Russian news agency Interfax
November 4
.S. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is satisfied with
talks held in Uzbekistan. Rumsfeld arrived in Tashkent on Sunday [4 November] for talks with Uzbek
President Islam Karimov and Defence Minister Qodir Ghulomov.
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He said at a press conference following the talks that his negotiations with the Uzbek officials dealt with a wide spectrum of issues pertaining to the struggle against terrorism, the current situation in Afghanistan and individual aspects of the anti-terrorist operation. Rumsfeld also said that with Karimov he had discussed the complicated situation in Afghanistan, which is posing a threat to neighbouring states, to the USA and to the rest of the world. The efforts to combat terrorism are showing moderate progress, he said, adding that Washington highly appraises Uzbekistan's cooperation with the USA. |
He declines to say where the US special forces are being sent and where they carry out their operations. The US officers currently located in Uzbekistan are guiding US planes involved in the air strikes and in humanitarian actions, Rumsfeld said.
Ghulomov in turn said that the talks dealt with various aspects of relations between the Uzbek Defence Ministry and the US Defence Department, as well as the ongoing anti-terrorist operation.
He also said that the current level of cooperation had been outlined in a joint statement and in an agreement earlier signed by the two countries, which says in clear terms that one military airfield will be made available for humanitarian, and search and rescue missions. "No changes have been made in those agreements," Ghulomov said.