Uzbekistan: Ambassador Delivers Asian Development Bank

UNCLAS TASHKENT 000615 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN, EAP/EP FOR KATHY HADDA, EEB/IFD/ODF FOR RACHEL LEATHAM AND MARGUERITE SIEMER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV ETRD ECON EAID ADB UZ SUBJECT: Uzbekistan: Ambassador Delivers Asian Development Bank Demarche REF: STATE 41663 ¶1. (SBU) On April 28, Ambassador delivered reftel demarche on U.S. support for Asia with an Asian Development Bank (ADB) General Capital Increase to Uzbekistan's First Deputy Prime Minister/Finance Minister Rustam Azimov. Azimov said that Uzbekistan will support the capital increase and that he will attend the May 4-5 Jakarta meeting. Azimov also noted that Uzbekistan will offer to host the next ADB Board of Governors meeting in Tashkent in 2010, and he believes the offer will be accepted. ¶2. (SBU) Comment: Azimov sees a strong role for ADB in supporting U.S. reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan, including by extending the rail line from the Uzbek border at Termez to Mazar-e-Sharif in Afghanistan, a project which would not only greatly facilitate transit of supplies to U.S. forces but would also play a significant role in Afghan economic development as well as Central Asian regional economic integration. He said Uzbekistan has technology and experience to support this project. Azimov described the Uzbek vision to TRANSCOM Commander General McNabb on April 29 (septel). Given our equities on Afghan transit, we strongly encourage U.S. support for Uzbekistan's offer to host the next ADB Board meeting. NORLAND