VZCZCXRO4745
RR RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHGI RUEHJS RUEHKUK RUEHLH
RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHNT #1299/01 2041252
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 231254Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1193
INFO ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE
RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TASHKENT 001299 
 
SIPDIS 
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/PPD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL EAID OEXC UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: FOLLOW UP TO CAIRO SPEECH 
 
REF: STATE 71325 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY: Post initiated the consultative process 
on the Presidents strategy to engage Muslim 
communities by leading a discussion with foreign 
assistance partners.  Drawing from the three areas 
of engagement suggested in reftel (which coincide 
with posts foreign assistance priorities), post 
launched this effort with NGO leaders who work 
directly with Uzbek communities, yet will soon 
expand the circle of discussants to various cross- 
sections of society, particularly Muslim youth.  As 
a result of these talks, the United States will be 
able to foster relationships with Muslim 
communities, improve the image of Americans among 
Uzbeks, and enhance the impact of current and future 
development and diplomatic initiatives.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
BACKGROUND: The Role of the United States in 
Uzbekistans Development and Stability 
 
¶2.  The political and socio-economic conditions in 
Uzbekistan differentiate it from its neighbors in 
Central Asia and make sustained dialogue and 
innovative approaches to development problems 
crucial.  Over the past year, the importance of 
Uzbekistan to the United States efforts in 
Afghanistan has emerged, and the country is 
beginning to take steps to address long-standing 
problems hindering economic growth, healthcare 
access, human rights protections, and competitive 
election processes.  Overall Uzbekistan remains a 
culture disinclined to outside influence, with 
traditional institutions (e.g. neighborhood councils 
called mahallahs), close-knit family structures, and 
a centrally-controlled government providing the 
framework through which average Uzbeks order their 
lives.  As a result, Uzbekistan society does not 
have a culture of charity or volunteerism in the 
Western sense: mosques, churches, families and 
neighborhoods are expected to support individuals in 
need and provide guidance to young people to prevent 
them from engaging in harmful behaviors. 
 
¶3.  The United States involvement in Uzbekistan 
therefore requires a balanced, long-term approach to 
building the necessary relationships between 
stakeholders to ensure the development and stability 
of the country and engendering support for foreign 
policy priorities of the United States.  The methods 
used to discuss President Obamas Cairo speech and 
putting the ideas into action reflect this long-term 
approach of relationship and consensus building. 
 
PROCESS: Initial Consultations with Stakeholders 
 
¶4.  The consultative process in Uzbekistan began 
with a meeting with USAID partners in the areas of 
agriculture, economic growth, democracy and 
governance, health, and education.  The partners 
were asked to describe their impressions of the 
speech and the related policy priorities, noting 
where current programs could be adjusted or expanded 
to further the vision of the President in the Muslim 
world.  Participants also suggested which groups 
should be considered for the next round of 
consultations.  Major themes which arose of the 
meeting included: 
 
a) Expanding efforts in education and training, 
especially through international exchange programs. 
One Uzbek participant shared that his high school 
exchange program to the United States changed his 
views about the American people and about how he 
could serve his country.  Despite the potential for 
educational and professional exchange to bolster the 
positive perceptions of America in Uzbekistan, these 
program budgets are inadequate and continue to 
decline.  The infrastructure is already in place to 
support a great many additional participants with 
little or no increase in overhead costs; the 
financial backing just needs to be expanded. (For 
example, there are no monies in the FY10 budget 
allocated for Community Connections, a professional 
development exchange program and basic education 
funds for FY10 are likely to fall below $200,000). 
 
TASHKENT 00001299  002 OF 002 
 
 
b) Scaling-up of democracy and rule of law 
activities to recognize the improved legislative 
framework in Uzbekistan (e.g. new Code of Criminal 
Procedure which brings Uzbekistans laws in line 
with the International Covenant on Civil and 
Political Rights.) 
 
c) Microfinance remains an excellent vehicle for 
moving people out of poverty.  In Uzbekistan, 
greater support for microfinance can help women 
develop livelihoods to improve the economic status 
and the wellbeing of their children.  Most 
importantly, the participants noted, microfinance 
can dissuade women from joining religious extremist 
groups to which poorer women are susceptible in 
Uzbekistan.  Microfinance institutions are few in 
number in Uzbekistan, but highly successful.  Future 
engagement should examine how to scale-up these 
activities and promote community-based lending 
strategies. 
 
d) The private sector is important to realizing 
social protection and development in Uzbekistan; 
however, there are no laws to reward charitable 
gifts by companies (e.g. through tax breaks) and 
often donations are made after demands are placed on 
businesses by the government.  As a result, 
charitable giving tends to be limited to holidays 
and special occasions and does not build toward a 
strategic outcome.  Advocacy is needed to change the 
policy environment to promote charitable donations 
by the private sector. 
 
e) For science and technology, renewable energy is 
of great interest to the Government of Uzbekistan, 
businesses, and farmers.  In June 2009, Uzbekistan 
became a signatory to the Charter of the 
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and 
small-scale solar and micro-hydro projects have 
proven successful. 
 
f) Mainstreaming governance into development 
activities and outreach is important.  Good 
governance can be applied in all areashealth, 
agriculture, economic growth, and educationand will 
lay the foundation for a democratic culture. 
 
g) Religious freedom remains a sensitive issue in 
Uzbekistan.  The USG should support efforts to 
educate young people about different religions and 
about methods of dispute resolution in rural areas. 
 
h) Using religious leaders to promote health issues 
and other messages about development has proven to 
be highly successful.  Religious leaders need to be 
co-opted into health, economic and governance 
initiatives to expand efficacy of development 
projects. 
 
NEXT STEPS: Further Consultations and Feedback 
 
¶5.  As part of this first dialogue on policy 
priority areas, stakeholders provided suggestions on 
follow-up meetings to more fully outline the 
opinions of the citizens of Uzbekistan about the 
policies and approaches of the United States. 
Groups suggested for second round discussions 
included: government officials, religious leaders, 
community-based groups (e.g. mahallahs), youth, 
private companies, and the national Womens 
Committee.  These consultations will assist in the 
creation of linkages between activities and sectors. 
 
¶6.  In addition to such consultations in the foreign 
assistance sector, post plans to incorporate 
outreach and consultation on the Cairo speech 
principles into planned meetings with civil society 
leaders, educators, Muslim youth, and diplomatic 
counterparts.  This would be part of the missions 
ongoing work in the areas of religious freedom, 
education, democracy, and the rule of law.  Post 
also plans to reach out to its network of USG- 
program alumni and the large community of 
Information Resource Center and Embassy resource 
users for additional feedback.  Over the next few 
weeks, post will continue these talks to further 
formulate methods for reaching out to the people of 
Uzbekistan. 
BUTCHER