UZBEKISTAN'S CAUTIOUS RESPONSE TO ZIMBABWE EVENTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000482

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM ZI UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN'S CAUTIOUS RESPONSE TO ZIMBABWE EVENTS

REF: A. STATE 34009

B. 06 TASHKENT 2036

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


1. (C) On March 26, Poloff delivered ref A demarche to Ismat
Fayzullayev, Director for U.S. Affairs at the Foreign
Ministry's Americas Department. Fayzullayev assured Poloff
that he would relay the information to the appropriate
officials. He stated that Uzbekistan is a "small country"
with few diplomatic ties to Africa. Nevertheless, he
expressed the hope that "international pressure will lead to
change" in Zimbabwe. He noted in particular Uzbekistan's
desire to participate in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa
and hoped that unrest would not affect the tournament.
Fayzullayev used the opportunity to encourage Poloff to read
Uzbekistan's response to our latest Human Rights Report, as
well as responses from the governments of China, Russia, and
Brazil.


2. (C) Comment: Post expects no substantive response from the
Uzbeks. Fayzullayev's comment about limited Uzbek diplomatic
ties to Africa is ironic, considering that the African Union
was a key constituency which Uzbek delegates targeted at the
most recent UN General Assembly in their efforts to defeat a
Third Committee resolution on Uzbekistan's human rights
record (ref B). It is likely that Uzbekistan regards
Zimbabwe as a natural ally in its effort to portray human
rights criticism as unwarranted interference in internal
affairs. However, raising the issue of Zimbabwe's attacks on
human rights serves to remind Uzbek officials that the United
States cares about such problems throughout the world.

PURNELL