Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TASHKENT1279
2009-07-22 12:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:
Uzbekistan Responds to Afghanistan Demarche
how-toVZCZCXRO3460 RR RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW DE RUEHNT #1279 2031257 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 221259Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1185 INFO ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE CIS COLLECTIVE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/CDR USTRANSCOM SCOTT AFB IL RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RHMFISS/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEHHE/AMEMBASSY HELSINKI 0088 RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 001279
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN, S/SRAP FOR KAREN HANRAHAN, SCA/A FOR ARIELLA
VIEHE, AND EUR/RPM FOR AARON COPE
AMEMBASSY ASTANA PASS TO USOFFICE ALMATY
AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PASS TO AMCONSUL ST PETERSBURG
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL VLADIVOSTOK
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL YEKATERINBURG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/07/22
TAGS: PREL NATO MOPS MARR PGOV AF UZ
SUBJECT: Uzbekistan Responds to Afghanistan Demarche
REF: STATE 74362
CLASSIFIED BY: Steven Prohaska, Second Secretary, State, Pol-Econ;
REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 001279
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN, S/SRAP FOR KAREN HANRAHAN, SCA/A FOR ARIELLA
VIEHE, AND EUR/RPM FOR AARON COPE
AMEMBASSY ASTANA PASS TO USOFFICE ALMATY
AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PASS TO AMCONSUL ST PETERSBURG
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL VLADIVOSTOK
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL YEKATERINBURG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/07/22
TAGS: PREL NATO MOPS MARR PGOV AF UZ
SUBJECT: Uzbekistan Responds to Afghanistan Demarche
REF: STATE 74362
CLASSIFIED BY: Steven Prohaska, Second Secretary, State, Pol-Econ;
REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (C) On July 22, Charge d'Affaires and Poloff delivered reftel
demarche on assistance to Afghanistan to Uzbekistan's new MFA
Americas Department Chief Bakhtiyor Ibragimov and Acting MFA USA
Desk Chief Nurillo Abdullaev. Charge asked Uzbekistan to provide
Post with a document outlining Uzbekistan's various contributions
to stabilization and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan, perhaps
including any new initiatives that Uzbekistan would like to pursue
in this regard. Ibragimov responded favorably, indicating that a
document that shows the importance of Uzbekistan's contributions
would be useful, and pledged to send us specific figures on
bilateral trade and Uzbekistan's economic assistance. He indicated
that MFA will peruse the non-paper and stated that Uzbekistan is
doing its utmost to help its neighbor. Uzbekistan is very
interested in restoring peace to Afghanistan, which it hopes will
facilitate greater regional trade and commerce.
2. (C) Ibragimov cited Afghanistan as an important area for
U.S.-Uzbek cooperation. He expressed Uzbekistan's appreciation for
U.S. support of the extended rail line between Hayraton and
Mazar-i-Sharif, noting that he knew the United States had
approached the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on this matter. Charge
said that ADB is finishing its feasibility study and anticipates
complete construction of the 80-km rail line by October 2010.
3. (C) Charge raised U.S. concerns about excessive delays in
approving the shipment of Northern Distribution Network
(NDN)-related cargo across Uzbekistan's borders. Ibragimov said
that he had reported the U.S.'s transit concerns to Foreign
Minister Norov, and that all GOU ministries are now looking at how
to expedite the processing of this cargo. "I assure you, this
issue will be resolved soon," Ibragimov pledged. Uzbekistan will
come up with a solution to avoid excessive approval times and the
problem will not resurface, he said.
BUTCHER
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN, S/SRAP FOR KAREN HANRAHAN, SCA/A FOR ARIELLA
VIEHE, AND EUR/RPM FOR AARON COPE
AMEMBASSY ASTANA PASS TO USOFFICE ALMATY
AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PASS TO AMCONSUL ST PETERSBURG
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL VLADIVOSTOK
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL YEKATERINBURG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/07/22
TAGS: PREL NATO MOPS MARR PGOV AF UZ
SUBJECT: Uzbekistan Responds to Afghanistan Demarche
REF: STATE 74362
CLASSIFIED BY: Steven Prohaska, Second Secretary, State, Pol-Econ;
REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (C) On July 22, Charge d'Affaires and Poloff delivered reftel
demarche on assistance to Afghanistan to Uzbekistan's new MFA
Americas Department Chief Bakhtiyor Ibragimov and Acting MFA USA
Desk Chief Nurillo Abdullaev. Charge asked Uzbekistan to provide
Post with a document outlining Uzbekistan's various contributions
to stabilization and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan, perhaps
including any new initiatives that Uzbekistan would like to pursue
in this regard. Ibragimov responded favorably, indicating that a
document that shows the importance of Uzbekistan's contributions
would be useful, and pledged to send us specific figures on
bilateral trade and Uzbekistan's economic assistance. He indicated
that MFA will peruse the non-paper and stated that Uzbekistan is
doing its utmost to help its neighbor. Uzbekistan is very
interested in restoring peace to Afghanistan, which it hopes will
facilitate greater regional trade and commerce.
2. (C) Ibragimov cited Afghanistan as an important area for
U.S.-Uzbek cooperation. He expressed Uzbekistan's appreciation for
U.S. support of the extended rail line between Hayraton and
Mazar-i-Sharif, noting that he knew the United States had
approached the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on this matter. Charge
said that ADB is finishing its feasibility study and anticipates
complete construction of the 80-km rail line by October 2010.
3. (C) Charge raised U.S. concerns about excessive delays in
approving the shipment of Northern Distribution Network
(NDN)-related cargo across Uzbekistan's borders. Ibragimov said
that he had reported the U.S.'s transit concerns to Foreign
Minister Norov, and that all GOU ministries are now looking at how
to expedite the processing of this cargo. "I assure you, this
issue will be resolved soon," Ibragimov pledged. Uzbekistan will
come up with a solution to avoid excessive approval times and the
problem will not resurface, he said.
BUTCHER