Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TASHKENT439
2007-03-16 11:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:
MERCY CORPS TO CLOSE IN UZBEKISTAN; JDA LOSES TAX
how-toVZCZCXRO7603 PP RUEHDBU DE RUEHNT #0439 0751128 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 161128Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7219 INFO RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 2618 RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 8702 RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 3208 RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 3083 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 7024 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1954
UNCLAS TASHKENT 000439
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN AND EUR/ACE
ASTANA ALSO FOR USAID
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID UZ
SUBJECT: MERCY CORPS TO CLOSE IN UZBEKISTAN; JDA LOSES TAX
CASE
REF: A. TASHKENT 203
B. 06 TASHKENT 2402
Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly.
-------------------------
Mercy Corps to Shut Down
-------------------------
UNCLAS TASHKENT 000439
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN AND EUR/ACE
ASTANA ALSO FOR USAID
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID UZ
SUBJECT: MERCY CORPS TO CLOSE IN UZBEKISTAN; JDA LOSES TAX
CASE
REF: A. TASHKENT 203
B. 06 TASHKENT 2402
Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly.
--------------
Mercy Corps to Shut Down
--------------
1. (SBU) On March 3, Mercy Corps International informed USAID
that it intended to close down its operations in Uzbekistan.
Mercy Corps made the decision in light of the government's
ongoing tax case against the organization (reftels). The tax
case, combined with the government's failure to adopt
implementing regulations for its microfinance law, has
resulted in a virtual stop to Mercy Corps activities. Mercy
Corps currently is unable to legally transfer funds into
Uzbekistan and had been using money already in country to
support its tax case appeal and otherwise keep its programs
alive. These funds are quickly drying up, however, forcing
Mercy Corps to begin closing down, pending resolution of the
tax case.
--------------
JDA Will Not Appeal Tax Case Loss
--------------
2. (SBU) Joint Development Associates told poloff on March 13
that it had lost its case in Tashkent City Economic Court
earlier that day. The organization had been cautiously
optimistic that it would prevail, but as with earlier
verdicts against Mercy Corps and the Foundation for
International Community Assistance (FINCA),the court ruled
that Joint Development Associates is liable for the full
amount of tax penalties assessed against it. The
organization, which has been trying to voluntarily liquidate
since August, has decided not to appeal the verdict. It has
successfully moved most of its assets out of Uzbekistan, and
plans to allow itself to be declared bankrupt for nonpayment
of the tax penalties.
--------------
Comment: Two Down
--------------
3. (SBU) The decisions by Mercy Corps and Joint Development
Associates effectively end two of the four tax cases against
U.S. microfinance organizations. Post expects that the
future holds similar results for the remaining cases as well.
As in previous cases, the real losers in these cases will be
the ordinary people, particularly in the rural areas of the
country, who will no longer have ready access to microfinance
loans.
PURNELL
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN AND EUR/ACE
ASTANA ALSO FOR USAID
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID UZ
SUBJECT: MERCY CORPS TO CLOSE IN UZBEKISTAN; JDA LOSES TAX
CASE
REF: A. TASHKENT 203
B. 06 TASHKENT 2402
Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly.
--------------
Mercy Corps to Shut Down
--------------
1. (SBU) On March 3, Mercy Corps International informed USAID
that it intended to close down its operations in Uzbekistan.
Mercy Corps made the decision in light of the government's
ongoing tax case against the organization (reftels). The tax
case, combined with the government's failure to adopt
implementing regulations for its microfinance law, has
resulted in a virtual stop to Mercy Corps activities. Mercy
Corps currently is unable to legally transfer funds into
Uzbekistan and had been using money already in country to
support its tax case appeal and otherwise keep its programs
alive. These funds are quickly drying up, however, forcing
Mercy Corps to begin closing down, pending resolution of the
tax case.
--------------
JDA Will Not Appeal Tax Case Loss
--------------
2. (SBU) Joint Development Associates told poloff on March 13
that it had lost its case in Tashkent City Economic Court
earlier that day. The organization had been cautiously
optimistic that it would prevail, but as with earlier
verdicts against Mercy Corps and the Foundation for
International Community Assistance (FINCA),the court ruled
that Joint Development Associates is liable for the full
amount of tax penalties assessed against it. The
organization, which has been trying to voluntarily liquidate
since August, has decided not to appeal the verdict. It has
successfully moved most of its assets out of Uzbekistan, and
plans to allow itself to be declared bankrupt for nonpayment
of the tax penalties.
--------------
Comment: Two Down
--------------
3. (SBU) The decisions by Mercy Corps and Joint Development
Associates effectively end two of the four tax cases against
U.S. microfinance organizations. Post expects that the
future holds similar results for the remaining cases as well.
As in previous cases, the real losers in these cases will be
the ordinary people, particularly in the rural areas of the
country, who will no longer have ready access to microfinance
loans.
PURNELL