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U.S.-Uzbek ties grow despite rights concerns

The Bush administration sees Uzebkistan as a key Central Asian ally in the war on terror

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States and Uzbekistan have signed five bilateral agreements aimed at strengthening their deepening relationship despite Washington's continued criticism over the former Soviet state's human rights record.

The signing ceremony held Tuesday at the State Department in Washington followed a meeting between Secretary of State Colin Powell and Uzbek President Islam Karimov.

Earlier Karimov held talks with President Bush at the White House.

The agreements were aimed at solidifying a growing relationship between the United States and Uzbekistan which emerged as a result of Uzbek cooperation as a key Central Asian ally in the war on terrorism.

But Karimov has been criticized by the United States and human rights groups for his country's poor record on human rights.

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Before his meeting Powell told a Senate subcommittee Tuesday that "Karimov has been a solid coalition partner," but he added that "at the same time there are problems with respect to human rights in Uzbekistan.

"We will not shrink from discussing them," he said.

'Authoritarian'

The latest State Department human rights report released earlier this month called the country "an authoritarian state with limited civil rights."

Observers considered successive elections perpetuating Karimov's presidency neither free nor fair.

The report also stated that government security forces tortured, beat, and harassed people, especially Muslims, under the guise of combating terrorism.

Despite that criticism State Department spokesman Richard Boucher called the Bush-Karimov meeting "useful and productive," and said the leaders reiterated their commitment to building a long-term relationship.

Boucher said Karimov "committed himself to economic and political reforms," which the United States has been pushing in discussions with Uzbek officials, and said Powell "made clear" to Karimov that the Bush administration expected progress on human rights.

The two countries issued a joint declaration on their "strategic partnership" that covered a wide range of political, military and economic cooperation.

"As part of the agreement, the two countries agreed to cooperate not only in matters of military security, but also in the security that comes from an open market-based economy and an open-democratic system," the joint statement said.

Search and rescue

The United States agreed to help Uzbekistan with its commitment to open its society through political and economic reforms and said it would regard with "grave concern" any external threat to Uzbek security and territorial integrity.

About 1,000 U.S. troops have been stationed in Uzbekistan to conduct search and rescue missions during the military campaign in Afghanistan, but Boucher said the United States was not looking for permanent U.S. bases in Uzbekistan.

Powell and Uzbek Foreign Minister Adulaziz Kamilov also signed a strategic partnership agreement, an agreement for the acquisition of land in Tashkent for the construction of a new U.S. Embassy and an agreement for expanded science and technology cooperation.

Meanwhile U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham and Kamilov signed an "implementing agreement" to facilitate cooperation on nuclear non-proliferation between the two countries.

Karimov's visit has also seen the two countries sign a $55 million credit agreement to support the purchase of U.S. goods and services by small and medium-sized Uzbek companies.