VZCZCXRO3838
RR RUEHDBU
DE RUEHNT #2110/01 3351038
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 011037Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1580
RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT
INFO RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 0116
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0076
RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 0132
RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 0116

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TASHKENT 002110 
 
SIPDIS 
DEPT FOR SCA/PPD, SCA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL SCUL KPAO UZ
SUBJECT: Uzbekistan: Media Reaction to DAS Krol's Visit to Tashkent 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: Local media reports on DAS Krol's visit to 
Uzbekistan were found only online. Of these, only two were by state 
media outlets. State media reported on the visit in the context of 
the adoption of the Annual Bilateral Consultations (ABCs). Such 
reports were neutral in tone. Independent media brought greater and 
more varied attention to the visit. End Summary. 
 
Media Reports on Visit Limited to Internet 
 
¶2. (U) Media reports on DAS Krol's visit to Uzbekistan were limited 
to the internet. No print or television media carried stories on 
the visit. No radio reports on the visit were heard by Embassy 
staff. 
 
State Media Focus on Announcement of First ABC 
 
¶3. (U) Among state media outlets, only two published articles on 
the visit (Gazeta.uz  and 12.uz). Both of the websites focused on 
the announcement which took place during the visit regarding 
Uzbekistan's acceptance of the U.S. proposal to send a delegation 
to D.C. as the first step in the Annual Bilateral Consultations 
(ABC). 12.uz quoted verbatim the Embassy's statement to the press 
regarding the ABCs. Both media outlets reported on the ABCs in a 
factual manner, with no commentary. 
 
¶4. (U) In addition to reporting on the ABCs, both Gazeta.uz and 
12.uz briefly outlined DAS Krol's meetings with government 
officials. Gazeta.uz described the meetings as productive.  12.uz 
also reported that DAS Krol "expressed hope" that a U.S. president 
could visit Uzbekistan. (Note: the statement overstates DAS Krol's 
response to a reporter's question at an Embassy organized 
discussion with local media, the monthly "Press Gap." End Note) 
 
Independent Media Sources 
 
¶5. (U) Independent media sources also reported on DAS Krol's visit 
in connection with the continuing discussion on the ABCs. However, 
independent media reports on the visit were more diverse in their 
coverage of the visit. Specifically, such reports focused on 
Afghanistan, the Northern Distribution Network (NDN), human rights, 
hydrocarbons, and the ABCs. 
 
Uzbekistan's Contribution to Efforts in Afghanistan 
 
¶6. (U) Several independent media outlets reported that DAS Krol 
highly assessed Uzbekistan's contribution to the efforts in 
Afghanistan. Ferghana.ru quoted DAS Krol as saying that the U.S. 
"value(s) the advice and contribution provided by Uzbekistan, to 
(the) resolution of (the) Afghan issue." Both Uzmetronom.com and 
Ferghana.ru noted that DAS Krol emphasized that Kabul was powered 
by electricity imported from Uzbekistan. 
 
Reports on Question of Potential Military Cooperation 
 
¶7. (U) Several media outlets noted that DAS Krol's visit did not 
include discussion of U.S.-Uzbekistan military cooperation, 
including inter alia a U.S. base in Uzbekistan. Some reports 
further suggested that such cooperation is not planned. Uznews.com 
and Uzmetronom.com reported that there had been no talks on the 
return of U.S. troops to the K2 base. UzNews.net reported that the 
U.S. government "does not plan to restore military cooperation with 
Uzbekistan." (Note: This slightly mischaracterizes DAS Krol's 
comment at the Press Gap that the U.S. "is not planning" currently 
to restore military cooperation in the form of a military base. End 
Note.) 
 
Commercial and Non-Lethal Nature of NDN 
 
¶8. (U) Independent media outlets also discussed the NDN in 
connection with DAS Krol's visit. Several noted that the NDN served 
to transport only non-lethal goods to Afghanistan. Two websites 
stated that DAS Krol was "unable" to specify the monetary value of 
the NDN. (Note: DAS Krol was asked twice during the Press Gap how 
much money the U.S. paid for the NDN. DAS Krol responded that 
decisions regarding shipments were made on a commercial basis. End 
Note.) 
 
Valuing but not Imposing Human Rights 
 
¶9. (U) Independent media outlets also reported on Krol's comments 
regarding the role of human rights in the U.S.-Uzbekistan 
relationship. Ferghana.ru said that human rights issues were 
discussed in DAS Krol's meetings with his counterparts, but that 
the U.S. does not aim to impose its own values on other countries. 
 
TASHKENT 00002110  002 OF 002 
 
 
Uzmetronom.com similarly noted that the U.S. would always pay 
attention to human rights but that it would not impose its 
principles on other countries. Uznews.net erroneously quoted DAS 
Krol as saying that the issue of human rights "had always been the 
most import(ant) issue" in U.S. relations with any country, 
including Uzbekistan. 
 
Development of Unofficial U.S.-Uzbekistan Relationship 
 
¶10. (U) DAS Krol's emphasis on the need to develop Uzbekistan-U.S. 
relations in non-official spheres was also highlighted by 
independent media. Ferghana.ru reported that the U.S. wants to 
improve Uzbekistan-U.S. relations not only on a governmental level, 
but also in areas such as business, healthcare, and education, and 
through exchanges of opinion and information. UzNews.net noted that 
Krol believes the development of independent media in Uzbekistan is 
also part of the bilateral dialogue. 
 
Butcher 
BUTCHER