Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TASHKENT176
2008-02-08 11:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH REOPENS IN TASHKENT
how-toVZCZCXYZ0008 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHNT #0176 0391155 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 081155Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9204 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 3733 RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 9943 RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 4347 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0205 RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 0089 RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0225 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 3934 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 2202 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0289 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0993 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0132 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2326 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000176
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL UZ
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH REOPENS IN TASHKENT
REF: A. TASHKENT 167 (NOTAL)
B. 07 TASHKENT 1345 (NOTAL)
Classified By: POLOFF R. FITZMAURICE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000176
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL UZ
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH REOPENS IN TASHKENT
REF: A. TASHKENT 167 (NOTAL)
B. 07 TASHKENT 1345 (NOTAL)
Classified By: POLOFF R. FITZMAURICE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D)
1. (SBU) Human Rights Watch (HRW) reopened its Tashkent
office with the arrival of its new Uzbekistan country
director, Igor Vorontsov, on February 6, shortly after a
visit by EU Commission members to Tashkent (ref A). As a
Russian citizen (from Saint Petersburg),Vorontsov did not
need a visa to enter Uzbekistan, but he will eventually need
to receive accreditation from the Ministry of Justice to live
and work in Uzbekistan. Though still a registered
organization in Uzbekistan, HRW was forced to temporarily
close its Tashkent office in July 2007 after its last
expatriate staff member was refused accreditation (ref B).
2. (C) POLOFF spoke briefly over the phone with Vorontsov on
February 8, who arrive safely in Tashkent on February 6 and
so far has not experienced any difficulties. Vorontsov was
accompanied by Giorgi Gogia, a HRW researcher from Georgia,
who also worked temporarily in HRW's Tashkent office this
past summer before it was closed. POLOFF and Pol-Econ Chief
will be meeting with Voronstov on February 11.
3. (C) Comment: The Uzbeks have taken several steps in the
past month on improving human rights (septel) and are acutely
aware of both of the EU sanctions debate and new U.S.
legislation, signed by the President in December 2007,
threatening a visa ban. Human Rights Watch has called for
continued EU "pressure" on Uzbekistan, but in its dealings
with us, it has shown itself willing at least to consider
arguments that change is occurring and on balance that
sanctions do more harm than good.
NORLAND
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL UZ
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH REOPENS IN TASHKENT
REF: A. TASHKENT 167 (NOTAL)
B. 07 TASHKENT 1345 (NOTAL)
Classified By: POLOFF R. FITZMAURICE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D)
1. (SBU) Human Rights Watch (HRW) reopened its Tashkent
office with the arrival of its new Uzbekistan country
director, Igor Vorontsov, on February 6, shortly after a
visit by EU Commission members to Tashkent (ref A). As a
Russian citizen (from Saint Petersburg),Vorontsov did not
need a visa to enter Uzbekistan, but he will eventually need
to receive accreditation from the Ministry of Justice to live
and work in Uzbekistan. Though still a registered
organization in Uzbekistan, HRW was forced to temporarily
close its Tashkent office in July 2007 after its last
expatriate staff member was refused accreditation (ref B).
2. (C) POLOFF spoke briefly over the phone with Vorontsov on
February 8, who arrive safely in Tashkent on February 6 and
so far has not experienced any difficulties. Vorontsov was
accompanied by Giorgi Gogia, a HRW researcher from Georgia,
who also worked temporarily in HRW's Tashkent office this
past summer before it was closed. POLOFF and Pol-Econ Chief
will be meeting with Voronstov on February 11.
3. (C) Comment: The Uzbeks have taken several steps in the
past month on improving human rights (septel) and are acutely
aware of both of the EU sanctions debate and new U.S.
legislation, signed by the President in December 2007,
threatening a visa ban. Human Rights Watch has called for
continued EU "pressure" on Uzbekistan, but in its dealings
with us, it has shown itself willing at least to consider
arguments that change is occurring and on balance that
sanctions do more harm than good.
NORLAND