UPDATE ON USG MILITARY ASSISTANCE FOR UZBEKISTAN

UNCLAS TASHKENT 000958 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR P/M MARK ADAMS AND PETE VILLANO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR EAID UZ SUBJECT: UPDATE ON USG MILITARY ASSISTANCE FOR UZBEKISTAN MUNITIONS CLEAN-UP REF: A. TASHKENT 917 ¶B. TASHKENT 901 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED -- PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY ¶1. (SBU) Per reftels the Government of Uzbekistan accepted the USG offer to provide assistance in the aftermath of powerful explosions at the munitions depot in Kagan, Bukhara Province. As of August 19 the Defense Attache Office (DATT) confirmed that 187 detection devices and 6 underwater detectors are palletized in Kuwait awaiting shipment. A five-person team of U.S. Army experts who will train Uzbek counterparts in the proper use of the equipment is also assembled in Kuwait. ¶2. (SBU) The personnel and equipment will be flown on a C-130 aircraft directly to Bukhara Airport via Afghanistan by August 22. The DATT is requesting flight clearance on August 19 and expects the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense to immediately grant approval. Visas for U.S. personnel have been authorized in Tashkent but will have to be obtained at the Uzbek Embassy in Kuwait, which has limited operating hours. Two U.S. Army facilitators are already on the ground in Bukhara to coordinate the arrival of the C-130 aircraft and will be joined by the Air Attache to meet the flight. ¶3. (SBU) The Uzbek military also requested 20 protective explosive ordnance disposal suits, which will be delivered at a later date since none are presently in stock and they must be specially ordered and manufactured. The 187 detectors exceeds the 150 figure requested by the Government of Uzbekistan, which will help equip the newly created Uzbek sapper units and prepare them to effectively respond to future incidents. BUTCHER