EMBASSY TASHKENT COMMENTS ON OSCE BORDER

UNCLAS TASHKENT 000793 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND EUR/RPM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PBTS OSCE UZ SUBJECT: EMBASSY TASHKENT COMMENTS ON OSCE BORDER ASSESSMENT OF CENTRAL ASIAN STATES REF: A. USOSCE 00154 ¶B. ALLEN-SCOTT 3/14/07 EMAIL ¶1. Enhancing Uzbekistan's capabilities to control its borders and interdict the illicit movement of people, narcotics, and weapons of mass destruction-related items is one of Post's highest priorities. Border security also remains an area in which the Government of Uzbekistan appears willing to accept, albeit on its own very restrictive terms, continued U.S. engagement. To date, most international assistance has been focused on the lone land border crossing between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan at the Friendship Bridge. Such assistance has resulted in the creation of a Port of Entry generally considered to be among the most modern border posts in Central Asia. In our view, the work at this border crossing is largely done; additional attention may be warranted at nearby rail and river ports. ¶2. Post welcomes increased OSCE attention to the border situation in Uzbekistan and other Central Asian states. However, we note that there have been many different border assessments conducted over the years and recommend strongly that the OSCE study not replicate what has already been done. From our perspective, it would be more useful to use the OSCE assessment to get a clear picture of what has already been done and what gaps remain to be filled to implement recommendations from earlier border assessments. In particular, Post hopes that the OSCE assessment will focus heavily on whether Uzbekistan and other Central Asian states have made use of previous assistance by effectively integrating equipment provided into daily border operations and by institutionalizing training in their border service academies. From our perspective, it also would be useful to obtain a better understanding of the relationships between Uzbek border services and those of neighboring countries, and identifying obstacles to greater cooperation. Finally, we need to be more proactive in getting Uzbekistan and its neighbors to do more to deter the shipment of narcotics precursor chemicals to Afghanistan, including through targeted training and providing specialized equipment as appropriate. PURNELL