US embassy cable - 05PRAGUE1090

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