Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DUSHANBE986
2006-05-26 07:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Dushanbe
Cable title:
TAJIKISTAN: A RESOLUTION TO THE SYNAGOGUE'S PROBLEMS?
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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
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
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