UNHCR OFFICE MAKES CONTINGENCY PLANS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TASHKENT 000693

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN, PRM AND DRL
MOSCOW FOR DHS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2016
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL PGOV KDEM UZ
SUBJECT: UNHCR OFFICE MAKES CONTINGENCY PLANS

REF: A) TASHKENT 658 B) TASHKENT 520

Classified By: AMB. JON R. PURNELL, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D)



1. (C) Summary: The GOU has still not responded to UNDP's
proposal to assume some of UNHCR's responsibilities after its
closure. UNHCR headquarters has told its office to begin
closing down on April 11 if the GOU has still not responded
by then. UNHCR's Protection Officer told Poloff that the GOU
may announce a decision this evening. Should the GOU refuse
to allow the handover to UNDP, UNHCR has requested that the
Swiss and British Embassies provide administrative support
for refugees awaiting resettlement, and asked us whether we
could help with those accepted into the U.S. refugee program.
The Swiss Ambassador has reportedly already agreed, while
the British Embassy is awaiting a decision from London. End
summary.


2. (C) UNHCR's Protection Officer Asako Nozawa told Poloff on
April 7 that the GOU has still not responded to UNDP's
proposal to assume some of its responsibilities (ref A).
UNHCR, whose office must close by April 17 (ref B),is
continuing to make contingency plans. Nozawa expects a
decision could be made tonight, noting that it is "typical
Soviet practice" to announce important decisions on late
Friday evenings when nobody can react for several days.
(Note: The GOU also announced its decision to close UNHCR on
the eve of the four-day Navruz holiday. End note.) UNHCR
headquarters has instructed its office only to wait for the
GOU's response until April 11, before beginning to shut its
office and move equipment to Dushanbe and Bishkek.


3. (C) In the event that the UNDP proposal is rejected,
UNHCR has approached the Swiss and British Embassies and --
to a limited extent the U.S. Embassy -- to assist with
refugee resettlement administrative support such as obtaining
GOU exit permits, scheduling resettlement interviews, and
making travel arrangements. (Note: There are 1700 remaining
Afghan refugees, of whom Nozawa estimates that around 700-800
will be re-settled in third countries. The Afghan Embassy
will help to voluntarily repatriate the remainder. End
note.) According to Nozawa, the Swiss Ambassador has agreed
to provide administrative support for the refugees.


4. (C) British Embassy Political Officer Ben Greenwood told
the DCM on April 6 that his Embassy was considering UNHCR's
request to provide administrative support, and was awaiting a
decision from London. (Note: Greenwood added that the
British Embassy's staff and physical plant in Tashkent are
fairly small, and that its resources would be stretched thin.
End note.) Nozawa told Poloff that UNHCR had approached the
British Embassy due to its consular responsibilities for
Canadian citizens; Canada has agreed to accept 224 asylum
seekers, of whom many are married to Uzbeks. (Note: The
total number of people Canada will accept is therefore around
400 people. End note.) According to Nozawa, the Canadian
Embassy in Moscow preferred that IOM's Tashkent office
provide administrative support to the refugees granted
asylum, but IOM's Tashkent office is unregistered. (Note:
Nevertheless, the GOU has allowed IOM to operate in various
areas, including anti-TIP programs).


5. (C) Nozawa asked Poloff if the U.S. Embassy would provide
administrative support for the refugees granted resettlement
in the U.S. (Note: In the recent DHS circuit ride, six out
of forty five refugee resettlement cases were approved, or a
total of fifteen people. End note.) Nozawa stated that
IOM's Moscow office is helping the 39 unsuccessful U.S.
refugee resettlement applicants to file appeals. She noted
that refugee resettlement seekers will need logistical
support in obtaining Uzbek exit visas, and making hotel and
plane reservations. She added that U.S. refugee processing,

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including security and medical clearances, can take up to a
year, and that IOM's Moscow and Almaty office (both of which
are accredited) might be able to provide assistance.


6. (C) Comment: We have no problem assisting with
administrative support for the fifteen whose refugee
resettlement applications to the United States were approved.
However, we do not exclude that we may be asked to provide
support for more than these fifteen people. If so, we will
coordinate with the Department, IOM offices and UNHCR. End
comment.

PURNELL