Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TASHKENT1571
2009-11-05 08:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tashkent
how-toVZCZCXRO0852 OO RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHSL DE RUEHNT #1571 3090806 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 050806Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1493 INFO ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE NATO EU COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 001571
SIPDIS
DEPT ALSO FOR P, SCA, DRL
AMEMBASSY ASTANA PASS TO USOFFICE ALMATY
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PASS TO AMEMBASSY PODGORICA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS PASS TO AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL YEKATERINBURG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/11/05
TAGS: PREL PHUM UZ
SUBJECT: Uzbekistan Amnesties Sanjar Umarov
REF: TASHKENT 281
CLASSIFIED BY: Nicholas Berliner, Pol-Econ Chief; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 001571
SIPDIS
DEPT ALSO FOR P, SCA, DRL
AMEMBASSY ASTANA PASS TO USOFFICE ALMATY
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PASS TO AMEMBASSY PODGORICA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS PASS TO AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL YEKATERINBURG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/11/05
TAGS: PREL PHUM UZ
SUBJECT: Uzbekistan Amnesties Sanjar Umarov
REF: TASHKENT 281
CLASSIFIED BY: Nicholas Berliner, Pol-Econ Chief; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (C) Summary: Foreign Minister Norov told us that Sanjar Umarov
will be released today (Nov. 5). Please note action request at para
6 (contingency press guidance). End Summary.
2. (C) Uzbek Foreign Minister Norov convoked the Ambassador today
to inform us that jailed businessman and opposition figure Sanjar
Umarov would be released today (Nov. 5). Norov said that Umarov is
in good health and is free to do as he wishes, including traveling
to the United States to join his family. Norov suggested that
Umarov's wife not try to travel from the U.S. to Uzbekistan, but
rather that Umarov travel there. He emphasized that President
Karimov had given his word to Under Secretary Burns in July that
Umarov would be amnestied and was following through on his promise
as a sign of trust in the improving relationship with the U.S.
Emphasizing that Umarov's release was a goodwill gesture on the
part of the GOU, he said that it was in the mutual interest of the
U.S. and Uzbekistan not to allow Umarov's release to become
politicized or to repeat the high profile episode that followed
Mutabar Tajibaeva's release when she was awarded the Secretary's
Women of Courage Award in public ceremonies earlier this year
(Reftel).
3. (C) The Ambassador told Norov that Umarov's release was a very
positive signal that will help sustain the forward momentum that
has been achieved in relations between the U.S. and Uzbekistan. He
told Norov that the Embassy has conveyed the message to Umarov's
family that trying to leverage political gain from his release
could be counter-productive.
4. (C) Umarov is a U.S. Legal Permanent Resident. Through the
family's representative in Tashkent, the Embassy will work to
process a Returning Resident Immigrant Visa for Umarov quickly
(much of the paperwork for which has already been prepared in
anticipation of his release) and help him rejoin his family in
Tennessee.
5. (C) Comment: Umarov's release is an example of quiet,
behind-the-scenes diplomacy with the Uzbeks on sensitive human
rights issues bearing fruit and is a clear indication that Karimov
and the GOU are committed to improving bilateral relations with the
U.S. Umarov, of course, is not the only prisoner we and the
international community are concerned about in Uzbekistan and we
need to be careful, as Norov said, not to allow Umarov's case to
become politicized or to have him emerge as a "cause celebre" for
the Uzbek opposition community in the U.S. and elsewhere. The
Uzbeks will be watching this carefully. Any perception that Umarov
is being turned into an "opposition figure in exile" will draw an
extremely negative reaction from Karimov and the GOU, who are
already suspicious after the Tajibaeva episode. If Karimov feels
that he gets burned on Umarov, we could see major setbacks not only
in our bilateral relationship and Afghan transit, but more
importantly in our ability to help other political prisoners in
Uzbekistan, none less deserving than Umarov of amnesty and release.
For this reason, it is extremely important that we counsel Umarov
and his family, as well as interested Members of Congress and NGOs,
to keep a relatively low public profile on this case. Subtle,
positive reinforcement of this significant gesture could pay real
dividends in the future and is the path to take. Likewise, it will
be important to be circumspect in our own public statements about
his release. The Embassy has drafted if-asked press guidance (para
5) for any inquiries (we expect there will be some) and would
appreciate Washington clearance.
