonov's open-door foreign policy and return Tajikistan to the status of semi-independent colony. 4. (C) The Ambassador said he needed a response. 5. (C) Yatimov said he understood, and Tajikistan places "special attention" on its partnership with the United States. Yatimov gave a brief synopsis of Sargsyan's infractions: for example, changing residence without telling authorities and working at NDI, while registering himself as a private citizen. Yatimov said this would cause problems elsewhere, including the United States. The Ambassador rejoined, "We don't register people or take notice if they move." 6. (C) With the technical avenue closed for discussion, Yatimov turned to his personal efforts to resolve the situation. He said he met with the Minister of Interior for forty minutes to explain that Sargsyan is not a security threat, but his mistreatment could cause damage to the U.S.-Tajik relationship. Yatimov told Security Minister Sharipov that this is a political problem. 7. (C) Yatimov said Tajikistan wonders why this is so important DUSHANBE 00000224 002 OF 002 to the United States. The Ambassador replied NDI is important to Tajikistan to help President Rahmonov fulfill his own pledge to build democracy. Yatimov insisted that U.S. motives remain very difficult to explain. The Ambassador also outlined NDI's U.S. domestic political support and its highly respected reputation for doing good work around the world. The Ambassador reminded Yatimov of NDI's work with the President's ruling People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan (PDPT) and the plans, now thwarted, to take PDPT officials to Poland for training. 8. (C) The Ambassador referred to the unspoken compromise that had kept the equilibrium until now. For months NDI remained unregistered, but continued to operate, albeit without American directors. The Ambassador said security forces taking local NDI employees to hotels to "tell their secrets" is unacceptable. The Ambassador asked for a guarantee that Sargsyan could come back without harassment. 9. (C) Yatimov said the issue is "officially solved" and Sargsyan can come back as early as February 3. Yatimov said that with advance notice, he can notify his consular officer at the airport to ensure there is no problem. 10. (C) Yatimov referred to Tajikistan's economic problems, thanked the United States for help on hydroelectric development, and said people do not want to live under the present economic conditions. He said it is important to keep the relationship in good condition. The Ambassador said it is important not to let small problems grow until they damage the overall relationship. He ended by saying, "register NDI, watch them 24 hours a day, surveille them all you want, and you'll find they are not doing anything wrong." 11. (C) COMMENT: NDI is still not on any Tajik government official's list of favorite NGOs. But high-level Tajik officials now understand that there are consequences to over-reacting and overstepping the bounds. Whether lower-level officials feel constrained to respect those bounds remains to be seen, but we should test the Tajiks at their word and see if NDI can get back to work. We are sure our Russian friends will be working hard to re-write the rules and make NDI and other NGOs persona non grata in Tajikistan, but until Tajikistan officially closes its open-door policy, we'll try to keep as many NGOs as possible in our talking points, public statements, and press releases to convince Tajikistan of their good work and intentions. Gegham Sargsyan could be subject to petty harassment should he return, but Post does not believe he would be in any physical danger and recommends he return as soon as practical, if only to make the statement that he was not forced out. END COMMENT. HOAGLAND |