PAP News Wire
October 21

Presidents Aleksander Kwasniewski of Poland and Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan on Monday declared the will to encourage development of economic and political relations between the two countries and expressed support for the peace process in Afghanistan.

In a joint statement the two presidents stressed that all-round development of bilateral relations will favour consolidation of partnership between the two states.

The presidents expressed readiness to cooperate in post-war reconstruction of Afghanistan on a bilateral and multilateral plane. Kwasniewski and Karimov stressed the importance of close cooperation of international community in fighting international terrorism, religious extremism, drug traffic and other forms of organised crime.

Kwasniewski declared that Uzbekistan is Poland"s important partner in Central Asia and said the cooperation between the two countries should be increased and enriched. He made the statement following a meeting with President Karimov.

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 anti-terrorist 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.

Later on Monday Kwasniewski laid a wreath at the memorial to Polish soldiers of General Anders"s army and met with members of the Polish community in Uzbekistan. There are between 3-10 thousand persons of Polish origin living in Uzbekistan.

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