Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TASHKENT1133
2008-10-03 13:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:
UZBEK MFA DENIES COLLUSION WITH RUSSIA ON MANAS
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C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 001133
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEK MFA DENIES COLLUSION WITH RUSSIA ON MANAS
REF: BISHKEK 1002
Classified By: P-E Chief Nicholas Berliner for reasons 1.4 b and d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 001133
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEK MFA DENIES COLLUSION WITH RUSSIA ON MANAS
REF: BISHKEK 1002
Classified By: P-E Chief Nicholas Berliner for reasons 1.4 b and d.
1. (C) Ambassador met with Uzbek MFA Americas Department
Director Takhir Mamadjanov on October 3 to urge the
Government of Uzbekistan not to allow the future of Manas Air
Base to be questioned during the upcoming CIS Summit.
Ambassador underscored the importance of Manas to Coalition
operations in Afghanistan and said that he was sure that the
GOU would take no steps to threaten its continued operations,
despite rumors of Russian pressure to get involved in this
issue in exchange for support on trans-border water issues.
Mamadjanov categorically denied that Uzbekistan was even
discussing what he termed an entirely internal policy
question of a neighboring state. He said that Uzbekistan
conducts its foreign policy on a bilateral basis and does not
conduct such "third party" diplomacy. Manas was an issue
between the U.S. and Kyrgystan, he said.
2. (C) Comment: Numerous sources in Tashkent point to
strains in relations between Russia and Uzbekistan following
events in Georgia. If anything, the GOU has sought to strike
a more balanced posture between Russia and the U.S. since
August. Other contacts here have also said that Russia has
not played an important role in the regional water disputes,
apart from the commercial interests of its companies to
construct hydro electric power stations, deals that the GOU
is adamantly opposed to. We therefore judge it unlikely that
Uzbekistan would conspire with Russia in such a facile manner
to undermine the U.S. position in Manas. It is also important
to keep in mind the background of bilateral tensions between
Uzbekistan and Kyrgystan over water and natural gas, which
intensify with the approach of winter.
NORLAND
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEK MFA DENIES COLLUSION WITH RUSSIA ON MANAS
REF: BISHKEK 1002
Classified By: P-E Chief Nicholas Berliner for reasons 1.4 b and d.
1. (C) Ambassador met with Uzbek MFA Americas Department
Director Takhir Mamadjanov on October 3 to urge the
Government of Uzbekistan not to allow the future of Manas Air
Base to be questioned during the upcoming CIS Summit.
Ambassador underscored the importance of Manas to Coalition
operations in Afghanistan and said that he was sure that the
GOU would take no steps to threaten its continued operations,
despite rumors of Russian pressure to get involved in this
issue in exchange for support on trans-border water issues.
Mamadjanov categorically denied that Uzbekistan was even
discussing what he termed an entirely internal policy
question of a neighboring state. He said that Uzbekistan
conducts its foreign policy on a bilateral basis and does not
conduct such "third party" diplomacy. Manas was an issue
between the U.S. and Kyrgystan, he said.
2. (C) Comment: Numerous sources in Tashkent point to
strains in relations between Russia and Uzbekistan following
events in Georgia. If anything, the GOU has sought to strike
a more balanced posture between Russia and the U.S. since
August. Other contacts here have also said that Russia has
not played an important role in the regional water disputes,
apart from the commercial interests of its companies to
construct hydro electric power stations, deals that the GOU
is adamantly opposed to. We therefore judge it unlikely that
Uzbekistan would conspire with Russia in such a facile manner
to undermine the U.S. position in Manas. It is also important
to keep in mind the background of bilateral tensions between
Uzbekistan and Kyrgystan over water and natural gas, which
intensify with the approach of winter.
NORLAND