Ivanov calls for closer Uzbek ties

Associated Press May 12 Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov urged closer ties with Uzbekistan in the fight against terror after talks Wednesday with Uzbek President Islam Karimov, the latest sign of the countries' rekindled friendship after years of stagnant relations. "It is necessary to cooperate to effectively fight new challenges and threats such as the terrorist disease and extremist disease that exist both in Central Asia and Russia," Ivanov said in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, in comments shown on Uzbek state-run television. A wave of explosions, assaults on police and Central Asia's first suicide bombings struck Uzbekistan in March and April, killing at least 47 people -- most alleged militants who the government said were Islamic extremists trained by Arab al-Qaida instructors. Ivanov tied that violence to this weekend's killing of Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov in a bomb blast during celebrations of the anniversary of the end of World War II -- and said the countries had to fight terrorism together. Ivanov's visit came amid warming ties between Russia and Uzbekistan, which distanced itself from Moscow after the 1991 Soviet breakup and has shown increased willingness to work with the United States. Hundreds of American troops have been based here since the Sept. 11 attacks for operations in neighboring Afghanistan. As a symbol of their improving relations, Ivanov said Russia and Uzbekistan would hold joint military exercises next year, Uzbek television reported. Already this year, the Uzbeks have been invited to observe military exercises that Russia is staging with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The Russian parliament will soon ratify an Russian-Uzbek agreement setting up common air defenses, Uzbek television said.