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