Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TASHKENT2006
2009-11-10 12:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:
UZBEKISTAN: STCU RELUCTANTLY PROPOSES TO SUSPEND OPERATIONS
how-toVZCZCXRO4272 RR RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHSK RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHNT #2006 3141213 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 101213Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1510 INFO ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE CIS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS TASHKENT 002006
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN
DEPARTMENT FOR OES/STC MICHAEL SCHENA AND OES/PCI BARBARA CATES
EMBASSY ASTANA FOR BRUCE HUDSPETH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PREL TSPL UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: STCU RELUCTANTLY PROPOSES TO SUSPEND OPERATIONS
IN UZBEKISTAN
REF: 09 TASHKENT 1385
UNCLAS TASHKENT 002006
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN
DEPARTMENT FOR OES/STC MICHAEL SCHENA AND OES/PCI BARBARA CATES
EMBASSY ASTANA FOR BRUCE HUDSPETH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PREL TSPL UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: STCU RELUCTANTLY PROPOSES TO SUSPEND OPERATIONS
IN UZBEKISTAN
REF: 09 TASHKENT 1385
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In a November 3 e-mail, STCU Executive Director
Andrew Hood informed us that the STCU Board of Governors meeting on
November 19 in Kyiv is likely to decide to close the STCU
Information Center in Tashkent. He said that no 2010 budget would
be allocated for Uzbekistan and that STCU will cease further
efforts to re-start activities until the GOU shows a willingness to
re-engage. In the context of gradually improving U.S.-Uzbek
relations, we should discuss this with the Uzbeks before any
irrevocable decisions are made. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) Uzbekistan has been a Party to the Science and Technology
Center in Ukraine (STCU) since 1997. STCU has supported over 1100
Uzbek scientists, providing approximately USD $15 million, plus 1
million Euros, in funding for over 100 projects in agriculture,
bio-medical technologies, cotton production, nuclear safety, energy
technologies and other fields of science and technology development
in Uzbekistan.
3. (SBU) A changed attitude towards STCU manifested itself in 2006,
and since that time STCU has had serious problems carrying out its
program activities in Uzbekistan. The GOU refused to renew STCU's
diplomatic accreditation after its expiration on March 1, 2006, and
since then it has stopped issuing Host Government Concurrences
required for STCU project proposals. The GOU blocked the STCU
website within Uzbekistan, thereby limiting access to STCU
resources by Uzbek scientists. For those programs that were
already funded, scientists began experiencing delays in receiving
STCU funds. The GOU further began denying visas for STCU auditors
and denying permissions for STCU officials to travel to Uzbekistan
for meetings with GOU officials.
4. (SBU) STCU has sent several official letters to the Uzbek MFA to
draw the GOU's attention to these problems and to ask for renewed
STCU-Uzbekistan cooperation. STCU has never received an official
response from the GOU.
COMMENT
--------------
5. (SBU) The GOU's blocking and effective shutting down of STCU
operations in Uzbekistan are bemoaned by almost all Uzbek
scientists. The STCU's important role in supporting science in
Uzbekistan came up repeatedly during meetings with Uzbek scientists
in June and July as part of negotiations on a bilateral U.S.-Uzbek
Science and Technology cooperation agreement (reftel). While Uzbek
scientists are not free to speak officially, they recognize that
decisions on STCU-Uzbekistan relations are taken at the highest and
most isolated government levels. These decisions are at variance
with the Uzbek science community's strong support for continued
cooperation with the STCU. As part of steadily improving U.S.-Uzbek
relations, renewed cooperation with the STCU is an area we could
explore within the context of the Annual Bilateral Consultation
(ABC) process.
NORLAND
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN
DEPARTMENT FOR OES/STC MICHAEL SCHENA AND OES/PCI BARBARA CATES
EMBASSY ASTANA FOR BRUCE HUDSPETH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PREL TSPL UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: STCU RELUCTANTLY PROPOSES TO SUSPEND OPERATIONS
IN UZBEKISTAN
REF: 09 TASHKENT 1385
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In a November 3 e-mail, STCU Executive Director
Andrew Hood informed us that the STCU Board of Governors meeting on
November 19 in Kyiv is likely to decide to close the STCU
Information Center in Tashkent. He said that no 2010 budget would
be allocated for Uzbekistan and that STCU will cease further
efforts to re-start activities until the GOU shows a willingness to
re-engage. In the context of gradually improving U.S.-Uzbek
relations, we should discuss this with the Uzbeks before any
irrevocable decisions are made. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) Uzbekistan has been a Party to the Science and Technology
Center in Ukraine (STCU) since 1997. STCU has supported over 1100
Uzbek scientists, providing approximately USD $15 million, plus 1
million Euros, in funding for over 100 projects in agriculture,
bio-medical technologies, cotton production, nuclear safety, energy
technologies and other fields of science and technology development
in Uzbekistan.
3. (SBU) A changed attitude towards STCU manifested itself in 2006,
and since that time STCU has had serious problems carrying out its
program activities in Uzbekistan. The GOU refused to renew STCU's
diplomatic accreditation after its expiration on March 1, 2006, and
since then it has stopped issuing Host Government Concurrences
required for STCU project proposals. The GOU blocked the STCU
website within Uzbekistan, thereby limiting access to STCU
resources by Uzbek scientists. For those programs that were
already funded, scientists began experiencing delays in receiving
STCU funds. The GOU further began denying visas for STCU auditors
and denying permissions for STCU officials to travel to Uzbekistan
for meetings with GOU officials.
4. (SBU) STCU has sent several official letters to the Uzbek MFA to
draw the GOU's attention to these problems and to ask for renewed
STCU-Uzbekistan cooperation. STCU has never received an official
response from the GOU.
COMMENT
--------------
5. (SBU) The GOU's blocking and effective shutting down of STCU
operations in Uzbekistan are bemoaned by almost all Uzbek
scientists. The STCU's important role in supporting science in
Uzbekistan came up repeatedly during meetings with Uzbek scientists
in June and July as part of negotiations on a bilateral U.S.-Uzbek
Science and Technology cooperation agreement (reftel). While Uzbek
scientists are not free to speak officially, they recognize that
decisions on STCU-Uzbekistan relations are taken at the highest and
most isolated government levels. These decisions are at variance
with the Uzbek science community's strong support for continued
cooperation with the STCU. As part of steadily improving U.S.-Uzbek
relations, renewed cooperation with the STCU is an area we could
explore within the context of the Annual Bilateral Consultation
(ABC) process.
NORLAND