SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT FIGHTS FOR CONTROL OF OPEN WORLD

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 001412

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/PPD AND SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAO TI
SUBJECT: SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT FIGHTS FOR CONTROL OF OPEN WORLD
PROGRAM



1. SUMMARY: Deputy Chief of Mission and Cultural Affairs Officer
met with Speaker of Parliament Sadullo Hairuloyev October 2 to
ask him to consent to the participation of four members of the
Tajik Parliament in the Open World program. Hairuloyev initially
provided several reasons why the participants, who were chosen
by an Embassy committee per Open World program criteria, could
not travel and attempted to insert his own choices. However, he
eventually permitted three from our list to travel as scheduled,
or up to four if the exchange could be postponed for a period.
Hairuloyev also indicated he may allow future parliamentary
groups to participate in USG-sponsored exchanges and programs.
END SUMMARY


2. Hairuloyev brought to the meeting his own list of eight
parliamentarians, only two of whom were on the Embassy's list.
He said he is concerned with sensitivities in Parliament about
who travels abroad and wants to avoid a "scandal" in case some
members get to travel more than once before others get their
first chance. We explained to Hairuloyev that Embassy exchange
programs were not designed to be used as fringe benefits for
members of parliament.


3. Pointing to the Embassy's list of applicants, he said various
candidates were either sick, had previously traveled to the
United States, or need to remain in Dushanbe to work on next
year's budget. He then repeatedly attempted to insert
candidates from his own list. We explained that the list of
candidates was selected by a panel of American officers from the
Embassy following Open World guidelines. Hairuloyev
acknowledged this but kept asserting his prerogative to decide
who among the members of Parliament could travel abroad.


4. Hairuloyev did say that he would be open to parliamentary
travel in the future and participation in other embassy
programs, as long as Embassy officials inform him in advance
whom they have chosen. As for the Open World exchange under
question, Hairuloyev finally agreed to three of our candidates,
and suggested that if the exchange were postponed until
November, a fourth parliamentarian from our list could also
attend. Note: The Embassy has bounced these two options off
Open World staff: sending three parliamentarians as scheduled or
postponing the visit in order to fill out the group. Open World
prefers to postpone the visit until November. End note.


5. Hairuloyev was generally aware of and amenable to U.S.
assistance activities in Tajikistan. He noted the recent press
reports about the renovation of a historic madrassa under the
Ambassador's Cultural Preservation Fund and the opening of the
U.S.-build bridge at Nizhniy Pyanj. Alluding to Iranian and
Chinese influence in Tajikistan, he said it was a good thing
that the United States built the bridge, and expressed surprise
when he learned that Tajik border forces hadn't yet allowed the
bridge to open.


6. COMMENT: Hairuloyev seems to view USG-sponsored exchange
programs as rewards, despite our insistence that they are in
fact working exchanges. At one point he mentioned that he has
not been selected to travel himself, implying that he would be a
good candidate. Post will take steps to maintain its decision
making role, but will involve Hairuloyev and other
parliamentarians more in the initial design of future exchanges.
We have already explained to Open World staff that direct
communications with high ranking government officials would be
better coming from the embassy directly rather than from Open
World's local implementing partner, American Councils. We hope
that after this initial bump in the road, the way is set for
expanding our work with the Tajik Parliament in several program
areas. END COMMENT

JACOBSON