Interfax
November 11

Uzbek President Islam Karimov said that good relations with the United States are vital to building a democratic society in his country and carrying out economic reforms.

Karimov made this statement at a late Monday meeting with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Elizabeth Jones and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Lorne Craner, the presidential press service told Interfax on Tuesday.

The meeting's agenda included discussions of the future of Uzbek- U.S. relations, regional security and human rights.

"Uzbekistan has set the task of building a democratic society, raising the people's welfare, successfully continuing economic reforms, developing market relations and strengthening stability and security. Uzbekistan is ready for closer cooperation with the United States to meet these goals," Karimov said.

Jones said the United States will continue to support Uzbekistan's reforms and further expand cooperation while taking account of their bilateral interests. She said the United States supports Uzbekistan's transition to a democratic political system and a market economy.

Jones told a news conference after the meeting that they also discuss granting registration to new political parties planning to run in the 2004 parliamentary elections.

She welcomed the fact that the country's national currency has become convertible, calling it the first step toward expanding reforms and liberalizing trade.

Craner told journalists that meeting addressed a wide variety of issues related to human rights and further democratization. The results of last year's visit of UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Theo an Boven to Uzbekistan were discussed, as well. The country has developed a special plan to meet the rapporteur's recommendations, and certain progress has already been made, Craner said.

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