VZCZCXRO3546
RR RUEHAST
DE RUEHDBU #0100 0231229
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 231229Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1397
INFO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNS/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC 0123
RUEHAST/USOFFICE ALMATY 0100

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000100 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AID/W FOR SCAA/FLYNN FULLER 
ALMATY FOR USAID 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: EAID KDEM KHIV SOCI ELAB SCUL TI
SUBJECT:  Mission Mutual Understanding Goal 
 
¶1.  Introduction and Summary: A recent review of the Mission 
Strategic Plan provided a snapshot of what we achieved in the last 
year and our top priorities looking ahead. This is the fourth cable 
to provide a goal-by-goal look of what Embassy Dushanbe is doing. In 
our mutual understanding goal all elements of the Mission work to 
create greater public understanding of U.S. values and foreign 
policy objectives; to increase Tajik exposure to American society 
and values; and to create English speakers ready for the challenges 
of regional and global integration. In 2008 we increased the number 
of students studying in the United States, and increased press 
coverage of U.S. activities and positions in the press, and expanded 
our outreach to a number of audiences. We started a very successful 
summer camp program. In 2009 we will open two American corners, 
launch a new website design, and with added staff expand education 
and outreach programs. End introduction and summary. 
 
Accomplishments 
 
¶2. We saw a significant increase in applicants for UGRAD, Muskie and 
FLEX exchange programs, up by more than 5%, and in visitors to our 
information resource center, which were up from 1840 to 2400. Visits 
to our website were up 32% and we averaged 6.72 reports about 
Mission activity or placements of state Department articles per week 
in Tajik media. Inviting journalists to join the Ambassador and DCM 
during trips to Tajikistan's regions and issuing press releases 
about our activities ensured media attention and public awareness of 
our assistance. (Local press reported that the United States 
contributed the most assistance to Tajikistan, 33.2% of the total.) 
With an additional American officer we were able to coordinate 
regular outreach out by all mission personnel to meet more people in 
diverse venues on a variety of subjects including large university 
audiences. We launched our English Teaching Mentor program to 
provide yearlong, and much needed pedagogical instruction to 20 
motivated teacher-trainers.  We started Youth Enrichment Program 
camps for 140 young Tajiks in rural, conservative regions and shared 
with them positive messages about America. We created a listserv to 
enable anyone to get program announcements automatically, rather 
than relying on Embassy staff to send them. We increased public and 
press outreach for consular and visa issues. 
 
Selected 2009 Goals 
 
¶3.  In 2009 we plan to open two new American Corners to serve as 
resource centers in Khorog in the remote, mountainous Gorno 
Badakshan Autonomus area and in the southern regional center of 
Qurghon-Teppa.  To meet the demand of the youthful clientele, our 
Corners will begin to offer basic educational advising to give more 
Tajik youth the chance to qualify for scholarships at U.S. 
institutions. We received funding to add three FSN positions, which 
will allow us to focus more resources on press, English language 
programs and our website. We will launch a redesigned Website and 
upgrade and maintain it to provide timely, authoritative information 
about U.S. policies.  We will offer 20 more Tajik English teachers 
intensive, yearlong mentoring and repeat the successful summer camps 
for Tajik youth.  Post will advocate for the establishment of Peace 
Corps in Tajikistan to demonstrate democratic values of 
self-sufficiency and community service and expand English language 
instruction into rural areas. 
 
Major Challenges and Opportunities 
 
¶4. Limited infrastructure is a serious problem! Lack of internet 
Q4. Limited infrastructure is a serious problem! Lack of internet 
access, power shortages, and bad roads mean that simply connecting 
with Tajik citizens either electronically or physically is a 
challenge. Likewise independent media, represented mostly by weekly 
newspapers with circulations of 5,000, have a limited reach, while 
television and radio licenses are firmly controlled by the 
government for official media. Most Tajiks get their news and 
information from Russian satellite channels; without access to a 
similar network, countering Russian "black propaganda" is not 
possible.  A struggling economy increases the number while reducing 
the quality of visa applicants, raising our refusal rate. We had to 
hire and assume direct supervision of American Corner coordinators 
after corrupt officials tried to skim off funds from the modest 
operating budgets. Security services have begun to target Fulbright 
students and American language students.  On the positive side, last 
year, for the first time, the Tajik Government permitted us to speak 
about American life and values in any university. We added a second 
English Language Fellow position in Khujand, which is increasing our 
ability to provide support to programs in the north including 
invigorating the American Corner. 
 
JACOBSON