Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 143912 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AORC AS AF AM AJ ASEC AU AMGT APER ACOA ASEAN AG AFFAIRS AR AFIN ABUD AO AEMR ADANA AMED AADP AINF ARF ADB ACS AE AID AL AC AGR ABLD AMCHAMS AECL AINT AND ASIG AUC APECO AFGHANISTAN AY ARABL ACAO ANET AFSN AZ AFLU ALOW ASSK AFSI ACABQ AMB APEC AIDS AA ATRN AMTC AVIATION AESC ASSEMBLY ADPM ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AGOA ASUP AFPREL ARNOLD ADCO AN ACOTA AODE AROC AMCHAM AT ACKM ASCH AORCUNGA AVIANFLU AVIAN AIT ASECPHUM ATRA AGENDA AIN AFINM APCS AGENGA ABDALLAH ALOWAR AFL AMBASSADOR ARSO AGMT ASPA AOREC AGAO ARR AOMS ASC ALIREZA AORD AORG ASECVE ABER ARABBL ADM AMER ALVAREZ AORCO ARM APERTH AINR AGRI ALZUGUREN ANGEL ACDA AEMED ARC AMGMT AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL ASECAFINGMGRIZOREPTU ABMC AIAG ALJAZEERA ASR ASECARP ALAMI APRM ASECM AMPR AEGR AUSTRALIAGROUP ASE AMGTHA ARNOLDFREDERICK AIDAC AOPC ANTITERRORISM ASEG AMIA ASEX AEMRBC AFOR ABT AMERICA AGENCIES AGS ADRC ASJA AEAID ANARCHISTS AME AEC ALNEA AMGE AMEDCASCKFLO AK ANTONIO ASO AFINIZ ASEDC AOWC ACCOUNT ACTION AMG AFPK AOCR AMEDI AGIT ASOC ACOAAMGT AMLB AZE AORCYM AORL AGRICULTURE ACEC AGUILAR ASCC AFSA ASES ADIP ASED ASCE ASFC ASECTH AFGHAN ANTXON APRC AFAF AFARI ASECEFINKCRMKPAOPTERKHLSAEMRNS AX ALAB ASECAF ASA ASECAFIN ASIC AFZAL AMGTATK ALBE AMT AORCEUNPREFPRELSMIGBN AGUIRRE AAA ABLG ARCH AGRIC AIHRC ADEL AMEX ALI AQ ATFN AORCD ARAS AINFCY AFDB ACBAQ AFDIN AOPR AREP ALEXANDER ALANAZI ABDULRAHMEN ABDULHADI ATRD AEIR AOIC ABLDG AFR ASEK AER ALOUNI AMCT AVERY ASECCASC ARG APR AMAT AEMRS AFU ATPDEA ALL ASECE ANDREW
EAIR ECON ETRD EAGR EAID EFIN ETTC ENRG EMIN ECPS EG EPET EINV ELAB EU ECONOMICS EC EZ EUN EN ECIN EWWT EXTERNAL ENIV ES ESA ELN EFIS EIND EPA ELTN EXIM ET EINT EI ER EAIDAF ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECTRD EUR ECOWAS ECUN EBRD ECONOMIC ENGR ECONOMY EFND ELECTIONS EPECO EUMEM ETMIN EXBS EAIRECONRP ERTD EAP ERGR EUREM EFI EIB ENGY ELNTECON EAIDXMXAXBXFFR ECOSOC EEB EINF ETRN ENGRD ESTH ENRC EXPORT EK ENRGMO ECO EGAD EXIMOPIC ETRDPGOV EURM ETRA ENERG ECLAC EINO ENVIRONMENT EFIC ECIP ETRDAORC ENRD EMED EIAR ECPN ELAP ETCC EAC ENEG ESCAP EWWC ELTD ELA EIVN ELF ETR EFTA EMAIL EL EMS EID ELNT ECPSN ERIN ETT EETC ELAN ECHEVARRIA EPWR EVIN ENVR ENRGJM ELBR EUC EARG EAPC EICN EEC EREL EAIS ELBA EPETUN EWWY ETRDGK EV EDU EFN EVN EAIDETRD ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ ETEX ESCI EAIDHO EENV ETRC ESOC EINDQTRD EINVA EFLU EGEN ECE EAGRBN EON EFINECONCS EIAD ECPC ENV ETDR EAGER ETRDKIPR EWT EDEV ECCP ECCT EARI EINVECON ED ETRDEC EMINETRD EADM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID ETAD ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA EMINECINECONSENVTBIONS ESSO ETRG ELAM ECA EENG EITC ENG ERA EPSC ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EIPR ELABPGOVBN EURFOR ETRAD EUE EISNLN ECONETRDBESPAR ELAINE EGOVSY EAUD EAGRECONEINVPGOVBN EINVETRD EPIN ECONENRG EDRC ESENV EB ENER ELTNSNAR