VZCZCXRO5380
PP RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #0762 1441225
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 241225Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0309
INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 2095
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 2126
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2100
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 2006

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000762 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ECIN EFIN ECPS EINV ETRD EAID KG TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKS SUPPORT FIBER OPTICS CONFERENCE, BUT WANT "EQUAL 
OPPORTUNITIES" FOR STATE OPERATOR 
 
REF: STATE   00054097 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Tajikistan supports the idea of a U.S.-organized 
conference on regional fiber optic projects (reftel), but 
Minister of Transportation and Communications Adburahim Ashurov 
expressed greater interest in more international assistance to 
support the state-owned operator Tojiktelecom.  Ashurov 
encouraged the development of a regional fiber optics network to 
create additional opportunities for Tajikistan as a transit 
country and asked for an official letter laying out the project. 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  In a May 21 meeting with EmbOffs, Ashurov asked for 
more technical assistance and training for telecom specialists 
at Tojiktelecom.  Ashurov wants to protect the national company 
by providing it with international assistance and possible 
infrastructure investment.  He noted that although Tojiktelecom 
owns all the existing landlines and telecom infrastructure in 
Tajikistan, a lack of financial resources and lack of market 
transparency make the company uncompetitive on the local market. 
 Ashurov and Tojiktelecom head Rahmonali Hasanov criticized the 
13 mobile phone operators for "filling their pockets and 
cheating clients" with confusing tariff plans, while failing to 
expand to rural areas.  Ashurov argued that the government, not 
the private operators should be setting tariffs. 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  Ashurov acknowledged that in his first sixth months 
heading the communications ministry, he has sought out 
specialists to work on regulatory issues, but the sector still 
does not have the proper regulation or enough technical experts. 
 (Note: As the former Minister of Transportation, he was 
appointed head of the combined ministry in December 2006.  End 
note.)  He appreciated his staff's inclusion in an April U.S. 
Trade and Development Agency forum on regulation in Almaty, and 
promised that an outstanding letter requesting technical 
assistance was still in the works, but he wanted to expand the 
scope of the request beyond regulation to all aspects of 
telecom. 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  Leading telecom companies in Tajikistan support the 
fiber optics but have told EmbOffs that there are technical and 
policy issues to be resolved first.  Chinese companies have 
already been actively engaged with Bablion and Tojiktelecom on 
ways to link Tajikistan to the rest of the world without relying 
on routes through Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  Comment:  Bringing Tajikistan fully on board with a 
regional fiber optic project will require a great deal of 
education and technical assistance, both to the government and 
private operators.  Ashurov and other Tajik officials will have 
to overcome their instincts to protect the uncompetitive 
state-owned Tojiktelecom and instead learn to promote private 
operators -- who in fact pay more tax revenues to the government 
than any other industry.  End Comment. 
 
JACOBSON