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"

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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

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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.

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New Visions, but No Civil Society Efforts

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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

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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

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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:

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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

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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