EURN ECONPGOVBN ETTF ENVT EPIT ESOCI EFINOECD ERD EDUC EUM ETEL EUEAID ENRGY ETD EAGRE EAR EAIDMG EE EET ETER ERICKSON EIAID EX EAG EBEXP ESTN EAIDAORC EING EGOV EEOC EAGRRP EVENTS ENRGKNNPMNUCPARMPRELNPTIAEAJMXL ETRDEMIN EPETEIND EAIDRW ENVI ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC EDUARDO EGAR EPCS EPRT EAIDPHUMPRELUG EPTED ETRB EPETPGOV ECONQH EAIDS EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR EAGRBTIOBEXPETRDBN ESF EINR ELABPHUMSMIGKCRMBN EIDN ETRK ESTRADA EXEC EAIO EGHG ECN EDA ECOS EPREL EINVKSCA ENNP ELABV ETA EWWTPRELPGOVMASSMARRBN EUCOM EAIDASEC ENR END EP ERNG ESPS EITI EINTECPS EAVI ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID ELTRN EADI ELDIN ELND ECRM EINVEFIN EAOD EFINTS EINDIR ENRGKNNP ETRDEIQ ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD EAIT ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ EWWI ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEAIR ECONEFIN EHUM EFNI EOXC EISNAR ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM EMW ETIO ETRDGR EMN EXO EATO EWTR ELIN EAGREAIDPGOVPRELBN EINVETC ETTD EIQ ECONCS EPPD ESS EUEAGR ENRGIZ EISL EUNJ EIDE ENRGSD ELAD ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO ENTG ETRDECD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS
KPKO KIPR KWBG KPAL KDEM KTFN KNNP KGIC KTIA KCRM KDRG KWMN KJUS KIDE KSUM KTIP KFRD KMCA KMDR KCIP KTDB KPAO KPWR KOMC KU KIRF KCOR KHLS KISL KSCA KGHG KS KSTH KSEP KE KPAI KWAC KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KPRP KVPR KAWC KUNR KZ KPLS KN KSTC KMFO KID KNAR KCFE KRIM KFLO KCSA KG KFSC KSCI KFLU KMIG KRVC KV KVRP KMPI KNEI KAPO KOLY KGIT KSAF KIRC KNSD KBIO KHIV KHDP KBTR KHUM KSAC KACT KRAD KPRV KTEX KPIR KDMR KMPF KPFO KICA KWMM KICC KR KCOM KAID KINR KBCT KOCI KCRS KTER KSPR KDP KFIN KCMR KMOC KUWAIT KIPRZ KSEO KLIG KWIR KISM KLEG KTBD KCUM KMSG KMWN KREL KPREL KAWK KIMT KCSY KESS KWPA KNPT KTBT KCROM KPOW KFTN KPKP KICR KGHA KOMS KJUST KREC KOC KFPC KGLB KMRS KTFIN KCRCM KWNM KHGH KRFD KY KGCC KFEM KVIR KRCM KEMR KIIP KPOA KREF KJRE KRKO KOGL KSCS KGOV KCRIM KEM KCUL KRIF KCEM KITA KCRN KCIS KSEAO KWMEN KEANE KNNC KNAP KEDEM KNEP KHPD KPSC KIRP KUNC KALM KCCP KDEN KSEC KAYLA KIMMITT KO KNUC KSIA KLFU KLAB KTDD KIRCOEXC KECF KIPRETRDKCRM KNDP KIRCHOFF KJAN KFRDSOCIRO KWMNSMIG KEAI KKPO KPOL KRD KWMNPREL KATRINA KBWG KW KPPD KTIAEUN KDHS KRV KBTS KWCI KICT KPALAOIS KPMI KWN KTDM KWM KLHS KLBO KDEMK KT KIDS KWWW KLIP KPRM KSKN KTTB KTRD KNPP KOR KGKG KNN KTIAIC KSRE KDRL KVCORR KDEMGT KOMO KSTCC KMAC KSOC KMCC KCHG KSEPCVIS KGIV KPO KSEI KSTCPL KSI KRMS KFLOA KIND KPPAO KCM KRFR KICCPUR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KFAM KWWMN KENV KGH KPOP KFCE KNAO KTIAPARM KWMNKDEM KDRM KNNNP KEVIN KEMPI KWIM KGCN KUM KMGT KKOR KSMT KISLSCUL KNRV KPRO KOMCSG KLPM KDTB KFGM KCRP KAUST KNNPPARM KUNH KWAWC KSPA KTSC KUS KSOCI KCMA KTFR KPAOPREL KNNPCH KWGB KSTT KNUP KPGOV KUK KMNP KPAS KHMN KPAD KSTS KCORR KI KLSO KWNN KNP KPTD KESO KMPP KEMS KPAONZ KPOV KTLA KPAOKMDRKE KNMP KWMNCI KWUN KRDP KWKN KPAOY