Uzbek TV
October 8
 here is "no build-up of serious military forces" on Uzbek-Afghan
border,
the secretary of the Uzbek National Security Council, Mirakbar
Rahomonqulov, told a news conference on 8 October. He also denied media
reports that US special-purpose units have arrived at the military
airbase
Uzbekistan is offering for use by the USA. Rahmonqulov was speaking at
a
joint news conference with Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Komilov.
Komilov said that the agreement under which Uzbekistan made available a
military base to the USA for humanitarian and search-and-rescue
operations
had now been signed.
[Komilov] We wanted to meet you today to once again make it clear to
the
mass media what Uzbekistan's position is following the situation in the
region, and to express our attitude to what are in our view certain not
always impartial evaluations of and commentaries on the developments in
Afghanistan and in the region as a whole. We also wanted to provide
information on the real state of affairs. We, along with the secretary
of
the National Security Council of Uzbekistan, Mr Rahmonqulov, would like
to
brief you on these questions.
At the beginning of our meeting, I would like to say that we all know
well
that an anti-terrorist operation started in Afghanistan yesterday.
Throughout the past night and today world media outlets reported on the
developments in and around that country. We are sure that you are well
informed about all these developments. We can only say one thing, that
very
massive operations aimed at destroying militant-training bases and
camps
and putting out of action military airports, the air control system
and,
first and foremost, as has been reported many times, air defence
facilities
capable of attacking aircraft involved in the anti-terrorist operations
and
humanitarian actions. Those subjected to US missile strikes were
Taleban
military facilities and infrastructure in Kabul, Kandahar, Jalalabad,
and
Mazar-e Sharif and Herat, according to information available to us.
All of you are also well aware that a broad-based international
anti-terrorist coalition has been formed. You are aware of the
addresses by
the British prime minister, French president and many other leaders of
great and small countries. The states I have mentioned, in particular
Britain and France, stated that their armed forces would also take part
in
launching strikes on terrorists. Canada, Australia and Germany promised
to
provide military assistance in the operation.
A number of countries have spoken out in support of the anti-terrorist
operation, regardless of their political regime and views, including
many
Muslim Arab states. You all might have noted that today many news
agencies
reported on the clear-cut stance taken by the leader of the Libyan
revolution, Mu'ammar Qadhafi. He gave his support and said that the USA
had
the full right to take revenge for the acts of terrorism against it and
levelled very sharp criticism at the Taleban movement and its ideology.
Coalition leaders are reiterating in their statements that the military
operations are aimed neither at Afghan people, who have become a
hostage to
international terrorism, nor at Islamic states and Islam. Their aim is
to
destroy terrorist bases and camps and their sources and completely
destroy
the destructive terrorism machine throughout the world.
Unquestionably, Uzbekistan fully agrees with this stance and we hold
this
position with regard to the current state of affairs and the goals
pursued
by the operation.
At a news conference on 5 October, our country's president, Islam
Karimov,
gave details concerning Uzbekistan's position with regard to the
developments, its role and participation in the fight. The full text of
his
statement has been published in the press. We would like to reiterate
once
again that, as the statement says, our country, which has greatly
suffered
from terrorism which is intensifying and turning into a constant
threat,
and has felt its pernicious impact itself, must be with the
international
community, who have declared war on this terrible evil and this threat
of
the 21st century. We advise you to keep referring to this statement and
we
hope that there you will find answers to all the fundamental questions
you
have on this issue.
[Rahmonqulov] I would like to draw your attention to various
irresponsible
inaccuraties, insinuations and sometimes just conjectures, in my view,
that
are being reported in large numbers by certain, primarily Russian,
media
agencies. This is regrettable. It is being reported with reference to
competent sources that active military movement is going on in
Uzbekistan
and that the Uzbek armed forces are being moved to the state borders.
The
impression is being formed that some sort of military actions are just
about to start. This can be described as nothing but provocation, an
attempt to confuse people and create uneasiness and alarm among them.
We would like to state with full responsibility that there are no
movements
of military units on Uzbek territory. Troops are at the sites where
they
are permanently stationed and doing what they have to do - military
preparations, guarding the security and territorial integrity of the
state.
The same could be said in response to reports that the Taleban have
moved
forces 8,000-, and according to certain reports, 10,000-strong to the
border with Uzbekistan to carry out military actions against our
country.
