Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BUCHAREST620
2006-04-14 15:40:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bucharest
Cable title:
UZBEK REFUGEES: ROMANIAN MFA, LOCAL UNHCR
how-toVZCZCXRO3862 PP RUEHAG RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHBM #0620 1041540 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 141540Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4177 INFO RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0362 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0104
UNCLAS BUCHAREST 000620
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/NCE - BILL SILWORTH;
PRM/A - EMILY MESTETSKY AND WHITNEY REITZ
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL SOCI UZ RO
SUBJECT: UZBEK REFUGEES: ROMANIAN MFA, LOCAL UNHCR
CONCERNED ABOUT SLOW RESETTLEMENT
REF: A. A) DALTON-REITZ E-MAIL 8/13/05
B. B) DALTON-MESSTETSKY E-MAIL 8/13/05
UNCLAS BUCHAREST 000620
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/NCE - BILL SILWORTH;
PRM/A - EMILY MESTETSKY AND WHITNEY REITZ
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL SOCI UZ RO
SUBJECT: UZBEK REFUGEES: ROMANIAN MFA, LOCAL UNHCR
CONCERNED ABOUT SLOW RESETTLEMENT
REF: A. A) DALTON-REITZ E-MAIL 8/13/05
B. B) DALTON-MESSTETSKY E-MAIL 8/13/05
1. (U) This is an action message -- see paragraph 5.
2. (SBU) PolChief received a call April 11 from MFA Director
General for Global Affairs Stelian Stoian expressing concern
about the slow resettlement to third countries of the Uzbek
refugees transported in August 2005 to a facility near
Timisoara, Romania. Stoian expressed concern that 206 of the
initial over 440 refugees remain at the facility and that
movement towards their transfer had "slowed down in recent
weeks." He noted that the GOR had worked cooperatively with
U.S. and UNHCR officials and had already extended the
refugee's right to remain in Romania until July 28 but "may
not be able to do that again." He added that Romania had been
"glad to accept the refugees" but did not want their
prolonged stay to become "problematic or unsustainable."
PolChief provided reassurances that USG agencies were making
every effort to resettle the remaining refugees and that
plans had already been made for the transport for a large
number of them in coming weeks.
3. (SBU) Separately, UNHCR Resident Representative Veerapong
Vongvaratai called PolChief on April 12 and 14 to express
similar concerns to those of Stoian. He noted that flights
out were planned for a number of the refugees in coming
weeks, but the cases of roughly half of those remaining in
the camp had not been resolved to the point of clearance for
departure. He also lamented that morale had declined
significantly at the facility in the past month, as many of
the refugees had received calls from family members in
Uzbekistan with claims that "the situation is safer now."
Vongvaratai underscored that UNHCR believes these family
members were being pressured by Uzbek authorities to make
these "deceptively positive" assessments in order to
undermine international efforts to help the refugees.
PolChief provided reassurances that the USG was working to
resolve the remaining cases as soon as possible (refs).
4. (SBU) Post also spoke to local IOM representatives, who
confirmed that 102 refugees are scheduled to depart to the
U.S. and another 20 to Canada by May 9. They shared, however,
Vongvaratai's concern about the cases that remained to be
resolved.
5. (SBU) Action Request: Post appreciates information
regarding the status of these asylum cases passed from the
Department in reftels. However, we seek close coordination
with relevant U.S. agencies so we can continue to reassure
the GOR and UNHCR that the USG is taking every step to
complete the processing as expeditiously as possible. We
would like to do everything possible to retain the goodwill
engendered by this summer 2005 success story.
TAPLIN
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/NCE - BILL SILWORTH;
PRM/A - EMILY MESTETSKY AND WHITNEY REITZ
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL SOCI UZ RO
SUBJECT: UZBEK REFUGEES: ROMANIAN MFA, LOCAL UNHCR
CONCERNED ABOUT SLOW RESETTLEMENT
REF: A. A) DALTON-REITZ E-MAIL 8/13/05
B. B) DALTON-MESSTETSKY E-MAIL 8/13/05
1. (U) This is an action message -- see paragraph 5.
2. (SBU) PolChief received a call April 11 from MFA Director
General for Global Affairs Stelian Stoian expressing concern
about the slow resettlement to third countries of the Uzbek
refugees transported in August 2005 to a facility near
Timisoara, Romania. Stoian expressed concern that 206 of the
initial over 440 refugees remain at the facility and that
movement towards their transfer had "slowed down in recent
weeks." He noted that the GOR had worked cooperatively with
U.S. and UNHCR officials and had already extended the
refugee's right to remain in Romania until July 28 but "may
not be able to do that again." He added that Romania had been
"glad to accept the refugees" but did not want their
prolonged stay to become "problematic or unsustainable."
PolChief provided reassurances that USG agencies were making
every effort to resettle the remaining refugees and that
plans had already been made for the transport for a large
number of them in coming weeks.
3. (SBU) Separately, UNHCR Resident Representative Veerapong
Vongvaratai called PolChief on April 12 and 14 to express
similar concerns to those of Stoian. He noted that flights
out were planned for a number of the refugees in coming
weeks, but the cases of roughly half of those remaining in
the camp had not been resolved to the point of clearance for
departure. He also lamented that morale had declined
significantly at the facility in the past month, as many of
the refugees had received calls from family members in
Uzbekistan with claims that "the situation is safer now."
Vongvaratai underscored that UNHCR believes these family
members were being pressured by Uzbek authorities to make
these "deceptively positive" assessments in order to
undermine international efforts to help the refugees.
PolChief provided reassurances that the USG was working to
resolve the remaining cases as soon as possible (refs).
4. (SBU) Post also spoke to local IOM representatives, who
confirmed that 102 refugees are scheduled to depart to the
U.S. and another 20 to Canada by May 9. They shared, however,
Vongvaratai's concern about the cases that remained to be
resolved.
5. (SBU) Action Request: Post appreciates information
regarding the status of these asylum cases passed from the
Department in reftels. However, we seek close coordination
with relevant U.S. agencies so we can continue to reassure
the GOR and UNHCR that the USG is taking every step to
complete the processing as expeditiously as possible. We
would like to do everything possible to retain the goodwill
engendered by this summer 2005 success story.
TAPLIN