Visit of CODEL Faleomavaega to Uzbekistan

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TASHKENT 001053 SENSITIVE CODEL SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN, H FOR LYNNEA SHANE AND DELORES PARKS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OREP AMGT ASEC AFIN UZ SUBJECT: Visit of CODEL Faleomavaega to Uzbekistan REF: STATE 63913 ¶1. (SBU) Embassy Tashkent warmly welcomes CODEL Faleomavaega's visit to Uzbekistan. Post's point of contact for assistance with the trip is Political Officer Steven Prohaska, whose contact information is as follows: office telephone: 998-71-120-5450, ext. 2113, cell phone: 998-71-370-1466, unclassified email: prohaskasn@state.gov. An unclassified Uzbekistan scenesetter will follow shortly. Post has requested meetings for CODEL Faleomavaega with President Karimov, Foreign Minister Norov, and Deputy Prime Minister Shaismatov for June 29. ¶2. (SBU) Two rooms have been reserved for Congressman Faleomavaega and Staff Director Williams at the Intercontinental Hotel for the nights of June 27 and 28. The daily rate is 135 USD per night for each lux room, which is within authorized per diem lodging of 150 USD for Tashkent. The Intercontinental is located at 107a Amir Temur St. in Tashkent, telephone: 998-71-120-7000, fax: 998-71-120-6459. Taxes, service, and breakfast are included in this rate. The Intercontinental requests that any room reservation cancellations be conveyed before 6:00 pm on the day of arrival. Terrorism -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Supporters of terrorist groups such as the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Al-Qaida, the Islamic Jihad Union, and Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement are active in the region. Members of these groups have expressed anti-U.S. sentiments and have attacked U.S. Government interests in the past, including the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent, and may attempt to target U.S. Government or private American interests in Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan experienced a wave of terrorist violence in 2004 and a number of incidents have occurred since then. Most recently, in late May 2009 there was a shootout with unknown attackers at a police checkpoint in Khonobod and a suicide bombing at a police station in Andijon. Since then, the police and security presence on the streets of Tashkent has increased significantly. All Americans in Uzbekistan have been advised to remain vigilant to their surroundings and to REPORT any unusual occurrences. Crime -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Tashkent is a large city and has the same problems with crime as any other large city. Street crime does occur, but the police do not release such information to any Embassy or international organization. It does not appear that foreigners are targeted specifically. Post's Regional Security Office receives reports about confidence schemes and pick-pocketing. Health -------------- ¶5. (U) Food and waterborne diseases such as salmonella, hepatitis A and B, typhoid and meningitis are common. Travelers are advised to drink only bottled/boiled water and to eat only fruits and vegetables that have been cooked and peeled. Undercooked meat should be avoided as well. Due to poor sanitation, travelers should avoid eating uncooked dairy products and most food sold on the street. Make sure that immunizations for hepatitis, typhoid, meningities, polio, and tetanus are up to date before traveling to TASHKENT 00001053 002 OF 002 Post. NORLAND