UZBEKISTAN EAGER FOR U.S. ASSISTANCE TO SECURE

C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000860 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND PM CENTCOM FOR POLAD HENRY ENSHER E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL MASS MARR EAID PINS UZ SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN EAGER FOR U.S. ASSISTANCE TO SECURE KAGAN DISASTER ZONE REF: A. TASHKENT 855 ¶B. TASHKENT 794 ¶C. TASHKENT 802 ¶D. USDAO TASHKENT IIR 6 939 0079 08 Classified By: Political Officer Tim Buckley for reasons 1.4 (B,D) ¶1. (U) This is an action cable. Action requested is in paragraph 6. ¶2. (C) Summary: On July 22 the Ambassador met with President Islam Karimov, who expressed appreciation for and accepted the offer of U.S. assistance in securing unexploded ordnance following the explosion of a munitions depot in Kagan on July ¶10. Embassy Defense Attache (DATT) toured Kagan City on July 18 with Uzbek military District Commander General-Major Kabul Berdiyev, who conveyed the scale of the disaster -- 150 million rounds of ammunition were stored at the depot and many unexploded rounds were scattered over a 40 square kilometer zone and as far as 2.5 kilometers from the blast site. The Government of Uzbekistan has requested immediate assistance, including 150 metal detectors, 20 underwater detection devices (thousands of rounds of ordnance landed in a network of canals surrounding the depot),and 20 explosive ordnance disposal suits. Long-term assistance requests include clearing technologies and safe on-site disposal. This is a very sensitive issue for the Government of Uzbekistan due to concerns about loose ordnance falling into the wrong hands, and it believes the U.S. is best-suited to provide timely assistance. We believe it is in the U.S. interest to respond to this humanitarian and security crisis as soon as possible, and it offers an excellent opportunity to improve bilateral relations. End summary. Large-Scale Disaster -------------- ¶3. (C) On July 10 a series of massive explosions at a munitions dump rocked the city of Kagan, 12 kilometers southeast of Bukhara (refs B and C). On July 18 the DATT was invited to tour Kagan and meet with officials from the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Emergency Situations responsible for coordinating the Uzbek response on the scene. They provided background information and explained the massive scale of the disaster at the depot, where 150 million rounds of ammunition and ordnance from the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan were hastily deposited in 1989 (ref D). ¶4. (C) Despite the numerous powerful explosions, a significant number of unexploded rounds were widely scattered over a 40 square kilometer zone. Some rounds, perhaps numbering in the thousands, were propelled as far as 2.5 kilometers from the blast site, including in a residential neighborhood. Authorities assume a large quantity of shells landed in a series of discharge canals (not linked to the drinking water supply) surrounding the territory of the depot. The largest concentration of unexploded rounds is inside the perimeter of the depot, where the force of the explosions buried them up to 1.5 meters into the ground. The Uzbek authorities are extremely concerned about the potentially enormous amount of unsecured ammunition spread throughout the area for security and public health reasons. (Note: The DATT observed that, contrary to initial rumors, that structures in Kagan City are intact; this includes the main Bukhara train station, where service has apparently resumed. End note.) President Accepts U.S. Offer of Assistance -------------- ¶5. (C) In a meeting on July 22 President Karimov accepted the offer of U.S. assistance in responding to the disaster (ref A) and appreciated American willingness to cooperate. Although the Government of Uzbekistan initially expressed gratitude but declined the offer of assistance, once officials on the ground fully comprehended the scale of the disaster at hand they urged authorities in Tashkent to reconsider. The U.S. is the only country to have proposed assistance thus far; the Germans requested access to the site but have not received a response. What Help Do the Uzbeks Need? -------------- ¶6. (C) The Government of Uzbekistan is requesting an immediate assistance package that includes 150 land metal detectors, 50 underwater detection devices, and 20 explosive ordnance disposal suits for personnel. Presently, teams of Uzbek personnel are literally combing through the ground on their hands and knees, and Berdiyev conceded that "there have already been some accidents." Long-term assistance requested by the Uzbeks includes clearing technologies and safe on-site disposal for the vast quantity of ordnance. An important short-term goal is to completely clear the one residential neighborhood -- dubbed "Little Persia" for its ethnic Iranian inhabitants -- before the start of the school year in September when residents are expected to return. Berdiyev told DATT that, realistically, a full year of intense clean-up efforts will be required. Post strongly supports providing whatever assistance is possible. Uzbeks Wary of Russian Assistance -------------- ¶7. (C) Berdiev underscored how seriously the Uzbeks are treating the situation and there is concern that, if the Russians were involved in cleaning up and securing the disaster zone, the information would be leaked to the media. Berdiev explained that the main reason for clamping down on the press is to give authorities time to secure the ordnance without alerting members of extremist groups to the potential opportunity to salvage dangerous military equipment. Comment: -------------- ¶8. (C) President Karimov's acceptance of the U.S. offer of assistance, in a reversal of his initial response, presents a major opportunity for the U.S. to improve our bilateral relations. The Uzbek concerns about the unexploded ordnance as a public health and security threat also coincide with U.S. interests in Central Asia. Even if just one percent of the 150 million rounds of ordnance scattered across the depot and in parts of nearby Kagan City are still intact, that would mean 1.5 million rounds of live ordnance are unsecured and unaccounted for. BUTCHER