KEIM KGICKS KIPT KREISLER KTAO KJU KLTN KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KQ KWPR KSCT KGHGHIV KEDU KRCIM KFIU KWIC KNNO KILS KTIALG KNNA KMCAJO KINP KRM KLFLO KPA KOMCCO KKIV KHSA KDM KRCS KWBGSY KISLAO KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KCRI KX KWWT KPAM KVRC KERG KK KSUMPHUM KACP KSLG KIF KIVP KHOURY KNPR KUNRAORC KCOG KCFC KWMJN KFTFN KTFM KPDD KMPIO KCERS KDUM KDEMAF KMEPI KHSL KEPREL KAWX KIRL KNNR KOMH KMPT KISLPINR KADM KPER KTPN KSCAECON KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KCSI KNRG KAKA KFRP KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KQM KQRDQ KWBC KMRD KVBL KOM KMPL KEDM KFLD KPRD KRGY KNNF KPROG KIFR KPOKO KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KHIB KOEM KDDG KCGC
PGOV PREL PK PTER PINR PO PHUM PARM PREF PINF PRL PM PINS PROP PALESTINIAN PE PBTS PNAT PHSA PL PA PSEPC POSTS POLITICS POLICY POL PU PAHO PHUMPGOV PGOG PARALYMPIC PGOC PNR PREFA PMIL POLITICAL PROV PRUM PBIO PAK POV POLG PAR POLM PHUMPREL PKO PUNE PROG PEL PROPERTY PKAO PRE PSOE PHAS PNUM PGOVE PY PIRF PRES POWELL PP PREM PCON PGOVPTER PGOVPREL PODC PTBS PTEL PGOVTI PHSAPREL PD PG PRC PVOV PLO PRELL PEPFAR PREK PEREZ PINT POLI PPOL PARTIES PT PRELUN PH PENA PIN PGPV PKST PROTESTS PHSAK PRM PROLIFERATION PGOVBL PAS PUM PMIG PGIC PTERPGOV PSHA PHM PHARM PRELHA PELOSI PGOVKCMABN PQM PETER PJUS PKK POUS PTE PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PERM PRELGOV PAO PNIR PARMP PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PHYTRP PHUML PFOV PDEM PUOS PN PRESIDENT PERURENA PRIVATIZATION PHUH PIF POG PERL PKPA PREI PTERKU PSEC PRELKSUMXABN PETROL PRIL POLUN PPD PRELUNSC PREZ PCUL PREO PGOVZI POLMIL PERSONS PREFL PASS PV PETERS PING PQL PETR PARMS PNUC PS PARLIAMENT PINSCE PROTECTION PLAB PGV PBS PGOVENRGCVISMASSEAIDOPRCEWWTBN PKNP PSOCI PSI PTERM PLUM PF PVIP PARP PHUMQHA PRELNP PHIM PRELBR PUBLIC PHUMKPAL PHAM PUAS PBOV PRELTBIOBA PGOVU PHUMPINS PICES PGOVENRG PRELKPKO PHU PHUMKCRS POGV PATTY PSOC PRELSP PREC PSO PAIGH PKPO PARK PRELPLS PRELPK PHUS PPREL PTERPREL PROL PDA PRELPGOV PRELAF PAGE PGOVGM PGOVECON PHUMIZNL PMAR PGOVAF PMDL PKBL PARN PARMIR PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PDD PRELKPAO PKMN PRELEZ PHUMPRELPGOV PARTM PGOVEAGRKMCAKNARBN PPEL PGOVPRELPINRBN PGOVSOCI PWBG PGOVEAID PGOVPM PBST PKEAID PRAM PRELEVU PHUMA PGOR PPA PINSO PROVE PRELKPAOIZ PPAO PHUMPRELBN PGVO PHUMPTER PAGR PMIN PBTSEWWT PHUMR PDOV PINO PARAGRAPH PACE PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOVAU PGOF PBTSRU PRGOV PRHUM PCI PGO PRELEUN PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PMR PRTER PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PRELNL PINOCHET PAARM PKPAO PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA POPDC PRELC PHUME PER PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PAUL PHALANAGE PARTY PPEF PECON PEACE PROCESS PPGOV PLN PRELSW PHUMS PRF PEDRO PHUMKDEM PUNR PVPR PATRICK PGOVKMCAPHUMBN PRELA PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PBT PAMQ

