Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KABUL229
2007-01-23 11:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:
AFGHAN TELECOM CHIEF FIRED FOR CORRUPTION
how-toVZCZCXRO8719 RR RUEHDBU RUEHIK RUEHYG DE RUEHBUL #0229 0231157 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 231157Z JAN 07 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5653 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS KABUL 000229
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/A, EB/CIP
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN
OSD FOR KIMMITT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ECPS KCOR PGOV PREL AF
SUBJECT: AFGHAN TELECOM CHIEF FIRED FOR CORRUPTION
This cable is sensitive but unclassified--not for internet
distribution.
UNCLAS KABUL 000229
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/A, EB/CIP
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN
OSD FOR KIMMITT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ECPS KCOR PGOV PREL AF
SUBJECT: AFGHAN TELECOM CHIEF FIRED FOR CORRUPTION
This cable is sensitive but unclassified--not for internet
distribution.
1. (SBU) Afghan Telecom (AfTel),Afghanistan's state-owned
telecommunications company, has now been operating for two months
without a formally designated president/CEO. The Minister of
Communications, Amirzai Sangin, is currently acting as president/CEO
of the company. Sangin fired Aftel's President/CEO, Jamal Nasser
Noorzaie, in late November. Embassy has received reports from
sources within the Ministry that Noorzaie was fired at least in part
because of allegations of corruption centering on a fuel contract
for AfTel's corporate vehicle fleet. A U.S./Afghan dual national,
Noorzaie was not arrested or charged with a crime; he left the
country immediately after being dismissed.
2. (SBU) Noorzaie's performance after three years of running AfTel
was reportedly coming under question from Sangin. Despite
considerable progress in corporatizing the company, Noorzaie had not
managed to assemble a strong management team, and efforts to grow
the company's subscriber base from less than one percent total
penetration had largely foundered. Sangin has set aggressive goals
for strengthening AfTel's subscriber base to several times its
current size and improving the company's operations to attract a
foreign investor. Further details on AfTel's build-out efforts and
prospects for privatization will follow via septel.
NEUMANN
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/A, EB/CIP
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN
OSD FOR KIMMITT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ECPS KCOR PGOV PREL AF
SUBJECT: AFGHAN TELECOM CHIEF FIRED FOR CORRUPTION
This cable is sensitive but unclassified--not for internet
distribution.
1. (SBU) Afghan Telecom (AfTel),Afghanistan's state-owned
telecommunications company, has now been operating for two months
without a formally designated president/CEO. The Minister of
Communications, Amirzai Sangin, is currently acting as president/CEO
of the company. Sangin fired Aftel's President/CEO, Jamal Nasser
Noorzaie, in late November. Embassy has received reports from
sources within the Ministry that Noorzaie was fired at least in part
because of allegations of corruption centering on a fuel contract
for AfTel's corporate vehicle fleet. A U.S./Afghan dual national,
Noorzaie was not arrested or charged with a crime; he left the
country immediately after being dismissed.
2. (SBU) Noorzaie's performance after three years of running AfTel
was reportedly coming under question from Sangin. Despite
considerable progress in corporatizing the company, Noorzaie had not
managed to assemble a strong management team, and efforts to grow
the company's subscriber base from less than one percent total
penetration had largely foundered. Sangin has set aggressive goals
for strengthening AfTel's subscriber base to several times its
current size and improving the company's operations to attract a
foreign investor. Further details on AfTel's build-out efforts and
prospects for privatization will follow via septel.
NEUMANN