TAJIKISTAN: A RESOLUTION TO THE SYNAGOGUE'S PROBLEMS?

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000986 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KIRF KISM TI SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN: A RESOLUTION TO THE SYNAGOGUE'S PROBLEMS? REF: DUSHANBE 394 ¶1. Local Tajik news sources have reported that Alexsandr Mashkevich, president of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) and Kazakh oligarch, agreed to fund the construction of a new synagogue in the center of Dushanbe. The existing synagogue has already been partly demolished along with other buildings in the surrounding area to make way for a green-zone and park area near the new presidential palace (reftel). News reports say that Mashkevich met with Tajikistan's President Rahmonov during his visit to Kazakhstan in early May. The two discussed opportunities for business and humanitarian cooperation. The report quotes Mashkevich declaring the synagogue's problems have been solved "once and for all" and that Rahmonov promised the EAJC a plot of land in the center of Dushanbe to build a new synagogue that will be convenient for the elderly in the congregation. ¶2. DCM and PolOff met with the synagogue's Rabbi Abdurahmonov May 24 to ask about the latest developments. Abdurahmonov said he never had discussions with the EAJC or heard from them about funding for a new synagogue. He had met with some representatives from other organizations who claim to be close to Mashkevich, but did not receive news from them about potential funding either. The Rabbi is still hopeful about potential donors in Israel. Post has followed up with the president's press office and the MFA, neither of which could confirm the meeting with Mashkevich. One assistant originally said the meeting did not occur. ¶3. Abdurahmonov said the Bukharan Rabbi of Central Asia David Gurevich was recently in Dushanbe and had meetings with local government officials to negotiate the synagogue's future. Gurevich told Abdurahmonov government officials agreed to allow the synagogue to remain where it is located now, if the community would renovate the building's facade to match the area's architecture. (NOTE: Gurevich has frequently come to Dushanbe and had discussions with government officials that have led nowhere.) Abdurahmonov was optimistic that thanks to Gurevich the synagogue's problems will be solved, even though he could not produce anything in writing from the government saying they would not tear down the synagogue. ¶4. COMMENT: The synagogue's leadership is extremely optimistic that things are on track, but they recognize that their fate depends on government officials and outside funding. Although they believe that Gurevich has finally solved their problems, with no official documents from the government, the reasons for optimism are not completely convincing. The reality is that half of the synagogue has already been demolished. Although various possible donors pop up every once in a while, none has followed through with cold hard cash. Embassy sources report that Mashkevich is very active behinds the scenes in business deals and with the Jewish community in Kazakhstan, which may explain why the Presidency was reluctant to confirm a meeting. Given the lack of communication with the synagogue in Dushanbe, Mashkevich's motives and plans are unclear. The Embassy will continue to engage with the Jewish community and the government. There seems to be a willingness on both sides to resolve this. In the end, we suspect it will be resolved, if there is enough outside funding available to placate all sides. END COMMENT. SIGNATURE