Tashkent satisfied with relations with Washington

Interfax November 17 The Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Sadyk Safayev positively evaluates the development of relations between Tashkent and Washington. "The level of the Uzbek-American relations allows the representatives of both countries to openly discuss the fundamental issues of political, economic and social development of Uzbekistan," the minister said on Tuesday at the meeting with the U.S. Secretary of State Acting Advisor Michael Kozak in Tashkent. Kozak, during his visit to Uzbekistan, is discussing the possibilities for the development of Uzbek-American relations, is familiarizing himself with the democratic reforms in the republic and the preparations for the parliamentary elections. "In the republic, the upcoming elections are viewed as a big step forward in the further democratization of the society. This will the first time the government will be formed with participation of the representatives of the parties, which won at the parliamentary elections," Safayev said. The Uzbek Foreign Minister said at the meeting that more than 300 human rights protections and humanitarian non-governmental organizations and over 900 mass media outlets have been registered in Uzbekistan. He said that the number of internet users grows every year. "Internet is becoming more and more available to the country's residents," he said. "The reforms that are being carried out in the country are of a non-reversible nature," Safayev said.