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 08TASHKENT1356, UZBEKISTAN: AMBASSADOR VISITS LAND OF THE "HUNGRY STEPPE"

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08TASHKENT1356.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08TASHKENT1356 2008-11-25 05:17 2011-08-26 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Tashkent
VZCZCXRO8753
RR RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHPW RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHNT #1356/01 3300518
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 250517Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0016
INFO CIS COLLECTIVE
ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TASHKENT 001356 
 
SENSITIVE 
SBU DELIBERATIVE PROCESS 
SIPDIS 
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN AND EB 
AMEMBASSY ANKARA FOR AG COUNSELOR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON SOCI EAGR EAID UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN:  AMBASSADOR VISITS LAND OF THE "HUNGRY STEPPE" 
 
1. (SBU) SUMMARY.Ambassador Norlandmade a day trip to the Syrdaryo 
Region on November 14. The next province west of Tashkent, Syrdaryo 
is one of Uzbekistan's poorerregions. Known as the "Hungry Steppe" 
because of the absence of natural watersources, this predominantly 
agriculturalprovince is struggling todevelop its agricultural base 
while also attracting foreign investment.In a long conversation 
Hokim Abdurakhim Jalalov, an unusual regional leader in that he has 
national-level policy experience and outlook,sharedwith the 
Ambassadorhis views on land reform, migration and child labor, 
water, and investment. En route back to Tashkent, the 
Ambassadorvisited two companies affiliated with the American Chamber 
of Commerce that have successfully established themselves in 
Syrdaryo. END SUMMARY 
 
2. (SBU) On November 14 Ambassador Norland paid a visit to Guliston, 
the capital of the Syrdaryo Region. Just an hour and a half's drive 
from Tashkent, Guliston is usually little more than a name on an 
exitsign as travelers drivetheTashkent-Samarkand road. 
Overwhelmingly agricultural, Syrdaryo is considered one of the 
poorest regions in Uzbekistan in terms of agricultural management. 
 
HOKIM OF THE HUNGRY STEPPE 
 
3. (SBU) The Ambassador met first with Abdurakhim Jalalov, Hokim of 
the Syrdaryo Region. Previously First Deputy Minister for 
Agriculture and Water Management, Jalalov was appointed Hokim in 
November 2004 to replace Rashan Haydarov. At that time President 
Karimov cited nepotism, corruption, and failure to meet cotton 
quotas as reasons for Haydarov's demise. With a long background as 
an engineer specializing in water management, from the 1970s Jalalov 
occupied a number of technical positionsbefore being namedDeputy 
Minister of Land Reclamation and Water Management in 1991. It is 
Jalalov's expertise in land reclamation and irrigation that appears 
to have prompted the President to appoint him Hokim of Syrdaryo. 
 
