A CORDIAL, UNINTERESTING VISIT FOR OSCE CHAIRMAN;

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TASHKENT 000806

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV OSCE UZ
SUBJECT: A CORDIAL, UNINTERESTING VISIT FOR OSCE CHAIRMAN;
KARIMOV AGAIN STATES USG INVOLVED IN ANDIJON


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


1. (C) Summary: The Chairman-in-Office of the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE),Miguel Angel
Moratinos, held cordial, but seemingly unexceptional meetings
with Uzbek officials. The Uzbeks expressed satisfaction with
the current OSCE mission, but criticized alleged OSCE double
standards. Moratinos stressed the need for both sides to
cooperate and work together, especially to reestablish the
trust broken with the events in Andijon. President Karimov
reportedly told Moratinos that he still believes the United
States supported terrorist groups which instigated the 2005
Andijon violence. While this visit demonstrates the Uzbeks'
willingness to have a dialogue with the OSCE, the lack of
concrete progress points to Uzbekistan's continuing
resistance to cooperate efficiently and across all
dimensions. End summary.


2. (C) The Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Spanish Foreign
Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, visited Tashkent on April
12-13. He met with President Karimov, Foreign Minister
Norov, Speaker of the Oliy Majlis (Parliament) Khalilov,
NGOs, civil society groups and the OSCE Project Coordinator's
Office (PCO). OSCE Ambassador Miroslav Jenca briefed local
ambassadors April 13 on the results of the visit.


3. (C) Jenca said Moratinos left with a positive impression.
He told the Uzbeks everyone understands that the OSCE needs
reform, but he hoped the Uzbeks would make positive
contributions to the discussion. Moratinos also acknowledged
Uzbek criticism of the Office for Democratic Institutions and
Human Rights (ODIHR),but said such should be better
communicated through closer cooperation with the OSCE to find
a mutually acceptable solution to Uzbekistan's concerns. He
added that ODIHR is ready to support Uzbekistan's election
process.

Official Meetings
--------------


4. (C) Moratinos met with President Karimov on April 12 for
two and a half hours. Jenca characterized the meeting as a
true dialogue where each listened to the other and understood
that both sides needed to move forward. This contrasted with
his meeting with Foreign Minister Norov, who was not as
willing to listen and discuss. The Chairman thanked
Uzbekistan for its support in international efforts in
Afghanistan. In his meetings with NGOs, specific human
rights cases were not mentioned. The main focus was on how
the OSCE can support the remaining NGOs.


5. (C) In a later discussion over lunch April 18, Ambassador
Jenca told a group of ambassadors that Moratinos' meeting
with Karimov included some discussion of the May 2005 Andijon
violence. Karimov, according to Jenca, told Moratinos that
he believes foreign terrorist groups planned and instigated
the events with support from the United States and other
countries. (Comment: This statement is a deeply
disappointing confirmation that Karimov--and, by extension,
the government--still hides behind the absurd idea, most
likely generated by his own security apparatus, that the
United States is conspiring with terrorist organizations to
overthrow his regime. End comment.)

Future PCO-Uzbek Cooperation
--------------


5. (C) The Uzbeks told Moratinos that the government had
approved all 13 project proposals that the PCO submitted to
the MFA in January. The officials said Uzbekistan is
satisfied with the current PCO's structure, implying that new
mandate negotiations are unnecessary. Moratinos responded
that it is important that the PCO work in all three
dimensions to achieve balance, and that the Uzbeks need to
take concrete actions to make progress in its relationship
with the OSCE. The Uzbeks criticized the OSCE for allegedly
applying double standards. Officials noted that in some
countries OSCE election monitors were not allowed inside
voting stations. They added their canned phrase that one
cannot apply the rest of the world's standards to Uzbekistan.
The Chairman encouraged Parliament speaker Khalilov to take
an active part in the OSCE's Parliamentary structure.


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Andijon and the EU
--------------


6. (C) Uzbek officials repeated the argument that
Uzbekistan's position and views on Andijon have been ignored.
The Chairman responded that the OSCE needs to ensure it has
the right mechanisms to sustain a dialogue on such issues,
but both sides need to make an effort. He said both sides
should draw appropriate lessons and continue to work together
against terrorism. Moratinos mentioned that as a result of
the events in Andijon, a strong sense of mistrust has
developed between Uzbekistan and many other OSCE states.

Comment
--------------


7. (C) While this visit appears to have been useful to keep
open a dialogue with the Uzbeks, Jenca did not note anything
groundbreaking. We already know the Uzbeks do not like ODIHR
and they have criticized the OSCE's alleged double standards
numerous times before. It is likely that the Uzbeks timed
the approval of the local OSCE projects in order to bring
something to the table in their meetings with Moratinos.

PURNELL