From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Mon Apr 24 2000 - 11:03:59 EDT
Central Asian summit: Uzbek head for unity against "evil forces"
Speaking after the summit of the presidents of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, on 21st April,
Uzbek President Islam Karimov said that the agreement signed at the summit
on cooperation in fighting terrorism, political and religious extremism and
organized crime was needed to thwart attacks by "evil forces". Uzbek radio
carried the following remarks the same day:
"After the news conference we interviewed the presidents. Asked what the
difference was between the document signed today and others, the president
of our [Uzbek] republic, Islam Karimov, said the following:
[Karimov, voice in Uzbek] "The agreement signed today is different from
previous ones because it was necessitated by life itself. The situation
which we have today requires us to do this. Unless we solve this problem
the events which took place last year may be repeated tomorrow. And the
fact that Kyrgyzstan is not able to resist these evil forces once again
shows that these events may be repeated. Therefore in order to provide
Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan with necessary support, we should
cooperate together. I therefore think that the parliaments of Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan should ratify this agreement in good
time and of course, after it has been put into practice it will yield
results. I think that if those evil forces which look at us with cruel eyes
know about this agreement we have signed, they will never dare to attack
us. If they are clever they will understand that not one state but four
states will resist them.
"From this point of view, we all highly value this agreement."
Source: Uzbek Radio second programme, Tashkent, in Uzbek 1000 gmt 21 Apr 00
BBC Mon CAU 210400/** VA/YD
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