US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken welcomed the reforms announced in Uzbekistan and called on the Uzbek government to fully implement them, including measures to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, support civil society, ensure freedom of the media and combat gender-based violence at a meeting in Washington, D.C., with Uzbek Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov, press office of the US State Department said.
The US Secretary of State stressed the United States' unwavering support for the independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of Uzbekistan. The parties discussed the strong bilateral relationship between the US and Uzbekistan, the support of the peoples of Ukraine and Afghanistan, and the strong partnership of the United States with Uzbekistan in the context of the changing geopolitical landscape in Central Asia.
Blinken also noted the importance of conducting full and transparent investigations and a fair trial against the accused in the wake of the unrest in Karakalpakstan earlier this year. Secretary Blinken reaffirmed the United States' commitment to being a reliable partner for Uzbekistan and helping to ensure a prosperous, secure, and democratic Central Asia.
Earlier, the United States announced that it would help Uzbekistan with its accession to the WTO. The parties agreed to continue to cooperate on the regional agenda.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
December 13, 2022