Uzbekistan pledges reforms in exchange for aid

Uzbekistan's border with Afghanistan makes it a key military ally for the U.S.

From Elise Labott
CNN Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Uzbekistan promised social and economic reform in exchange for U.S. aid and better relations with the Bush administration, officials from both countries said Friday.

In a joint statement, the countries "expressed commitment to their qualitatively new, long-term relationship based on their common objectives to combat international terrorism; eradicate social, economic, and financial sources of extremism; and maintain peace and stability and strengthen security in Central Asia."

The statement followed a visit to Washington by a high level Uzbek delegation including First Deputy Prime Minister Rustam S. Azimov, who met with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on Friday.

RESOURCES At a glance: Uzbekistan  Provided by: Countrywatch

It also comes on the heels on significant U.S.-Uzbek military cooperation following the September 11 attacks on New York and the Pentagon. Hundreds of members of the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division and U.S. special operations forces have been deployed to bases in southern Uzbekistan.

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In the statement, the U.S. "reaffirmed its deep appreciation to the Republic of Uzbekistan for its historic decision to broadly support the international coalition against terrorism."

Earlier this month, the Bush administration said it would provide $100 million in aid to Uzbekistan, a figure Uzbek officials confirmed on Friday.

In return, Uzbekistan will accelerate reforms to create an open market economy, including current account convertibility, according to the joint statement.

Although the statement did not mention social reforms, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said that during his talks with the Uzbek delegation, Powell strongly supported reforms "expanding economic opportunity and democracy (and) respect for the rule of law."

The Uzbek government has said its crackdown on Muslims within its borders, including the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan group that has been linked to Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda, is part of its effort to fight terrorism.

A team from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was in Uzbekistan on Friday to examine the Friendship Bridge across the Amu Darya River and into Afghanistan, Boucher said. The bridge has been closed since the Taliban assumed power in 1996, but the United States and United Nations want to reopen it to distribute humanitarian aid into Afghanistan.