VZCZCXRO2372
RR RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHSK RUEHVK
RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #0866 2021211
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 211211Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0552
INFO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 0028
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEABND/DEA HQ WASHDC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 1179

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