From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Mon Apr 17 2000 - 10:59:48 EDT
ALBRIGHT WARNS AGAINST REPRESSION IN UZBEKISTAN
On the third and final leg of her Central Asian tour, U.S. Secretary of State
Albright warned in a 17
April speech at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in Tashkent
that "indiscriminate government censorship and repression can cause
moderate and peaceful opponents of a regime to resort to violence,"
RFE/RL's Uzbek Service reported. She added that in Uzbekistan as elsewhere
in Central Asia "governments remain too involved in the economy and the
daily lives of individuals." She called for greater media freedom and
respect for human rights, and for swifter and more effective economic
reform. Describing neighboring Afghanistan as "a huge problem for regional
stability," Albright also pledged $10 million in aid for counterterrorism
and border guard training and to combat drug smuggling, AP reported. LF
|
