Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TASHKENT301
2008-03-10 12:17:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:
UZBEKISTAN: RESPONSE TO UNSCR 1803 DEMARCHE
how-toVZCZCXRO0211 PP RUEHDE DE RUEHNT #0301 0701217 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 101217Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9360 INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0956 RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU 0534 RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 4424 RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 0173 RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 0022 RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 3808 RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0302 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0283 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0327 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0257 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 4010 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 2280 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
S E C R E T TASHKENT 000301
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NOFORN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2033
TAGS: PREL IAEA KNNP MNUC PARM IR UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: RESPONSE TO UNSCR 1803 DEMARCHE
REF: A. STATE 21770
B. STATE 19200
C. TASHKENT 139 AND PREVIOUS (NOTAL)
Classified By: P/E Chief Ted Burkhalter; reasons 1.4 (b, d).
S E C R E T TASHKENT 000301
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NOFORN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2033
TAGS: PREL IAEA KNNP MNUC PARM IR UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: RESPONSE TO UNSCR 1803 DEMARCHE
REF: A. STATE 21770
B. STATE 19200
C. TASHKENT 139 AND PREVIOUS (NOTAL)
Classified By: P/E Chief Ted Burkhalter; reasons 1.4 (b, d).
1. (S/NF) Ambassador delivered ref A demarche on Iranian
nuclear activities March 7 to Oybek Eshonov, Head of the
MFA's Department of Asian and African Countries. Eshonov
underscored Uzbekistan's concerns about Tehran, saying that
reform is stalled, the economy is sinking and Ahmadinejad is
unpopular. He expressed concern about the possibility of a
military confrontation with Iran and asked about recent
U.S.-Iranian negotiations over Iraq. Eshonov underscored the
political and economic predicaments Uzbekistan faces when
dealing with Iran. Iranian President Ahmadinejad has never
traveled to Uzbekistan, nor has Uzbek President Karimov
traveled to Iran, he said. Yet the two countries' foreign
ministers continue to meet with one another regularly,
carrying on as best they can. On trade relations, he pointed
to Uzbekistan's recent seizure of RADIOACTIVE material, that
the Uzbeks say was destined for Iran (ref C). He said that
Uzbekistan strives to remain fully transparent in its
enforcement duties. At the same time, he alluded to
Uzbekistan's heavy dependence on overland shipments passing
through Iran. Uzbekistan is a double landlocked country
bordered to the south and east by Afghanistan and high
mountains. Its major trade routes pass through Russia and
Iran. Eshonov obliquely questioned the U.S. commitment to
economically isolating Iran, saying that we have over 100
million USD per year in trade with Iran. He thought that
this weakened U.S. efforts to convince third countries to
interpret UNSCR 1737 and 1747 more broadly. He added that
Iran has no air cargo operations in Uzbekistan.
2. (C) Ambassador emphasized that the United States also
wishes to avoid a military confrontation with Iran. He
pointed out that the P5 1 Foreign Ministers' statement again
made clear that we recognize Iran's right to nuclear energy
for peaceful purposes. However, Iran must end its
enrichment-related and reprocessing activities and meet its
international obligations.
NORLAND
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NOFORN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2033
TAGS: PREL IAEA KNNP MNUC PARM IR UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: RESPONSE TO UNSCR 1803 DEMARCHE
REF: A. STATE 21770
B. STATE 19200
C. TASHKENT 139 AND PREVIOUS (NOTAL)
Classified By: P/E Chief Ted Burkhalter; reasons 1.4 (b, d).
1. (S/NF) Ambassador delivered ref A demarche on Iranian
nuclear activities March 7 to Oybek Eshonov, Head of the
MFA's Department of Asian and African Countries. Eshonov
underscored Uzbekistan's concerns about Tehran, saying that
reform is stalled, the economy is sinking and Ahmadinejad is
unpopular. He expressed concern about the possibility of a
military confrontation with Iran and asked about recent
U.S.-Iranian negotiations over Iraq. Eshonov underscored the
political and economic predicaments Uzbekistan faces when
dealing with Iran. Iranian President Ahmadinejad has never
traveled to Uzbekistan, nor has Uzbek President Karimov
traveled to Iran, he said. Yet the two countries' foreign
ministers continue to meet with one another regularly,
carrying on as best they can. On trade relations, he pointed
to Uzbekistan's recent seizure of RADIOACTIVE material, that
the Uzbeks say was destined for Iran (ref C). He said that
Uzbekistan strives to remain fully transparent in its
enforcement duties. At the same time, he alluded to
Uzbekistan's heavy dependence on overland shipments passing
through Iran. Uzbekistan is a double landlocked country
bordered to the south and east by Afghanistan and high
mountains. Its major trade routes pass through Russia and
Iran. Eshonov obliquely questioned the U.S. commitment to
economically isolating Iran, saying that we have over 100
million USD per year in trade with Iran. He thought that
this weakened U.S. efforts to convince third countries to
interpret UNSCR 1737 and 1747 more broadly. He added that
Iran has no air cargo operations in Uzbekistan.
2. (C) Ambassador emphasized that the United States also
wishes to avoid a military confrontation with Iran. He
pointed out that the P5 1 Foreign Ministers' statement again
made clear that we recognize Iran's right to nuclear energy
for peaceful purposes. However, Iran must end its
enrichment-related and reprocessing activities and meet its
international obligations.
NORLAND