TAJIK FOREIGN MINISTER ON IRAN, KYRGYZSTAN, CIVIL SOCIETY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 000501 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/3/2017 TAGS: PREL ECON PGOV PHUM KDEM ENRG EAID TI IR KZ RS SUBJECT: TAJIK FOREIGN MINISTER ON IRAN, KYRGYZSTAN, CIVIL SOCIETY AND GERALD METALS CLASSIFIED BY: Tracey Ann Jacobson, Ambassador, Embassy Dushanbe, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (d) CLASSIFIED BY: Tracey Ann Jacobson, Ambassador, Embassy Dushanbe, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Foreign Minister Zaripov, following his trip to Astana March 27-29 for the EU Troika meetings with Central Asian Foreign Ministers, met Ambassador April 3 to discuss a full range of bilateral and regional issues: Iran: Tajikistan supports UN Security Council Resolution 1747, and is privately urging Iran to comply with IAEA requirements. Zaripov has asked President Rahmonov to consider a high-level approach on this issue. Regional Issues: The situation in Kyrgyzstan bears a frightening resemblance to the pre-civil war period in Tajikistan; various regional players, including Russian and Uzbekistan, would like to see the conflict escalate. Civil Society: Zaripov protested that Tajikistan showed "no tendency" against civil society and non-governmental organizations; Zaripov will personally work with the Ministry of Justice on National Democratic Institute registration and will "study" problems with Operation Mercy and Internews (septels). The proposed Law on Public Associations (aka "the NGO law") is currently on hold for further government analysis. Gerald Metals: Tajikistan has resolved the long-standing dispute by agreeing to pay the entire 30 million dollars the U.S. company has claimed following a default by the state-owned aluminum company TadAZ. End Summary. "Economics Before Politics" -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Zaripov opened the meeting by announcing that "our long-term dispute has been resolved - guess what it is?" When Ambassador said she hoped it was registration for the National Democratic Institute, Zaripov shook his head, saying, "economics before politics." In a convoluted legal decision, the Tajik government will receive 30 million U.S. dollars from Ansol, a government-owned "middleman" which had previously facilitated aluminum purchased from Tajik Aluminum producer TadAZ by Connecticut-based Gerald Metals. The Tajik Government will pay the entire 30 million dollars to Gerald to settle its claim following a TadAz global default in December 2004, waiving the "usual service fee of 1.5 million as a gift to Gerald Metals." Ambassador noted that Gerald was ready to meet with TadAZ deputy Kabirov at his convenience to discuss new business; Zaripov will pass the message on (and we'll double track directly with TadAZ and Gerald.) ¶3. (SBU) Moving on to his meetings in Astana last week, Zaripov said there was "full understanding" between the Europeans and the Central Asian Foreign Ministers - "except for the Uzbek, who was positive about European cooperation in private but scathing in the press, because he's worried Karimov will fire him otherwise." The five main topics were economic cooperation, energy, democratization, transportation and narcotics trafficking, "but our main focus is energy." Zaripov pitched Dasti-Zhum to the Europeans, noting that the construction of the super-hydrostation would produce not only electricity, but provide irrigation for northern Afghanistan. Using new technology, Zaripov asserted, there would be sufficient water to meet the needs of Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan (although the Uzbek was skeptical). The Europeans "agreed to study the issue and get the opinions of all the member states." Civil Society -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Ambassador said that recent problems with Operation Mercy and Internews, the proposed new Law on Public Associations, and the refusal of the Justice Ministry to meet with the National Democratic Institute last week appeared to add up to an anti-NGO trend, which would be a big step backwards for Tajikistan. Zaripov insisted there was no move against NGO activity. He said Operation Mercy's partial expulsion (septel) was due to illegal proselytizing and distribution of religious literature (note: not the court decision on their "illegal" English language classes, and the Head of the Ministry's Consular Department had said. End Note). Ambassador appealed for a transparent decision process, a written justification, and a reasonable amount of time for individual Operation Mercy DUSHANBE 00000501 002 OF 002 families to get organized to depart, if that is what is required in the end. Zaripov said he would personally work with the Ministry of Justice on the National Democratic Institute issue, recognizing its importance to the U.S. government. He said it would be a "mistake" to grant the proposed Amcit director a long-term visa without first securing Ministry of Justice commitment to register the organization. "This would set up unnecessary and unproductive conflicts." He also promised to look into Internews' problems. (Note: We've heard this before, and believe the root of the problem in all three cases is the State Committee on National Security. It is unclear if Zaripov will have the clout to make inroads. End Note.) Regional Security Issues -------------- ¶5. (C) Iran - Tajikistan is greatly concerned about the possibility of escalation of tensions with Iran. The "status quo" with Islamicists in Tajikistan is currently calm, but violence in Iran could destroy the delicate balance. As one of only three "Persian" countries in the United Nations (together with Afghanistan and Iran),Tajikistan is particularly concerned about the potential effects of armed conflict. Further, Tajikistan has an important bilateral relationship with Iran - 40% of its trade volume travels through Iran, including 250 million dollars in aluminum to the United States (via the Netherlands) last year. Any conflict in Iran would force Tajikistan to use Russia as its only export route - the ports are twice as far away (7000 kilometers) and losing the southern route would disadvantage Tajikistan. Iran is building two major tunnels and a hydropower plant in Tajikistan; such investments would be lost on the case of conflict. Tajikistan supports the recent UN Security Council resolution and is privately delivering a message, at least at the level of bilateral Ambassadors, that Iran should adhere to IAEA demands. Zaripov has proposed that President Rahmonov take up the issue with his Iranian counterpart; this is still under consideration. "I am concerned that one of the sides will lose patience, and that some 'accident' could set off a military campaign that would be devastating for Tajikistan, and would destroy everything we have achieved since the end of the civil war," Zaripov said. Russia has an interest in seeing the conflict heat up, as this would increase oil prices and give Putin cover to manage Russia's upcoming presidential elections to give him a third term. Ambassador expressed appreciation for Tajikistan's efforts to provide a consistent message to Iran to fulfill its international commitments and the demands of the world community. ¶6. (C) Kyrgyzstan - Zaripov expressed concern about political tensions in Bishkek, noting that the upcoming demonstrations bear a frightening resemblance to the beginning of Tajikistan's civil war in 1992. Russia is playing a negative role, believing that an escalation of the conflict would help unseat the U.S. Air Force from Manas. Uzbekistan's President Karimov is also interested in seeing the situation worsen, in order to distract attention and criticism away from Uzbekistan prior to presidential elections. Tajikistan is concerned that any unrest in Kyrgyzstan could spill over into Tajikistan, and also deter foreign investment. Ambassador assured Zaripov that the United States was not taking sides, but rather appealing for calm. ¶7. (C) Comment: As usual, Zaripov is capable and well informed when it comes to regional issues and the search for foreign direct investment. He is less interested in talking about civil society - "economics before politics" appears to be not only his motto, but also President Rahmonov's. Convincing the Tajiks that a positive environment for civil society and non-governmental organizations is key to attracting Western foreign investment is a hard sell here; one we are confident DAS Feigenbaum will take up during his visit next week. End Comment. JACOBSON