UZBEKS TOUT FOREIGN "EXPERT" COMMENTS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TASHKENT 001271

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/11/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKS TOUT FOREIGN "EXPERT" COMMENTS ON
PARLIAMENTARY REFORM

REF: 06 TASHKENT 2205

Classified By: CDA Brad Hanson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) In early June, the Uzbek Ministry of Foreign Affairs
sent a publication claiming to highlight positive
international reactions to the adoption of the two new Uzbek
Constitutional Laws. The booklet, titled "Comments and
Assessments of Foreign Political and Expert Circles of the
Constitutional Law" seeks to wrap recent changes to
Uzbekistan's constitution (reftel) in the language of
democratic political theory, claiming the new law will
strengthen political parties and build civil society. The
booklet claims the provisions reflect the constitutions of
established European democracies, and that they have
attracted widespread interest and approval.


2. (C) Comment: Post understands that the genesis of this
booklet was an instruction to Uzbek Embassies worldwide to
hold meetings on the constitutional changes and to report
positive comments back to Tashkent. We cannot verify that
the meeting participants were accurately quoted and in fact
would not be at all surprised to learn that their comments
were judiciously edited or taken out of context for the
purposes of Uzbek propaganda. End comment.


3. (SBU) In addition to justifying the Constitutional changes
on the basis of political theory, the booklet also contains
60 pages of commentary on the new laws, purportedly from
foreign "experts." The commentary is uniformly optimistic;
repeatedly stressing that a more limited form of democracy is
appropriate for Uzbekistan's unique socioeconomic and
cultural context. Much of the commentary is from Russian
experts, although a wide range of other nationalities,
including Americans, are represented.


4. (SBU) Notable quotations:

-- Frederick Starr, Director, Central Asia and Caucasus
Institute, John Hopkins University (USA)

"The initiatives of the President of Uzbekistan open up broad
prospects for further liberalization of socio-political life
and strengthening of political parties. Conceptual aspects
of constitutional and political reforms in Uzbekistan should
not be viewed without taking into account contemporary
political modernization of non-western societies. This is
particularly important with regards to the fact that the
young democracies of Central Asia for over the past decade
have been searching for their own paths of socio-economic and
political development. This process is directed at
preserving cultural distinction, self-identification and
political culture which was formed in a concrete historical
context."

-- Prof. Jean Blankoff, Free Brussels University, member of
the Royal Academy of Sciences of Belgium

"...In order to build a democratic society one should take
into account history and traditions, national and local
specifics and avoid blindly copying western nations. It took
200 years for the world community to create a model of
relative democracy but it is losing its efficiency and it
needs to be updated. Therefore Uzbekistan's initiative will
be a real contribution to the democratic development of the
world."

-- Joseph Goldblatt, Vice President, Geneva International
Institute for Peace Studies

"...In a democratic society the public can sometimes ask
government 'too many questions'. Therefore, in my opinion,
what you are discussing, i.e. amending certain provisions of
the Constitution is very important for the future of the
country."

-- Prof. Albin Glovatsky, Lodz University (Poland)

"...It needs to be noted that the emergence of oppositional
factions amongst the political factions... confirms that the
leadership of the country is deeply interested in the
democratization of the state and society."


5. (C) Comment: Professor Glovatsky is half-correct: the
Government of Uzbekistan is deeply interested in appearing
deeply interested in democratization. The booklet reads like
a textbook on democracy-building and the creation of civil
society, suggesting yet again that the government is

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increasingly concerned with the rhetoric of democratic
politics. Unfortunately, it has yet to acquire the
underlying convictions. Although useful structural reforms
in the abstract, absent a true commitment to parliamentary
democracy and the rule of law they are as empty as the praise
contained in MFA's booklet.
HANSON