TAJIKISTAN - ON RUSSIAN RECOGNITION OF ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUSHANBE 000354 SIPDIS STATE DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/20/2019 TAGS: PREL MOPS PBTS GG RS TI SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN - ON RUSSIAN RECOGNITION OF ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA REF: STATE 24186 CLASSIFIED BY: Tracey A. Jacobson , Ambassador, EXEC, DOS. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) PolEcon Chief raised reftel matter informally with Khusrav Nosiri, MFA Director of European and North American Affairs on March 20. Nosiri said Tajikistan's position on Abkhazia and South Ossetia had not changed, nor was there much likelihood that the position would change. Tajikistan does not recognize the independence of either territory, but does support "Russia's right to defend its citizens." He said it was very unlikely that Tajikistan would issue any sort of condemnation of Russia for its actions in Georgia, either for recognition of independence or for establishing military bases in these territories. ¶2. (C) Comment: Post believes it is not useful to further pursue this matter with the Government of Tajikistan. It is highly dependent on Russia in the economic and security spheres, making overt official criticism of the former colonial power here rather unlikely. At the same time, Tajikistan wishes to have good relations with the United States and China, both of which oppose Abkhaz and South Ossetian independence. To balance these interests, Tajikistan prefers to leave the Abkhazia/South Ossetia question alone. End Comment. JACOBSON