TAJIKISTAN HUMANITARIAN DEMINING: REQUEST FOR PM SUPPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 000300

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL KHDP TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN HUMANITARIAN DEMINING: REQUEST FOR PM SUPPORT

REF: HARRIS - ARMBRUSTER E-MAILS 2/13/2006


1. Post appreciates PM/WRA information (reftel) and strongly
supports further engagement on demining in Tajikistan, including
a Policy Assessment Visit and funding for the Tajik Mine Action
Committee through the United Nations Development Program.

MINES ALONG THE AFGHAN BORDER


2. Russia laid antipersonnel mines inside Tajikistan with the
consent of the Tajik government in accordance with a 1993
military cooperation agreement. The Russians laid the mines
prior to October 2000 on the Tajik side of the Pyanzh River to
protect Tajikistan from invasion by the Taliban. Since then,
the rationale for landmines was expanded to include blocking
illegal drug trafficking. Russia removed all border guard
troops in 2005, though some advisors remain, but did not remove
the mines from the Afghan border.

AND THE UZBEK BORDER


3. While the mines along the Afghan border were laid with Tajik
government acquiescence, Tajikistan has protested the use of
antipersonnel mines by Uzbekistan, allegedly inside Tajik
territory. Uzbekistan reportedly sowed mines in Tajikistan from
2000 until at least June 2001. The official justification was
to protect Uzbekistan from attack by the Islamic Movement of
Uzbekistan and to prevent drugs and arms smugglers from entering
the country. However, the border with Uzbekistan is contested
and Tajikistan claims mines are laid up to 500 meters inside of
Tajik territory. Media reports claim that up to 70% of the
Tajik-Uzbek border is mined and there are regular reports of
civilians and livestock injured or killed in these regions.

AND CENTRAL TAJIKISTAN


4. Mines and unexploded ordinance left over from the Tajik
Civil War remains a serious threat inside Tajikistan. Both
sides in the Civil War used antipersonnel mines and they remain
a hazard in the central part of the country, mainly the Rasht
Valley where the Tajik Mine Action Committee has so far focused
its efforts.

IMPACT


5. Tajikistan is 93% mountainous, so arable land is scarce and
too valuable to waste. Farm families and their livestock
continue to be victims of landmines. Hundreds of people in
Gorno-Badakshan, Sugdh, and Khatlon region have been killed or
wounded by landmines.

REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE


6. There are two requests for assistance outstanding with the
Embassy. First, is an equipment list from the Ministry of
Defense for demining activities. Second, is the request from
the Tajik Mine Action Committee, a UN-affiliated organization
with Tajik Government representation, for $3.2 million to
support demining activities for 2006. (Both requests forwarded
to PM by e-mail 2/14.) Tajik Mine Action has not received
donations for 2006 and staff have not received salaries for the
past two months. Tajik Mine Action provides mine clearing (in
the spring through early fall due to snowfall),assistance to
survivors, education, advocacy, and planning, monitoring and
coordination. Tajik Mine Action is interested in K9's and K9
support and shelters, demining machines, and money for ongoing
operations. The Embassy has provided funds to Tajik Mine Action
for minefield warning signs, and the State Department has
provided funds to the OSCE for demining activities. Post
strongly supports a Policy Assessment Visit to better determine
the needs and priorities for U.S. assistance.

DUSHANBE 00000300 002 OF 002



EMBASSY ENDORSEMENT OF DEMINING ACTIVITIES


7. Addressing the minefields with Afghanistan and Uzbekistan
would increase regional dialogue, enhance Tajikistan's
agricultural output, and provide much-needed humanitarian
assistance. Demining in Tajikistan is consistent with the
Embassy Mission Program Plan to help secure Tajikistan's border
and supports the State Department's Humanitarian Mine Action
Strategic Plan. Demining would protect victims of conflict,
restore access to land, develop Tajik national capacity,
demonstrate support for an ally in the War on Terror, promote
conflict resolution, and improve global humanitarian mine action
response. Specifically, funding demining in Tajikistan will
enable the Republic of Tajikistan to expedite the process of
clearing the over 250,000 square meters of mined territory.


8. Requests for donor assistance from the government of
Tajikistan and Tajik Mine Action Committee sent by e-mail to
PM/WRA.


9. Tajikistan acceded to the Ottawa Convention on April 30,
2003 and is a signatory to the Amended Protocol II of the
Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons.
HOAGLAND