VZCZCXRO7652
RR RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHPW RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #1316/01 2901208
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 161208Z OCT 08 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1050
INFO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE VIENNA AU
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0161
RUCNCLS/SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC 0157
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEABND/DEA HQ WASHINGTON DC
RUEAWJA/DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 DUSHANBE 001316 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN (HUSHEK) 
STATE FOR INL/AAE (BUHLER) 
JUSTICE (DUCOT AND NEWCOMBE) 
DEFENSE FOR OSP/P 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: SNAR KCRM KJUS PGOV PREL CH TI
SUBJECT:  TAJIKISTAN: END-OF-FISCAL YEAR PROJECT STATUS REPORT 
 
REF: A) DUSHANBE 875 B) DUSHANBE 998 
 
¶1. (U) Summary:  At the end of August, Ambassador Jacobson and 
Foreign Minister Zarif signed two letters of agreement 
totaling over $13 million to continue INL border security, 
policing, and anti-crime programs and to initiate projects in 
the justice sector.  INL Dushanbe provides the following end- 
of-fiscal year project status report for new and existing 
projects. 
 
--------------- 
BORDER SECURITY 
--------------- 
 
¶2. (U) INL is implementing seven construction and institution 
building projects to improve border guard infrastructure and 
technical capacity to control Tajikistan's borders and 
interdict drugs, terrorists, and weapons.  The Ambassador and 
Minister of Foreign Affairs signed the seventh and eighth 
Amended Letters of Agreement (ALOA) at the end of August. 
This provided over $13 million in funding for INL operations 
and projects. 
 
Border Guard Academy 
 
¶3. (U) ALOA 7 provides the $1,200,000 balance of funding 
necessary to move this $2 million project toward tender 
competition and award.  Worldwide price increases in 
construction costs over the last six months required 
elimination or reduction in certain projects elements 
including fewer garages, no perimeter wall, and gravel rather 
than asphalt for the parade ground.  INL Dushanbe is waiting 
on the Border Guards to provide an official letter agreeing to 
the reduced project scope.  Upon receipt, Scope of Work 
document will be forwarded to RPSO Frankfurt to start the 
tender competition. 
 
Khirmanjo Border Observation Post 
 
¶4. (U) Using funding from ALOA 7 INL Dushanbe is re-competing 
the renovation contract for the Border Guard observation and 
control post at Khirmanjo.  After extensive consultations with 
INL Washington and A/OPE, the previous contract was terminated 
for cause by Dushanbe GSO.  As near as we can determine the 
Border Guards have imprisoned the contractor.  INL Dushanbe 
Construction Engineer expects to complete re-writing the scope 
of work and secure Border Guard agreement by the end of 
October.  Upon Border Guard agreement, INL Dushanbe will 
submit a request for procurement through the INL on-line 
procurement system.  INL Dushanbe Construction Engineer is 
winterizing the site to protect Border Guards and families 
until the new contractor can begin reconstruction. 
 
Kulma and Kizilart Border Crossing Points 
 
¶5. (U) ALOA 7 provides the necessary funding to reconstruct 
Kulma (China) and Kizilart (Kyrgyz Republic) border crossing 
points.  INL Dushanbe conducted assessment trips to the region 
in June and September and the Ambassador wrote to the Asian 
Development Bank to request coordination with the ADB's 
Customs modernization project (Reftels).  INL Dushanbe 
requested interagency-coordinated preliminary sketches and 
site diagrams from the Border Guards.  We will make a similar 
request at an upcoming meeting with the Customs Service. 
 
Shogun and Yol Border Observation Posts 
 
¶6. (U) INL Dushanbe pledged funding from ALOA 7 and 8 for 
UNODC-implemented reconstruction of Shogun and Yol border 
observation posts under project E-24.  UNODC informs us they 
submitted the Scope of Work for approval by UNDP in Dushanbe 
after which it must be approved by UNDP New York.  Expected 
Qafter which it must be approved by UNDP New York.  Expected 
tender competition date is mid-November.  Construction 
completion date, depending on weather, is projected for early 
spring 2009.  Shogun will be a modular construction rather 
than a renovation of existing buildings.  This is a test of 
the quality and durability of the modular building concept. 
The Border Guards have been displeased with the retro-fitted 
container structures that EU/BOMCA provided on the Afghan 
 
DUSHANBE 00001316  002 OF 005 
 
 
border but we hope they will accept the better designed 
modular building.  UNODC and INL are defining requirements for 
reconstruction of the Yol border observation post with 
expected tender competition at the end of 2008. 
 
Border Guard Barracks at Murghab 
 
¶7. (U) ALOA 7 and 8 provide funding for the renovation of a 
Border Guard barracks building at Murghab detachment (otryad). 
INL Dushanbe received floor plan sketches of the requested 
design but we are waiting on as-built drawings so the INL 
Construction Engineer can gauge the scope of work.  The Border 
Guards promised the drawings by the end of October. 
 
