UZBEKISTAN: FRANCE WORKING THROUGH EU, OSCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 004916 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2015 TAGS: PGOV PREL UZ KG FR UNSC SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: FRANCE WORKING THROUGH EU, OSCE REF: A. STATE 124041 ¶B. PARIS 4801 ¶C. STATE 131485 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) MFA IO action officer Nicolas Kassianides called poloff July 15 to provide further details on the GoF response to our demarche (Refs A and B) regarding action by the UNSC and the UNSYG on the situation in Uzbekistan and of Uzbek refugees in Kyrgyzstan. Kassianides said that while the GoF was concerned about the plight of the refugees, they had reservations about raising the matter in the UNSC. He quickly added that the GoF would have no difficulty with the USG doing so. France, he said, was currently working the issue in the EU and the OSCE with a view to initiating the Moscow mechanism, depending on the results of OSCE SG Brichambaut's upcoming visit to the region. However, there would be no initiative before the GAERC meeting on July 18. ¶2. (C) Asked about our most recent demarche (Ref C), Kassianides repeated French concern over the refugees and said that France was ready to assist the UNHCR. Asked whether France was considering accepting any Uzbek refugees to facilitate the resettlement processing, Kassianides said he had no specifics beyond that France would do what it could to assist the refugees. In a separate conversation July 15, MFA Central Asia desk officer Bertrand Buchwalter said the GoF had been in contact with UNHCR and that elements of the GoF would be meeting to discuss how to respond to the refugee issue. STAPLETON