Cablegate: Czechs Offer Permanent Resettlement to 40 Uzbek

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS PRAGUE 001090

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF PREL EZ UZ KG
SUBJECT: CZECHS OFFER PERMANENT RESETTLEMENT TO 40 UZBEK
REFUGEES

REF: A. STATE 131485
B. PRAGUE 1068
C. GENEVA 1739

1. (U) This message is Sensitive But Unclassified - Not for
Internet Distribution.

2. (SBU) This is an action request, please see paragraph 4.

3. (SBU) Following up on ref requests for a humanitarian
transfer of Uzbek refugees to a safe location, we met with
Mr. Tomas Haisman, Director of the Department for Asylum and
Migration Policies at the Ministry of Interior on July 20 to
discuss a formal Czech offer. Haisman confirmed that the
Ministry had approved the transfer of 40 Uzbek refugees in
Kazakhstan to the Czech Republic and said they would process
them for permanent resettlement in the Czech Republic (rather
than simply offering temporary safe haven for processing as
requested reftel). Haisman said that he had already conveyed
this offer to the Prague office of UNHCR. To accept the
refugees, Haisman said that the GOCR would need approximately
3 days notice to prepare for their arrival, which would most
likely take place at the Ostrava airport where they can be
taken to a refugee processing center. He added that he would
be happy to coordinate with the USG on logistics. Haisman
requested that we make no public statements about the offer
for permanent settlement, adding that his office would
prepare a media response once they knew if their offer was
accepted by UNHCR.

4. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: The Czechs asked if the USG would
be providing transportation assistance or other logistical
support to bring the Uzbek refugees to the Czech Republic.
Please advise of any planned USG support.
CABANISS

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