Polish PAP news agency
October 21

President Aleksander Kwasniewski said the cooperation between Poland and Uzbekistan should be increased and enriched. Kwasniewski made the statement following a meeting with Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov on Monday 21 October. The Polish president arrived in Uzbekisatn on Sunday evening. This is the first part of the president's visit to Asian countries which also includes Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

"Poland is interested in the development of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. We also want to develop military, cultural and tourist cooperation, Kwasniewski told a press conference.

According to the Polish president, Uzbekistan plays a significant role in the antiterrorist coalition. Later an agreement on combating organized crime was signed in the presence of the two presidents.

According to deputy Interior Minister Zenon Kosiniak-Kamysz, who signed the agreement on behalf of the Polish government, it is mainly to cover moves designed to combat drug trafficking. "The agreement makes it possible to faster exchange information between the two countries and to fight organized crime," Kosiniak-Kamysz said.

Defence Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski signed an agreement on cooperation for 2003 between the defence ministries of the two countries. In June Szmajdzinski signed an agreement on technological, training and military education cooperation.

We are expecting experts from Uzbekistan to come to Poland to verify our offer concerning technical and military cooperation and get acquainted with Poland's production potential, Szmajdzinski said.

Our cooperation can also concern logistic support for the Polish contingent in Afghanistan, Szmajdzinski said, and added Poland was hoping it would be able to use one of Uzbekistan's bases and airport.

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