Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TASHKENT1502
2008-12-23 09:49:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:
UZBEKISTAN: 2008 COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM
how-toVZCZCXRO3279 RR RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHSK RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHNT #1502 3580948 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 230949Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0146 INFO ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE CIS COLLECTIVE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
UNCLAS TASHKENT 001502
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SBU DELIBERATIVE PROCESS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN, S/CT FOR R. SHORE, NCTC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC EFIN KCRM KHLS UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: 2008 COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM
REF: a) STATE 120019
UNCLAS TASHKENT 001502
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SBU DELIBERATIVE PROCESS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN, S/CT FOR R. SHORE, NCTC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC EFIN KCRM KHLS UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: 2008 COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM
REF: a) STATE 120019
1. The Government of Uzbekistan did not provide safe haven for
terrorists or terrorist organizations and continued to work
aggressively to combat terrorist groups and other suspected Islamic
radicals. Nevertheless, widespread poverty and the government's
repressive security policies created conditions that religious
extremists could exploit. The government worked with international
organizations and other countries to strengthen border controls in
order to combat the transit of goods and people of concern across
Uzbekistan's borders. The Government of Uzbekistan also said that
it had conducted counter-terrorism operations, and
government-sponsored fora and media warned of the dangers of
terrorism and extremism.
2. Supporters of terrorist groups such as the Islamic Jihad Union
(IJU),the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU),the IMU-affiliated
East Turkistan Islamic Party, and other al-Qa'ida (AQ)-affiliated
groups were active in the region, and terrorist groups in the
region continued to target both the Government of Uzbekistan and
western interests. Members of these groups expressed anti-U.S.
sentiments and some have attacked U.S. interests in the past,
including a 2004 suicide bombing at the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent
conducted by the IJU.
3. The Government of Uzbekistan continued to pursue modest steps in
resuming counterterrorism cooperation with the United States. In
July, Uzbekistan joined the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear
Terrorism (GICNT) and participated in GICNT activities. Uzbekistan
discussed counterterrorism issues with high-ranking U.S. government
visitors. Uzbekistan also agreed to extend overflight rights for
commercial aircraft contracted by the U.S. Department of Defense,
and permitted overflights of such aircraft during the year.
4. In April, Uzbekistan joined the International Convention on the
Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism. The government also
participated in counterterrorism-themed UN Office of Drugs and
Crime (UNODC) activities. Uzbekistan hosts the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization's (SCO) Regional Antiterrorist Structure
(RATS). The SCO said it strengthened counterterrorism cooperation
among member states and vowed to strengthen the role of RATS.
Uzbekistan is a member of the Russian-led Collective Security
Treaty Organization (CSTO),which said it was devoting more
attention to counterterrorism efforts. Nonetheless, the Government
of Uzbekistan has not participated fully in SCO or CSTO exercises.
5. Embassy Point of Contact is Political Officer Steven Prohaska.
Email: @state.gov>
prohaskasn@state.gov. Phone: 998-71-120-5450.
NORLAND
To view the entire SMART message, go to URL http://repository.state.sgov.gov/_layouts/OSS SearchResults.aspx?k=messageid:8488fc26-b4bd- 4221-8030-3e5bec3db9e3
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SBU DELIBERATIVE PROCESS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN, S/CT FOR R. SHORE, NCTC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC EFIN KCRM KHLS UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: 2008 COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM
REF: a) STATE 120019
1. The Government of Uzbekistan did not provide safe haven for
terrorists or terrorist organizations and continued to work
aggressively to combat terrorist groups and other suspected Islamic
radicals. Nevertheless, widespread poverty and the government's
repressive security policies created conditions that religious
extremists could exploit. The government worked with international
organizations and other countries to strengthen border controls in
order to combat the transit of goods and people of concern across
Uzbekistan's borders. The Government of Uzbekistan also said that
it had conducted counter-terrorism operations, and
government-sponsored fora and media warned of the dangers of
terrorism and extremism.
2. Supporters of terrorist groups such as the Islamic Jihad Union
(IJU),the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU),the IMU-affiliated
East Turkistan Islamic Party, and other al-Qa'ida (AQ)-affiliated
groups were active in the region, and terrorist groups in the
region continued to target both the Government of Uzbekistan and
western interests. Members of these groups expressed anti-U.S.
sentiments and some have attacked U.S. interests in the past,
including a 2004 suicide bombing at the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent
conducted by the IJU.
3. The Government of Uzbekistan continued to pursue modest steps in
resuming counterterrorism cooperation with the United States. In
July, Uzbekistan joined the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear
Terrorism (GICNT) and participated in GICNT activities. Uzbekistan
discussed counterterrorism issues with high-ranking U.S. government
visitors. Uzbekistan also agreed to extend overflight rights for
commercial aircraft contracted by the U.S. Department of Defense,
and permitted overflights of such aircraft during the year.
4. In April, Uzbekistan joined the International Convention on the
Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism. The government also
participated in counterterrorism-themed UN Office of Drugs and
Crime (UNODC) activities. Uzbekistan hosts the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization's (SCO) Regional Antiterrorist Structure
(RATS). The SCO said it strengthened counterterrorism cooperation
among member states and vowed to strengthen the role of RATS.
Uzbekistan is a member of the Russian-led Collective Security
Treaty Organization (CSTO),which said it was devoting more
attention to counterterrorism efforts. Nonetheless, the Government
of Uzbekistan has not participated fully in SCO or CSTO exercises.
5. Embassy Point of Contact is Political Officer Steven Prohaska.
Email: @state.gov>
prohaskasn@state.gov. Phone: 998-71-120-5450.
NORLAND
To view the entire SMART message, go to URL http://repository.state.sgov.gov/_layouts/OSS SearchResults.aspx?k=messageid:8488fc26-b4bd- 4221-8030-3e5bec3db9e3