TAJIKISTAN ASKS FOR ANOTHER BORDER ACADEMY

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000866 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN (PRESCOTT) INL/AAE (BUHLER) JUSTICE FOR DUCOT DEFENSE FOR OSD/P E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV SNAR KCRM EAID PINR MASS TI SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN ASKS FOR ANOTHER BORDER ACADEMY ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The First Deputy of the State Committee for National Security requested U.S. assistance to construct a new Border Guard Academy on the grounds of a soon-to-be-handed-over Russian military base near Dushanbe. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) First Deputy of the State Committee for National Security, Qosim Gafarov told Emboffs that the KNB was going to approach President Rahmon for approval for a new, larger, Border Guard Academy to increase the cadet student body size from 150 to 250. He said the current location in Dushanbe was too small for desired growth. ¶3. (SBU) Gafarov said the best location for the new Academy was the Russian military base located on the outskirts of Dushanbe near the meatpacking plant (myasokombinat). The Russians promised to turn over their base at this location to the Tajiks this year and the 14-hectare site was a great location for a new academy. He painted a colorful picture of a full scale academy with ample space for classrooms, dormitories, tactical training, firing ranges, and other needs. ¶4. (SBU) When we pointed out that INL was spending $2 million to reconstruct the current Border Guard Academy and that CENTCOM was building an interagency tactical training base Gafarov said the Border Guards had sufficient requirements for tactical training of their own but would consider using the new base when CENTCOM has finished. Gafarov discussed the idea for a new Academy with current Academy Director, General Alodust Guraev, and they concluded the soon-to-be-vacated base would be ideal. ¶5. (SBU) Obviously sensitive to the U.S. concerns about the funds invested in the current academy facility Gafarov said it would be used to traing Afghans and mid-level Tajik officers who are becoming post commanders, Customs Service, phyto-sanitary, and others working at the border. ¶6. (SBU) COMMENT: EU/BOMCA also has invested considerable funds in renovation of the current Border Guard Academy and OSCE has a plan for curricula and teaching methodology reform; both could be impacted by the new idea - if it comes to pass. The OSCE Office border advisor told us that during the year long effort to craft the about-to-be-released Border Management Strategy Gafarov made no mention of a GOTI desire for a new academy. Further, it is far from clear that the Russians are prepared to give up the base. We understand the Tajik side is currently pushing for a higher rent for the Russian presence; we may know more after the visit of Russian President Medvedev next week. It is possible that the GOTI wants to use a potential U.S. offer to revamp the base as a negotiating point with the Russians. In any case, this latest request reflects the general trend of increasing requests for infrastructure investment from the GOTI. JACOBSON