 
--------------------- 
Intelligence Capacity 
--------------------- 
 
¶8. (U) Committee for National Security Analytical Center 
Using funding provided under ALOA 6, INL Dushanbe agreed to 
extend the construction completion deadline for the Analytical 
Center on the 5th floor of the KNB Academy through the end of 
November because of a recent presidential decree on heating of 
government office buildings.  The original design was to 
install split-pack heat/AC units in each room of the center. 
Given the vagaries of the electrical grid in Dushanbe the INL 
Officer requested a re-evaluation of heating the center with a 
view to reducing electrical consumption and overloading the 
split-pack units.  After review, the INL and KNB Construction 
Engineers decided to rehabilitate the radiator and piping 
system of the building so it could draw heat from the city's 
central heating system and not depend entirely on split-pack 
units.  INL Dushanbe is currently scheduling a ribbon-cutting 
for December. 
 
Joint Field Intelligence Center 
 
¶9. (U) ALOA 8 provides funding to establish and build a joint 
field intelligence center and in September and October INL 
Dushanbe conducted extensive consultations to secure 
interagency agreement for the center.  Next step is for First 
Deputy of the KNB General Gafarov to provide a promised 
written recommendation regarding the composition, size, and 
location of the center.  INL Dushanbe sustains ongoing 
consultations with law enforcement and security service 
agencies. 
 
 
POLICING 
 
Ministry of Internal Affairs Academy Reconstruction 
 
¶10. (U) Using funding provided under ALOA 6, INL Dushanbe 
drafted a Scope of Work to renovate the first and second 
floors of the MVD Academy.  The MVD had agreed to the 
renovation work described in the SOW and it has been submitted 
to INL Washington via the INL on-line procurement system. 
 
MVD Academy Reform 
 
¶11. (U) INL is continuing a MVD Academy reform project.  The 
project is to work with the Academy leadership to redesign and 
reform of the Academy to implement a modern law enforcement 
personnel training regime.  This includes providing a new 
organizational structure, rewriting the curriculum, and 
revising the length of study, and improving the pedagogical 
methods of instruction.  Current progress has been limited due 
to poor project structure and management, insufficiently 
rigorous implementation, and bureaucratic intransigence in the 
MVD. 
 
Community Policing 
 
¶12. (U) $450,000 for creation of a Community Policing project 
has been waiting on the companion piece of funding from the 
Qhas been waiting on the companion piece of funding from the 
1210 process.  At the end of September S/CRS informed the 
mission the funding was approved and was not redirected to 
fulfill Georgia requirements.  INL Dushanbe is currently 
 
DUSHANBE 00001316  003 OF 005 
 
 
exploring implementation options by competitive award in 
Washington to be overseen by an Eligible Family Member 
position at post. 
 
 
COUNTER-NARCOTICS 
 
Salary Supplements 
 
¶13. (U) Using funding from ALOA 7 INL Dushanbe provided almost 
$2 million to the UNODC to continue the development of the 
Drug Control Agency under project HO-3.  The funding provided 
was restricted to supporting salaries in the Agency for the 
next 18 months.  Funding was conditioned on a successful DCA 
budget request where the Agency's budget would be increased to 
begin paying for salaries currently supported by project 
funding.  INL Dushanbe agreed with the DCA that the required 
10% (or greater) savings in U.S.-provided funding necessary 
for salaries would be redirected to enhancing agent 
professionalism through increased training.  In early October, 
President Rahmon endorsed a 35% increase in the Agency's 
budget effective January 1, 2009.  The next step is for the 
Parliament (Majilis) to consider the budget and approve by 
year's end. 
 
Language Laboratory 
 
¶14. (U) As part of an INL-CENTCOM CN cooperative venture, INL 
Dushanbe Construction Engineer is serving as the Contracting 
Officer's Representative for a CENTCOM-funded English language 
laboratory for the Drug Control Agency.  Located in the 
headquarters building, installation of the language lab will 
require upgrades to the electrical supply, windows, and 
heating.  CENTCOM is funding the renovation and installation 
while INL is providing the project oversight. 
 
DCA Mobile Interdiction Teams 
 
¶15. (U) INL is discussing reprogramming $500,000 in funds 
originally provided in ALOA 6 to implement a nationwide HF 
radio system.  After signing ALOA 6 in 2007 we discovered this 
project was not supported by all law enforcement and security 
agencies.  We will encourage the GOTI interagency to consider 
a nation-wide system.  While negotiations take place, we 
propose to reprogram existing funds to higher priorities that 
can be implemented now and have requested CENTCOM provide 
funding for the communications system when agreement is 
reached.  The reprogrammed funds will be directed to creation 
of a GBAO-region Mobile Interdiction Team. 
 
