13 March 2002

U.S. Enjoys New Relationship with Uzbekistan, Official Says

Washington -- The United States is enjoying a "qualitatively new relationship" with Uzbekistan, Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Beth Jones says.

Speaking to the American-Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce in Washington March 12, Jones said the United States is grateful for the "close cooperation and steadfast support" Uzbekistan has provided since the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.

Jones said that stability in Afghanistan can be achieved if the rest of the region is stable, and that "we have been working closely with the government of Uzbekistan to ensure stability."

She noted that in talks that day with President Bush, Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov volunteered to carry out economic and political reforms.

"Investors look for stable conditions in a country in which they're interested," and they want conditions that will allow them to stay in a country for a long time, Jones said. "We hope the economic reforms underway in Uzbekistan will bring these conditions about."

Jones said Karimov had "excellent" meetings that day with Bush and other senior administration officials.

At the same meeting, Senator Sam Brownback, Republican of Kansas, said Uzbekistan "will be a continuing partner [of the United States] in the war on terror and has already assumed the role of an important player in the region."

Brownback, who is chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs, noted that the terrorist attacks on the United States took place just as Uzbekistan was celebrating its first decade of independence. "Aware of the mutual threat to both countries, Karimov promptly offered his country's assistance," he said.

The political, economic and strategic environment in Central Asia is "transforming at a rate that could be explosive," Brownback said. "America has an obligation to remain engaged in Uzbekistan and Central Asia politically, economically and militarily."

Brownback is sponsor of the Silk Road Strategy Act, which encourages U.S. investment in the region.

President Karimov, who spoke at the same meeting, said his discussions with President Bush and other U.S. officials "exceeded all my expectations."

He said the aftermath of September 11 prompted the United States "to look at Uzbekistan with new eyes" of engagement.

Karimov, who barely escaped terrorist attacks in Uzbekistan's capital, Tashkent, in February 1999, said that after September 11 he decided there was "no other course but to support the United States and its allies." With post-September 11 support for Uzbekistan, the United States "has freed us from this constant threat of terrorists in the region," he said.

Karimov stated that he will create a favorable environment for business in Uzbekistan. So far, the country has had difficulty attracting many investors because of its monetary policies and institutions.

Uzbekistan's younger generation, many of whom are receiving education and training from Western sources, will carry through with implementing economic and social reforms, Karimov said.

He added that Uzbekistan has energy reserves, precious metals and agricultural processing resources, but it needs to develop market infrastructure and a communications system, and to allow banks to be more accessible to investors.