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Russian and Uzbek leaders talk security, co-operation, trade
Published: 20 April, 2010, 16:02
Edited: 21 April, 2010, 08:04
TAGS: Meeting, Politics, Central Asia
The Russian President and his Uzbek counterpart are looking to secure stability in Central Asia. Dmitry Medvedev and Islam Karimov have discussed issues of mutual importance at their meeting in the Kremlin on Tuesday.
One of the main issues discussed at the talk is economic co-operation between the countries, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said at a joint press conference following the meeting.
”We have every reason to believe that we can increase trade turnover between Russia and Uzbekistan and fill it with new substance, new trade deals, new projects,” he said.
The Russian leader pointed out that diversification of the economic co-operation between the countries is the key.
”In the Uzbek market we have a number of major Russian companies, such as Lukoil and Gazprom, Aeroflot, MTS and others,” Medvedev said.
“We have also started working in many other areas like energy, aircraft manufacturing, engineering, chemical processing, telecommunications and transport infrastructure. In all of these areas we will continue our co-operation,” he added.
The presidents have also discussed the situation in Kyrgyzstan and expressed hope that legitimate government will be established in the country.
”It is essential to rebuild the state now. At present there is no state, it has been deposed. So we hope that the provisional leadership of Kyrgyzstan will take all the necessary measures [to tackle the situation], as anarchy will have a negative effect on the interests of the Kyrgyz people and also their neighbors.”
He noted that Russia will be ready for economic co-operation with Kyrgyzstan only after legitimate government institutions are created there.
"Russia has extended humanitarian assistance to Kyrgyzstan, but full-fledged economic co-operation will be possible only after the proper institutions of power have been created," Medvedev said. "Uzbekistan's president shares this view.”
The Russian president indicated that the sides also discussed co-operation in fighting terrorism, criminal activities and drug trafficking.
As a result of the meeting the sides have signed a number of bilateral agreements, which included the intergovernmental program for co-operation in the cultural and humanitarian spheres for 2010-2012 and a memorandum of understanding between the governments on implementing a plan for military-technical cooperation for 2010-2012.
Uzbekistan remains a key player in the Collective Security Treaty Organization, whose main goal is to maintain stability in the post-Soviet space.
Karimov's visit to Moscow comes just two weeks after a violent uprising in neighboring Kyrgyzstan ousted its leader.
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The three Central Asian countries ought to be scared. Kyrgizstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are connected by a valley, and this valley is the primary stomping ground of Afghan drugs economy. Some of the 65 billion dollars that are made of Afghan heroin, end up in the hands of several "islamic" groups in the area. Hate to even call them "islamic", but that is how they portray themselves. It is easy to fool people when they are poor, and the economic crisis made them poorer. But these countries also can blame themselves. Instead of speeding up the formation of rapid reaction force that was approved ages ago, they all get into their petty conservative mode, and act only when water is up to one's ears. Karimov has a reason to be concerned. It was from Kyrgizstan that the attempted colour revolution came to his door in Andijan. He survived that, but was leary of both Kyrgizstan and Tajikistan. Both have taken on a number of international agreements to deal with combating drugs and separatists, but both have, for the sake of some monetary inducements from EU or NATO, abrogated on the agreements they signed up to with CSTO and SCO. Now is the wake up time, and the picture is far from clear. Depending on the capacity of "islamists", AKA drug-lords of the south to cause trouble in the country preventing the orderly organization of elections, Kyrgizstan may require some CSTO policing. It is clear that it is CSTO business, not SCO, as China should really not take any part in this mess. For one, the Uighur populace in Kyrgizstan can easily be riled up by the Bakiyev crowd, causing problems both in the south and the north. Now that the trouble is upon them, I hope the three countries can find a way to get CSTO resources to tackle the drug problem head on. It is a slippery slope to allow these groups to be engaging in "islamic" message, while peddling drugs. CSTO is fighting a full fledged chemical warfare, but is not commited to winning.