Uzbekistan: Upcoming Conference on Stability and

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TASHKENT 000685 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN, OSD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS ASEC PGOV UZ SUBJECT: Uzbekistan: Upcoming Conference on Stability and Reconstruction in Afghanistan, June 17-19 ¶1. (U) Summary: Uzbekistan's Foundation for Regional Policy and the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies are organizing an international conference entitled "Afghanistan: Issues and Prospects of Stabilization and Reconstruction," to be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan June 17-19, 2009. This is an opportunity for USG representatives to shape thinking among Afghanistan's northern tier of neighbors on how best to support international efforts on Afghanistan. End summary. Purpose of the Conference -------------- ¶2. (U) The purpose of this conference is to gather international security experts and regional specialists to focus on prospects for peace, security, and development in Afghanistan. Specifically, the conference will analyze the Afghan problem resolution process and will develop proposals and recommendations to stabilize and rebuild the country. Furthermore, the conference will serve as a venue for representatives of Uzbekistan to share their views of the Afghan issue and relevant experiences. Participants -------------- ¶3. (U) The event will be co-hosted by Uzbekistan's Foundation for Regional Policy (FRP) and the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies. FRP envisions having 70 participants total, including 30 foreign experts that the United States invites and 40 local experts that Uzbekistan will invite. Participants in the roundtable will include experts from the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, China, Russia, United Nations, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO),and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The conference is also intended to attract experts from Japan, South Korea, South Africa, Israel, India, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan and representatives of all Central Asian countries. Representatives of foreign diplomatic missions and organizations accredited in Uzbekistan, to include all countries bordering Afghanistan and Afghanistan itself, will be invited to attend the conference. Uzbekistan will present experts from the Institute for Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) under the President of Uzbekistan, the Center for Political Studies (CPS),and the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED),as well as officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, and the State Joint Stock Company Uzbekistan Temir Yullari (Uzbekistan Railways). ¶4. (U) FRP plans to handle visa-related issues for participants and is informing attendees that copies of their passports and registration forms must be submitted no later than May 25, 2009. Conference Venue -------------- ¶5. (U) The conference will be held at the former Rashidov Presidential residence in the center of Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The venue is a secure location guarded by Uzbekistan's security forces. The event will be conducted in Russian and English. Comment: TASHKENT 00000685 002 OF 002 -------------- ¶6. (U) This event will be an opportunity for the Government of Uzbekistan (GOU),which believes that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan will provide substantial social and economic gains for the region, to share its vision for the future of Central Asia after achieving peace in Afghanistan. The GOU supports this event at senior levels--the Foundation for Regional Policy is an organization with strong ties to Uzbekistan's National Security Council. Post encourages the participation of high-level U.S. officials from the Department of State or National Security Council at this event. This is an opportunity to build on existing cooperation with Uzbekistan on Afghanistan particularly to further the development of commercial links between Afghanistan and Central Asia more broadly. NORLAND