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Reference ID	Created	Released	Classification	Origin
06TASHKENT477	2006-03-13 09:08	2011-08-30 01:44	CONFIDENTIAL	Embassy Tashkent

VZCZCXRO6423
PP RUEHDBU
DE RUEHNT #0477/01 0720908
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 130908Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5326
INFO RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ALMATY 7697
RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 1801
RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 2325
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 2218
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 1325
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0358

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TASHKENT 000477 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PREL UZ ZK
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN PLAYS THE RUSSIAN AND CHRYSANTHEMUM 
CLUBS FOR ALL IT CAN 
 
 
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY AMB JON R. PURNELL FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D). 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: The GOU appreciates Japan,s continued 
economic assistance and views the Central Asian (CA) plus 
Japan Forum as complimentary to other regional groups.  The 
GOU said it will work with any &friendly8 country on 
projects.  The Japanese government plans to reduce the number 
of aid programs in Uzbekistan unless the GOU becomes more 
transparent and works with the international community.  End 
summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
Regional politics at play in the CA plus Japan Forum 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶2. (C) Takeshi Yagi, Deputy Director-General, European 
Affairs Bureau of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, was in 
Tashkent in February.  The Japanese Ambassador, Yuichi 
Kusumoto, told the Ambassador that the next Meeting of 
Ministers in the CA plus Japan Forum will take place in June 
in Tokyo.  The Afghanis will participate due to the broad 
regional nature of issues such as land mines, narcotics 
trafficking and terrorism.  Last year the Uzbeks opposed 
Afghanistan,s participation, but this year they appear to 
accept it.  Uzbek FM Elyor Ganiev told the Japanese he plans 
to attend. 
 
¶3. (C) The Forum meeting in Astana developed project 
proposals for regional and economic cooperation, including 
counterterrorism, narcotics, trade and energy. The deputy 
foreign ministers from Tajikistan and Kazakhstan attended. 
The Japanese were disappointed that the Uzbek ambassador 
appeared instead of the Deputy Foreign Minister, but were 
surprised when Turkmenistan,s Ambassador appeared, though he 
did not speak.  Mr. Yagi told the Ambassador the Uzbeks had 
objected to the meeting being in Astana instead of in 
Tashkent. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
Unpredictability of President Karimov results in less aid 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶4. (C) Yagi met with FM of Foreign Economic Relations, 
Investment and Trade, Alisher Shaikhov and Deputy Minister 
for Foreign Relations for Asia Anvar Salikhbaev (former 
ambassador to Pakistan).  Shaikhov remarked that Uzbekistan 
sees the CA plus Japan Forum as &constructive and 
effective.8  He told Yagi he believes the U.S. and Europe 
incorrectly mix the issues of human rights with terrorism. 
Uzbekistan has national pride, he said, and therefore is 
willing to extend relations with any &friendly country.8 
 
¶5. (C) Through the CA plus Japan Forum, Japan intends to 
start small with technical system and information-sharing 
projects.  Tokyo wants to promote the Forum, Kusumoto said, 
but has adopted a &careful and cautious8 approach to the 
&unpredictable and fragile situation8, especially 
considering the &unknown8 direction of President Karimov. 
 
¶6. (C) GOJ does not see Uzbekistan working to improve the 
human rights and economic situation and therefore has decided 
to limit its programs.  Due to problematic relations among 
Central Asian nations, GOJ does not want to fund large-scale, 
regional projects.  It will continue to fund ongoing 
established programs; starting new programs will depend on 
Uzbekistan producing tangible reforms and explaining its 
actions to the international community.  The GOJ wants to 
focus on the social sector, improving living conditions and 
promoting educational exchanges in Japan.  (Note: The GOU 
readily gives Uzbek students permission to study in Japan. 
The Japanese Ministry of Education receives 30-40 
students/year, with grants and special programs for 20-25 
students/year.  The Japanese Cultural Center in Tashkent, run 
solely by GOJ, receives full GOU cooperation for its 
cultural, business and language programs.  End note.) 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
Doesn,t the Russian Club exclude the Chrysanthemum Club? 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶7. (C) Salikhbaev stressed to Yagi that neither the Shanghai 
Cooperation Organization (SCO) nor the Eurasian Economic 
Community (EurAsEC) presents a conflict to the CA plus Japan 
Forum.  He accused the western press of incorrectly reporting 
 
TASHKENT 00000477  002 OF 002 
 
 
that Russia and China are using the SCO in order to counter 
NATO.  He said Uzbekistan is focused on the SCO,s economic, 
not military, potential.  On EurAsEC, he disingenuously said 
the western press incorrectly crowns Russia the tsar, when it 
is only a coordinator. 
 
¶8. (C) The Japanese found the meeting disappointing, 
especially Shaikhov,s 30 minute monologue on the human 
rights situation in Uzbekistan where, he claimed, the jails 
were open to observers and there were no human rights 
problems.  In fact, he said, the situation is better than in 
the US and Europe.  Shaikhov continued to describe the 
&wonderful economic conditions8 in Uzbekistan,s market 
economy, but cautioning that Japanese businesses should know 
the &risks.8  To Yagi,s disappointment, Shaikhov did not 
specifically mention that the GOU supports Japanese 
businesses.  (Note: A bilateral meeting of private 
businessmen is scheduled for May in Tokyo.  According to 
Yagi, Japanese businesses are pessimistic about investing in 
Uzbekistan and prefer Kazakhstan.  End note.) 
 
¶9. (C) Comment: The Uzbeks have yet to place constraints on 
the Japanese Government's aid and exchange programs.  They 
want the aid to continue, especially if there are few to no 
strings attached.  In the meetings, the GOU tried to portray 
itself not only as a peaceful democracy that respects human 
rights and seeks to further liberalize its market economy, 
but also as a victim of the international press.  From 
Yagi,s comments it appears the GOU did not pull the wool 
over the GOJ,s eyes, as the GOJ plans to draw back its aid 
programs in Uzbekistan.  We will watch to see how the GOU 
reacts to this aid reduction that is apparently based on 
events in Andijon. 
PURNELL

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Viewing cable 06TASHKENT477, UZBEKISTAN PLAYS THE RUSSIAN AND CHRYSANTHEMUM