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RR RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
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ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 180643Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9245
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 1910
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1765
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 1818
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1570
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1863
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0761

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 002223 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND INL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL SNAR MASS TI
SUBJECT: INITIAL MEETING WITH NEW TAJIK BORDER GUARDS CHIEF 
 
 
DUSHANBE 00002223  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY: The newly appointed head of the Tajik Border 
Forces within the State Committee on National Security, 
General-Major (US 1-star equivalent) Mirzoev, invited 
representatives from the U.S. Embassy and other donor countries 
and implementing agencies to an introductory meeting.   General 
Mirzoev welcomed the attendees, whom Mirzoev identified as the 
primary sources of external support to the Border Guard.  He 
told the gathered representatives he hoped for their continued 
cooperation and said he planned to meet soon with each partner 
individually.  The meeting was short and business-like with 
minimum pleasantries and none of the usual vodka toasts. END 
SUMMARY 
 
¶2. (U) General Mirzoev asked the attendees to introduce 
themselves and briefly comment on their assistance efforts. 
Sergey Bozhko of the UN Office of Drug Control described UNODC's 
INL-funded border control projects.  Mahmoud Naderi, country 
officer for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) 
discussed the expansion of the Border Guards training center, 
improvements in passport automation and controls at the 
international airport, and collection of immigration information 
in an analytical center - all projects funded by INL.  He also 
made a pitch to do another border management project at the 
Kulma Pass.  Peter Isaacs, Project Manager for UNDP border 
management programs in Tajikistan (BOMCA), funded by the 
European Union, spoke about coordinating efforts to prevent 
duplication by the donors and emphasized Border Guards' 
responsibility for management of the Inter-Ministerial Council 
on Border Management.  General Mirzoev confirmed the Border 
Guard would continue to chair the Council.  Chinese Defense 
Attache Senior Colonel Lee Djyoon said he has enjoyed a good 
relationship with Mirzoev at the Ministry of Defense and that he 
looks forward to continuing to work together. Embassy Dushanbe 
was represented by Defense Attache, ODC, INL, and EXBS who 
described to the General and the group the U.S. Embassy's 
programs in support of the Border Guard and other Tajik 
government entities.  The Russian Border Guard advisors, who 
typically participate in all donor coordination meetings in 
Dushanbe, were not present. 
 
¶3. (U) General Mirzoev acknowledged the wide-ranging assistance 
received from the donors and said the Border Guards' central 
purpose was to ensure the security of Tajikistan's borders and 
safety of people in Tajikistan and the region.  Mirzoev said the 
absorption of the Border Guard into the Ministry of Security was 
done to "put the management structure in order" and to 
strengthen controls on the border, but explained that the 
internal structure of the Border Guard Forces would not be 
changed.  The State Committee on National Security will provide 
assistance in resolving certain problems on the border, he said, 
but the tasks of the Border Guard Forces remains the same: 
combating drug trafficking, terrorism, contraband of all kinds 
including illegal weapons and WMD, and illegal immigration. 
 
¶4. (U) General Mirzoev said that he was on his third day of 
inspecting the Border Guard Forces and that he is aware of many 
unmet needs at the border where assistance is still required. 
The outposts lack computers and other equipment for conducting 
border control operations.  Life among the soldiers is still 
tough, although much has been done to improve the daily living 
conditions.  Mirzoev described the government's effort to bring 
the border guard facilities up to proper standards, and 
commented that even developed countries with more established 
border services are having trouble managing their borders.  He 
characterized the Tajik Border Guard as young, referring to the 
fact that until 2005 the Russian Federation was responsible for 
protecting Tajikistan's borders. He called for continued 
assistance and pledged to demonstrate to partners that the 
Border Guards can achieve real results. 
 
¶5. (U) Responding to questions from the group, Mirzoev confirmed 
that donors would still be able to communicate directly with the 
Border Guards through official letters, diplomatic notes and 
named himself as the primary interlocutor.  On the question of 
corruption, Mirzoev provided the routine response that the 
Government of Tajikistan was committed to battling corruption 
everywhere and that he would wage war against corruption within 
the Border Forces.  He broke from his businesslike demeanor to 
relate that "his deputy had been tempted to take out an AK-47 
 
DUSHANBE 00002223  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
and sort out the problems himself."  Mirzoev closed by saying he 
looked forward to meeting each of the partners individually to 
discuss assistance projects. 
 
¶6. (SBU) COMMENT:  Mirzoev presented himself as professional and 
disciplined, focusing on business and keeping pleasantries to a 
minimum.  At least at this introductory meeting, Mirzoev decided 
to forego some of signs of Tajik hospitality such as vodka 
toasts or even handshakes as he left the meeting.  However, he 
softened the edges a bit by including Colonel Tojibaev, our 
long-standing and trusted contact in the Border Guards 
international relations department.  His facilitation of the 
meeting put the group at ease.      Tojibaev said he will be 
staying on with the Border Guards in the same capacity, at least 
for the time being - a sign Mirzoev understands the need to 
cultivate relations with the donors.  We and the other resident 
donors will certainly continue the dialogue with the newly 
reorganized border guards.  Our next big test of the 
relationship will be our planned JCET training of the Border 
Guards special forces planned for January-February. 
JACOBSON