RED CROSS INSISTS ON DIALOGUE BEFORE RESTARTING

C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 002150 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2017 TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV UZ SUBJECT: RED CROSS INSISTS ON DIALOGUE BEFORE RESTARTING PRISON VISITS REF: TASHKENT 2066 Classified By: Ambassador Richard Norland for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) Summary: Ambassador met on December 14 with International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Head of Regional Delegation in Central Asia Yves Giovannoni and Country Director Rafaello Muller. They noted the GOU seems eager for ICRC to restart prison visits immediately, but has made no movement towards meeting ICRC's core demand --to conduct serious dialogue based on the findings of previous rounds of visits. Giovannoni emphasized that, after seven frustrating years working in Uzbekistan, ICRC is adamant that the GOU take its previous recommendations seriously before conducting new prison visits. Giovannoni again expressed his deep appreciation for post's advocacy but said ICRC will not participate in any joint meetings with GOU and U.S. diplomats, since this is contrary to its SOP and could jeopardize its neutrality. We expect meetings between ICRC and GOU will resume in January, and we will need to keep pushing both sides to find a solution that permits effective prison visits aimed at stopping torture and abuse. End summary. Uzbeks Offer Prison Visits -------------- ¶2. (C) The Ambassador met on December 14 with Giovannoni and Muller to follow up on the latest developments between ICRC and the GOU. Giovannoni reported that FM Norov personally discussed the issue of prison visit access with the ICRC Vice President on the margins of the recent UN-sponsored Conference on International Cooperation for Preventive Diplomacy in Ashgabat. Echoing other high level GOU officials in the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD),Norov urged visits to restart "tomorrow" and promised unlimited access to prisons. He was reportedly very friendly and the ICRC Vice President noted he "was very keen on constructing a relationship." Giovannoni noted that Ambassador Norland's November 20 meeting with President Karimov had apparently had some affect in galvanizing MFA on this issue. Seven Years and Still No Dialogue -------------- ¶3. (C) However, Giovannoni noted that ICRC "does not take these offers at face value." The ICRC representatives recounted that, while prison visits were suspended only in December 2004, ICRC's dissatisfaction and frustration with the GOU dates to 2000, when the agreement was signed. ICRC submitted its most recent report with recommendations in summer 2006 and has still not received any feedback, nor has the GOU agreed to any substantive dialogue. An attempt to restart prison visits in May 2007 fell apart in mutual acrimony and distrust. Giovannoni reiterated that "the dialogue is just not there, and we first need to establish this." The GOU says the ball is in ICRC's court in restarting prison visits, but the ICRC's stance is that "visits themselves are not enough." Rather, ICRC wants the GOU "to take our recommendations seriously." We'll Meet On Our Own, Thank You -------------- ¶4. (C) In response to the Ambassador's strong advocacy for the ICRC and human rights in general, the MFA contacted post about arranging a meeting between MFA, MVD, ICRC, and emboffs. This further demonstrates the GOU's eagerness for ICRC to conduct visits as soon as possible. However, upon hearing this from the Ambassador, Giovannoni immediately said ICRC will decline any meeting with the GOU that includes diplomats from individual states parties, which he said could jeopardize the organization's political neutrality. As noted in reftel, the ICRC now enjoys easier access to GOU officials as a result of post's proactive advocacy, but ICRC is adamant about using this opportunity to secure "guarantees on modality commitments and follow-up" activities from the GOU. Giovannoni expressed ICRC's appreciation for the Embassy's strong continued support. Comment -------------- ¶5. (C) The ICRC representatives said their organization had been patient for many difficult years, and we believe its hardline stance is understandable. It wants to leverage this long-awaited opportunity to hold the GOU's feet to the fire on establishing a meaningful prison assessment program and at the same time avoid being used as an expedient pawn to shore up Uzbekistan's image on human rights. That said, unless meetings take place, this opportunity may be lost. We will continue to urge both sides to engage productively, once the ICRC country rep returns from his Christmas holiday in mid-January. NORLAND