4. (SBU) After greeting the Ambassador, Jalalov gave a short history 
of the Syrdaryo Region. By the beginning of the 20th century most 
land in Central Asia that could be developedeasily was already under 
cultivation. Syrdaryo was not one of those. It was known as the 
"Hungry Steppe" because the land was dry and hungrily soaked up what 
little water came its way. The first settlers who attempted to make 
a life here were freed serfs from the Russian north, who made their 
way to the region in the 1880s. 
 
5. (SBU) It was Russian Grand Duke Nicholas who, sensing the 
region's potential, had the Grand or Romanov Canal built to provide 
water for irrigation. Opened in 1914, the canal was the catalyst for 
a new influx of settlers that continued through the 1920s and 1930s. 
In 1966 the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the USSR 
issued a decree On Development of the "Hungry Steppe." A program of 
"complex development" ensued that over the next fifteen years 
brought an additional 25,000 hectares of land under cultivation. The 
region's infrastructure including roads, housing, and social 
services was developed. Syrdaryo City, the old capital, wassubject 
to flooding and was deemed unfit to be capital of the newly 
developed region. In its place the new capital of Guliston was built 
from the ground up. 
 
6. (SBU) Todayalmost a million people make their home on the "Hungry 
Steppe." (NOTE:The steppe also continues across the border into 
Kazakhstan. End note).The Hokim described the population as a 
multiethnic"vinaigrette" with almost everyone being new to the 
region over one generation. 270,000 hectares are now under 
cultivation. 
 
The Hokim's Viewson Land Reform, 
 
7. (SBU) The Ambassador asked Jalalov about the recent presidential 
decrees reducing the acreage devoted to cotton and merging small 
farms of less than 30 hectares into larger ones (Ref A). Jalalov 
replied that 2,500,000 hectares were planted with cotton and only 
80,000 with grain at the time of Uzbek independence in 1991. 
President Karimov decreed that Uzbekistan should strive for grain 
independence, and within five years 1,000,000 hectares were planted 
with grain. (NOTE: Currently Uzbekistan has 1,300,000 hectares 
devoted to cotton cultivation.) Although results were at first 
mixed, with time Uzbekistan developed cadres who know how to produce 
6-8 tons of grain from each hectare. "We have learned how to grow 
grain in our hot and dry climate," Jalalov said, and he added that 
the October decree increasing the acreage devoted to grain by 48,800 
hectares is a continuation of the policy of increasing grain 
production. 
 
8. (SBU) On the reorganization of farms, Jalalov said a mistake had 
been made in transitioning fromSoviet collective and state farms to 
cooperatives and then to private farms. In the transition to private 
 
TASHKENT 00001356  002 OF 003 
 
 
farms, no restrictions were imposed on how small a farm could be, 
and this resulted in many small 15-20 hectare farms. As a result, 
Jalalov said, in Syrdaryo there are 6200 cotton farms. Jalalov 
continued that at the time no one understood that such small farms 
are not viable but that now the GOU understands the need for reform 
in favor of larger farms. To emphasize this point, he added that in 
Texas 300-350 hectares of cotton are needed to support a single 
family. Moreover, he said, cotton requires full mechanization to a 
degree not available to small farmers and rational water management 
that is better accomplished by having a smaller number of larger 
farms. Once land reform is complete, Jalalov said the number of 
cotton farms in Syrdaryo would be only 3000. 
 
On Migration and Child Labor, 
 
9. (SBU) The Ambassador asked the Hokim to comment on any changes in 
migration patterns due to the world financial crisis and, 
particularly, the economic downturn in Russia and Kazakhstan. 
Jalalov replied thatrelativelyfew peoplefrom Syrdaryo had gone to 
Russia and Kazakhstan as migrants. Rather, he claimed that the 
situation with pay for agricultural workers in Syrdaryo is so good 
that ethnic Uzbeks from Kazakhstan come there to work. He added that 
there is so much land in Syrdaryo that each worker is able to have 
his own private plot to use as he wishes and that there is an 
abundance of private poultry and livestock. He concluded, moreover, 
that people in Syrdaryo are more modest, less pompous than elsewhere 
in Uzbekistan. 
 
