UZBEKS SAY THAT U.S. FUNDING WOULD MAKE

UNCLAS TASHKENT 000808 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MNUC ENRG PARM KNNP UZ SUBJECT: UZBEKS SAY THAT U.S. FUNDING WOULD MAKE PARTICIPATION IN NUCLEAR FORENSICS EXPERTS MEETING EASIER REF: A. STATE 04322 ¶B. TASHKENT 523 Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) Poloff delivered ref A information on April 19 to Ilkhom Zakirov, Chief of the MFA UN and International Organizations Department. Zakirov said that Uzbekistan supports global efforts to prevent nuclear smuggling and will consider sending experts to take part in the June Nuclear Smuggling International Technical Working Group Meeting. He added that the chances of a positive Uzbek response would go up if the U.S. or another country agreed to provide financial support for Uzbekistan's participation. ¶2. (SBU) Zakirov said that the Government of Uzbekistan is still considering the joint U.S.-Russian invitation to join the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, but has not reached a final decision. He was hopeful that an answer will be forthcoming in time for the Global Initiative's Astana meeting. PURNELL