6. (SBU) Recommended State Department press guidance for use on an
if-asked basis only: "We welcome the news that Mr. Umarov has been
amnestied and will be returning to the care of his family in the
United States. This humanitarian gesture is a further sign of
deepening trust and understanding between the U.S. and Uzbekistan."
NORLAND
SIPDIS
DEPT ALSO FOR P, SCA, DRL
AMEMBASSY ASTANA PASS TO USOFFICE ALMATY
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PASS TO AMEMBASSY PODGORICA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS PASS TO AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL YEKATERINBURG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/11/05
TAGS: PREL PHUM UZ
SUBJECT: Uzbekistan Amnesties Sanjar Umarov
REF: TASHKENT 281
CLASSIFIED BY: Nicholas Berliner, Pol-Econ Chief; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (C) Summary: Foreign Minister Norov told us that Sanjar Umarov
will be released today (Nov. 5). Please note action request at para
6 (contingency press guidance). End Summary.
2. (C) Uzbek Foreign Minister Norov convoked the Ambassador today
to inform us that jailed businessman and opposition figure Sanjar
Umarov would be released today (Nov. 5). Norov said that Umarov is
in good health and is free to do as he wishes, including traveling
to the United States to join his family. Norov suggested that
Umarov's wife not try to travel from the U.S. to Uzbekistan, but
rather that Umarov travel there. He emphasized that President
Karimov had given his word to Under Secretary Burns in July that
Umarov would be amnestied and was following through on his promise
as a sign of trust in the improving relationship with the U.S.
Emphasizing that Umarov's release was a goodwill gesture on the
part of the GOU, he said that it was in the mutual interest of the
U.S. and Uzbekistan not to allow Umarov's release to become
politicized or to repeat the high profile episode that followed
Mutabar Tajibaeva's release when she was awarded the Secretary's
Women of Courage Award in public ceremonies earlier this year
(Reftel).
3. (C) The Ambassador told Norov that Umarov's release was a very
positive signal that will help sustain the forward momentum that
has been achieved in relations between the U.S. and Uzbekistan. He
told Norov that the Embassy has conveyed the message to Umarov's
family that trying to leverage political gain from his release
could be counter-productive.
4. (C) Umarov is a U.S. Legal Permanent Resident. Through the
family's representative in Tashkent, the Embassy will work to
process a Returning Resident Immigrant Visa for Umarov quickly
(much of the paperwork for which has already been prepared in
anticipation of his release) and help him rejoin his family in
Tennessee.
5. (C) Comment: Umarov's release is an example of quiet,
behind-the-scenes diplomacy with the Uzbeks on sensitive human
rights issues bearing fruit and is a clear indication that Karimov
and the GOU are committed to improving bilateral relations with the
U.S. Umarov, of course, is not the only prisoner we and the
international community are concerned about in Uzbekistan and we
need to be careful, as Norov said, not to allow Umarov's case to
become politicized or to have him emerge as a "cause celebre" for
the Uzbek opposition community in the U.S. and elsewhere. The
Uzbeks will be watching this carefully. Any perception that Umarov
is being turned into an "opposition figure in exile" will draw an
extremely negative reaction from Karimov and the GOU, who are
already suspicious after the Tajibaeva episode. If Karimov feels
that he gets burned on Umarov, we could see major setbacks not only
in our bilateral relationship and Afghan transit, but more
importantly in our ability to help other political prisoners in
Uzbekistan, none less deserving than Umarov of amnesty and release.
For this reason, it is extremely important that we counsel Umarov
and his family, as well as interested Members of Congress and NGOs,
to keep a relatively low public profile on this case. Subtle,
positive reinforcement of this significant gesture could pay real
dividends in the future and is the path to take. Likewise, it will
be important to be circumspect in our own public statements about
his release. The Embassy has drafted if-asked press guidance (para
5) for any inquiries (we expect there will be some) and would
appreciate Washington clearance.
6. (SBU) Recommended State Department press guidance for use on an
if-asked basis only: "We welcome the news that Mr. Umarov has been
amnestied and will be returning to the care of his family in the
United States. This humanitarian gesture is a further sign of
deepening trust and understanding between the U.S. and Uzbekistan."
NORLAND