US embassy cable - 05GENEVA1764

UNCLAS GENEVA 001764 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR PRM/MCE, SS EXEC OFFICE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF, UNHCR 
SUBJECT: RECEIPT OF LETTER FROM UNHCR HIGH COMMISSIONER 
ANTONIO GUTERRES ADDRESSED TO SECRETARY OF STATE 
CONDOLEEZZA RICE 
 
 1.  (U) Mission has received the following letter, dated 
July 18, from United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 
Antonio Guterres addressed to Secretary of State Condoleezza 
Rice. 
 
Begin Text. 
 
Madam, 
 
The situation of the persons who fled due to the recent 
events in Andijan, Republic of Uzbekistan, and who now are in 
the Kyrgyz Republic continues to be of great concern to my 
Office and the international community.  Immediate action is 
required to ensure their protection as the risk of their 
forcible return to Uzebekistan has dramatically increased, 
and I should like to call upon your Government to assist by 
helping to resettle members of this group. 
 
On 13-14 May 2005, credible sources report the indiscriminate 
use of deadly force against unarmed civilians by Uzbek 
security authorities in the city of Andijan.  Some 500 people 
directly fled to the Kyrgyz Republic.  At present, there are 
427 Uzbeks in a camp near the Kyrgyz city of Jalalabad and 29 
Uzbek asylum-seekers are detained in Osh.  All of these 
persons have sought recognition of their refugee status by 
Kyrgyz authorities and my Office. 
 
Since the beginning of this protection emergency, the threat 
of deportation has been ever-present.  Already, four Uzbek 
asylum-seekers have been returned forcefully to Uzbekistan by 
the Kyrgyz authorities, to an uncertain fate.  It is only 
after the strong intervention of the United Nations 
Secretary-General, my Office, the Office of the High 
 
SIPDIS 
Commissioner for Human Rights and the international community 
that further deportations of asylum-seekers have been, until 
now, stalled. 
 
Authorities of the Kyrgyz Republic Government will soon 
finish the refugee status determination (RSD) process for all 
Uzbek asylum seekers in the camp and for those in detention. 
The RSD process has all been facilitated, supported and 
closely monitored by UNHCR.  Individual RSD decisions may be 
announced by the Kyrgyz Department of Migration Services in 
the coming weeks. 
 
At this stage it is the view of my Office that 26 applicants 
in the detention facility in Osh qualify for refugee status 
following an individual refugee status determination 
procedure.  The Uzbek applicants in the Sasik camp are also 
considered by UNHCR as refugees on a prima facie basis, 
excepting any that may be individually excludable under 
international refugee law. 
 
Alarmingly, we have received credible information that the 
refugees in the camp and in detention are in great danger. 
They could be deported shortly or subjected to other 
unofficial removal actions. 
 
Given the danger faced by these refugees, we have decided to 
evacuate them from the Kyrgyz Republic as soon as possible. 
We are currently in the process of identifying a country that 
would be willing to receive this group for a short period on 
their soil, until more durable resettlement opportunities 
have been found for them. 
 
Temporary permission to stay for this group hinges on their 
being rapidly resettled to a third country.  I therefore 
appeal to your Government to assist us in this exceptional, 
life-saving operation by agreeing to provide resettlement 
places for all or part of this group. 
 
Please accept, Madam, the assurance of my highest 
consideration. 
 
(signed) 
 
Antonio Guterres 
 
2.  (U) Mission will send the original letter and attached 
documents via Federal Express. 
Moley