> >STOP NATO: NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.COM > >The Hindu >May 20, 2000 > > >Russia, Uzbekistan forge defence ties > > >By Vladimir Radyuhin > >MOSCOW, MAY 19. Russia and Uzbekistan have agreed to >step up defence cooperation to face a growing threat >from Islamic extremism in Central Asia. > >The agreement, reached by the visiting Russian >President, Mr. Vladimir Putin, and the President of >Uzbekistan, Mr. Islam Karimov, after intensive >three-hour talks in Tashkent on Friday, provides for >massive Russian weapon supplies to Uzbekistan and >direct military aid from Russia in case Uzbekistan >comes under attacks by Islamic rebels, military >sources said. > >The Uzbek leader said Russia had pledged ``to do >everything necessary to guarantee the territorial >integrity, non- violability of borders, independence >and sovereignty of Uzbekistan.'' > >``Uzbekistan cannot defend itself single-handed,'' Mr. >Karimov joint a joint press conference with Mr. Putin. >``We are looking for protection and have found it in >Russia.'' > >Uzbekistan, which until last year tried to distance >itself from Russia and walked out of a collective >security pact with Moscow, turned around after a >series of terrorist bombings in Tashkent and an >intrusion of Uzbek rebels into neighbouring Kyrgyzstan >a year ago. > >For its part, Russia, which has been fighting >Islamists in Chechnya, has become aware of the need to >fight Islamic terrorism at its source in Central Asia. >Mr. Putin emphasised the importance Russia attaches to >its relations with Uzbekistan by paying his first >foreign visit after taking office to Tashkent. > >The Russian President said an arc of instability had >formed on the southern borders of the Commonwealth of >Independent States and any threat to Uzbekistan was a >threat to Russia. > >``It's no secret to anyone that attempts have been >made recently to recarve the post-Soviet territory by >criminal methods, using religious extremism and >international terrorism,'' he said. ``If we do not >stop these attempts here in the South jointly with our >Uzbek friends, we will have to fight them at home.'' > >Mr. Putin stressed that joint efforts in opposing >these threats will be intensified ``up to taking >pre-emptive measures.'' Both Moscow and Tashkent >earlier warned that they could go as far as to carry >out air strikes against terrorist training bases in >Afghanistan. > >The two countries were on the way to sign deals for >the supply of $32-million worth of Russian weapons to >Uzbekistan, head of the Russian arms exporting >company, Promexport, Mr. Sergei Chemizov, told >reporters in Tashkent. Under an earlier agreement >Russia is to deliver 50 armoured personnel carriers to >Uzbekistan. Defence experts said Russia would also >supply Uzbekistan with jet fighters and artillery. > >``Uzbekistan has in fact been declared Russia's >strategic partner in Central Asia, at least as far as >security is concerned,'' Russia's RTR state television >said. > >>From Uzbekistan, Mr. Putin flew to Turmenistan to try >and seal a mega-deal for annual import of 50 million >cubic metres of Turkmen gas over the next 20 years. > > >__________________________________________________ >Do You Yahoo!? >Send instant messages & get email alerts with Yahoo! Messenger. >http://im.yahoo.com/ > > >______________________________________________________________________ >To unsubscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] >______________________________________________________________________ >Advertisement: >15% off Ashford Collection jewelry for Mother's Day! Mom will love >these gorgeous pieces handpicked by our expert jewelry buyers - now >15% off and shipped FedEx overnight FREE! Spoiled as a child? Return >the favor - get her gift at Ashford.com. >http://on.linkexchange.com/?ATID=27&AID=1231 > __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________
