UZBEKISTAN: NGO COUNTERPART INTERNATIONAL SEEKS FORMAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TASHKENT 000917 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/ACE JOHN POST, DEAN FISCHER, AND GERRY OBERNDORFER AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PASS TO AMCONSUL ST PETERSBURG AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL VLADIVOSTOK AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL YEKATERINBURG AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PASS TO AMEMBASSY PODGORICA AMEMBASSY ATHENS PASS TO AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/06/05 TAGS: PHUM SOCI PREL UZ SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: NGO COUNTERPART INTERNATIONAL SEEKS FORMAL REGISTRATION AFTER THREE-YEAR GAP CLASSIFIED BY: Timothy P. Buckley, Second Secretary, Department of State, Political and Economic Section; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) ¶1. (C) Summary: On June 2, DCM and emboffs met with visiting representatives from Counterpart International, who are quietly exploring legal avenues for seeking formal registration in Uzbekistan. While humanitarian assistance programs have continued on a small scale since the Government of Uzbekistan forced Counterpart out - along with most foreign NGOs -- in the aftermath of the 2005 Andijon incidents and the "color revolutions," Counterpart believes the time may be right to seek registration, which would simplify operations and allow for possible expansion of activities. Counterpart said that its lawyers in Uzbekistan are considering different legal structures, including possibly registering under its for-profit wing, EnviroVentures, but it does not plan to engage in civil society projects which the host government would find too sensitive. We support Counterpart's plans to seek registration for its modest program plans and will weigh in with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the right time, as more Western NGOs in the country will help in our efforts to expand engagement. End summary. "Time May be Right" -------------- ¶2. (C) DCM and emboffs met on June 2 with three officials from Counterpart International, led by Washington-based Senior Program Manager Rang Hee Kim, who provided an overview of the NGO's work in the former Soviet Union. Counterpart operated successfully in Uzbekistan from 1994 - 2006, when it was forced out along with most other foreign NGOs in the wake of the Andijon incidents and the "color revolutions" in Ukraine, Georgia, and Kyrgyzstan. Nonetheless, Counterpart has managed to maintain a limited presence in Uzbekistan with one locally engaged staff member administering humanitarian assistance programs as a contractor. Their local representative, Kamol Khusainov , reported that last year funding support from the Department's EUR/ACE office facilitated the shipment of 33 containers of humanitarian goods to Uzbekistan, and that this year the number was expected to decrease to 20. Kim stated that Counterpart has remained interested in reestablishing an office and, after keeping a watchful eye on developments, believes the time may be right to proceed with a new registration effort. Registration Would Expand Potential -------------- ¶3. (C) Kim noted that obtaining registration would first of all help to protect their local employee, who is in an awkward position overseeing shipments and reconstruction projects, as well as simplify procedures for shipping and receiving goods through the State Customs Committee. As a registered NGO, Counterpart would also be able to expand programming options and administer different types of projects. It would also allow the U.S. to get more credit for the assistance that is made possible through its humanitarian programs with Counterpart. Kim expressed concern that the Government of Uzbekistan may still associate the Counterpart International name with the old guard of suspicious foreign NGOs, which it sees as quietly trying to foment regime change, and reject its bid. Kim informed emboffs that Counterpart hired lawyers in Uzbekistan to explore feasible avenues for reestablishing a presence in the country. One possibility she raised was registering the NGO's for-profit wing, EnviroVentures, instead of Counterpart, which may help the organization rebrand itself here and reassure the host government that it is not the same NGO. She also acknowledged that this could have the opposite effect if the Government of Uzbekistan thought the organization was trying to sneak in with a new label. TASHKENT 00000917 002 OF 003 New Visions, but No Civil Society Efforts -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Kim recounted that Counterpart previously had a robust civil society program in Uzbekistan but, despite keen interest in reestablishing its presence, there are no plans to do any civil society-building program work, which the host government would find too politically sensitive. Counterpart selected a new CEO in 2008, Kim continued, who is articulating a new vision for the 45-year old organization. Burgeoning areas of interest include climate change adaptation, community resilience in responding to disasters, disaster preparedness, agriculture, migration, and reforestation. The latter was of particular interest in Uzbekistan, according to Kim, and she is well aware of the sensitivities of regional water usage, particularly since Counterpart is also active in neighboring upstream countries Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Small Reconstruction Projects Have Impact -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) In addition to facilitating shipments of needs-based humanitarian goods, Counterpart has managed to implement four small reconstruction projects since 2006 in Uzbekistan. These include the Umid (Hope) Burn Rehabilitation Center in Samarkand, a medical center in Kokand, a boarding school for disadvantaged children in Gazalkent, and an ongoing project to assist the "Oydin Nur" women's crisis center in Bukhara. Each of these projects is further enhanced by a special shipments of goods that correspond to the facility's mission and needs. Counterpart is proud that it is able to leverage the U.S. assistance funds to secure private donations at a ratio of at least 10:1 for each dollar received, and it would be interested in expanding its program work. Request for Embassy Support -------------- ¶6. (C) Kim told her the local lawyers said there is no reason not to proceed with registration efforts, which involve submission packages to the Ministry of Justice in the case of a not-for-profit organization or the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations in the event Counterpart chooses to apply under the EnviroVentures banner. The lawyers underscored the importance of political support if the application is to stand any chance of success, and the legal team strongly recommended Kim solicit post's support, citing the 2008 registration of the National Democratic Institute (NDI). Comment: -------------- ¶7. (C) We welcome Counterpart's efforts to reestablish itself in Uzbekistan. The more foreign NGOs on the ground here, the better. We will weigh in with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the right time, although we would not be surprised if there is no immediate response to the submission package, regardless of which application TASHKENT 00000917 003.2 OF 003 strategy Counterpart pursues. The humanitarian assistance work that Counterpart and its consignee partners, such as Project New Hope, have implemented in Uzbekistan is impressive given the difficult operating environment. Yet just because the planned work will focus on seemingly non-sensitive humanitarian and community development projects, there is no guarantee the Government of Uzbekistan will see this at face value. The Institute for New Democracies (IND) and NDI were accredited here after years of relationship-building with government-approved partners, and we have had difficulty getting a foothold for the American Bar Association even though there were positive signals in advance from the Uzbeks. NORLAND