10. (SBU) Jalalov continued that criticism of Uzbekistan for using 
child labor in the cotton harvest is unfounded. "Like the Jews, 
Uzbeks love their children and would not allow them to be 
exploited." He added that at no time had children younger than 14 
ever work in the harvest, although he allowed that at times children 
did help their parents. Jalalov saidenvy of Uzbek success was the 
reason for the world's criticism, but he added that "As you know, we 
have adopted appropriate legislation." 
 
On Water, 
 
11. (SBU) Citing the Hokim's long background in water management, 
the Ambassador asked him for his views ontheongoing watercrisis in 
Central Asia. Jalalov responded that if there is more snow this 
winter than last, the level of the Amu Darya River will be higher 
next year. The situation with the Syr Darya is more complex, 
however, because the Kyrgyz use the water of the Toktogul Reservoir 
for energy generation (Ref B). He said as of October 1 there is 4 
billion cubic meters less water in Toktogul than at the same time 
last year and 6 billion cubic meters less than in an average year. 
He saidthat at present inflow and use rates, the reservoir could not 
support Kyrgyz electricity generation at the same level as last 
winter. Jalalovconcluded that an intergovernmental water agreement 
is needed to provide a long-term solution to the crisis. He added 
that Uzbekistan must search for other water sources and practice 
better conservation. 
 
And on Investment 
 
12. (SBU) "Bring us your investors!"Jalalov said when asked about 
the climate for business and industry in Syrdaryo. He cited the 
region's central location, nearness to Tashkent, and 
goodwater,electricity, and gas suppliesas attractive features. He 
added that the main road and rail line "from London to Shanghai" 
passes through Syrdaryo, thereby providing easy access to other 
markets. He continued that Syrdaryo can offer better tax breaks for 
businesses thanother regions of Uzbekistan. He boasted that all 
transactions are open and transparent and thatland grant documents 
are routinely processed and registered within three days. 
 
THE ROAD BACK TO TASHKENT 
 
13. (SBU) After meeting with the Hokim, the Ambassador paid a visit 
to the Syrdaryo Regional Boarding School of Foreign Languages, where 
he had an informal chat with English language students. En route 
back to Tashkent, he stopped first at the Central Asian Seed Company 
(CASC) and then at JMP International. Both are members of the 
American Chamber of Commerce of Uzbekistan. CASC operates the only 
American owned cotton gin in Uzbekistan, and it was operating at 
full volume on the day of the Ambassador's visit. CASC officials 
told us they are having a good year because they had managed to 
conclude their sales contracts in August, before the world financial 
crisis with the resulting drop in cotton prices hit. They added that 
the GOU had not been as lucky and that Uzbekistan is losing its 
competitive position in the world cotton market. (NOTE: We have 
heard rumors that Uzbek cotton sales this year have not been nearly 
as good as loudly trumpeted at the Tashkent International Cotton 
Fair in October [Ref C]. The reason is reported to be that the GOU 
 
TASHKENT 00001356  003 OF 003 
 
 
is holding out for a return to the higher prices of pre-August.) 
 
14. (SBU) With both local investment and investment from Russia and 
Canada, JMP markets the "Fruktovy sad" brand of juice products in 
Uzbekistan. The Ambassador visited JMP'snew processing plant under 
construction in Syrdaryo City. Scheduled to open in January 2009, 
the plant will be the largest juice facility in Central Asia. Its 
products will likely be of suitable quality for U.S. forces in 
Afghanistan if the U.S. decides to increase local purchases of such 
supplies. 
 
COMMENT 
 
15. (SBU) Only an hour and a half from Tashkent, the Syrdaryo Region 
is visibly poorer than the capital. Abandoned factories greet 
travelers entering Guliston, and thecity's exhibition hall lacks 
both heat and water. The main marketplace appeared less than 
crowded. Hokim Jalalov clearlyis proud of his region, but many of 
his claims conflict with reality. In particular, his claims for the 
region's agriculture are reminiscent of thosemade by Soviet 
officials extollingthe productivity and quality oflife on collective 
and state farms. Nevertheless, the Hokim's boasts and claims of 
transparency aside,both CASC and JMP have demonstrated that the 
region has potential for foreign investors. Given time, this 
potential could evolve into tangible success. 
NORLAND 
 
To view the entire SMART message, go to URL http://repository.state.sgov.gov/_layouts/OSS SearchResults.aspx?k=messageid:ff7d1769-d058- 496e-8791-b0aa62f99e0a