US embassy cable - 05GENEVA1850

UNCLAS GENEVA 001850 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR, PRM, PRM/MCE, SS EXEC OFFICE, BISHKEK FOR 
YOUNG, BUCHAREST FOR GILCHRIST 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF, (RICE, CONDOLEEZZA), UNHCR 
SUBJECT: UZEBK SITUATION: LETTER FROM HIGH COMMISSIONER 
GUTERRES TO SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE 
 
REF: A. GENEVA 1836 
 
     B. SECSTATE 138321 
 
1.  (U) As per ref a, Mission received two letters from 
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio 
Guterres addressed to Secretary Rice.  Ref a letter, dated 
July 27, dealt briefly with the situation of Uzbek refugees 
in Kyrgyzstan.  The July 28 letter reproduced below goes into 
further detail and refers, in part, to the Secretary's letter 
of July 27 (ref b). Guterres' letter contains specific 
reference to the important role played by Ambassador Stephen 
Young in Bishkek.  Due to transmission problems at UNHCR, we 
did not receive a signed copy of the July 28 letter until 
August 4.  Begin Text: 
 
Madam: (Handwritten:Dear Friend) 
 
With reference to your letter of 27 July, I wish to express 
UNHCR's sincere gratitude to the Government of the United 
States of America, and to you personally for the support 
extended to my Office as we seek a solution for the 455 
persons of concern who fled the Republic of Uzbekistan 
following the May incidents in Andijan. 
 
I greatly appreciate your assurances that the United States 
is prepared to accept resettlement referrals for as many of 
these individuals as necessary.  UNHCR will endeavour to 
ensure that transfers are carried out under acceptable 
circumstances from a secure locations and, to the degree 
possible, that responsibility for the group is shared among a 
number of potential resettlement countries. 
 
The Government of the United States has been extremely 
helpful to UNHCR from the beginning of the stand-off in 
Kyrgyzstan.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank 
also Ambassador Stephen Young in Bishkek for his timely 
interventions and indefatigable work in aid of my office 
there.  My colleagues are deeply impressed by his 
humanitarian spirit and his willingness to assist UNHCR in 
this challenging environment. 
 
Once the refugees are in a secure location, we look forward 
to further cooperation with your Government in order to 
identify durable solutions for these individuals. 
 
Please accept, Madam, the assurances of my highest 
consideration. 
 
(Handwritten: With my warmest regards,) 
 
Antonio Guterres 
 
 
2.  (U) Mission will pouch the original letter under registry 
number 6131642. 
Moley