¶16. (U) DCA General Nazarov agreed to provide a concept paper 
by the middle of November to begin planning.  If the GOTI, 
UNODC, and INL agree to the concept paper, we would reprogram 
the funds as a pledge to the UNODC as part of the HO-3 
project. 
 
¶17. (U) Currently INL Dushanbe is renovating and transporting 
old shipping containers to remote locations in GBAO and 
elsewhere so DCA Mobile Teams rotating through an area have 
shelter, a place to prepare food, and a small office desk. 
Currently the team members are living in tents or in the back 
of small vans. Work at the border posts is jealously guarded 
by the Border Guards and Customs Service who claim that the 
law prevents cooperation with the DCA and MVD Committee on 
Contraband (Counter-Narcotics). 
 
Demand Reduction 
 
¶18. (U) INL Dushanbe is implementing a demand reduction 
program. The first project will take place at the end of 
October.  In this project, we are sponsoring an essay 
competition on why drugs are bad in conjunction with a karate 
Qcompetition on why drugs are bad in conjunction with a karate 
tournament to provide young people with a healthy lifestyle 
alternative.  The winners of the essay competition will 
receive small prizes and free karate lessons.  The karate 
tournament champions have agreed to travel to selected schools 
to deliver karate demonstrations and deliver an anti-drug 
message. 
 
 
DUSHANBE 00001316  004 OF 005 
 
 
 
JUSTICE SECTOR 
 
¶19. (U) Using $3,076,000 in reprogrammed prior year funding, 
INL Dushanbe launched inaugural justice sector projects. 
 
ABA/ROLI and the Criminal Procedures Code 
 
¶20. (U) INL Dushanbe granted funds to the American Bar 
Association Rule of Law Initiative to continue to persuade the 
three uncooperative defense bars in Tajikistan to unite and 
become more professional to address the imbalance between 
defense and prosecution in the administration of justice. 
This includes creation of a legal code of ethics. 
 
¶21. (U) ABA is implementing a project to coordinate an 
international donor group to assist in re-drafting the 
criminal procedures code.  ABA has achieved only minimal 
success with this project because the Government of Tajikistan 
and the Minister of Justice in particular permit only the most 
limited engagement.  We will reevaluate the project at the end 
of 2008 and if warranted, reprogram the money to a project 
with a greater likelihood of success. 
 
¶22. (U) ABA also implements a program to combat religious 
extremism in the field of law.  Working through the Islamic 
University, ABA is providing Muslim jurists with an overview 
of secular law trying to draw parallels to sharia law and 
increase mutual understanding and respect. 
 
Access to Justice 
 
¶23. (U) INL Dushanbe collected project proposals from local 
NGO's to provide increased access to justice and the legal 
system for the indigent, minors, women, rural dwellers, and 
abused girls/TIP victims.  We distributed the proposals to the 
embassy's Development Assistance Working Group for 
review/comments and will meet in the coming weeks to complete 
evaluation of the projects and move to the award stage. 
 
Training for Attorneys and Judges and Law School Scholarships 
 
¶24. (U) Originally envisioned as an INL-implemented projects, 
INL Dushanbe requested that ABA/ROLI, the only available and 
qualified implementer in Dushanbe, prepare project proposals 
to increase the professionalism and international awareness of 
attorneys and judges through a multi-year training program in 
Tajikistan and the United States.  INL Dushanbe also asked ABA 
to prepare a proposal for a project to provide competitive 
one-year law school scholarships to the United States for 
graduates of Tajikistan's law schools.  ABA promised to 
provide completed drafts by the end of October. 
 
Ministry of Justice and the Procuracy 
 
¶25. (U) A $500,000 program to provide training on 
international law to Ministry of Justice lawyers, assistance 
to Tajikistan's court marshal system, improve the MOJ's 
forensics capability, and work through the Ministry of Justice 
to improve defense attorney professionalism through training 
with prosecutors has run ashore because of changes in 
personnel at the Ministry of Justice. 
 
¶26. (U) The Minister of Justice replaced his previous Deputy 
Minister, Gulchehra Sharipova, with Rustam Mengliev.  At an 
upcoming introductory meeting, the INL officer will assess 
prospects for these projects.  An alternative exists, however, 
as we have received inquiries from the Presidential 
Administration regarding cooperation with a to-be-established 
Legislative Institute to improve the quality of the 
QLegislative Institute to improve the quality of the 
legislation passed by Parliament and enacted into law. 
 
 
CRIME 
 
 
Anti-Trafficking 
--------------- 
¶27. (U) We  received a project proposal from the International 
 
DUSHANBE 00001316  005 OF 005 
 
 
Organization for Migration to provide training to law 
enforcement officers and prosecutors, conduct anti-TIP public 
outreach, and continue support for a shelter for TIP victims. 
INL Dushanbe has distributed the proposal to the embassy 
Development Assistance Working Group (DAWG) and will conclude 
review in the coming weeks. 
 
JACOBSON