Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TASHKENT730
2006-04-14 13:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:  

GANIEV AND AZIMOV TO VISIT JAPAN

Tags:  ECON PGOV PREL UZ JP 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3755
PP RUEHDBU
DE RUEHNT #0730/01 1041304
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 141304Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5539
INFO RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ALMATY 7798
RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 1889
RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 2415
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 2318
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 1406
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0362
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TASHKENT 000730 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2016
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL UZ JP
SUBJECT: GANIEV AND AZIMOV TO VISIT JAPAN

REF: TASHKENT 651

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 SECTION 01 OF 02 TASHKENT 000730

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2016
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL UZ JP
SUBJECT: GANIEV AND AZIMOV TO VISIT JAPAN

REF: TASHKENT 651

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


1. (C) Summary: In the next three months, FM Ganiev and
Deputy PM Azimov will both travel to Japan. Ganiev will head
the Uzbek delegation to the Uzbek-Japan Joint Committee on
the Economy in May, and Ganiev will represent Uzbekistan at
the May Central Asia Plus Japan Foreign Ministers Meeting in
Tokyo. These trips seem to have the Japanese Embassy worried
that Japan will be criticized for supporting the GOU.
Japanese EconOff Sasatani stressed that the Japanese
government will not meet bilaterally with any senior GOU
officials, and that Azimov and Ganiev are only visiting Tokyo
through private sector or multilateral fora. He also said
that the GOU is very interested in a visit by PM Koizumi, but
that the Embassy has advised strongly against it. Japan has
also concluded a new strategy on assistance to Uzbekistan,
but has decided to delay release given the current political
climate. Sasatani said that Japan will continue earlier
announced large-scale infrastructure projects. However, all
new projects will be related to technical assistance that
directly impacts the Uzbek people, such as healthcare and
education. End summary.


2. (C) First Secretary for Economic Affairs at the Japanese
Embassy, Yoshifumi Sasatani, told PolEcon Chief the Japanese
government has finished a new assistance strategy for
Uzbekistan. However, he said, his government does not intend
to release the strategy now due to continuing human rights
concerns and worries about how Japanese assistance might be
viewed, especially by the West. While the Japanese will
continue to fund several large infrastructure projects,
including renovation of the Tashkent Power Plant and a
regional railroad project, they do not intend to announce new
grants. The GOJ will fund two new technical assistance
programs focused on providing direct benefits to the Uzbek
people. One will focus on healthcare and supplying needed
medical equipment to Tashkent and Jizzak medical

institutions, as well as to the National Anti-Tuberculosis
Center in Tashkent. The other will focus on improving
schools, mainly through providing materials such as desks and
computers. As long as these projects continue to benefit the
Uzbeks and contribute to the promotion of intra-regional
cooperation, said Sasatani, Japan will provide funding.


3. (C) The next Uzbek-Japan Joint Committee on the Economy, a
non-governmental organization, will be held in Tokyo on May

18. Deputy Prime Minister Azimov will lead the delegation,
which will include other high-ranking officials. Kiyomi
Miyagawa, First Secretary for Political Affairs, told Poloff
that the Japanese government does not see the Committee as
highly valuable, as the GOU tends to use it as a mechanism to
control Japanese businesses operating in Uzbekistan.
According to Sasatani, Azimov has asked for a meeting on the
margins with PM Koyzumi, but is unlikely to be received.
Japanese FM Aso will likely be the highest ranking official
Azimov meets. Sasatani also said that the GOU is very
interested in a visit by Koizumi to Uzbekistan as soon as
possible. (Note: According to Sasatani, Karimov was last in
Japan approximately three years ago. During that visit,
Koizumi promised to visit Uzbekistan. End note.) Sasatani
said that the Japanese Embassy is strongly advising the
Japanese PM against such a trip.


4. (C) Both Sasatani and Miyagawa confirmed that the Central
Asia plus Japan Forum Foreign Ministers' Meeting is scheduled
for late June in Tokyo. Sasatani told PolEcon Chief that FM
Ganiev will head the delegation. The participating
countries, including Afghanistan, will likely sign technical
cooperation agreements. Unfortunately, according to
Miyagawa, the Forum's projects have not been very successful
because Central Asian countries must initiate the projects
and regional political and economic differences have hindered
cooperation. Miyagawa said Uzbekistan is mostly interested
in transportation, terrorism, drugs and energy-related
projects. Sasatani said that only through multilateral fora
or private sector events, such as Central Asia plus Japan or
the Uzbek-Japan Joint Committee, will senior Japanese
officials meet with their Uzbek counterparts. Sasatani said
the unofficial policy is that senior Uzbek officials will not
be invited for bilateral talks.


5. (C) Miyagawa attended an April 3 meeting for OSCE member

TASHKENT 00000730 002 OF 002


states. He told Poloff he was &surprised8 at OSCE
Ambassador Jenca's report that Karimov recommended that the
OSCE &make concrete contributions to the Uzbek economy,8 as
does the Central Asia plus Japan Forum (reftel). Miyagawa
said he was &embarrassed8 because the Forum does not make
such contributions as there are no large projects.


6. (C) As to Japanese investment, Miyagawa said Japanese
businesses are &cautious8 and want payment guarantees. Two
years ago, he explained, Japanese fertilizer and chemical
businesses were here, but were never paid for their goods.
Japanese companies are far more interested in Kazakhstan. As
Japan reduces the amount of loans to Uzbekistan, Miyagawa
believes there will be fewer opportunities for Japanese
contractors to work here within the framework of assistance
that guarantees payment for services.


7. (C) Comment: The Japanese and Uzbek governments have
always maintained a cordial, even friendly, relationship.
Japan has long been a "friend of Uzbekistan," a claim Karimov
has never been hesitant to throw around. Based on Sasatani's
statements, the Japanese government is clearly concerned
about how the upcoming visits of Azimov and Ganiev might be
construed, especially on the heels of the love fest in South
Korea. Sasatani went out of his way to communicate that the
Japanese government will not invite senior Uzbek officials
for bilateral discussions. He is also concerned, and
rightfully so, about how the Uzbek press might play up the
visits. If recent official travel is a model, it is likely
that the GOU and Uzbek media will use them to showcase
Uzbekistan's international political and economic
interaction, even if the results are lackluster.
PURNELL