TAJIK OFFICIAL SEES NO CALL FOR ALARM IN

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000527 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV TI KG SUBJECT: TAJIK OFFICIAL SEES NO CALL FOR ALARM IN KYRGYZ-TAJIK WATER DISPUTES REF: A. (A) BISHKEK 359 ¶B. (B) 07 BISHKEK 833 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On April 15, PolOff met with Mirzosharif Islomodinov, Isfara's parliamentary representative, to discuss border issues raised in reftels. Islomodinov did not think that the conflicts over water would amount to serious tension between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and he was confident that local authorities could resolve their issues peacefully. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) Islomodinov is originally from Vorukh. He was the Chairman of Isfara District for 14 years, and he has also served as the Deputy Governor of Sughd and as Deputy Prime Minister. He is currently a Deputy in the lower house of parliament, and he is the Chairman of the Committee of Energy, Industry, Building and Communications. He is very familiar with the issues raised in reftel. ¶3. (SBU) Islomodinov described Tajikistan's relationship with Kyrgyzstan as being friendly. He pointed out that there were only two border posts in Isfara District, explaining that it would be a waste to have any more (the two posts exist primarily to collect customs duties from trucks hauling commercial goods from China; security is not an issue). Islomodinov acknowledged that Soviet era maps have created questions about territory, but that neither Bishkek nor Dushanbe considered these questions to be particularly significant, saying that "this is not a matter of dispute between two friendly countries." He added that local officials managed to resolve the most recent flare up, and he speculated that media reports may have overblown the issue. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: While Islomodinov is a member of parliament, his comments likely mirror the Tajik government's position on its border with Kyrgyzstan. The Tajiks do not see a major role for either central government in this dispute. While it is likely that there will be additional incidents in the future, the Tajiks do not perceive this situation as generating a significant degree of tension or animosity between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Based on our discussions, we do not think the Tajik authorities view water issues with Kyrgyzstan with the same degree of concern that they have for water conflicts with Uzbekistan. End comment. HUSHEK