TAJIKISTAN - REQUEST APPROVAL TO SEND DIPLOMATIC NOTE ON

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000234 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PARM EAID AF TI SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN - REQUEST APPROVAL TO SEND DIPLOMATIC NOTE ON TRANSIT OF GOODS TO AFGHANISTAN REF: DUSHANBE 231 ¶1. (SBU) On February 20 Ambassador passed to Foreign Minister Zarifi a draft diplomatic note on transit of goods to Afghanistan (Reftel). On February 26 the MFA informed Embassy that Zarifi had agreed to an exchange of dipnotes to authorize transit of goods to Afghanistan as part of the Northern Distribution Network, and requested that the embassy send the draft text as an actual diplomatic note. The MFA America's DeskOff said he believed the MFA could formally reply to our dipnote in 3 working days. ¶2. (SBU) Following is the text of the draft note given to the MFA. Post requests Department authorization as soon as possible to send this text as a diplomatic note to the MFA. Begin Text: Complimentary Opening... and has the honor to inform the Ministry of the following. The United States of America requests the Republic of Tajikistan's consent by return diplomatic note for the regular transit of non-lethal cargo through Tajikistan by commercial means. This cargo would be transported using Tajikistan's rail and road networks. The Government of the United States is also interested in exploring opportunities to purchase local goods to support Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Complimentary Closing. End Text. JACOBSON