Financial Times
April 24

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is reviewing security arrangements at its planned annual meeting in Uzbekistan next month, following warnings about possible terrorist threats.

Jean Lemierre, the EBRD president, and the bank's directors are due to meet today to decide whether to scale down the prestigious event that usually attracts 2,000-3,000 officials, bankers and business people.

Some EBRD directors have even suggested cancelling the meeting. But late yesterday this seemed unlikely. With the meeting on May 4 and 5 only days away, cancellation would be embarrassing for the EBRD and the Uzbek authorities, which have set great store by hosting the meeting. The decision rests with the EBRD directors who represent the multilateral bank's 60 shareholder governments, including the US, Japan and European Union states.

Some EBRD directors and staff have long had concerns about security in Uzbekistan, which has an active Islamic militant movement, and about the wisdom of holding the meeting in an authoritarian state with a record of human rights abuses.

But the bank persevered with its original decision despite the increased tensions prompted by the Iraq war because of the diplomatic difficulties involved in reversing such a high-profile choice. The US made clear it wanted the EBRD to stand by Uzbekistan, a key American ally in central Asia.

However, the US administration has this month unwittingly prompted the bank to review its decision by issuing a notice on April 5 warning travellers about possible attacks by terrorists, including al-Qaeda.

Terrorists might be planning attacks on hotels frequented by westerners, said the State Department. While it did not tell travellers to avoid Uzbekistan, it warned them to stay away from places "where Americans and westerners generally congregate in large numbers".

The US has since indicated that its message was not aimed at the EBRD annual meeting and insists that its own delegation, headed by John Taylor, the Treasury undersecretary, plans to attend. But the notice has caused concern among officials from other countries, who point out that the meeting is a perfect example of westerners congregating in large numbers.

Mr Lemierre said yesterday that the annual meeting was on. He added that he was assessing security issues but declined further comment.

Among the shareholders, the US, the UK, Germany and Japan have been the strongest supporters of staying with Tashkent. Countries which have raised the greatest concerns about security include some continental European states. The countries of central and eastern Europe, in which the EBRD invests, are mostly neutral.

If the bank decides to curtail its programme, its options include dropping planned tourist trips and site visits for delegates' spouses, and limiting access for non-government participants such as business people and political activists.

Cancellation or even a significant reduction in the public show surrounding the event would be a big blow to Uzbek President Islam Karimov, who sees the meeting as an opportunity to appear on the international stage.

His officials have long attached the highest priority to security. They plan to block off large areas in Tashkent around the conference venue and main hotels. Reports indicate additional roadblocks and checkpoints will be set up along the main highways and possibly on the roads leading into Tashkent.

One diplomat said: "This is one of the safest cities in the world and will be even safer in the next weeks, given the Uzbek propensity for overdoing security."

However, human rights activists warn that security considerations could give the authorities an excuse to clamp down on political activists.

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