Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TASHKENT1641
2009-12-24 10:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:
UZBEKISTAN: FM NOROV "CLARIFIES" TERMEZ OFFER
how-toVZCZCXRO5030 OO RUEHDBU DE RUEHNT #1641 3581002 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 241002Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1672 INFO RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/CDR USTRANSCOM SCOTT AFB IL IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 0120 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0129 RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0080 RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 0136 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0062 RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 0120
C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 001641
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/12/24
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM MARR UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: FM NOROV "CLARIFIES" TERMEZ OFFER
REF: TASHKENT 1639
CLASSIFIED BY: Robert McCutcheon, Econ Officer, State, Pol/Econ
Office; REASON: 1.4(A),(B),(D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 001641
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/12/24
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM MARR UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: FM NOROV "CLARIFIES" TERMEZ OFFER
REF: TASHKENT 1639
CLASSIFIED BY: Robert McCutcheon, Econ Officer, State, Pol/Econ
Office; REASON: 1.4(A),(B),(D)
1. (C) In a meeting with Ambassador Norland on another issue on
December 24, FM Norov provided us with further information
regarding the apparent Uzbek offer of troop transit to Afghanistan
via Termez (reftel). The diplomatic note passed to the State
Department on Dec. 21 described a trilateral Uzbek-U.S.-German
agreement under which other ISAF personnel could also be included.
In today's meeting, however, FM Norov told us that a bilateral
Uzbek-German agreement is what is being proposed, not a trilateral
agreement. Moreover, the Uzbek Embassy in Washington will be
instructed to withdraw the note that it delivered on Dec. 21
pending further "refinements."
2. (C) FM Norov continued that the U.S. will be able "to join" the
Uzbek-German agreement once it is finalized. The agreement, he
said, is in fact a way of combining under one umbrella all existing
Uzbek-German agreements on Termez. This would make it much easier
to finalize and thereupon serve as a basis for U.S. involvement.
However, he conceded, this would take time.
COMMENT
--------------
3. (C) The Uzbeks appear to be backing away from their Dec. 21
offer before we have even commented on it. This probably has more
to do with how President Karimov characterized the agreement in his
Dec. 23 discussion with the new German Ambassador than with any
change of heart regarding cooperation with the U.S. on Afghanistan.
If Karimov referred to it as a "bilateral" agreement, then his
officials are compelled to revise their approach accordingly.
4. (C) Norov characterized the Dec. 21-22 discussions with Russian
FM Norov as "tough" and indicated Uzbekistan wants close
cooperation with the U.S. on Afghanistan. But his latest signal
suggests Termez, while it remains an option, would take some time
to develop.
NORLAND
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/12/24
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM MARR UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: FM NOROV "CLARIFIES" TERMEZ OFFER
REF: TASHKENT 1639
CLASSIFIED BY: Robert McCutcheon, Econ Officer, State, Pol/Econ
Office; REASON: 1.4(A),(B),(D)
1. (C) In a meeting with Ambassador Norland on another issue on
December 24, FM Norov provided us with further information
regarding the apparent Uzbek offer of troop transit to Afghanistan
via Termez (reftel). The diplomatic note passed to the State
Department on Dec. 21 described a trilateral Uzbek-U.S.-German
agreement under which other ISAF personnel could also be included.
In today's meeting, however, FM Norov told us that a bilateral
Uzbek-German agreement is what is being proposed, not a trilateral
agreement. Moreover, the Uzbek Embassy in Washington will be
instructed to withdraw the note that it delivered on Dec. 21
pending further "refinements."
2. (C) FM Norov continued that the U.S. will be able "to join" the
Uzbek-German agreement once it is finalized. The agreement, he
said, is in fact a way of combining under one umbrella all existing
Uzbek-German agreements on Termez. This would make it much easier
to finalize and thereupon serve as a basis for U.S. involvement.
However, he conceded, this would take time.
COMMENT
--------------
3. (C) The Uzbeks appear to be backing away from their Dec. 21
offer before we have even commented on it. This probably has more
to do with how President Karimov characterized the agreement in his
Dec. 23 discussion with the new German Ambassador than with any
change of heart regarding cooperation with the U.S. on Afghanistan.
If Karimov referred to it as a "bilateral" agreement, then his
officials are compelled to revise their approach accordingly.
4. (C) Norov characterized the Dec. 21-22 discussions with Russian
FM Norov as "tough" and indicated Uzbekistan wants close
cooperation with the U.S. on Afghanistan. But his latest signal
suggests Termez, while it remains an option, would take some time
to develop.
NORLAND