VZCZCXRO7305
PP RUEHDBU
DE RUEHNT #0756/01 1090727
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 190727Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5562
INFO RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ALMATY 7813
RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 1903
RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 2428
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 2329
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 1413
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1734

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TASHKENT 000756 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN, USOSCE FOR GREG SLOTTA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID ECON OSCE PHUM PREL UZ
SUBJECT: FY06 FUNDING OF OSCE EXTRABUDGETARY PROJECTS IN 
UZBEKISTAN 
 
REF: STATE 10552 
 
¶1. (U) Summary:  The OSCE website listing of extrabudgetary 
projects does not reflect any activities in Uzbekistan.  Post 
recommends the USG contribute funding to the following 
projects that fulfill both U.S. and OSCE interests:  a 
research grant on intellectual property rights (IPR) (USD 
100,000), a summer camp on environmental education for 
schoolchildren (USD 10,000), and a winter camp on 
environmental education for youth (USD 10,000).  In 
developing these recommendations, Post considered the 
possible changes to OSCE Tashkent's mandate.  End summary. 
 
¶2. (U)  Per reftel guidance, the Embassy worked closely with 
the OSCE Mission in Tashkent to identify those projects that 
meet U.S. and OSCE policy goals and are the most likely to be 
realized in the current political environment.  According to 
OSCE officials in Tashkent, many of the current 
extrabudgetary programs do not need additional funding, as 
the GOU has restricted its programs.  Also, OSCE Tashkent 
six-month mandate expires in June and it is possible the new 
mandate will suggest a reduction in staff.  With these 
constraints in mind, we selected two ongoing and one new 
project.  These three projects have a high probability of 
being enacted as the GOU thus far has supported the 
environmental camps and IPR training.  These projects do not 
require a large amount of time to organize and would not 
burden a reduced staff. 
 
Research Grant on Intellectual Property Rights 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶3.  (U) IPR is a problem in Uzbekistan.  Uzbekistan is 
currently on the Special 301 Watch List, and post has seen 
minimal progress on legislative changes in 2005.  The GOU has 
delayed in reforming the civil, criminal and administrative 
codes.  However, the GOU is interested in joining the WTO and 
has been open to projects, such as those from USAID and 
training provided for experts by the U.S. Patent and 
Trademark Office, to improve the IPR climate. 
 
¶4. (U) The Antimonopoly Improvement Center (APIC) submitted a 
project proposal to the OSCE Mission to develop 
recommendations based on world &best practices.8  The total 
estimated cost of the program is USD 330,000, of which USD 
30,000 in kind is financed by the GOU for office spaces and 
other services.  These recommendations would be submitted to 
policy-makers to improve and enhance the protection system 
for intellectual property rights.  The research would focus 
on the issues of synchronization and simplification of 
legislature; and the organizational structure of the 
regulative system of IPR.  APIC would include actors involved 
in IPR, such as courts and entrepreneurs.  We recommend USG 
funding of this research program at USD 100,000.  (Note: APIC 
is an independent agency, established in 2003 to increase the 
practical orientation of research and to improve the 
development of normative-legal basis in consumer rights 
protection.  APIC has worked with the Asian Development Bank, 
the Japanese International Cooperation Agency and the German 
Technical Center on projects in Uzbekistan.  End note.) 
 
Summer Camp on Environmental Education for Youth 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶5. (U) Post recommends providing funding of USD 10,000 for 
OSCE 2006 summer camps focused on strengthening environmental 
education in schools.  Sixty winners of the national school 
competition on environmental issues, EKO MAKTAB, will be able 
to participate in a series of ten-day camps in the mountains. 
 The activities include environmental discussions, preparing 
an exhibition of paintings and a study trip to a nature park. 
 
 
Winter Camp on Environmental Education for 15-17 year olds 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
¶6. (U) Post recommends providing funding of USD 10,000 for 
the OSCE 2006 winter camp focused on strengthening 
environmental education in schools.  Forty-two winners of the 
national school competition on environmental issues, EKO 
MAKTAB, will be able to participate in a series of week-long 
camps in the mountains.  The activities include environmental 
discussions, preparing an exhibition of paintings and a study 
trip to a nature park.  Such camps reach Uzbek youth at an 
 
TASHKENT 00000756  002 OF 002 
 
 
impressionable age and can expose them to independence of 
thought and transborder issues. 
PURNELL