Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TASHKENT440
2006-03-03 13:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:
WHAT IS EU IDENTITY IN UZBEKISTAN?
how-toVZCZCXRO8570 PP RUEHDBU DE RUEHNT #0440 0621314 ZNY CCCCC ZZH ZDK P 031314Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5277 INFO RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ALMATY 7678 RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 1784 RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 2308 RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 2201 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 1307 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0192 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000440
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2016
TAGS: EU PGOV PREL UZ
SUBJECT: WHAT IS EU IDENTITY IN UZBEKISTAN?
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY AMB JON R. PURNELL FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000440
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2016
TAGS: EU PGOV PREL UZ
SUBJECT: WHAT IS EU IDENTITY IN UZBEKISTAN?
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY AMB JON R. PURNELL FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D).
1. (C) Summary: The French Embassy, current EU chair in
Tashkent, has started a campaign to inform Uzbek students
about the EU. However, at a round-table discussion, EU
diplomats failed to convey a concept of EU identity that
satisfied their audience. The Uzbek students attending the
roundtable, who appeared largely uninformed about the EU,
generally repeated what has become the standard rhetoric on
the importance of Russia in Uzbek foreign relations. End
summary.
2. (C) Approximately 50 university-age students filled the
French Culture Center to capacity to discuss EU identity.
Members of the official panel included diplomats from
Britain, Germany, Poland, France, Latvia and Turkey.
Throughout the evening, the panelists failed to relay a
concept of EU identity that satisfied the young people. A
number of confused students repeatedly asked for
clarification, but the diplomats simply repeated their
personal notions of identity, including geography, art,
democracy, religion and language. One male student asked how
religion played an identifying factor in light of EU
opposition (sic) to Turkey,s accession. The panel avoided
answering the question. (Note: The Turkish diplomat had
specifically requested before the meeting that Turkey,s EU
accession bid not be discussed. End note).
3. (C) Poloff asked the audience if they thought an EU-type
structure possible for Central Asia. The students were
skeptical. Some said the region lacks a common, practical
goal, such as recovering from a world war, to encourage
regional cooperation. Other students said regional
presidents are too selfish and hold too different opinions to
work towards a customs or political union. Two female
students mentioned Russia,s importance in Uzbekistan,s
foreign relations. They said that, apart from a few members
of the Uzbek elite with ties to the U.S., Uzbeks and Russians
share a similar non-European, Soviet past and therefore only
Russia can help Uzbekistan challenge the &economic,
political and security threats of the U.S. and China.8
4. (C) Comment: The students were very curious to know what
European identity is, but were frustrated by the EU,s
inability to define itm to their satisfaction. Uzbekistan,s
recent accession to EurAsEC is widely-reported in the Uzbek
and Russian press. However, the students did not mention the
organization, and even failed to respond when the Turkish
diplomat chided them for this lapse. End comment.
PURNELL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2016
TAGS: EU PGOV PREL UZ
SUBJECT: WHAT IS EU IDENTITY IN UZBEKISTAN?
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY AMB JON R. PURNELL FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D).
1. (C) Summary: The French Embassy, current EU chair in
Tashkent, has started a campaign to inform Uzbek students
about the EU. However, at a round-table discussion, EU
diplomats failed to convey a concept of EU identity that
satisfied their audience. The Uzbek students attending the
roundtable, who appeared largely uninformed about the EU,
generally repeated what has become the standard rhetoric on
the importance of Russia in Uzbek foreign relations. End
summary.
2. (C) Approximately 50 university-age students filled the
French Culture Center to capacity to discuss EU identity.
Members of the official panel included diplomats from
Britain, Germany, Poland, France, Latvia and Turkey.
Throughout the evening, the panelists failed to relay a
concept of EU identity that satisfied the young people. A
number of confused students repeatedly asked for
clarification, but the diplomats simply repeated their
personal notions of identity, including geography, art,
democracy, religion and language. One male student asked how
religion played an identifying factor in light of EU
opposition (sic) to Turkey,s accession. The panel avoided
answering the question. (Note: The Turkish diplomat had
specifically requested before the meeting that Turkey,s EU
accession bid not be discussed. End note).
3. (C) Poloff asked the audience if they thought an EU-type
structure possible for Central Asia. The students were
skeptical. Some said the region lacks a common, practical
goal, such as recovering from a world war, to encourage
regional cooperation. Other students said regional
presidents are too selfish and hold too different opinions to
work towards a customs or political union. Two female
students mentioned Russia,s importance in Uzbekistan,s
foreign relations. They said that, apart from a few members
of the Uzbek elite with ties to the U.S., Uzbeks and Russians
share a similar non-European, Soviet past and therefore only
Russia can help Uzbekistan challenge the &economic,
political and security threats of the U.S. and China.8
4. (C) Comment: The students were very curious to know what
European identity is, but were frustrated by the EU,s
inability to define itm to their satisfaction. Uzbekistan,s
recent accession to EurAsEC is widely-reported in the Uzbek
and Russian press. However, the students did not mention the
organization, and even failed to respond when the Turkish
diplomat chided them for this lapse. End comment.
PURNELL