FRANCE EVALUATING EU SANCTIONS ON UZBEKISTAN; FM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 000272

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR SCA/FO FOR CAITLIN HAYDEN, DAS EVAN FEIGANBAUM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PINR EU EUN UZ FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE EVALUATING EU SANCTIONS ON UZBEKISTAN; FM
KOUCHNER TO VISIT TASHKENT IN APRIL

REF: TASHKENT 177

Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR JOSIAH ROSENBLATT FOR REASO
NS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: France is currently working with its EU
partners to review the utility of ongoing EU sanctions on
Uzbekistan, MFA officials told us on February 12. The
sanctions come up for official review in May 2008. While
France does not believe that the Karimov regime has made a
radically positive shift, GOF officials do judge that some
recent moves by Tashkent provide an opportunity to move away
from isolation and towards increased dialogue. FM Kouchner
will visit Tashkent in April 2008 as part of a tour of
Central Asian capitals. In addition, France intends to
launch its EU Presidency's Central Asia strategy during a
meeting of their regional Ambassadors in Tashkent in July

2008. GOF officials would like further clarification of U.S.
engagement strategy with Uzbekistan, more information on
Congressional sanctions against Uzbekistan and would welcome
dialogue with the U.S. on strategic security issues in the
region. END SUMMARY

UZBEKISTAN & EU SANCTIONS
--------------


2. (C) Further implementation of the EU strategy on Central
Asia will be an important element of France's EU Presidency
according to several French government contacts. FM Kouchner
intends to visit all five Central Asian capitals in April
2008 as part of France's preparations for the Presidency. In
addition, France plans to host its five ambassadors to the
region in Tashkent in July 2008 (when France becomes EU
president) to call attention to the implementation of the
EU's Central Asia strategy. Choosing Tashkent, we are told,
is no accident. The GOF strongly believes that further
isolation of Uzbekistan is not in the interest of the
international community.


3. (C) While Paris is not prepared to say that France will
seek the full lifting of EU sanctions in May 2008 (when the
sanctions next come up for official review),it is clear that
an exhaustive evaluation with EU partners is now underway
(reftel). Pierre Morel, the EU's Special Representative for
Central Asia, was also in Paris this week to discuss, among
other things, Tashkent's progress on human rights issues.
(Note: Morel is a former French Ambassador and stays closely
connected to the French MFA.) MFA officials asked for
clarification of the U.S. position on engagement with
Uzbekistan and more information on U.S. Congressional
sanctions.


4. (C) Paris is pleased with Tashkent's recent release of six
political prisoners (particularly since the releases were
seen as a direct result of EU intervention),as well as
Uzbekistan's decision to suspend the death penalty. While
GOF officials say they do not see a radical shift by the
Karimov regime, they are cautiously optimistic that these
recent moves can provide an opportunity for increasing
dialogue and avoiding further isolation of a strategically
significant country in the region. GOF officials say human
rights issues remain extremely important for the EU, and note
that Tashkent is beginning to accept this reality. For
example, Karimov preemptively addressed the Andijan tragedy
himself during his last meeting with Morel. Though French
officials are moving away from isolation, many in the GOF
note that they remain attentive to Karimov's "paranoid and
unpredictable" behavior.

SECURITY FORUM
--------------


5. (C) It is worth noting that Tashkent (along with the other
four Central Asian countries) will also be invited to a
Ministerial level "Security Forum" that the French intend to
host in Paris in September 2008. The idea, as described by
GOF officials, is to create an EU/Central Asia dialogue on
strategic security issues, including energy security,
narcotics trafficking, human trafficking, environmental
issues, and Islamic extremism. Human rights issues will not
be ignored, and will have a role in the security talks, we
were told. The GOF is very interested in U.S.' strategic
thinking on Central Asia and would welcome further dialogue

PARIS 00000272 002 OF 002


with the U.S. on the way forward -- though preferably in the
immediate future. With only six months as the EU President,
France hopes to move quickly towards implementation after it
assumes the presidency, and is now in full preparation mode.

COMMENT
--------------


6. (C) While in the past France has largely left Central Asia
policy to the Germans, it is clear that the GOF intends to
play a larger role in Central Asia strategy during its
July-December 2008 EU Presidency. If the U.S. wants to
influence French thinking on Central Asia policy (in
particular on Uzbekistan, and regional security issues),the
coming 60 days appear to be the most crucial period for
engagement, i.e. ahead of FM Kouchner's visit to the region,
and before France formally takes up the Presidency on July 1,

2008.

Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm


PEKALA