Washington Pushes Economic and Strategic Cooperation with Tajikistan

he United States is making a push to improve ties with Tajikistan. Since the Soviet collapse, Dushanbe has proven to be Russia's staunchest ally in Central Asia. But Tajik leaders lately have been receptive to Washington's overtures.

Tajik Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov met with new US Ambassador Richard Hoagland on December 3 for wide-ranging discussions that sought to promote "the expansion and strengthening of [US] cooperation with Tajikistan," according to a report broadcast on Tajik state television.

In a late November interview with the Asia-Plus news agency, Hoagland stressed that Washington was seeking to boost Tajik economic growth. "Life is still hard for many Tajik citizens, but we support the work of the Tajik government," Hoagland said in the interview published December 1. He added that Washington was ready "to provide assistance in many spheres of life."

Tajikistan's primary attraction for Washington is its strategic location along Afghanistan's northern border. At present that frontier is guarded mainly by Russian border troops. Hoagland sought to reassure Moscow that Washington's growing strategic and economic presence in Tajikistan was not aimed at reducing Russia's role. He added that the United States sought to work with Russia to promote regional security.

"People with sound judgment in Moscow understand and are ready for this kind of pragmatic cooperation," Hoagland said.

Tajik leaders, recognizing the potential economic and political benefits of cooperation with Washington, have taken steps designed to facilitate the growth of US assistances. Russia -- which is keen to restore its regional influence to the dominating level that existed prior to the September 11 terrorist attacks -- has looked up Dushanbe's diplomatic shift with chagrin. A signal of Moscow's displeasure is the ongoing harassment of Tajik migrant workers in Russia. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

Tajikistan's recent ratification of an agreement that grants US soldiers immunity from prosecution at the International Criminal Court could further damage the country's relationship with Russia, experts say. The agreement paves the way for a potential expansion of the US strategic presence in Tajikistan.

Under the so-called Article 98 accord, ratified on October 9, Tajikistan will return to the United States any American military personnel charged with a crime rather than extradite them to The Hague for trial at the ICC -- a court whose jurisdiction the Bush Administration does not recognize.

"President [Imomali] Rahmonov is taking every opportunity to demonstrate his loyalty to the White House and, thus, distance himself from the Kremlin," commented independent political analyst Tursun Kabirov. "The Article 98 agreement is another step in this direction."

The Article 98 ratification followed a prolonged deterioration of relations between Tajikistan and Russia. In 2002, Russian authorities deported several hundred Tajik migrant laborers from Moscow, and have delayed finalizing a bilateral agreement that would clarify the status of the thousands of Tajik workers who remain.

By comparison, economic aid is leading the growth of US-Tajik ties. In 2002, the United States gave Tajikistan $140.5 million in assistance for various humanitarian, border security and reform initiatives a considerable sum for a country whose annual GDP of $8 billion ranks as Central Asia's lowest.

Still greater benefits could be in the offing. At a November 13 meeting in Dushanbe with President Rahmonov, US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia Elizabeth Jones emphasized Washington's support for a Tajik bid for membership in the World Trade Organization, ITAR-TASS reported.

Given the economic stakes, Tajikistan had little choice but to comply with Washington's desired Article 98 immunity agreement, commented Marat Mamadshoyev, a leading member of the opposition Social-Democratic Party of Tajikistan.

"Refusing to sign [the agreement] would mean denying American assistance and political support," Mamadshoyev said. "Tajik authorities cannot afford to do that."

Tajikistan was among the first countries to sign and ratify the Article 98 agreement. It is a controversial auxiliary to the Rome Statute, a 1998 UN agreement that established the ICC as the world's first permanent tribunal for genocide and other war crimes.