PCV Damien Faz says: Peace Corps tells PCVs: There is no intention on our part to close down the Peace Corps program in Uzbekistan
Sunday, May 22, 2005
[Excerpt]
Sorry to just copy and paste/post as update but there's not much more I can add: "To All Peace Corps Volunteers - These are difficult times and our thoughts and prayers go out to hundreds of innocent Uzbeks who were caught up in the violence at Andijon. We also share the anguish of the Volunteers in Andijon and the rest of Ferghana Valley who have been so directly affected by recent events.
I wanted to take this opportunity to up-date you all on events and issues that are directly affecting the Peace Corps program in Uzbekistan. In so doing, I want to emphasize that there is no intention on our part to close down the Peace Corps program in Uzbekistan. I continue to believe strongly that the work the Volunteers are doing is important to the Uzbek people and that, for this reason, we will do everything possible to ensure that all Volunteers have the opportunity to complete their full terms of service in Uzbekistan.
Volunteer Status: In Ferghana Valley, the five Volunteers in Andijon have been withdrawn to Tashkent for safety reasons. Because of the nature of the recent violence in Andijon and the unlikelihood that the situation there will stabilize anytime soon, it has been decided that these five Volunteers will not return to Andijon. We are now talking with them about there options for the future.
The Volunteers in Kokand and Ferghana City remain at their sites and there are no plans at the present to bring them out since both areas appear safe and stable. The remaining two Volunteers in Namangan are on vacation and the decision on whether they will return to their sites in Namangan will be made when they return.
The Visa Issue: Fifty-two Uz 18 Volunteers and two other Volunteers currently have visas that expire on June 1. Working with Ambassador Purnell, we have informed the Government that these Volunteers will be withdrawn from Uzbekistan unless the MFA immediately regularizes their visa situation. We have set next week as a deadline - if there is no progress by that time, we will have no option but to begin processing the departure of these Volunteers. We have no choice in this matter since we will not permit groups of Volunteers to remain in Uzbekistan in an irregular status with expired visas.
For the present, plans to bring in an additional 30-34 Volunteers to Uzbekistan in August continue to move forward, although the outcome of our discussions with the Government about the June 1 visas will directly affect our final decision on the August group.
I will keep you all informed as these issues evolve. I understand that many of you are understandably concerned about what the future will bring. We urge you not to despair - we have faced similar challenges in the past. I myself remain hopeful that the visa problems can be worked out with the Government. But it is important for all of us to understand clearly where things stand at the present. If you have any questions or concerns that you want to discuss with me or Mary, please don't hesitate to call or to email.
All the best,
CD Country Director
