DANISH CARTOONS - A WESTERN CONSPIRACY

C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000346 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/14/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV OSCE UZ SUBJECT: DANISH CARTOONS - A WESTERN CONSPIRACY REF: USOSCE 54 CLASSIFIED BY AMB. JON R. PURNELL FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D). ¶1. (C) Summary: The Uzbek ambassadors to Egypt and the OSCE both made statements alluding to a greater Western conspiracy with regards to the Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad. Though the GOU has issued no official statement on the controversy, it seems that it is jumping at the opportunity to further its own political agenda through vocal criticism of the West. End summary. ¶2. (C) There has been little mention, either officially or otherwise, of the Danish cartoon controversy sweeping much of the Islamic world. The first QofficialQ Uzbek mention of the cartoons was by the Uzbek Ambassador to Egypt, during a press discussion in Cairo. According to press reports, when asked about the controversy, Ambassador Saleh Inogomov pointed out that the cartoons are not the first time a party instigated tensions and provoked Muslims. The GOU has issued no statement on either the cartoons or resulting protests and violence, though the Uzbek Ambassador to the OSCE made remarks similar to those of his colleague in Cairo. During an OSCE Permanent Council meeting, Ambassador Durbek Amanov insinuated that the "so- called enlightened West," is "behind this provocation" as part of a larger conspiracy (reftel). ¶3. (C) The Uzbek press has thus far published three pieces on the controversy surrounding the cartoons. Each critiqued the sacrilegious tone of the cartoons and argued that the Western principles of freedom of faith, tolerance and democracy no longer exist (septel). ¶4. (C) Comment: Though the GOU has stopped short of issuing an official statement, the fact that two Uzbek Ambassadors in different parts of the world made such similar remarks suggest that the MFA has communicated an QofficialQ position on this ongoing controversy. The comments from both Egypt and Vienna give the impression that the GOU has decided to use the opportunity presented by the Danish cartoons to push their own internal agenda Q degrading the West whenever possible and promoting the idea of a larger Western conspiracy. It is interesting, however, that the GOU has chosen only international venues to make these comments, staying quiet at home. The last thing the GOU would want to do is incite a public demonstration on this or any other issue. PURNELL