USA to triple assistance to reforms in Uzbekistan


Russian news agency Interfax
December 10

The US assistance to political and economic reforms in Uzbekistan will be tripled, says a message from President George W. Bush to Uzbek leader Islam Karimov, which was delivered by US Secretary of State Colin Powell to Tashkent on Saturday [8 December].

The message says that the United States will give comprehensive support to Uzbek economic reforms, which will help Uzbekistan to lay a solid economic foundation and to open the way for sizable assistance from international financial organizations.

Bush said he valued highly the personal efforts of Islam Karimov on the involvement of Uzbekistan in the international antiterrorist coalition. Karimov's decision to accept American military units has contributed a lot to the US efforts, the message says. The goal is not easy, but it will be achieved through common efforts, it notes.

Bush said he is adherent to the long-term partnership with Uzbekistan despite the fact that the attention is now concentrated on the joint antiterrorist fight.

America will support every effort of Uzbekistan to provide for large political and economic freedoms for the Uzbek people, Bush said.

He said he was interested in deeper cooperation in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and lauded the opening of the Friendship Bridge in Termez.

The move displays the Uzbek determination to assist the people of Afghanistan in their time of ordeal, Bush said. It will strengthen the leading position of Uzbekistan in the efforts of the antiterrorist coalition for Afghan rehabilitation, he said.

Bush said he hoped to meet with Karimov in the United States.