UZBEKISTAN: FOOD STAPLE EXPORTS -- MAYBE YES,

C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000612 SIPDIS STATE FOR EEB/TPP/ABT FOR AMY WINTON, EEB/TPP FOR MIKAEL LURIE, EEB/IFD/ODF FOR MARGO SIEMER E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2018 TAGS: ETRD EAGR ECON TBIO UZ SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: FOOD STAPLE EXPORTS -- MAYBE YES, MAYBE NO? REF: A. STATE 53353 ¶B. TASHKENT 591 Classified By: Poloff Robert McCutcheon for reasons 1.4 (b, d). ¶1. (SBU) We delivered food staple export points and aide-memoire (Ref A) on May 30 to the MFA's Amercas Desk Chief Ismat Fayzullaev, who had no immediate response. Fayzullaev promised to refer the issue to relevant agencies in the Uzbek Government. ¶2. (C) Although officially Uzbekistan has no export controls on food staple exports, there are rumors that unofficial controls exist. After recent consultations in Tashkent (Ref B),the International Monetary Fund told us it was unable to determine whether Uzbek authorities have instituted export controls. Some authorities say controls have been put in place, whereas others contradict this. When we asked him about these rumors, Fayzullaev had no response. ¶3. (C) World Bank (WB) country director for Uzbekistan Loup Brefort also is concerned about rumors of controls on food exports. Brefort told us the World Bank is in full agreement with our message to the Uzbek Government, and he said he would welcome an opportunity to deliver that message jointly at a higher level when an opportunity arrises. He suggested such an opportunity may present itself when the WB presents its 2008-2011 Country Assistance Plan for Uzbekistan. Brefort said this should happen in late June or July, and he asked that we keep him apprised of any reaction we receive from the MFA. NORLAND