UTAH DELEGATION VISITS TAJIKISTAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 000781 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR SCA/CEN, H E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KPAO KDEM TI SUBJECT: UTAH DELEGATION VISITS TAJIKISTAN ¶1. (SBU) Summary: A delegation from the Utah State Senate visited Tajikistan from June 9-12 at the invitation of Tajik parliamentarians who participated in an Open World exchange program in December 2007. They received a warm welcome and several high-level meetings. This was one of the few visits that elected officials from the United States have made to Tajikistan in the last several years, and showed the potential usefulness of such visits. A visit by a congressional delegation would have a significant impact on the Embassy's ongoing efforts to promote human rights and stability, and could further U.S. regional interests. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) From June 9-12, the President of the Utah State Senate, John Valentine, and the Utah State Senate Majority Leader, Curtis Bramble, visited Tajikistan to meet with government officials and parliamentarians. The Senators were accompanied by Rusty Butler, Vice President of International Affairs at Utah Valley State College, and his son, York Butler, the Financial Aid Director of Dixie State College. The delegation came at the invitation of four Tajik parliamentarians, who had visited Utah in December 2007, and they met with representatives from the Ministries of Health, Education and Foreign Affairs, as well as with deputies from the upper and lower houses of parliament. The Embassy was not consulted about the visit in advance, and EmbOffs only found out about it when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs called, less than one working day in advance, to request translation assistance at some of the meetings. ¶3. (SBU) The delegation came bearing gifts. They offered the Ministry of Education scholarships to Dixie State College for two Tajik students; they offered the Ministry of Health a neo-natal resuscitation training course on behalf of an NGO affiliated with the Mormon Church; and they passed an English language translation, published by Utah Valley State College, of President Rahmon's tome on Tajikistan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs handled all of the logistical arrangements, except for translating. The Ambassador managed to give the delegation a short informal briefing at a representational event. Not all Substance... -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The meetings with all Tajik officials involved exchanges of pleasantries and small gifts. The discussions made no reference to Tajikistan's economic and political crises, or the rampant corruption and mismanagement that has led the country into these crises. The Senators often referred to the geographical and social similarities between Utah and Tajikistan (landlocked, mountainous, and a tradition of having large families). During meetings with lawmakers, there were no references to the fact that the Tajik parliament currently serves as a rubber stamp for President Rahmon. Representatives of the Tajik upper house provided outdated and inaccurate statistics on U.S. investment in Tajikistan. ...But Useful Nonetheless -------------- ¶5. (SBU) While the Tajik government's organization of the visit was haphazard, it nonetheless gave EmbOffs an opportunity to work together with Ministry of Foreign Affairs representatives in a non-contentious way. Our Tajik colleagues appreciated the fact that we provided translators on short notice. EmbOffs developed closer connections to officials whom we often only see when we are delivering negative messages or bad news. We were also able to attend meetings with Tajik officials that we often have trouble seeing. ¶6. (SBU) The visit gave us a basis upon which to engage Tajik law Q6. (SBU) The visit gave us a basis upon which to engage Tajik law makers on democracy issues. During a meeting with deputies from the lower house, Senator Valentine spoke about publicly airing Utah Congressional sessions on television and the internet. One of the Tajik deputies responded that he has already proposed that the lower house look into similar arrangements. ¶7. (U) The visit garnered positive press coverage from the local media. News articles highlighted the delegation's interest in furthering cooperation on education and health between Utah and Tajikistan. A Chance to Reinforce a Message -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Comment: The Tajiks pulled out all the stops for a state-level delegation. They went to great lengths to arrange official meetings and cultural programs, and to fete the Utah delegation. The delegation members themselves would have benefited from advance coordination with the Embassy on the situation on the ground in Tajikistan. (Note: The delegation told the Ambassador it had informed the State Department of the visit well in advance; we DUSHANBE 00000781 002 OF 002 never got word. End note.) The manner in which they offered scholarships to the Ministry of Education will likely cause problems (by giving the Ministry the opportunity to select unqualified students, for example). The media appeared to be confused about the difference between Utah State Senators and U.S. Senators from the State of Utah. However, the visit demonstrated that elected officials from the United States can generate strong interest in the Tajik government and media, and visits by them can further Mission goals. The Tajiks are obviously willing to give such delegations audiences with high ranking officials, and the country is long overdue for a CODEL. Congressional engagement in the U.S.-Tajikistan relationship, in the form of a CODEL, could push democratic and economic reforms, and reinforce our cooperation on Afghanistan and regional stabilization. End comment. JACOBSON