Text of report by Uzbek newspaper 'Narodnoye Slovo' on 30th November

An Uzbek delegation made up of the parliament's plenipotentiary official for
human rights issues, Sayyora Rashidova, the head of the National Human
Rights Centre, Akmal Saidov, and the vice-chairman of the Central Electoral
Commission, Otaboy Doschonov, visited Washington from 21st to 26th
November.

The delegation took part in a seminar on Uzbek election legislation held at
the Washington Centre for Political and Strategic Studies. The
representatives of Uzbekistan gave reports on the republic's electoral
system, the details of the campaigning procedure in the forthcoming
elections and the problems of building a civil society. They also presented
data and facts showing the success of democratic reforms in the country.
The discussion of the issues was continued at meetings at the State
Department and the US Congress Commission for Security and Cooperation in
Europe. The discussion and exchange of views were lively and took place in
an open and constructive atmosphere, which is characteristic of the
Uzbek-American cooperation.

The Uzbek officials also visited the headquarters of the B'nai B'rith
International [Jewish] organization to meet people from various US
organizations [as published], which are maintaining close contacts with
Uzbekistan. It was noted at the meeting that the country's geopolitical
position and the Uzbek government's successful policy of strengthening
regional security provided a sound basis for the development of bilateral
relations.

The delegation also met members of the Uzbek diaspora in the USA. They gave
an interview to the Uzbek service of the Voice of America radio station on
the preparations for the elections. During their visit to the US Congress
library they were particularly impressed with the library's law section.
The library agreed to cooperate with the Uzbek Human Rights Centre,
including the possibility of exchanging books.

Source: 'Narodnoye Slovo', Tashkent, in Russian 30 Nov 99 p1
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