SCA A/S BOUCHER, NSC MILLARD MEET FM NAZAROV, DISCUSS SCO,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 DUSHANBE 000862

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/FO, SCA/CEN, SCA/RA, EUR/ACE, DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/10/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR KDEM IN TI
SUBJECT: SCA A/S BOUCHER, NSC MILLARD MEET FM NAZAROV, DISCUSS SCO,
SOUTH ASIA, UNSC, ELECTIONS

REF: STATE 72746

CLASSIFIED BY: Richard E. Hoagland, Ambassador, EXEC, Embassy
Dushanbe.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)




1. (C) SUMMARY: Assistant Secretary of State for South and
Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher and NSC Senior Director
Elisabeth Millmetwith Tajik Foreign Minister Talbak Nazarov May

8. Boucher delivered the reftel demarche on countering attempts
to use the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to push U. S.
and Western coalition forces out of the region. Nazarov
supported the U.S. position. Boucher and Nazarov also discussed
Tajikistan's policy of balancing Pakistan and India. Nazarov
dismissed reports India would send military aircraft to
Tajikistan's Ayni Airbase. Nazarov requested Guatemala send a
diplomatic note stating its case to win the U.N. Security
Council seat. Nazarov agreed the November presidential election
needs to be fair and transparent, but was non-committal on
registering U.S. democracy NGOs National Democratic Institute
and Internews. END SUMMARY.

NAZAROV AGREES WITH U.S. ON SCO'S ROLE


2. (C) The Assistant Secretary delivered reftel talking points
to Foreign Minister Talkbak Nazarov May 8. Nazarov indicated he
understood the United State's position on the SCO and agreed
that if a military policy or structure were to emerge from the
SCO, it would not be constructive for the region or broader
international community. Under the current framework, the SCO
cooperates on matters of extremism, counter-terrorism, and
counter-narcotics. He said thus far he has been satisfied with
the statements issued from the SCO - except for the 2005
communique suggesting Western military forces establish a
timetable for leaving the region - and views the organization as
a positive instrument for regional cooperation. Mainly,
Tajikistan has been concerned with border disputes with China,
where SCO has proven to be helpful. Tajikistan hopes the SCO
will move toward cooperation on infrastructure development and
economic and cultural issues. Nazarov understood that the
United States has a critical role to play in the region's
economic development.


3. (C) Tajikistan supports Afghanistan's observer status in
SCO, Nazarov said, and pointed out that if the SCO was veering
off in a direction that would be hostile to the United States,
then India and Pakistan would likely not continue as official
observers. Nazarov said he had not yet seen a draft communiqui
for the upcoming SCO summit meeting or any other draft
documents, for that matter. He said he expects the "jubilee
summit" to lack substance. President Rahmonov will attend the
June 14-15 summit in Shanghai.


4. (C) The Assistant Secretary requested Nazarov keep the
United States informed on developments leading up to the June
SCO summit, and to exercise Tajikistan's influence to ensure the
SCO sticks to its original purpose of cooperation in economic
spheres. He re-emphasized hopes the SCO would not diverge into
activity that would be unhelpful to regional cooperation. The
Assistant Secretary also expressed hope that Afghanistan would
be able to join the SCO and other regional cooperative groups.

TAJIKISTAN BALANCES ITS SOUTH ASIAN POWER RELATIONS


5. (C) Nazarov stated India is only assisting to rebuild
Tajikistan's Ayni Airbase, but does not plan a permanent

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presence. Tajikistan had just sent a diplomatic note to
Pakistan reassuring the Pakistani government media reports India
would send planes to the base are false. At a recent meeting
with President Musharaf, President Rahmonov welcomed Pakistan's
support to "rebuild any of Tajikistan's other dilapidated
airbases."


6. (C) In efforts not to offend either country or show
favoritism, Tajikistan balances Pakistan and India scrupulously
and treats both equally. Last year, President Rahmonov visited
Pakistan and promised he would in turn visit India in August

2006. Tajikistan made sure to open its consulates and embassies
as well as announce envoys to Pakistan and India on exactly the
same day.


7. (C) Both Pakistan and India are important economically to
Tajikistan. Both can serve as a potential market for
Tajikistan's hydropower in the long term. Nazarov said that
Tajikistan wants to be able to cross through Pakistan into
India, because India is the bigger market opportunity.


8. (C) The Assistant Secretary sympathized with Tajikistan and
explained that the United States has similar sensitivities when
it comes to balancing Pakistan and India, although we see and
treat each as distinctly separate relationships. He expressed
hope Tajikistan can maintain its good relationship with both
countries, because both can provide development assistance and
be strategic economic partners for Tajikistan.


9. SBU) The Assistant Secretary delivered the invitation to the
Istanbul regional electricity conference. Nazarov said he would
consider going, if his travel schedule permits.

NAZAROV REQUESTS DIPNOTE FROM GUATEMALA FOR UNSC VOTE


10. (C) The Assistant Secretary encouraged Tajikistan to vote
for Guatemala as a member of the Security Council, rather than
Venezuela, and express its support for Guatemala prior to the
vote. Nazarov requested that Guatemala send the government of
Tajikistan a diplomatic note requesting support, either directly
to Dushanbe or via its UN Mission.

DOMESTIC POLITICS


11. (C) The Assistant Secretary commented to Nazarov that
democracy is a continually evolving process, but the crucial
part is to get the basics right and conduct a free and fair
presidential election in November. He stressed the importance
of giving all political parties and candidates equal access to
the media, and the need for the government to seriously consider
recommended changes to the presidential election law. Such
improvements would be indicators of democratic progress. The
Assistant Secretary recounted how Nazarbayev won the Kazakh
presidential election with 92%, which most people find
unbelievable. He said that Rahmonov should not be afraid of
competitors because he is popular enough to win through an
election that meets international standards. Reporting accurate
election results would enhance Tajikistan's international
reputation, "because it is more honorable to win by real
numbers."


12. (C) Nazarov noted that both OSCE and the UN will soon send
election needs assessment teams to Tajikistan. He then
philosophized that Tajikistan's civil war had the effect of
decreasing political activity because many still equate
political contention with instability. Nevertheless, he said,
as President Rahmonov has promised, the November election will

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be transparent. He added, "In the end, if you have only one
candidate, it's not an election. Rahmonov shouldn't be afraid
of competitors. He doesn't need an inflated final vote tally."


13. (C) The Assistant Secretary told Nazarov he was impressed
nearly 3,000 NGOs are registered in Tajikistan. He requested
the Foreign Minister's assistance in registering the National
Democratic Institute (NDI) and Internews. He explained that
these two U.S. NGOs work openly and fairly with political
parties across the spectrum to improve the democratic process.


14. (C) Nazarov seemed genuinely unaware of the internews
re-registration problem. He took the Assistant Secretary's
point but remained non-committal.


15. (C) After the meeting, MFA Director for Europe and the
Americas Ismatullo Nasriddinov confided to Millard NDI and
Internews are on the "black list" as agents fomenting "color
revolutions." (NOTE: This is the Kremlin's position that
dominates Tajikistan's Ministry of Security. END NOTE.) He
added IFES works fully successfully in Tajikistan because from
the beginning it took time to forge productive relationships
with the government and, thus, is fully respected.


16. (U) The Assistant Secretary did not have an opportunity to
clear this cable before departing Dushanbe.
HOAGLAND