In reality these "sensational reports" are yet another myth or the
fruit of
a lively imagination shown by certain television channels and those
behind
them. In this regard, I would like to state with full responsibility
that
there is no build-up of serious military forces on the Uzbek-Afghan
border.
We would like to reiterate once again that Uzbekistan's stance on its
participation in the fight against terrorism is precisely and clearly
defined in a recent statement by our president [Islam Karimov] and that
Uzbekistan will strictly adhere to this position. We know the position
well. It concerns first and foremost two fundamental provisions.
Firstly,
no ground military operations against Afghanistan are to be conducted
from
Uzbek territory. This stance has been clearly defined. Despite this,
certain media agencies are trying to interpret it differently.
Secondly, no bombing and storming raids are to be launched from Uzbek
territory. Uzbekistan has not gone and will not go beyond these
principled
stances. This approach is in keeping with the interests of our country
and
international legal documents.
Now regarding various rumours about the Uzbek Air Force offering its
airbases for use by the USA. You have been properly informed that a
decision has been taken to offer the USA the use of one of the Uzbek
Air
Force's military airbases for its transport aircraft and helicopters
and in
order to conduct from there exclusively humanitarian and search and
rescue
operations. Conditions will be created there for US specialists,
technical
staff and aircraft servicing personnel and those involved in carrying
out
the tasks mentioned.
In so doing, we are not putting this airbase at the full disposal of US
military and technical personnel. Our military aircraft will also stay
at
the airbase, too. In other words, at the base there are no [Army]
Rangers
or special-purpose units, as is being reported, the 10th US motorized
rifle
division which is preparing to invade Afghanistan militarily, as is
being
tirelessly and insistently reported by certain media agencies, which
could
be put to better use, and certain states.
[Komilov] I would like to add some remarks to what Rahmonqulov has just
said. My information is that it has been repeatedly mentioned that the
relevant agreement between Uzbekistan and the USA is being drawn up, an
agreement which would regulate our interaction, our cooperation for the
solution of the tasks mentioned here. The tasks are exclusively of
humanitarian nature. Such an agreement has been signed, with due regard
to
international experience and practice. Now one can say that the
cooperation
and interaction between Uzbekistan and the USA has the juridical and
legal
basis necessary in such cases.
I would also like to use this occasion to give you brief information
concerning another issue. You know that an announcement has been made
that
President Islam Karimov is to pay a visit to Austria. Following the
start
of large-scale operations to destroy the network of international
terrorism
in areas immediately bordering Uzbek territory, the decision has been
taken
to postpone the visit scheduled for 8-10 October. The Austrian
leadership
has accepted the decision with understanding. The sides are confirming
through diplomatic channels that developing comprehensive cooperation
is
mutually beneficial and are hoping that the visit will take place soon.
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ША готовятся начать "следующую фазу" военной операции против Афганистана, планируя отправку "значительного числа дополнительных наземных войск" на Ближний Восток и в Среднюю Азию. Об этом сообщила во вторник со ссылкой на источники в американской администрации газета The Washington Post. 
овые меры безопасности в связи с событиями в Афганистане приняла Национальная авиакомпания Узбекистана "Хаво йуллари". На неопределенное время, как передает CNA, отменены регулярные полеты из Ташкента в Дели и Амритсар (Индия), Бахрейн, Куала-Лумпур (Малайзия), Бангкок (Таиланд).
any people in Uzbekistan awoke this morning having heard little or no news about yesterday's U.S.-led air strikes against suspected terrorist targets in neighboring Afghanistan.
fter a second series of bomb strikes on Afghanistan
the situation on the Uzbek-Afghan border remains calm. No build-up of
Taleban troops on the Afghan bank of the Amurdarya river has been noticed.
kraine is prepared to render the necessary assistance
to Uzbekistan in light of developments in the region after the United
States and Great Britain launched an antiterrorist operation, Ukrainian
President Leonid Kuchma told Uzbek President Islam Karimov by telephone.
apan's special envoy Muneo Suzuki met with Uzbekistan's
Prime Minister Otkir Sultonov in the Uzbek capital Tashkent on Monday [8
October] and reached agreement that the two countries would swap
information on the war against international terrorism, Japanese officials
said.
ближайшее время начнется массированное наступление войск движения "Талибан" на Узбекистан. Об этом, как передает корреспондент РИА "Новости", заявил представитель талибов катарской телестанции "Аль-Джазира".
збекистан и Япония будут оперативно обмениваться информацией по борьбе с международным терроризмом.